Black Smoke over Vatican Signals No New Pope Yet

Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday night, signalling that the first round of voting in the papal conclave failed to elect a new leader for the Catholic Church. Thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square to witness the outcome.

Nawrocki White House Visit Highlights Critical Poland–U.S. Relationship

In a reversal of last year’s U.S. campaign outreach to Polish Americans, Polish presidential hopeful Karol Nawrocki is now courting Washington. His meeting with President Trump signals a rare, quasi-endorsement of a foreign candidate—one that’s ignited controversy back home amid claims of lawfare and foreign interference.

Orbán Hits Back at Zelenskyy’s Baseless Claims and Threats

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that an overwhelming majority of Hungarians—around 70 per cent—support Kyiv’s EU bid, citing an ‘open survey’ conducted by the Hungarian opposition. While this claim is factually incorrect, Zelenskyy also issued a veiled threat to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, warning him not to block Ukraine’s accession or face consequences.

On Trump’s Pope Image: A Sign of the Times

President Trump sparked backlash after posting an AI-generated image of himself as the Pope, drawing outrage from Catholic leaders and public figures alike. While some defended the move as harmless, it can be seen as part of a broader decline in respect for the papacy and its spiritual authority.

AUR’s Simion Claims First-Round Victory in Romania’s Presidential Race

George Simion, candidate of AUR, won the first round of Romania’s presidential election, finishing ahead of Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan. The two will face off in the second round on 18 May, as the country grapples with the most serious democratic crisis in its modern history following the constitutional court’s annulment of the previous presidential results last December on questionable grounds.

Guiding Hungarian Firms into US Market — An Interview with Martin Zsarnóczky of AmHunCham

‘It is vital for the future that American companies do not see Hungary as a mere independent market, but as a regional hub with 120 million consumers from Poland to Greece,’ Martin Zsarnóczky stressed in an interview with Hungarian Conservative. The President of the American–Hungarian Chamber of Commerce in New York explained that their goal is to support the presence of Hungarian and European firms in the US market.

Trump Brings Hard Times for Populist Conservatives — Lessons from Canada

‘President Trump’s confrontational approach to reshaping the global economic order has inadvertently revived support for elites, institutions, and incumbents—undermining populist conservatism around the world,’ noted Samuel Duncan, a senior Canadian conservative adviser, in an interview with Hungarian Conservative. Reflecting on the recent election results in Canada, Duncan emphasized that conservatives globally must recalibrate their strategies to respond effectively to these developments.

View of Saint Peter’s Basilica and Vatican City, Rome, Italy

The Next Pope: Dealing With the Post-Francis Papacy

‘Having chosen to both forgo the traditional papal attire of his predecessors and to take up residence at the Casa Santa Marta—the five star hotel within the Vatican City walls—instead of the papal palace, Francis presented himself as a populist pope—or, as he was characterized after he died, the “people’s pope”—, vowing to drain the swamp of corruption in the Holy See and revolutionize the Church.’