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Associated Press
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
AP PHOTOS: Romanian children celebrate International Children's Day at the Palace of Parliament
Students of a dance school wait outside Romania's Palace of Parliament during a series of events marking International Children's Day in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Bucharest, Romania (AP) — Children in Romania took part in a series of events marking International Children's Day at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest on Sunday. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. Students of a dance school pose for a photograph outside Romania's Palace of Parliament during a series of events marking International Children's Day in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Students of a dance school strike a pose outside Romania's Palace of Parliament during a series of events marking International Children's Day in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Students of a dance school wait outside Romania's Palace of Parliament during a series of events marking International Children's Day in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) A girl looks through the scope of a military firearm at an exhibition inside Romania's Palace of Parliament during a series of events marking International Children's Day in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Children touch a machine gun as they climb inside a transporter outside Romania's Palace of Parliament during a series of events marking International Children's Day in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) A girl gets a kiss inside Romania's Palace of Parliament during a series of events marking International Children's Day in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Students of a dance school wait outside Romania's Palace of Parliament during a series of events marking International Children's Day in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) A child plays with balloons inside Romania's Palace of Parliament during a series of events marking International Children's Day in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) A girl plays inside Romania's Palace of Parliament during a series of events marking International Children's Day in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Students of a dance school check their outfits outside Romania's Palace of Parliament during a series of events marking International Children's Day in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) A boy plays inside Romania's Palace of Parliament during a series of events marking International Children's Day in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Children interact with weapons at an exhibition inside Romania's Palace of Parliament during a series of events marking International Children's Day in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Students of a dance school wait outside Romania's Palace of Parliament during a series of events marking International Children's Day in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Irish Examiner
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Pope Francis's funeral: a day of selfies, souvenirs, and silent prayer in St Peter's Square
From the moment it began, Pope Francis's funeral Mass was, fittingly, as somber as any other — even if the near-400-year-old venue itself was unrivalled. But before prayers started to echo around the historic Italian Baroque basilica, bouncing off the colossal Tuscan colonnades embracing the piazza below from about 9.30am, you could have been forgiven for thinking the hundreds of thousands arriving were actually heading to a concert. All the singing, cheering, laughing, and general merriment lent a carnival atmosphere to proceedings. Souvenir shops did a roaring trade, their doors and walls heaving with everything from fridge magnets to two-foot-high Virgin Marys. Across St Peter's Square, countless couples and groups of friends posed for photos or pulled out selfie sticks to mark the occasion with the basilica as a backdrop. Youngsters hold a banner during the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) At times, it felt less like a funeral and more like just another stop on the Vatican tourist trail. On Friday, for example, after seeing the Pope lying in state, many visitors took the chance to admire the splendour of St Peter's Basilica: its giant doors, marble columns, stunning sculptures, and priceless works of art. In some corners of the square, where bags were scanned at small, airport-style kiosks, an unseemly scramble broke out as some tried to push past others to ensure a spot inside. Yet as the service began, the singing stopped, the laughter faded, and the selfie sticks disappeared. A respectful hush fell over the vast crowd almost instantly. A missionary man from Belize records a video after the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) When it came time to kneel, people knelt on the concrete beneath them without hesitation. The square and the surrounding areas were packed, with the crowd spilling down the Via della Conciliazione — the grand boulevard leading to the Christian world's biggest basilica — twenty deep in places, filling the road as far as the eye could see. Undeterred by their distance from the altar, tens of thousands made do with large video screens relaying the ceremony. Even as you moved further away into the city, the service remained ever-present: prayers and hymns floated through the open windows of nearby houses, while screens and speakers broadcast the Mass across other major squares. The coffin of Pope Francis passes the Colosseum in Rome, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) In fact, between St. Peter's Basilica and the Basilica of Saint Mary Major — a distance of 4km — the sounds of the service were all you could hear. At Saint Mary Major, where the Pope was later interred, large screens and speakers allowed waiting crowds to say a quieter, more personal goodbye. Both locations drew people of all ages, though there was a particularly strong presence of young people, including large groups of scouts in uniform. No doubt, when those young visitors begin attending their first concerts as teenagers, they'll remember the extraordinary 'gig' they witnessed in Rome this weekend — one unlike any other. Read More World leaders reminded of Pope Francis's calls for peace at Vatican funeral
Irish Examiner
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Francis hailed as ‘a pope among people' as world leaders join 200,000 mourners
The 'final image' of Pope Francis will be him greeting crowds on Easter Sunday despite 'serious health problems', the 200,000 people who gathered for his funeral in Vatican City were told. Presidents, prime ministers and cardinals are among those bidding a final farewell to a religious leader described as 'a pope among the people', whose death sparked tributes from across the globe. The 88-year-old, who died on Easter Monday, has been hailed for his leadership of the Church, proving popular among young people and known for his outreach to those most in need in society. People gather for the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican (Andreea Alexandru/AP) Addressing those gathered in St Peter's Square on Saturday morning, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said: 'The final image we have of him, which will remain etched in our memory, in our eyes and our hearts is that of last Sunday, Easter Sunday, when Pope Francis, despite his serious health problems, wanted to give us his blessings from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica. 'He then came down to this square to greet from his open pope-mobile the large crowd gathered for the Easter mass.' President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Micheál Martin joined US President Donald Trump, UK prime minister Keir Starmer and a host of other world leaders and dignitaries for the open-air funeral mass in St Peter's Square. Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to receive a round of applause as he stepped out of St Peter's Basilica. Volodymr Zelensky appeared to receive a warm welcome from many attending the Pope's funeral (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy met before the funeral and are expected to do so again afterwards, according to Ukrainian officials. The Vatican has said 200,000 people are attending the funeral. Others attending include Britain's Prince William – who is attending on behalf of King Charles, British foreign secretary David Lammy, Tánaiste Simon Harris, Scotland's first minister John Swinney and Michelle O'Neill, the first minister of Northern Ireland. The Prince of Wales, centre right, speaking with guests before the service (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) The seating plan was based on a complex order of precedence, with Argentina – the country of the Pope's birth – and Italy at the front. Other sovereigns, heads of state, and heads of government were then seated in alphabetical order of their countries' names in the French language – used because French is considered the language of diplomacy. Cardinal Re also told the crowd Pope Francis was 'a pope among the people' who 'truly shared the anxieties, sufferings and hopes of this time'. The cardinal said: 'He was a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone. 'He was also a pope attentive to the signs of the times and what the Holy Spirit was awakening in the Church, with his characteristic vocabulary and language rich in images and metaphors, he always sought to shed light on the problems of our time with the wisdom of the gospel.' The cardinal added: 'He had great spontaneity and an informal way of addressing everyone, even those far from the Church. Rich in human warmth and deeply sensitive to today's challenges, Pope Francis truly shared the anxieties, sufferings and hopes of this time. 'He gave of himself by comforting and encouraging us with a message capable of reaching people's hearts in a direct and immediate way. 'His charisma of welcome and listening combined with a manner of behaviour in keeping with today's sensitivities touched hearts and sought to reawaken moral and spiritual sensibilities.' The coffin of Pope Francis is carried into St Peter's Square for his funeral at the Vatican (Gregorio Borgia/AP) Cardinal Re also said the Pope 'incessantly raised his voice' for peace and urged people to 'build bridges not walls'. Crowds had gathered in the nearby streets before 5am, with nuns, priests and lay people alike making their way towards St Peter's Square. A tight security presence saw roads in the vicinity closed as Italian police managed the huge numbers keen to get as close as they could to the square. Some 250,000 mourners paid their respects to Pope Francis over a three-day lying-in-state, which ran overnight from Wednesday due to high demand. A person holds a depiction of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican (Andreea Alexandru/AP) The final mourners had a chance to see the Pope close up in the grand surrounds of St Peter's Basilica, before the coffin was closed in private on Friday evening. Following the open-air funeral in the square, Francis's remains will be taken through the streets of Rome in another break with tradition, as his body is brought to a simple underground tomb in the basilica of Saint Mary Major, as per his instructions. During the journey, crowds will have their chance to catch a glimpse of a pontiff who proved popular with many during his 12-year papacy. The Vatican said a group of 'poor and needy' people will be present on the steps leading to the basilica to pay their last respects before the interment of the coffin, in a nod to Francis's particular care for the downtrodden. While Saturday is the first of nine official days of mourning, speculation regarding the next pope is likely to begin soon after the funeral. Conclave, the secret meeting of cardinals to elect Francis's successor, is thought likely to begin on May 5. Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell – the camerlengo or senior Vatican official – has been responsible for carrying out the administrative and financial duties of the Holy See until a new pope takes over. He had the role of announcing the Pope's death on Easter Monday, co-ordinating meetings with the cardinals before conclave and ensuring the Sistine Chapel is ready to accommodate them when that process begins in the coming weeks. The sign of a new pope having been elected will be the emergence of white smoke from a chimney of the Sistine Chapel while, soon after, an announcement in Latin of 'Habemus Papam' – meaning 'we have a pope' – is made alongside the chosen pontiff's appearance on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica. Read More As the world mourns a pope, Dublin quietly says goodbye to someone Francis might have loved
Newsweek
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Selfies With Pope Francis' Body Spark Fury: 'So Many People'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Anger has erupted both inside St. Peter's Basilica and online over the number of visitors posing for selfies with the body of Pope Francis. The Pope, who passed away on Easter Monday, is currently lying in state at St. Peter's Basilica, as part of the pope's entombment ritual. While mourners are permitted to approach the casket to grieve and pray, many visitors — along with commentators online — have expressed anger over others taking selfies, some even using selfie sticks to capture the moment. A woman takes a picture of a photograph of the late Pope Francis during a mass in his memory at the Chiesa di Santo Spirito in Sassia outside the Vatican, Thursday, April 24, 2025. A woman takes a picture of a photograph of the late Pope Francis during a mass in his memory at the Chiesa di Santo Spirito in Sassia outside the Vatican, Thursday, April 24, 2025. Andreea Alexandru/AP Photo Why It Matters The last time a pope died in office was Pope John Paul II in 2005, a time when camera phones were only just gaining in popularity around the world. With the later advent of the smartphone, selfies took off in popularity in the 2010s. People lining up for hours to enter St. Peter's Basilica and pay their respect to the late Pope Francis, at the Vatican, Thursday April 24, 2025. People lining up for hours to enter St. Peter's Basilica and pay their respect to the late Pope Francis, at the Vatican, Thursday April 24, 2025. Gregorio Borgia/AP Photo What To Know Pope Francis is being eulogized as a transformative leader who worked to modernize the Catholic Church by embracing LGBTQ+ individuals and advocating for climate action and social justice. However, many mourners believe his death should not be "modernized" in the same way — particularly through smartphone cameras. Some mourners, who have waited in lines as long as eight hours, say their quiet moments of prayer have been disrupted by others jockeying for the perfect photo. Pope Francis' body is displayed in an open casket inside the Vatican, in accordance with days four to six of papal funeral rites outlined in the liturgical guide Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis ("Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs"). Before his death, Francis revised these rites to request a simpler burial and to be interred outside of the Vatican — a significant departure from tradition. In the casket, the pope wears red liturgical vestments, a bishop's mitre, and holds a rosary. Four Swiss Guards flank his coffin. Pope Francis lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica, April 24, 2025. Pope Francis lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica, April 24, 2025. Michael Kappeler/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images The line of mourners stretches for eight hours, with pilgrims traveling from around the world to grieve. However, phones are a dominant presence in the crowd, with many people holding them aloft to capture images of the pope. Catherine Gilsenan, visiting from London, told The Sun: "I was very moved coming so close to Pope Francis, but it was awful seeing so many people taking pictures." Reporting live from the Vatican, Adam Parsons of Sky News noted: "Phones are a constant sight." The line for mourners who have arrived from all over the world to grieve beside the Pope stretches 8-hours long. People walk along Via della Conciliazione avenue to line up and view Pope Francis lying in state inside St. Peter's Basilica, seen in the background, Thursday, April 24, 2025. People walk along Via della Conciliazione avenue to line up and view Pope Francis lying in state inside St. Peter's Basilica, seen in the background, Thursday, April 24, 2025. Andrew Medichini/AP Photo Vatican security has occasionally intervened to ask people to show more respect, according to The Mirror. However, not all mourners are upset about the use of phones. One attendee, Matheus Silva, told The Mirror that he was taking photos because Pope Francis was "the first Pope who spoke up for gay people like me." What People Are Saying Adam Parsons, Sky News reporting from The Vatican: "It's hard to say whether these phones damage the mood, bruising the sombre sense of intimacy, or whether they add to the idea that this is as much about celebrating life as it is about bemoaning death. Maybe both can be true." Nick Ferrari, LBC: "What are they thinking?...I do get the importance of it, and I understand that you often like to have your photograph taken by, I don't know, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, but a dead pope?" What Happens Next The Pope will lie in state until Friday when his body will be moved to Rome's Basilica of St Mary Major. He requested that he be buried there under a tomb only inscribed with the name "Franciscus." The Conclave to choose the next pope will occur in early to mid-May. There are 135 cardinals who are eligible to vote for the next pope.
