Pope Francis

World Bids Farewell to Pope Francis

Tears and applause filled St. Peter’s Square as hundreds of thousands of mourners, alongside world leaders, bid farewell to Pope Francis –⁠ a pontiff celebrated for his compassion, humility and an unwavering call to “build bridges, not walls.”  

Trump, Zelensky Meet on Sidelines of Pope's Funeral

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky met briefly in St. Peter's basilica on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral in the Vatican on Saturday in their first encounter since a White House clash as the US president pushes the Ukrainian leader to make a peace deal with Russia. The two agreed to further talks after the funeral, the Ukraine ...

Hundreds of Thousands at Funeral for Pope 'With an Open Heart'

Hundreds of thousands of mourners and world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, packed St. Peter's Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, "pope among the people" and the Catholic Church's first Latin American leader. Some waited overnight to get a seat for the ceremony, with the Vatican reporting some ...

Huge Crowds Flock To Vatican for Pope Francis's Funeral

Tens of thousands of mourners flooded into St. Peter's Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, the champion of the poor and the Catholic Church's first Latin American leader. Some people waited overnight to be first in the queue for the ceremony, which will be attended by world leaders including US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's ...

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 ...

A Farewell in Faith: Qaraqosh Mourns the Pope

In Iraq’s Christian heartland, Easter Mass at al-Tahera Church became a poignant tribute to Pope Francis. Church bells echoed through Qaraqosh and Mosul, honoring the man whose 2021 visit brought solace after years of war and displacement. He is now mourned as a spiritual father by those he never forgot.

Pope Francis's Funeral: who's Attending?

The Vatican on Thursday said at least 130 foreign delegations had confirmed their attendance at Pope Francis's funeral, including 51 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs. Here is a list of VIP guests whose offices have confirmed they will be in Rome on Saturday. Americas  ARGENTINA: President Javier Milei. BRAZIL: President Luiz Inacio ...

Servant 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?

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 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 ...