Pope Francis: Tears, tributes and hope as faithful and well-wishers come together to celebrate remarkable life
Newspaper stalls and souvenir stands lie bare along the Via della Conciliazione.
For days, pilgrims and tourists have grabbed whatever souvenirs they can to commemorate the moment.
Propelled by a nervous energy that, in contrast to the empty stalls, fills St Peter's Square as the Catholic Church begins turning a significant page in its history.
'Unbelievable. I'm a history teacher myself, it's very rare that you get to be a part of an event that I'll be teaching in a couple of years or so,' said Jyssica Sherwood, who learnt of the Pope's death on holiday when the bells of St Peter's Basilica rang out.
She, like thousands of tourists here, is awed by the occasion rather than being gripped by sadness.
'This is my third time here in Rome and I've never seen it as I'm seeing it today. It's quite amazing. Despite the circumstances it's good to see good things coming out of it,' she said.
Even clergy are viewing his passing through a prism of optimism.
'We are also rejoicing in the fact that the passing of Pope Francis has been so gracious, so beautiful, so blessed,' said Father Joao Vila-Cha.
The Portuguese Jesuit feels a 'deep profound gratitude' to Francis.
The first of his order to become Pontiff, Francis worked right up until his death, delivering the Easter Sunday mass hours before he suffered a stroke and heart failure.
Father Vila-Cha will be among the thousands of mourners who see the Pope lying in state before his funeral on Saturday.
Vatican sources say the institution is preparing for a minimum 200,000 guests at the funeral, among them will be 170 foreign delegations.
Donald Trump is set to arrive on Friday. Prince William, standing in for his father King Charles, and Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky will also be there.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn, the Ambassador to the Vatican Designate, Keith Pitt, Senator Don Farrell and Michael McCormack will represent Australia.
'Most people are remembering him as a pope of the people who prioritised the least among those in society,' said Christopher White, the National Catholic Reporter's Vatican correspondent.
But the traits that enamoured him to more than a billion people around the world, are the same that inspired his fiercest critics inside the church.
In particular in the College of Cardinals.
'The men tasked with electing a new pope face a stark choice. Do they want to continue on the path of reform that Pope Francis initiated?' White said.
'Or do they want to initiate a course correction and go back to a church that's more rigid and focused on doctrine?'
Two of his fiercest opponents were Cardinal Robert Sarah from Guinea and Cardinal Raymond Burke from the US.
The pair staged a choreographed entrance to the Vatican.
'The fact they showed up together seemed to be a telling statement to those of us watching.' White said.
But even if the Church performs a U-turn on the progressive path Francis forged, there are some vestiges of 'Papa Francesco' that will be hard to dislodge.
'It'll be very hard to have a Pope that's goes back to the era where the papacy is viewed as a monarchy,' White said.
Father Vila-Cha agreed.
'I think what will endure is the proximity,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Ukrainian army says it struck Russian gunpowder plant
The Ukrainian military says it has struck a major Russian gunpowder plant in the western Tambov region, causing a fire at the site. The Ukrainian military characterised the plant as one of the main facilities in Russia's military industrial complex. "It produces gunpowder for various types of small arms, artillery and rocket systems," it said in a statement on Telegram. Tambov regional Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said early on Wednesday that Russian defences had repelled a "massive attack" by Ukrainian drones on the town of Kotovsk, which independent Russian media identified as the site of a gunpowder plant. He said one downed drone had caused a fire but no casualties, and the situation was under control. Pervyshov also told people not to film and publish images of air defence operations and attempted attacks, as this would provide "direct assistance to the enemy". The Tambov gunpowder plant produces propellant powders used in charges for ammunition for 122 mm and 152 mm howitzers, according to a report from the Royal United Services Institute and the Open Source Centre. The Ukrainian military also said that it recorded explosions at an ammunition depot in Russia's Kursk region and an airfield depot in Russia's Voronezh region. Reuters was not able to independently confirm the incidents. Ukraine accepted the bodies of 1212 of its fallen soldiers from Russia after days of dispute, the Ukrainian agency dealing with prisoners of war said on Wednesday. The soldiers died in battles in Russia's Kursk region and the Ukrainian regions of Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, the agency said. Russia received 27 killed soldiers in return, Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said. "Now they can be laid to rest in a Christian manner," he wrote on Telegram. Russia has for days accused Ukraine of failing to accept the remains, and called on Ukrainian authorities to comply with agreements reached between the warring parties in talks in Istanbul at the beginning of the month. Russia transported the bodies ready for handover over the weekend in what it termed a "humanitarian action" while Ukraine said that no agreement on a handover date had been reached. The Istanbul talks provided for the return of the remains of more than 6000 fallen soldiers from Russia to Ukraine. Work on implementing the Istanbul agreements will continue, Medinsky said, with an exchange of seriously wounded prisoners of war to take place on Thursday. Ukraine and Russia had already exchanged an unspecified number of prisoners in recent days. In Istanbul, it was agreed that each side would release in stages 1200 prisoners - those under 25, the seriously wounded and the seriously ill. Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than three years. During the war, there have been repeated exchanges of prisoners and the return of bodies. A Russian drone strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv killed at least two people and injured dozens, local media reported early on Wednesday. with DPA The Ukrainian military says it has struck a major Russian gunpowder plant in the western Tambov region, causing a fire at the site. The Ukrainian military characterised the plant as one of the main facilities in Russia's military industrial complex. "It produces gunpowder for various types of small arms, artillery and rocket systems," it said in a statement on Telegram. Tambov regional Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said early on Wednesday that Russian defences had repelled a "massive attack" by Ukrainian drones on the town of Kotovsk, which independent Russian media identified as the site of a gunpowder plant. He said one downed drone had caused a fire but no casualties, and the situation was under control. Pervyshov also told people not to film and publish images of air defence operations and attempted attacks, as this would provide "direct assistance to the enemy". The Tambov gunpowder plant produces propellant powders used in charges for ammunition for 122 mm and 152 mm howitzers, according to a report from the Royal United Services Institute and the Open Source Centre. The Ukrainian military also said that it recorded explosions at an ammunition depot in Russia's Kursk region and an airfield depot in Russia's Voronezh region. Reuters was not able to independently confirm the incidents. Ukraine accepted the bodies of 1212 of its fallen soldiers from Russia after days of dispute, the Ukrainian agency dealing with prisoners of war said on Wednesday. The soldiers died in battles in Russia's Kursk region and the Ukrainian regions of Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, the agency said. Russia received 27 killed soldiers in return, Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said. "Now they can be laid to rest in a Christian manner," he wrote on Telegram. Russia has for days accused Ukraine of failing to accept the remains, and called on Ukrainian authorities to comply with agreements reached between the warring parties in talks in Istanbul at the beginning of the month. Russia transported the bodies ready for handover over the weekend in what it termed a "humanitarian action" while Ukraine said that no agreement on a handover date had been reached. The Istanbul talks provided for the return of the remains of more than 6000 fallen soldiers from Russia to Ukraine. Work on implementing the Istanbul agreements will continue, Medinsky said, with an exchange of seriously wounded prisoners of war to take place on Thursday. Ukraine and Russia had already exchanged an unspecified number of prisoners in recent days. In Istanbul, it was agreed that each side would release in stages 1200 prisoners - those under 25, the seriously wounded and the seriously ill. Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than three years. During the war, there have been repeated exchanges of prisoners and the return of bodies. A Russian drone strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv killed at least two people and injured dozens, local media reported early on Wednesday. with DPA The Ukrainian military says it has struck a major Russian gunpowder plant in the western Tambov region, causing a fire at the site. The Ukrainian military characterised the plant as one of the main facilities in Russia's military industrial complex. "It produces gunpowder for various types of small arms, artillery and rocket systems," it said in a statement on Telegram. Tambov regional Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said early on Wednesday that Russian defences had repelled a "massive attack" by Ukrainian drones on the town of Kotovsk, which independent Russian media identified as the site of a gunpowder plant. He said one downed drone had caused a fire but no casualties, and the situation was under control. Pervyshov also told people not to film and publish images of air defence operations and attempted attacks, as this would provide "direct assistance to the enemy". The Tambov gunpowder plant produces propellant powders used in charges for ammunition for 122 mm and 152 mm howitzers, according to a report from the Royal United Services Institute and the Open Source Centre. The Ukrainian military also said that it recorded explosions at an ammunition depot in Russia's Kursk region and an airfield depot in Russia's Voronezh region. Reuters was not able to independently confirm the incidents. Ukraine accepted the bodies of 1212 of its fallen soldiers from Russia after days of dispute, the Ukrainian agency dealing with prisoners of war said on Wednesday. The soldiers died in battles in Russia's Kursk region and the Ukrainian regions of Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, the agency said. Russia received 27 killed soldiers in return, Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said. "Now they can be laid to rest in a Christian manner," he wrote on Telegram. Russia has for days accused Ukraine of failing to accept the remains, and called on Ukrainian authorities to comply with agreements reached between the warring parties in talks in Istanbul at the beginning of the month. Russia transported the bodies ready for handover over the weekend in what it termed a "humanitarian action" while Ukraine said that no agreement on a handover date had been reached. The Istanbul talks provided for the return of the remains of more than 6000 fallen soldiers from Russia to Ukraine. Work on implementing the Istanbul agreements will continue, Medinsky said, with an exchange of seriously wounded prisoners of war to take place on Thursday. Ukraine and Russia had already exchanged an unspecified number of prisoners in recent days. In Istanbul, it was agreed that each side would release in stages 1200 prisoners - those under 25, the seriously wounded and the seriously ill. Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than three years. During the war, there have been repeated exchanges of prisoners and the return of bodies. A Russian drone strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv killed at least two people and injured dozens, local media reported early on Wednesday. with DPA The Ukrainian military says it has struck a major Russian gunpowder plant in the western Tambov region, causing a fire at the site. The Ukrainian military characterised the plant as one of the main facilities in Russia's military industrial complex. "It produces gunpowder for various types of small arms, artillery and rocket systems," it said in a statement on Telegram. Tambov regional Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said early on Wednesday that Russian defences had repelled a "massive attack" by Ukrainian drones on the town of Kotovsk, which independent Russian media identified as the site of a gunpowder plant. He said one downed drone had caused a fire but no casualties, and the situation was under control. Pervyshov also told people not to film and publish images of air defence operations and attempted attacks, as this would provide "direct assistance to the enemy". The Tambov gunpowder plant produces propellant powders used in charges for ammunition for 122 mm and 152 mm howitzers, according to a report from the Royal United Services Institute and the Open Source Centre. The Ukrainian military also said that it recorded explosions at an ammunition depot in Russia's Kursk region and an airfield depot in Russia's Voronezh region. Reuters was not able to independently confirm the incidents. Ukraine accepted the bodies of 1212 of its fallen soldiers from Russia after days of dispute, the Ukrainian agency dealing with prisoners of war said on Wednesday. The soldiers died in battles in Russia's Kursk region and the Ukrainian regions of Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, the agency said. Russia received 27 killed soldiers in return, Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said. "Now they can be laid to rest in a Christian manner," he wrote on Telegram. Russia has for days accused Ukraine of failing to accept the remains, and called on Ukrainian authorities to comply with agreements reached between the warring parties in talks in Istanbul at the beginning of the month. Russia transported the bodies ready for handover over the weekend in what it termed a "humanitarian action" while Ukraine said that no agreement on a handover date had been reached. The Istanbul talks provided for the return of the remains of more than 6000 fallen soldiers from Russia to Ukraine. Work on implementing the Istanbul agreements will continue, Medinsky said, with an exchange of seriously wounded prisoners of war to take place on Thursday. Ukraine and Russia had already exchanged an unspecified number of prisoners in recent days. In Istanbul, it was agreed that each side would release in stages 1200 prisoners - those under 25, the seriously wounded and the seriously ill. Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than three years. During the war, there have been repeated exchanges of prisoners and the return of bodies. A Russian drone strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv killed at least two people and injured dozens, local media reported early on Wednesday. with DPA
Canberra Times
3 hours ago
- Canberra Times
Ukrainian army says it struck Russian gunpowder plant
Russia has for days accused Ukraine of failing to accept the remains, and called on Ukrainian authorities to comply with agreements reached between the warring parties in talks in Istanbul at the beginning of the month.
ABC News
3 hours ago
- ABC News
Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan to continue deal with China over appointments
A new Chinese bishop has been installed by Pope Leo XIV, signalling that a controversial Vatican accord with Beijing over Catholic bishop appointments will continue under his papacy. Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan, 73, was appointed by Leo as an assistant in Fuzhou, capital of Fuijan province. The announcement was made within the framework of a diplomatic deal originally struck in 2018 that gives Chinese officials some input into papal appointments. Some conservative Catholics have criticised the Vatican-China deal, which was negotiated under the late Pope Francis, saying it gives too much influence to China's ruling communists, who have kept a tight rein on religious practice since taking power in 1949. The Vatican stresses that the pope retains final decision-making power, and says the accord resolves a decades-long split between an underground church swearing loyalty to the Vatican, and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association. Lin had previously been ordained a bishop in the underground church in 2017. The Vatican said in a brief statement that it had "learned with satisfaction" that his role had been officially recognised by the government. "This event constitutes another fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and Chinese authorities and is a significant step," it said. Michel Chambon, an academic who has written extensively on Christianity in Asia and the Chinese church, said the installation indicates that both parties want to continue with the accord. As part of Wednesday's ceremony, Lin swore to abide by Chinese laws and to safeguard social harmony, according to a report on social media provided by the Catholic Patriotic Association. Across China there are about 5 million Catholics in a total population of 1.4 billion, the Vatican estimates. The Vatican and China last renewed their accord in October 2024, for a further period of four years. The text of the deal has never been published, but only described by diplomatic officials. Reuters/ABC
