Pope Francis

Pope Francis

The World Prepares to Bid Farewell to Pope Francis
The World Prepares to Bid Farewell to Pope Francis

Some 250,000 people paid their respects to Pope Francis during a three-day lying in state at St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican said on Friday, as public viewing ended and world leaders began gathering for his funeral. French President Emmanuel Macron was among the last to pay his respects, with the overall crowds exceeding the estimated 195,000 ...

'White Flag': Pope Leaves Bitter Legacy in Ukraine
'White Flag': Pope Leaves Bitter Legacy in Ukraine

As Catholics around the world mourn Pope Francis, many Ukrainians will remember him bitterly for failing to clearly blame Russia for its invasion and calling for Ukraine to raise the "white flag". President Volodymyr Zelensky will be one of the prominent mourners at Saturday's funeral for Francis even though the pope never visited Ukraine and ...

Vatican Braces for Huge Crowds Ahead of Pope's Funeral
Vatican Braces for Huge Crowds Ahead of Pope's Funeral

The Vatican will make final preparations Friday for Pope Francis's funeral as the last of the huge crowds of mourners file through St Peter's Basilica to view his open coffin. Many of the 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs attending Saturday's ceremony in St Peter's Square, who include US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr ...

Servant of the World: The Heavy Mantle Facing the Next Pope
ExplainerServant of the World: The Heavy Mantle Facing the Next Pope

Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, a conclave is set to convene in early May to elect his successor as the leader of the Catholic Church. The 267th pope will face formidable challenges in continuing the mission of this 2,000-year-old institution and spreading the message of Jesus. This responsibility is particularly daunting in a ...

Why Are Some of the Pope’s Jewels Destroyed After His Death?
SpotlightWhy Are Some of the Pope’s Jewels Destroyed After His Death?

When a pope dies, it’s not only the prayers of the Catholic world that accompany his passing. Behind the scenes, a ritual—codified, discreet, and often unknown—takes place, such as the destruction of certain jewels. Among them, the most well-known is the Ring of the Fisherman, ritually broken in public. Other items—seals, pectoral crosses, ...

Huge Crowds Expected for Second Day of Pope Lying in State
Huge Crowds Expected for Second Day of Pope Lying in State

Huge crowds were expected on Thursday for a glimpse of Pope Francis's body on the second day of public tributes, afer St Peter's Basilica stayed open almost all night to accomodate the crowds. Close to 20,000 people filtered past the Catholic leader's red-lined wooden coffin in the first eight hours of the lying in state on Wednesday. Instead of ...

The World Leaders Set to Attend Pope Francis's Funeral
The World Leaders Set to Attend Pope Francis's Funeral

Many world leaders have announced they will travel to Rome for Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday, which is expected to draw a huge crowd in the square in front of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Here is a list of the expected VIP guests. Americas ARGENTINA: President Javier Milei. The pope, who was born in Argentina in 1936, had a ...

Tens of Thousands Bid Farewell to Pope Francis Lying in State
Tens of Thousands Bid Farewell to Pope Francis Lying in State

Tens of thousands of mourners began saying their last goodbyes to Pope Francis at St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday, as the body of the late Argentine pontiff began three days of lying in state. By mid-afternoon, the wait to enter St Peter's Basilica was about three hours, as the long line of pilgrims and tourists wishing to pass by the pontiff's ...

What We Know Ahead of Pope Francis’s Funeral
What We Know Ahead of Pope Francis’s Funeral

Pope Francis, who died this week at age 88 of a stroke at the Vatican, will be buried on Saturday. World leaders and worshippers will be present at his funeral before a conclave of cardinals is convened to elect a successor. Here's what we know about the processes leading up to the election of a new pope.  Lying in state  Francis's body was ...

Pilgrims Flock to Pay Tribute to Pope Lying in State
Pilgrims Flock to Pay Tribute to Pope Lying in State

Pope Francis's open coffin was transferred Wednesday to St Peter's Basilica for three days of lying in state, with thousands of people gathering to pay their respects to the leader of the world's Catholics. Bells from the basilica rang out as the wooden coffin was carried in procession past packed crowds in St Peter's Square, accompanied by ...

Embalming and Make-up: Pope’s Body Prepared for Lying-In-State
Embalming and Make-up: Pope’s Body Prepared for Lying-In-State

Ahead of his lying-in-state, Pope Francis's body was made ready to withstand Rome's warm spring weather with a temporary embalming and a touch of make-up, an expert told AFP. The body of the 88-year-old, who died on Monday, will be on display for three days in Saint Peter's Basilica from Wednesday before his funeral on Saturday. With thousands ...

Pope Francis’s Quiet Farewell: Final Words and Last Moments Revealed
Pope Francis’s Quiet Farewell: Final Words and Last Moments Revealed

According to the Vatican, Pope Francis thanked his personal nurse for encouraging him to greet the crowds in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday. The Vatican reported these among his final words. The Argentine pontiff, aged 88, died on Monday morning following a stroke, less than a month after returning home from a five-week hospital stay to ...

Pope Francis’ Funeral Set for Saturday, World Leaders Expected
Pope Francis’ Funeral Set for Saturday, World Leaders Expected

Pope Francis's funeral will be held on Saturday, the Vatican announced Tuesday, as world leaders from US President Donald Trump to Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky said they would attend to honor the Catholic leader. The Argentine pontiff, 88, died on Monday from a stroke, less than a month after returning home from five weeks in hospital battling ...

As World Mourns, Cardinals Prepare Pope's Funeral
As World Mourns, Cardinals Prepare Pope's Funeral

Cardinals will meet Tuesday to decide the date for Pope Francis's funeral, starting a process that will culminate in the election of a new Catholic leader within three weeks. Francis, the head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, died at his home in the Vatican on Monday aged 88 after suffering a stroke. He had been recovering from double ...

Pope Francis's Death : The World  Salutes a Paladin of Peace
Pope Francis's Death : The World Salutes a Paladin of Peace

Pope Francis died Monday morning in the Vatican at the age of 88, following a stroke, as announced by the Vatican. His death sparked a wave of emotion and reactions across the globe. Political leaders, religious figures, and faithful from around the world paid tribute to the Argentine pontiff, who left a mark on the Catholic Church through his ...

Pope Francis has died: Vatican
Pope Francis has died: Vatican

Pope Francis died on Monday aged 88, following a stroke, as announced by the Vatican a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter's Square on Easter Sunday, the Vatican said in a statement. "Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," said ...

“A True Friend of Palestine”: The Arab World’s Grief After Pope Francis’s Death
“A True Friend of Palestine”: The Arab World’s Grief After Pope Francis’s Death

Middle Eastern leaders and Arab movements praised Pope Francis, who died on Monday, for criticizing Israel's offensive on Gaza, his calls for a ceasefire and his commitment to interfaith dialogue. "We lost a faithful friend of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights," Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said, according to the official ...

15 Potential Successors to Pope Francis
15 Potential Successors to Pope Francis

The April 21 death of Pope Francis triggered a period of mourning in the Catholic Church, but also kick-started the race for his successor. Whether diplomats, theologians, mediators or Vatican insiders, here are 15 cardinals who are among the potential favorites to become the next pope, known as the "papabili", divided by region. This list ...

“He Never Forgot Gaza”: Palestinian Catholics Express Sorrow After Pope Francis’s Death
“He Never Forgot Gaza”: Palestinian Catholics Express Sorrow After Pope Francis’s Death

Palestinian Christians in Gaza on Monday mourned the death of Pope Francis, who had maintained close and consistent video contact with the small Christian community in the territory throughout the ongoing war. Since the outbreak of fighting between Israel and Hamas, Francis had regularly called Gaza's Christians, often several times a week, ...

Pope Francis: \
SpotlightPope Francis: "Providence Will Never Forsake Lebanon"

Pope Francis has always kept Lebanon close to his heart. According to those close to him and many of his visitors, the Holy Father has remained closely informed about developments in the country. While he has not visited Lebanon—due to both health concerns and the political vacuum created by the absence of a president and a fully functioning ...

Lebanon Grieves Deeply After Shocking Death of Pope Francis
Lebanon Grieves Deeply After Shocking Death of Pope Francis

The Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, sparking a wave of sorrow across the globe. In Lebanon, the news reverberated deeply, uniting both political and religious leaders in mourning the loss of a spiritual icon whose message of peace and inclusion touched millions. The Presidency of the Council of Ministers declared a ...

Pope Francis Dies at 88: A Legacy of Peace, Reform, and Compassion
PortraitPope Francis Dies at 88: A Legacy of Peace, Reform, and Compassion

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, passed away on Monday at the age of 88. The first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to lead the Roman Catholic Church, Francis leaves behind a profound legacy of humility, reform, and global outreach. Humble Beginnings in Buenos Aires The son of ...

Key Dates in the Life of Pope Francis
Numbers & FiguresKey Dates in the Life of Pope Francis

Here are some key dates in the life of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and Latin American pope, who died on Monday aged 88: December 17, 1936: Jorge Mario Bergoglio is born in Buenos Aires to an accountant and a housewife from an Italian emigrant family.  September 21, 1953: Receives his calling to become a priest. He later described being moved ...