Last night, I found myself in an elevator with the Pope—or something pope-ish—when a chainsaw blared outside my window. Reality check: 8:19am, the conclave was in full swing, and my special edition blog was still asleep. But don’t worry, there’s more in this blog: a bird-elected Pope and a photo tour of the Basilica di S. Cecilia, where martyrdom meets subterranean secrets.

The world bids farewell to Pope Francis, and as the cardinals shuffle in, I’m tracking the conclave from afar in this special edition blog. The Vatican buzzes with anticipation, and I buzz with procrastination. In this issue: battling writing demons, conclave fun facts, and a photo tour of Rome’s icons—while I expertly sidestep a job hunt.