Pope Francis needed five votes and was elected on the second day of the conclave, Benedict XVI needed four votes and was also ...

Here's how the conclave creates black and white smoke and why the Catholic Church began using them to signal whether a new pope has been elected.

Preachers like John Marrant proclaimed the gospel across cultures. But the persistence—and defense—of slavery challenged ...

Rather than soot, the smoke contains microscopic droplets and fine solids that are transparent or white. The result is a ...