By taking the name of one of the most revered figures in all Christianity, Pope Francis may be signalling that his papacy will prioritize caring for the "the least of these."

What effect will the fast-growing number of American adults who say they have no religious affiliation have on traditional organized religion?

"I think that people who are leaving church, or people who call themselves spiritual but not religious, are raising really significant questions about faith, about community life and about the future of religion that religious leaders should pay more attention to."

Cardinal Donald Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Washington celebrated Mass on Sunday, March 10, at his historic titular church in Rome, San Pietro in Vincoli or St. Peter in Chains. Before the Mass, he asked US Catholics to pray for the cardinals as they prepare to enter the conclave.

At a briefing at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, this professor of liturgical studies at the Catholic University of America describes some of the pre-conclave rituals.

In an interview with managing editor Kim Lawton, Rev. Thomas Reese, S.J., analyst for National Catholic Reporter, describes what will happen as the cardinals begin voting for the new pope.

The executive producer of “Survivor” and his wife, who starred in “Touched by an Angel,” talk about the inspiration behind their latest television project, a 10-hour series for the History Channel on the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

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The cardinals are using the few days remaining before the start of the conclave to "get to know one another," according to Father Thomas Reese, S.J.

“A state may enforce and dissolve a couple’s marriage, but it cannot sanctify or bless it,” according to a New York judge in one of the same-sex marriage cases the High Court will review next year.

How will the Democratic Party appeal to religious voters without alienating the rising numbers of religiously unaffiliated voters?

“Candidates do often benefit from talking about their personal faith, but once that becomes politicized it can create some real problems for them, so they tend to stick to other sets of issues.”

“In our data for 2012 we are finding that the religiously unaffiliated outnumber white mainline Protestants, white Catholics, and even black Protestants among Democratic and Democratic-leaning registered voters.”

Managing editor Kim Lawton spoke with her in Rome about the College of Cardinals' decision to stop all media interviews, what the cardinals are doing before the conclave starts, and the importance of this papal election.

In a panel discussion at Catholic University, four lay Catholics describe the single most important quality they want to see in the next pope.

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Archbishop Justin Welby says Anglicans and Catholics have major differences, but they also share “a common basis around the need to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.”

Should houses of worship damaged by wind and water receive federal money to rebuild? Rabbi Majorie Slome calls her temple in Queens “a community institution” as well as a house of worship, and she doesn’t think insurance money will be enough to cover the costs of repairing it.

Walk through West End Temple in the Rockaways section of Queens, New York, and see some of the destruction Hurricane Sandy left in its wake, from pews and prayer books to stained glass windows, bricks and mortar.

“Religion is important. Being spiritual is important. What’s not as important is to join and to go every week,” says Kellen McClure when asked about churches and their worship services. He is one of the fast-rising number of Americans who describe their religion as “nothing in particular” ...