Any priest may confer the blessings of the Church, except those reserved to the Pope, to bishops ... who are under their spiritual care. * N.B. Rule No. 5 with its five parts is now obsolete ...

Only Cardinals under the age of 80 are allowed to cast a vote for pope, under current Vatican rules. The Catholic Church has a list of the College of Cardinals and biographies for the 119 electors.

This was eminently the notion of Pope PIUS IX. and his counselors of the conclave. Brought back to Rome mainly as a bulwark for keeping out the Austrians while liberal Europe could draw breath ...

VATICAN CITY — While the Vatican has detailed laws and rituals to ensure the transfer of power when a pope dies or resigns, they do not apply if he is sick or even unconscious. And there are no ...