The extensive role of the cardinals in today’s papal elections and in the church can be traced to the 11th century and Pope Nicholas II.

Pope Francis was a helper and he encouraged helpers everywhere.

Throughout his pontificate, with the fire and occasional cantankerousness of some of the early fathers of the church, Pope Francis admonished us to quit worrying about the sins, real and imagined, of others, and to see in them the face of our Savior — and to serve him through serving them.

President Donald Trump on May 1 signed an executive order creating a religious liberty commission during an interfaith event marking the National Day of Prayer in the White House Rose Garden.

As the College of Cardinals gathers in Rome for the conclave that will elect our next pope, the rest of us may feel like we have no real role to play in the process.