In a process that can last days, weeks, or even years, popes are elected by cardinals under strict oaths of silence.

Few rituals in the world are as steeped in secrecy and tradition as the election of a pope. While modern conclaves unfold beneath Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, the roots of this ...

Most internal promotions don’t get this much attention. Most job selection processes don’t have centuries of history behind them — and few, if any, have a special name. But then, most job selections ...

“Conclave” the film may have introduced moviegoers to the spectacular ritual and drama of a modern conclave, but the periodic voting to elect a new pope has been going on for centuries and created a ...

Cardinals from around the world have begun to gather in Vatican City for the funeral of Pope John Paul II and to take part in the election of a new pope, a process known as the conclave. The historic ...

From the longest and shortest elections to the origin of the required vow of secrecy, here are some facts about the centuries-old process. NBC Universal, Inc. Here are some facts about conclaves past, ...