
The Indo Daily: Conclave - White smoke and dark secrets
In centuries past, conclave meant cardinals that were literally locked away until a new pope had been elected. Today, it's the world that's locked out - awaiting the unmistakable white smoke.
Deep inside the Sistine Chapel cardinals are casting secret ballots, in a process shrouded in secrecy and tradition. But in the Vatican of 2025, even ancient rites come wrapped in modern convention and controversy. So how is a modern pope elected? Why are phones confiscated? Who really pulls the strings? And who is the cardinal who has been banned from Conclave?
In today's Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by journalist Sarah MacDonald and Michael Kelly (Director of Public Affairs for Aid to the Church in Need) to look at an election where faith and political intrigue collide.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Independent
18-07-2025
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: Trump's broken promises: Why the Epstein files are causing a MAGA meltdown
And yet, Epstein's influence - and the mystery surrounding his alleged 'client list'— is more alive than ever and is driving a wedge through Donald Trump's MAGA movement. During his election campaign last year, Trump promised to release Epstein-related files if elected, stirring hopes among his base that powerful elites complicit in Epstein's sex-trafficking network would be exposed. In February, Trump's attorney general Pam Bondi fanned the flames, saying the alleged client list was 'sitting on my desk right now to review'. But last week, the US justice department and the FBI declared that Epstein's death was conclusively ruled a suicide, and that no such client list exists. The announcement triggered outrage within MAGA ranks. Many of Trump's staunchest supporters are now accusing the administration of a cover-up and backpedalling on its promise to uncover the truth. Trump lashed out at his own base, dismissing the Epstein files as a 'hoax'. With pressure mounting, can Trump ride out the backlash, or will his refusal to deliver on the Epstein files fracture the movement he built? And can he pivot attention, as he often does, back to safer ground, like tariffs and trade wars? On today's Indo Daily, Tessa Fleming is joined by Lorcan Nyhan, Head of Training at the Communications Clinic, and Nikki McCann Ramirez, Political Reporter with Rolling Stone, to ask whether Donald Trump can ride out the Epstein storm or will this be the conspiracy that sinks him?


Irish Independent
22-06-2025
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: Noraid- The IRA and Sinn Féin's American funding wing - where all those dollars went
From lavish dinners to buckets in Irish pubs in the US, Noraid members collected millions of dollars for the republican cause. But the question was always: where did the money go? Did it – as claimed – go to help support the families of imprisoned IRA members or did it go towards buying arms? And if it did, were Noraid members involved in gun-running? RTÉ is set to broadcast a two-part documentary Noraid: Irish-America and the IRA. This series looks at how Irish-Americans helped to keep the Provisional IRA's armed campaign going, but also ultimately brought it to a conclusion. It was written and directed by Kevin Brannigan – he joined Ciarán Dunbar on The BelTel. Today's Indo Daily podcast comes from our sister podcast The BelTel.


Irish Independent
17-06-2025
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: Israel-Iran - 'The next 24 to 36 hours are crucial in the way this war may develop'
Israel launched sustained airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites on Friday and Iran has hit back hard, sending missiles raining down on Tel Aviv and Haifa. But the real bombshell is Tehran's threat to walk away from the nuclear treaty that's kept the lid on the region for decades. Today, Fionnán Sheahan is joined on the Indo Daily by Bel Trew, chief international correspondent with the UK Independent, and by Paul Rogers, emeritus professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University, to ask are we heading for a full-on war and could this spiral into a nuclear confrontation? And where does the EU – and Ireland – fit into a fight that's happening thousands of kilometres away, but edging dangerously close to our doorstep? The Indo Daily: Israel-Iran - 'The next 24 to 36 hours are crucial in the way this war may develop'