Pope Francis

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Vatican Shares Photos of Pope in Open Casket

Mourners can pay their respects at St. Peter's Basilica before Saturday's funeral

(Newser) - Pope Francis' body lay at rest in the chapel of his residence in Vatican City on Tuesday, not far from the papal apartments, now sealed with wax . It's a tradition in the period known as "sede vacante" or "empty seat," marking the transition between pontiffs. This...

Papal Conclave Could Deliver a 'History-Making Moment'

First modern pope from Asia or Africa is possible

(Newser) - Many names have been thrown about in discussions about the next pope, but a few frontrunners are emerging in the leadup to the papal conclave early next month.
  • Americans: USA Today names two American contenders: Cardinal Joseph Tobin, 72, the archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, is a "fierce advocate
...

The Acting Pope Is an Irish-Born US Citizen

Cardinal Kevin Farrell is the acting head of the Vatican until a new pope is elected

(Newser) - Following Pope Francis' death Monday at age 88, the Vatican will have an acting head until a new pontiff is chosen during the conclave process. That acting head, or camerlengo, is Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, and ultimately became a naturalized US citizen, NPR reports. Francis...

The Beloved Pope Francis Did Have 'Many Critics'

The progressive pontiff sometimes butted heads with conservative clergy

(Newser) - Pope Francis was being remembered as a beloved leader of the Catholic Church following his death Monday at age 88, but the pontiff was not without his critics over the years since he was elected pope in 2013. A look at some of them:
  • Conservative US Catholics: As the New
...

Every Night, Pope Called a Small Church in Gaza

Francis asked Palestinian Catholics 'to be strong'

(Newser) - Hours after the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023, the only Catholic church in Gaza received a call from Rome. It was the first of what became nightly discussions between the parishioners of Holy Family Church and Pope Francis, Reuters reports. The pope "always healed our wounds and asked...

Trump Says He'll Be at Pope's Funeral

He orders flags flown at half-staff to honor Francis

(Newser) - President Trump has ordered flags at the White House and all other federal buildings to be flown at half-staff Monday in honor of Pope Francis. Trump made the announcement at the start of the White House Easter Egg Roll, flanked by Melania Trump and the Easter Bunny, USA Today reports....

Vatican: Pope Died From Stroke, Heart Failure
Vatican: Pope Died of a Stroke
Apr 21, 2025 2:35 PM CDT

Vatican: Pope Died of a Stroke

Vatican says pontiff asked for a 'simple' tomb with a one-word inscription

(Newser) - Pope Francis' death hours after his final appearance was caused by a stroke, followed by irreversible heart failure, the Vatican said in a statement Monday. In a death certificate, Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli said the 88-year-old fell into a coma before his death early Monday, Reuters reports. The Vatican statement...

An American Pope? One Name Is in Contention
An American Pope? One
Name Is in Contention
the rundown
Apr 21, 2025 8:23 AM CDT

An American Pope? One Name Is in Contention

Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago native, is among those seen as a possible successor

(Newser) - So who will be the next pope? Even as the tributes pour in for Pope Francis after his death on Monday morning , the question is at the forefront for the Catholic Church. The Washington Post sees no clear favorite at the moment, but the newspaper and other outlets are...

5 Things to Know About Francis&#39; Life, Papacy
5 Things to Know About
Francis' Life, Papacy
the rundown
Apr 21, 2025 6:39 AM CDT

5 Things to Know About Francis' Life, Papacy

The Argentina-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio has died at 88

(Newser) - The death of Pope Francis at age 88 has led to an outpouring of tributes and coverage about his life and papacy. Some highlights:
  • His calling: Francis was born on Dec. 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He was the eldest of five siblings born to
...

JD Vance: I'm Happy I Got to Meet the Pope

US vice president snagged the pontiff's 'last official meeting'

(Newser) - Vice President JD Vance has acknowledged the passing of Pope Francis a day after their meeting at the Vatican . "My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him," the Catholic convert wrote Monday on X , per USA Today . Vance said he...

Pope Francis Dies Hours After Final Public Appearance

Pontiff, 88, had been recovering from pneumonia

(Newser) - Pope Francis, history's first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, died Monday at age 88, per the AP . Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement,...

Pope Has Easter Meeting With JD Vance

Pontiff also makes a surprise trip in the popemobile

(Newser) - Vice President JD Vance met briefly with Pope Francis on Sunday to exchange Easter greetings, after they got into a long-distance tangle over the Trump administration's migrant deportation plans. The Vatican said they met for a few minutes at the papal residence in Vatican City "to exchange Easter...

Vatican, White House Report Vance Meeting Differently

Church statement calls session an 'exchange of opinions'

(Newser) - Vice President JD Vance met with the Catholic Church's top diplomats at the Vatican on Saturday, in the shadow of Pope Francis' criticism of the Trump administration's deportation policy and Vance's theological defense of it. The tension was reflected in the official statements released after Vance met...

&#39;Maverick&#39; Pope Visits Rome Prison
'Maverick' Pope
Visits Rome Prison
Apr 17, 2025 4:45 PM CDT

'Maverick' Pope Visits Rome Prison

Francis has been making surprise public appearances despite doctors' orders

(Newser) - It's been less than a month since Pope Francis was released from a Rome hospital after a five-week stay in which he came close to death , but he has been making an increasing number of public outings despite doctors' orders to take it easy and avoid crowds. On Thursday,...

Pope Puts 'God's Architect' on Track for Sainthood

Francis starts process for Antoni Gaudi, designer of Barcelona's famous Sagrada Familia basilica

(Newser) - Antoni Gaudi just took his first official step toward becoming a saint. The Catalan architect who designed the still-in-progress Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, has been placed on the path to sainthood by Pope Francis, who in a Monday decree declared Gaudi "venerable" and full of "heroic...

Pope Begins Holy Week With Appearance



Pope Greets
Palm Sunday
Worshippers
Apr 13, 2025 2:30 PM CDT

Pope Greets Palm Sunday Worshippers

Francis, not wearing nasal tubes this time, delivers brief message

(Newser) - A convalescing Pope Francis greeted the crowd in St. Peter's Square on Palm Sunday, wishing more than 20,000 faithful a "Happy Palm Sunday, Happy Holy Week" in another reassuring public sign of his recovery from a life-threatening battle with double pneumonia. Many in the crowd reached out...

Charles, Camilla Mark Anniversary in Memorable Way

Pair made surprise private visit with Francis as he continues to recover from pneumonia

(Newser) - Some people go out to dinner for their anniversaries; others meet up with the pope. King Charles III and Queen Camilla chose the latter Wednesday for their own two-decade mark during a state visit in Italy. Reuters reports that the royal couple was originally supposed to have made an official...

Cheers Welcome Pope in Surprise Reappearance

Francis emerges in St. Peter's Square near the end of Mass for health care workers, patients

(Newser) - There was no announcement of Pope Francis' arrival in St. Peter's Square in Rome on Sunday near the end of a Mass for health care workers and their patients. But the roar of applause and cheers from the crowd made what was happening clear, the New York Times reports:...

Papua New Guinea's First Saint Was Betrayed by His Brother

Pope paves the way for 3 canonizations

(Newser) - Though doctors prescribed two months of rest after his case of double pneumonia, Pope Francis isn't sitting idle behind the Vatican walls, the Vatican said Tuesday. He has regular physical and respiratory therapy—"which means his voice is also improving"—is able to work at his desk,...

Remember When the Pope Was at Death's Door? Not Anymore

Doc says Francis is 'lively,' showing 'truly surprising improvement' after long bronchitis, pneumonia bout

(Newser) - Pope Francis has shown "a truly surprising improvement" since returning to the Vatican to convalesce after surviving a life-threatening bout with double pneumonia, the doctor who coordinated the pontiff's five-week hospitalization said Saturday. "I find him very lively," Dr. Sergio Alfieri said, after visiting the pope...

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