Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church

Left to right: Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, Cardinal Vinko Puljić, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, Cardinal Péter Erdő, and Cardinal Peter Turkson. / Credit: MEDEF, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons/ EWTN News screenshot/ Pelz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons/ Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Vatican City, May 7, 2025 / 16:29 pm (CNA).

With the start of the conclave May 7, there are five cardinal electors who bring a significant amount of experience to the process.

Four electors — Cardinals Peter Turkson, Philippe Barbarin, Péter Erdő, and Josip Bozanić — became members of the College of Cardinals in 2003 and have participated in two conclaves before this one.

Cardinal Vinko Puljić, the archbishop emeritus of Sarajevo, received the red hat in 1994, making him the elector with the most years — nearly 31 — as cardinal. He has also participated in two conclaves: the 2005 conclave that elected Benedict XVI and the 2013 conclave that elected Francis.

At 79 years old, Puljić is able to vote in the 2025 conclave by a margin of just four months. On Sept. 8, he will turn 80 and lose the privilege to elect a pope. 

The archbishop emeritus of Sarajevo, he is known for his role during the war in Bosnia, where he distinguished himself as a voice for peace and a defender of human rights. He was also president of the bishops’ conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina for a long time.

Cardinal Peter Turkson, 76, was chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences from 2022.

A biblical scholar and influential voice for social justice, the Ghanaian’s first role in the Vatican was as president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace from 2009 to 2017. Pope Francis then chose him as inaugural prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development from 2017 to 2021.

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, 74, is a from France, where he was archbishop of Lyon from 2002 to 2020. In 2020, he was acquitted on appeal of a 2019 conviction of failing to report sexual abuse.

Born in Rabat, Morocco, at the time under French protectorate, he served as a missionary in Madagascar and a professor of theology. He was bishop of Moulins from 1998 to 2002.

The 72-year-old Cardinal Péter Erdő, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and primate of Hungary, is a canonist and academic who has led the Hungarian and European bishops’ conferences for years. He is the author of over 250 studies in the fields of canon law and spirituality. In addition to the 2005 and 2013 conclaves, he has participated in a number of synods.

Cardinal Josip Bozanić, 76, archbishop emeritus of Zagreb, Croatia, was a prominent figure in dialogue between the Croatian Church and state, and in promoting justice and peace. He also served for many years as the president of the Croatian bishops’ conference.

Left to right: Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, Cardinal Vinko Puljić, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, Cardinal Péter Erdő, and Cardinal Peter Turkson. / Credit: MEDEF, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons/ EWTN News screenshot/ Pelz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons/ Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Vatican City, May 7, 2025 / 16:29 pm (CNA).

With the start of the conclave May 7, there are five cardinal electors who bring a significant amount of experience to the process.

Four electors — Cardinals Peter Turkson, Philippe Barbarin, Péter Erdő, and Josip Bozanić — became members of the College of Cardinals in 2003 and have participated in two conclaves before this one.

Cardinal Vinko Puljić, the archbishop emeritus of Sarajevo, received the red hat in 1994, making him the elector with the most years — nearly 31 — as cardinal. He has also participated in two conclaves: the 2005 conclave that elected Benedict XVI and the 2013 conclave that elected Francis.

At 79 years old, Puljić is able to vote in the 2025 conclave by a margin of just four months. On Sept. 8, he will turn 80 and lose the privilege to elect a pope. 

The archbishop emeritus of Sarajevo, he is known for his role during the war in Bosnia, where he distinguished himself as a voice for peace and a defender of human rights. He was also president of the bishops’ conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina for a long time.

Cardinal Peter Turkson, 76, was chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences from 2022.

A biblical scholar and influential voice for social justice, the Ghanaian’s first role in the Vatican was as president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace from 2009 to 2017. Pope Francis then chose him as inaugural prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development from 2017 to 2021.

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, 74, is a from France, where he was archbishop of Lyon from 2002 to 2020. In 2020, he was acquitted on appeal of a 2019 conviction of failing to report sexual abuse.

Born in Rabat, Morocco, at the time under French protectorate, he served as a missionary in Madagascar and a professor of theology. He was bishop of Moulins from 1998 to 2002.

The 72-year-old Cardinal Péter Erdő, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and primate of Hungary, is a canonist and academic who has led the Hungarian and European bishops’ conferences for years. He is the author of over 250 studies in the fields of canon law and spirituality. In addition to the 2005 and 2013 conclaves, he has participated in a number of synods.

Cardinal Josip Bozanić, 76, archbishop emeritus of Zagreb, Croatia, was a prominent figure in dialogue between the Croatian Church and state, and in promoting justice and peace. He also served for many years as the president of the Croatian bishops’ conference.

Cardinals prepare to begin the conclave to elect a new pope in the Sistine Chapel on May 7, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, May 7, 2025 / 15:44 pm (CNA).

As the conclave gets underway, all eyes turn to the small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel. From this simple metal tube will emerge the long-awaited white smoke that will announce the election of the new pope.

Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney Wednesday evening to the watchful eyes of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square as the first day of conclave voting concluded without a new pontiff.

Beginning Thursday, the cardinals will hold four votes each day: two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Each round of votes is followed by smoke from the chimney, which will be black if still no agreement has been reached, or white if the new pontiff has been elected.

If the new pope is not elected on the first morning ballot, a second ballot is held immediately. Both ballots are burned together, leading to possible smoke around noon Rome time. If, however, the pope is elected on the first morning ballot, the white smoke will appear shortly after 10:30 a.m.

The same process is repeated in the afternoon. After a brief break, two more votes will be held. If neither is conclusive, the smoke is expected around 7 p.m. Rome time. However, if the pope is elected on the first ballot of the afternoon, white smoke would be seen shortly after 5:30 p.m.

Thus, on both Thursday and Friday, observers should be alert for four possible times when the smoke may appear each day: two around noon and two in the evening. 

The smoke is produced by burning the ballot of every cardinal along with chemical compounds that make the smoke black or white. After white smoke appears, the bells of St. Peter’s will ring loudly to confirm the awaited announcement: “Habemus papam!” (“We have a pope!”).

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Cardinals prepare to begin the conclave to elect a new pope in the Sistine Chapel on May 7, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, May 7, 2025 / 15:44 pm (CNA).

As the conclave gets underway, all eyes turn to the small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel. From this simple metal tube will emerge the long-awaited white smoke that will announce the election of the new pope.

Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney Wednesday evening to the watchful eyes of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square as the first day of conclave voting concluded without a new pontiff.

Beginning Thursday, the cardinals will hold four votes each day: two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Each round of votes is followed by smoke from the chimney, which will be black if still no agreement has been reached, or white if the new pontiff has been elected.

If the new pope is not elected on the first morning ballot, a second ballot is held immediately. Both ballots are burned together, leading to possible smoke around noon Rome time. If, however, the pope is elected on the first morning ballot, the white smoke will appear shortly after 10:30 a.m.

The same process is repeated in the afternoon. After a brief break, two more votes will be held. If neither is conclusive, the smoke is expected around 7 p.m. Rome time. However, if the pope is elected on the first ballot of the afternoon, white smoke would be seen shortly after 5:30 p.m.

Thus, on both Thursday and Friday, observers should be alert for four possible times when the smoke may appear each day: two around noon and two in the evening. 

The smoke is produced by burning the ballot of every cardinal along with chemical compounds that make the smoke black or white. After white smoke appears, the bells of St. Peter’s will ring loudly to confirm the awaited announcement: “Habemus papam!” (“We have a pope!”).

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Black smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on May 7, 2025, indicating no pope has been chosen yet. / Credit: EWTN News

Vatican City, May 7, 2025 / 15:09 pm (CNA).

Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney Wednesday evening to the watchful eyes of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square as the first day of conclave voting concluded without a new pontiff.

The dark plume emerged at approximately 9 p.m. Rome time, confirming the 133 cardinal electors sequestered inside had not reached the required two-thirds majority — at least 89 votes — needed to elect Pope Francis’ successor.

The College of Cardinals began their deliberations earlier Wednesday following the “Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice” (“For the Election of the Roman Pontiff”) Mass celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the liturgy that officially opened the conclave proceedings.

Shortly thereafter, the cardinal electors processed into the Sistine Chapel.

The cardinals will return to the Sistine Chapel Thursday morning for two voting sessions before noon (Rome time) and two more in the afternoon. With each inconclusive ballot, smoke from burnt voting papers will continue to emerge black until the moment a new pope is elected.

When a candidate secures the necessary votes, white smoke will signal to the world that the Catholic Church has a new shepherd.

Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the senior cardinal deacon, will then appear on the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to make the traditional “Habemus papam” announcement, revealing the identity of the 266th successor to St. Peter.

During the 12 general congregations leading up to the conclave, cardinals identified several key challenges facing the Church, including evangelization, vocations, sexual abuse, Vatican finances, synodality, and global conflicts.

Black smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on May 7, 2025, indicating no pope has been chosen yet. / Credit: EWTN News

Vatican City, May 7, 2025 / 15:09 pm (CNA).

Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney Wednesday evening to the watchful eyes of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square as the first day of conclave voting concluded without a new pontiff.

The dark plume emerged at approximately 9 p.m. Rome time, confirming the 133 cardinal electors sequestered inside had not reached the required two-thirds majority — at least 89 votes — needed to elect Pope Francis’ successor.

The College of Cardinals began their deliberations earlier Wednesday following the “Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice” (“For the Election of the Roman Pontiff”) Mass celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the liturgy that officially opened the conclave proceedings.

Shortly thereafter, the cardinal electors processed into the Sistine Chapel.

The cardinals will return to the Sistine Chapel Thursday morning for two voting sessions before noon (Rome time) and two more in the afternoon. With each inconclusive ballot, smoke from burnt voting papers will continue to emerge black until the moment a new pope is elected.

When a candidate secures the necessary votes, white smoke will signal to the world that the Catholic Church has a new shepherd.

Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the senior cardinal deacon, will then appear on the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to make the traditional “Habemus papam” announcement, revealing the identity of the 266th successor to St. Peter.

During the 12 general congregations leading up to the conclave, cardinals identified several key challenges facing the Church, including evangelization, vocations, sexual abuse, Vatican finances, synodality, and global conflicts.

Black smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on May 7, 2025, indicating no pope has been chosen yet. / Credit: EWTN News/YouTube screenshot

CNA Newsroom, May 7, 2025 / 15:08 pm (CNA).

Follow here for live coverage as the conclave unfolds: updates, insights, and key moments in the election of the 266th successor to St. Peter and 267th leader of the Catholic Church.

Black smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on May 7, 2025, indicating no pope has been chosen yet. / Credit: EWTN News/YouTube screenshot

CNA Newsroom, May 7, 2025 / 15:08 pm (CNA).

Follow here for live coverage as the conclave unfolds: updates, insights, and key moments in the election of the 266th successor to St. Peter and 267th leader of the Catholic Church.

The Society of Catholic Scientists convenes in South Bend, Indiana, in 2019. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Stephen Barr

CNA Staff, May 7, 2025 / 14:30 pm (CNA).

The 2025 Conference of the Society of Catholic Scientists (SCS) will take place June 6–8 at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., with several talks set to address the origins of the human race from scientific, theological, and philosophical perspectives. 

Stephen Barr, a physicist at the University of Delaware and founder of the group, told CNA he expects this year’s convention to attract approximately 150 attendees, including a significant number of young participants, mainly graduate students. The SCS has grown to over 2,000 members worldwide since its founding in 2016, with its first annual conference taking place in 2017.

Key topics this year include studies on the human mind, free will, and the relationship between neuroscience and philosophical views on human nature. In addition, three separate talks on human origins will explore the Catholic Church’s views on evolution.

On the society’s website, the SCS describes itself as an answer to the call of St. John Paul II that “members of the Church who are active scientists” be of service to those who are attempting to “integrate the worlds of science and religion in their own intellectual and spiritual lives.”

He said one of the main goals of the SCS annual conference is to be a place where Catholic scientists meet one another and have spiritual and intellectual fellowship.

“[W]hat we want to do is break that vicious cycle and show the world and each other that there are a lot of religious scientists ... There are a lot of Catholic scientists out there,” Barr said. 

“I think our organization will help younger Catholics in science see that … they’re part of a very large community” and will help them to “overcome their sense of isolation [and] make them more confident.”

Barr previously told CNA that despite the large numbers of scientists who are religious, many of them likely feel they cannot share their faith openly in their workplaces. Despite the Church’s long-standing support of science, Barr said he still encounters the misconception that most scientists are atheists.

“[R]eligious scientists tend to be a little quieter and maybe more cautious because they’re playing it safe … You keep your head down a little bit. Why invite trouble?” he said.

Last year’s conference, held at Mundelein Seminary northwest of Chicago, focused heavily on artificial intelligence. Barr said this year’s event will feature a variety of topics rather than focusing on just one. While most of the speakers are highly trained scientists, “fully a third of the talks” will be given by theologians or philosophers, Barr noted.

Philosopher and Dominican Father Anselm Ramelow will discuss “Free Will, Aquinas, and the Brain,” addressing claims from neuroscience suggesting humans might not have free will and are merely “machines.”

Renowned Harvard mathematician Martin Nowak will present a talk on “Does Mathematics Lead to God?” — the first time an SCS conference has featured a talk specifically on mathematics, Barr said. And a cosmologist from Arizona State University, Rogier Windhorst, will discuss the James Webb Space Telescope and what it has discovered since it launched in late 2021. 

The conference will also feature an after-dinner talk by Ross Douthat from the New York Times, a Catholic convert who will discuss his new book “Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious,” which references scientific evidence through a religious worldview. 

The 2025 conference is open to both SCS members and nonmembers and will be livestreamed for free.

Barr said the talk given by Kenneth Kemp, whose forthcoming book examines the Catholic Church’s view of the evolution of the human race, is deeply connected to questions about the soul and what distinguishes humans from other animals.

“This is one of the big perennial questions. The question of whether we have souls,” Barr said. 

The event will feature a discussion on Neanderthal personhood and its potential implications for the history of humanity and for people of faith. Neanderthals, a species of humanoids that went extinct about 40,000 years ago, are thought to have been outcompeted by modern humans. 

“Did they have language? Did they have reason? ... If Neanderthals had rational souls, that would push the beginnings of humanity back [to] 600,000 years ago instead of 200,000 or 300,000. It’s an interesting question,” Barr said. 

University of Pittsburgh scientist Mark Saxen will rigorously examine near-death experiences in his presentation. Kelly Kearse, a science teacher at Knoxville Catholic High School, will examine Eucharistic miracles from a scientific standpoint.

The Society of Catholic Scientists convenes in South Bend, Indiana, in 2019. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Stephen Barr

CNA Staff, May 7, 2025 / 14:30 pm (CNA).

The 2025 Conference of the Society of Catholic Scientists (SCS) will take place June 6–8 at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., with several talks set to address the origins of the human race from scientific, theological, and philosophical perspectives. 

Stephen Barr, a physicist at the University of Delaware and founder of the group, told CNA he expects this year’s convention to attract approximately 150 attendees, including a significant number of young participants, mainly graduate students. The SCS has grown to over 2,000 members worldwide since its founding in 2016, with its first annual conference taking place in 2017.

Key topics this year include studies on the human mind, free will, and the relationship between neuroscience and philosophical views on human nature. In addition, three separate talks on human origins will explore the Catholic Church’s views on evolution.

On the society’s website, the SCS describes itself as an answer to the call of St. John Paul II that “members of the Church who are active scientists” be of service to those who are attempting to “integrate the worlds of science and religion in their own intellectual and spiritual lives.”

He said one of the main goals of the SCS annual conference is to be a place where Catholic scientists meet one another and have spiritual and intellectual fellowship.

“[W]hat we want to do is break that vicious cycle and show the world and each other that there are a lot of religious scientists ... There are a lot of Catholic scientists out there,” Barr said. 

“I think our organization will help younger Catholics in science see that … they’re part of a very large community” and will help them to “overcome their sense of isolation [and] make them more confident.”

Barr previously told CNA that despite the large numbers of scientists who are religious, many of them likely feel they cannot share their faith openly in their workplaces. Despite the Church’s long-standing support of science, Barr said he still encounters the misconception that most scientists are atheists.

“[R]eligious scientists tend to be a little quieter and maybe more cautious because they’re playing it safe … You keep your head down a little bit. Why invite trouble?” he said.

Last year’s conference, held at Mundelein Seminary northwest of Chicago, focused heavily on artificial intelligence. Barr said this year’s event will feature a variety of topics rather than focusing on just one. While most of the speakers are highly trained scientists, “fully a third of the talks” will be given by theologians or philosophers, Barr noted.

Philosopher and Dominican Father Anselm Ramelow will discuss “Free Will, Aquinas, and the Brain,” addressing claims from neuroscience suggesting humans might not have free will and are merely “machines.”

Renowned Harvard mathematician Martin Nowak will present a talk on “Does Mathematics Lead to God?” — the first time an SCS conference has featured a talk specifically on mathematics, Barr said. And a cosmologist from Arizona State University, Rogier Windhorst, will discuss the James Webb Space Telescope and what it has discovered since it launched in late 2021. 

The conference will also feature an after-dinner talk by Ross Douthat from the New York Times, a Catholic convert who will discuss his new book “Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious,” which references scientific evidence through a religious worldview. 

The 2025 conference is open to both SCS members and nonmembers and will be livestreamed for free.

Barr said the talk given by Kenneth Kemp, whose forthcoming book examines the Catholic Church’s view of the evolution of the human race, is deeply connected to questions about the soul and what distinguishes humans from other animals.

“This is one of the big perennial questions. The question of whether we have souls,” Barr said. 

The event will feature a discussion on Neanderthal personhood and its potential implications for the history of humanity and for people of faith. Neanderthals, a species of humanoids that went extinct about 40,000 years ago, are thought to have been outcompeted by modern humans. 

“Did they have language? Did they have reason? ... If Neanderthals had rational souls, that would push the beginnings of humanity back [to] 600,000 years ago instead of 200,000 or 300,000. It’s an interesting question,” Barr said. 

University of Pittsburgh scientist Mark Saxen will rigorously examine near-death experiences in his presentation. Kelly Kearse, a science teacher at Knoxville Catholic High School, will examine Eucharistic miracles from a scientific standpoint.