Boston, MA
Boston Catholics await selection of new pope at conclave
No pope was elected on the first day of voting at the Vatican.
More than 130 cardinals are sequestered in the Sistine Chapel as the conclave continues two weeks after the death of Pope Francis.
Black smoke billowed from the chimney Wednesday, meaning no cardinal won the majority of votes to become the 267th pontiff.
Black smoke was seen around 9 p.m. local time, signaling that a new pope had not been selected on the first day of the conclave.
But unlike the previous conclave, Boston doesn’t have a voting member this time. And local Catholics would like more representation when it comes to choosing the new pope.
Pope John Paul II was the last to visit Boston nearly 50 years ago.
Catholics at the Boston Basilica prayed for the 133 cardinals to have clarity and choose the right envoy to lead the church.
“I hope so that the Holy Spirit will guide the cardinals to select the best one,” said Juanita Cortez.
As Catholics here in Massachusetts and around the world await the start of the election of the new pope, the archbishop of Boston shared the excitement that’s building.
But not everyone is ready to move on.
“I’m not finished crying for the pope already, I liked him too much,” said Fernanda Desir. “I cry every day!”
Sixteen days after Pope Francis’ death, the Catholic Church is at a crossroads: To decide on a new direction or stay the course.
“To measure up to the standard and level that Pope Francis took us to, that will be a real challenge,” said theologist Thomas Groome.
Like the cardinals, church members also have differing opinions on who should be next.
“I’m just hoping and praying that the new pope be more like Pope Francis because of his revolutionary ideas,” said Livia Gonsalves.
“I think of a new path,” said another parishioner. “I would like to see a very conservative pope that is in walking in the path of Jesus.”
Because Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Boston’s former archbishop, is 80, he is officially too old to vote in the conclave. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have sway.
Sherborn resident Alexis Walkenstein spoke with NBC10 Boston about her 2022 meeting with Pope Francis, who she called affectionate and very loving.
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“While Cardinal Sean doesn’t officially have a vote, he’s a very influential man, and I think he will have a significant influence on who is elected,” said Groome.
“It’s one vote out of many,” noted Father Philip Dabney, who heads the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Dabney said it isn’t really up to people to choose the pope.
“Who we suspect could be the next pope, and who we might like to be the next pope, I’m telling you, in the end, it will be the Holy Spirit guiding them,” he said.
The conclave typically lasts about four days, with one round of voting the first day and four rounds each day after.
Pope Francis was chosen on the second day.
FIFA World Cup host cities lay out security plans ahead of matches
Host cities ramp up security and anti-human trafficking efforts ahead of FIFA World Cup matches across the U.S.
The FIFA World Cup is coming to Massachusetts, and when it comes to having a place for people to hang out together, there will be a free fan zone where everyone can celebrate the big event.
Seven World Cup matches will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA this summer, and the first one is right around the corner, to be played on June 13, with Scotland taking on Haiti.
Fan Zones are a public space to watch the game for people who don’t have tickets to the actual game. Held in public places, they broadcast the mach on giant screens to offer an immersive experience to watch the game, according to FIFA>
“At the heart of FIFA Fan Festival Boston, (a) Cultural Showcase will ignite the stage with a vibrant celebration of the spirit, creativity, and cultural heartbeat of Boston and communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” FIFA said.
Where will the fan zone be located when the World Cup games start in just 11 days?
Where is the World Cup fan zone going to be in Massachusetts?
The official FIFA Fan Festival for the 2026 World Cup in Boston will be located at Boston City Hall Plaza at 1 City Hall Sq. Boston, MA.
“The festival will run daily from June 12 through June 27, offering live match broadcasts, cultural showcases, food vendors, and entertainment,” according to FIFA.
The fan zone will open between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and will stay open until after dark, between 8:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. according to reports.
Activities at the fan zone
Here are some of the offerings at the fan zone in Boston, according to the FIFA website:
- Live broadcasts: Giant outdoor screens that broadcast tournament matches in high-definition.
- Entertainment & music: Live concerts, DJ sets, and performances celebrating global culture.
- Interactive activations: Skills challenges, mini-pitches, inflatable games, and sponsor booths.
- Food & merch: International food stalls, local beverage offerings, and official tournament merchandise.
How to go to the fan zone
While the game is free, you do need to register in advance.
“You can select which days and matches you plan to attend through the FIFA World Cup Boston 2026 website or the Meet Boston events page. Up to six people can register on a single application,” the World Cup Boston website says.
So you’re saying there’s a chance? Despite an abysmal start to the 2026 season, the Boston Red Sox remain in the mix for a playoff spot. At least according to FanGraphs, who gives the club a 27.1% chance of reaching the postseason.
Boston’s likely path to October means winning the wild card. FanGraphs gives the Red Sox a 26.1% chance of winning an American League wild card. The team currently sits threes games back of the third and final wild card, despite a record of 25-33.
Don’t look for a division title this year in Beantown. FanGraphs gives the Red Sox a 1% chance of winning the AL East. Which makes sense, since the team currently sits in last place, 11.5 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.
But SI’s Tom Verducci and Will Laws thinks Boston has a much tougher chance of making the playoffs. In their deep dive of the postseason, the pair came up with what they call the “Line of Doom.” According to their research, a team that starts “no better than 23–31 and your season is almost over only one-third of the way through the schedule.” Here’s why.
“In the wild card era (since 1995), only one team made the postseason starting with less than 22 wins in the first 54 games, the 2005 Astros (20–34). Of the 231 teams to start 23–31 or worse, only seven made the playoffs—once every 33 times,” Verducci and Laws note.
“Since the postseason field expanded in 2022, 31 teams began 23–31 or worse. Only one, the 2024 Mets (22–32), made the playoffs. That leaves such slow starters with a 1 in 31 chance—virtually the same as the larger sample size,” the pair add.
“The fact is one-third of the season does a good job separating pretenders from contenders. And as the calendar flips to June, understand that the playoff spots won’t change very much. In the four seasons with 12 playoff spots up for grabs, teams in playoff position when May ended kept a playoff spot 73% of the time—35 of 48 teams,” Verducci and Laws conclude.
So what does this have to do with the Red Sox, you ask? It’s Boston’s record after 54 games: 23-31. The “Line of Doom.”
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