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Irish Times
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Leinster may be semi-final specialists, but getting any further is often a coin toss
Is there a sudden outbreak of Leinster 'big-game fatigue' out there? Let's pause for a moment and put this weekend's Champions Cup semi-finals into context. It actually is an achievement to be one of the last quartet in any competition. Leinster and Toulouse are specialists at reaching this stage in the Champions Cup. Everyone else should be so lucky. To start with the bleedin' obvious, only four teams out of the 24 which started out this season have managed the feat. As the URC, Top 14 and Premiership pauses, the other 20 would happily swap places with those hogging the stage this weekend. Of course, reaching a final belongs to an even more exclusive club. Take Leinster. In the 30 years of what is now the Champions Cup, their encounter with Northampton on Saturday will be their 16th semi-final. If you stop and think about it, that truly is exceptional. Unsurprisingly, the only club to have reached more semi-finals are Toulouse. Against Bordeaux Bègles on Sunday, they will be playing their 17th semi-final. By contrast, Northampton are playing in their fifth and Bordeaux Bègles just their second. READ MORE What might be a little more surprising is that even for the two highest achievers in the history of the tournament, there are no guarantees for Leinster and Toulouse when it comes to this stage of the tournament. Of Leinster's 15 semi-finals to date, they have won eight and lost seven. For their part, Toulouse have also endured their fair share of disappointment at this stage, winning eight and losing eight of their previous 16. So, if there is a small element of big-game fatigue among Leinster fans, perhaps understandably, like all of us they have short memories. Admittedly it's 30 years ago since Leinster reached their first semi-final way back in the inaugural European Cup in 1995-96 when they, as well as Munster and Ulster, were among a dozen teams drawn from France, Wales, Italy and Romania. Furthermore, all Leinster had to do was beat Milan away and Pontypridd at home to reach the last four. Almost despite themselves. Niall Woods was a member of the Leinster squad that reached the province's first European Cup semi-final 30 years ago. Photograph: Andrew Paton/Inpho Niall Woods was Leinster's left winger in the province's competition debut in Milan on November 1st, 1995, when the attendance was recorded as 1,200. 'The game kicked off at 2.30 on a Wednesday afternoon, and it was a mudbath. Diego Dominguez was playing,' recalls Woods of the normally prolific Argentinian-born Italian outhalf. 'He actually kicked two out of eight. It was filthy, as in the fighting, the gouging, the works. Obviously, I didn't see any of that, nor was I anywhere near it.' [ Rugby analysis: Leinster attack looking more and more comfortable in chaos Opens in new window ] [ Matt Williams: Leinster can get past Northampton if they have planned for a new and improved opponent Opens in new window ] Despite Dominguez losing his radar, Leinster were losing the game late on. 'I got the ball on the 10-yard line, at outhalf from a ruck in the middle of the field. I stepped a fella and was just gone. These were the days when if you broke the first line, then you just had to round the fullback and we won by three points,' says Woods of Leinster's 24-21 victory. I remember getting a cheque, I think for £175 to play because you were technically allowed to be paid at that stage — Niall Woods 'The reason I remember is that 'Munch' (aka Shane Byrne) was asked in an interview for the best try he ever saw and he said that one. I read it and laughed and said 'fair play Munch'. We were in [Blackrock] school together, so maybe that's why.' Five weeks later, on a Wednesday night under lights, in what was also the first season of professionalism, Leinster beat Pontypridd 23-22 in Lansdowne Road to top their 'group' and earn a home semi-final. 'I remember getting a cheque, I think for £175 to play because you were technically allowed to be paid at that stage,' says Woods. Leinster's Victor Costello breaks through the Cardiff defence during the European Cup semi-final on December 30, 1995. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho Leinster's first of 16 semi-finals was against Cardiff in Lansdowne Road on December 30th, 1995. 'Conor [O'Shea] was with London Irish and Conor came home on standby in case I failed the fitness test. I failed the fitness test, I'd say at 11 o'clock. It was a horrendous day, blowing a gale and freezing, so I was quite happy. It wasn't a day for me,' recalls Woods with a self-mocking chuckle. The attendance was 7,350. 'Which was big in those days,' he stresses. 'You'd get 2-4,000 max in those days in Donnybrook. It was decent, put it that way, although we played Australia in 1992 and there was probably 20,000 people there; they had won the World Cup in 1991 and they were fully loaded.' A European Cup semi-final was unchartered and underappreciated territory. He added: 'It was totally unknown. It was something a bit different, playing someone from a different country in a game that meant something as opposed to a friendly. We played against New South Wales that season and I think we played eight games. Up to that point we played four games a year. 'Cardiff were the most stacked team of the Welsh at that stage. They were the equivalent of Leinster now. As a spectacle, the game wasn't great. The wind was horrific. Mary Robinson was President and they didn't bring her out on to the pitch because it was so windy.' Leinster were beaten 23-14 and nobody was really complaining. Leinster fans cheer on their team during the 2005-06 Heineken Cup campaign. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho 'I don't remember being overly bothered that we lost. We did all right because we got to the semis, even if we only won two matches to get there. It was enjoyable and it was a bit different.' Toulouse beat Cardiff at Cardiff Arms Park in the final a week later, with 21,800 in attendance, to give the European Cup lift-off. Whether it was over-confidence or not I don't know — Niall Woods It was seven years later when Leinster reached the semi-finals, meeting Perpignan at Lansdowne Road in April 2003. As evidenced by the 37,800 attendance, expectations were altogether higher. Woods had retired in 2001 after a playing career with Trinity, Blackrock, Leinster, Ireland, London Irish and Harlequins. He then worked for the English Players' Union before coming home in January 2003 to set up the Irish Rugby Players' Union (IRUPA). But in Leinster's biggest game of the 2002-03 season, their season ended with an anticlimactic 21-14 defeat. 'They didn't perform on the day at all,' says Woods. 'Whether it was over-confidence or not I don't know. They never got going. It was hugely disappointing.' The pivotal matches in Leinster's history were the Heineken Cup semi-finals against Munster in 2006 at Lansdowne Road and 2009 in Croke Park. Technically, the first was a 'home' semi-final, though it was awash in red and felt like an away match. The second was an 'away' tie that was more akin to a neutral-venue fixture given the even split between blue and red in a record-setting attendance of 82,208. 'In 2006, 'Rog' dummies and scores under the sticks and in '09 Drico intercepts Rog's pass to score. They were the two defining moments,' says Woods with reference to Ronan O'Gara and Brian O'Driscoll. Ronan O'Gara scores a try for Munster in their Heineken Cup semi-final victory against Leinster in 2006. Photograph: Inpho/Getty Images 'The difference in colour was stark. In '06 it was so red, when the Leinster supporters weren't as strong as they are now, whereas in '09 it was even.' Leinster had reached a point of no return. The 25-6 win led to a breakthrough triumph three weeks later against Leicester in Murrayfield. 'It had started with the quarter-final in 'Quins, the bloodgate game and that [6-5] win gave them belief. Even the final in Edinburgh was a poor enough game against Leicester, but it would always be scrappy against them. But they managed to do it. 'In the semi, Leinster were notably better on the day. The [2009] Grand Slam probably helped. There was better quality throughout the Leinster team than there had been three years earlier, especially with Isa [Nacewa] and Rocky [Elsom] there.' Leinster have reached another 10 semi-finals since that day, winning seven of them, and the key has been earning home semi-finals through their performances in the pool stages. Leinster have won all six ensuing semi-finals at home, whereas they have won only one of four away from home. Leinster lost away to Toulouse as reigning champions in the 2010 semi-finals, when Johnny Sexton was injured, but have beaten Toulouse in four of the subsequent six semi-finals at home. There was defeat to Toulon in 2015 at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, when Jimmy Gopperth's drop-goal attempt to win the game was narrowly wide before Leinster were beaten in extra-time. They lost a last-four tie against Clermont in Lyon in 2017 and lost behind closed doors in La Rochelle four years ago. Viewed in that context, Leinster's 19-15 win over a brilliant Clermont side [Julien Bonnaire, Morgan Parra, Wesley Fofana, Aurélien Rougerie and co] in Bordeaux in 2012 has arguably been their finest semi-final victory of all so far. Cian Healy scores a try in Leinster's famous Heineken Cup semi-final win against Clermot in Bordeaux in 2012. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho 'That was the inside pass to Rob Kearney and Cian Healy's finish,' says Woods – who stepped down as the IRUPA CEO in January 2011 to set up what is now the Navy Blue sports agency – of the famous Joe Schmidt strike play. There was also the end-game stand on their own line, Gordon D'Arcy's tackle on Fofana to dislodge the ball before he grounded it and Seán O'Brien hanging on for dear life in the jackal to earn the final turnover penalty. 'I'd say that was their best ever semi-final win, considering who it was against and it was away from home,' says Woods, and to put that victory in context it was only the second semi-final win in France by an Irish or UK side – Munster having achieved the first in 2000 against Toulouse, also in Bordeaux. Reaching semi-finals should never be taken for granted, albeit as Woods says: 'Leinster do have the majority of the Irish team and their budget is massive, above the French clubs as well as the English clubs now. But if Leinster are in any way off, the Saints have enough firepower to do damage.' Indeed, as history shows us, nor do semi-finals, even at home, come with any guarantees. 'Go back to '03, against Perpignan. They should have beaten Perpignan. They should never have lost that.' Leinster's semi-final record: Played 15, Won 8, Lost 7 1995-96: Leinster 14 Cardiff 23 (Lansdowne Road) 2002-03: Leinster 14 Perpignan 21 (Lansdowne Road) 2005-06: Leinster 6 Munster 30 (Lansdowne Road) 2008-09: Munster 6 Leinster 25 (Croke Park) 2009-10: Toulouse 26 Leinster 16 (Le Stadium, Toulouse) 2010-11: Leinster 32 Toulouse 23 (Aviva Stadium) 2011-12: Clermont 15 Leinster 19 (Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux) 2014-15: Toulon 25 Leinster 20 aet (Stade Velodrome, Marseille) 2016-17: Clermont 27 Leinster 22 (Matmut de Gerland, Lyon) 2017-18: Leinster 38 Scarlets 16 (Aviva Stadium) 2018-19: Leinster 30 Toulouse 12 (Aviva Stadium) 2020-21: La Rochelle 32 Leinster 23 (Stade Deflandre, La Rochelle) 2021-22: Leinster 40 Toulouse 17 (Aviva Stadium) 2022-23: Leinster 41 Toulouse 22 (Aviva Stadium) 2023-24: Leinster 20 Northampton 17 (Croke Park)
Euronews
30-04-2025
- Euronews
Sistine Chapel closes for conclave: What to know about visiting Rome following Pope Francis' death
ADVERTISEMENT Tourists who have booked to visit Rome in the coming weeks will experience the city during a rare historical moment. Following the death of Pope Francis on 21 April, a series of religious rituals and procedures are being enacted that might impact travel plans. The Argentinian-born pontiff died of a stroke, which triggered a coma and 'irreversible' heart failure, the Vatican announced. The Sistine Chapel is now closed to the public while it is used for voting on the new pope - a process that will see the famous room closed for well over a week. Crowds and queues around the Vatican are expected to be particularly heavy, especially given the celebrations for the Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee Year are already drawing an increased number of visitors. Here's what to know about expected travel disruptions in Rome, or, if you're planning a trip to witness some of the religious traditions, where you can participate in them. When will the Sistine Chapel be closed? Travellers to Rome in the next few weeks have been warned to expect closures, visitor restrictions and crowds at some of the city's main attractions. Rome's key tourist sites within the Vatican - the heart of the Catholic Church - are now absorbed by mourning and reelection procedures. Around 15-20 days after the pontiff's death, the conclave will begin, a storied process to determine the next pope. This strictly confidential gathering sees Roman Catholic cardinals locked inside the Sistine Chapel until a decision is made. As such, the room adorned by Michelangelo's frescoed tour de force has now closed and will remain so for the entire duration of the process. It will likely open again a couple of days after the conclave ends, as it has done after the death of previous Popes. The conclave is expected to start between 5 and 10 May. As it can go on for days, it is possible the Sistine Chapel will not reopen before mid-May. Visitors admire the Sistine Chapel inside the Vatican Museums on the occasion of the museum's reopening, in Rome, May 3, 2021. Alessandra Tarantino/Copyright 2021 The AP. All rights reserved Those visitors who managed to enter on Sunday considered themselves fortunate. 'I think we felt very lucky to be able to be the last group of visitors to come in today," said Sumon Khan, a tourist from the United States. 'You know, our trip would not have been complete without seeing this beautiful place.' ADVERTISEMENT The chapel is accessed through the Vatican Museums. These will remain open to visitors with all other parts accessible, including the Raphael Rooms, according to tour operator Through Eternity Tours. Tours of the Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis and the Vatican Gardens are suspended for security reasons, however, as the cardinals are bused back and forth from the chapel to their accommodation through the grounds. The Vatican Museums states that all tickets, including for the Sistine Chapel, are non-refundable and dates, times or names cannot be modified. If you have purchased tickets through a third-party operator, you should check their website or contact them about refunds or date changes. ADVERTISEMENT Long queues and dress codes for St Peter's Basilica Around 250,000 people queued up at St Peter's Basilica to see Pope Francis' body lying in state. Some visitors who were already in the city say they extended or changed travel plans in order to say their goodbyes to the pontiff. The pontiff has now been buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, but those wanting to visit the church should still expect long wait times and heightened security. The dress code for visiting the sacred site is being strictly enforced. This includes having shoulders and knees covered and avoiding wearing short skirts, shorts, flip-flops and sleeveless tops. ADVERTISEMENT Tourists should also expect crowds at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a majestic UNESCO-designated sanctuary containing a piece of the Holy Crib and a venerated icon of the Virgin Mary as the protector of the Roman people. Tens of thousands of visitors in Rome for Pope's funeral and conclave While it may be disappointing to forgo seeing the Sistine Chapel or St Peter's Basilica, a visit in this period can also be a once-in-a-lifetime experience (the Italian expression for 'once in a blue moon' is 'every time a pope dies'). Visitors from around the world have descended on Rome for a chance to witness the funeral and the reelection announcement. "Historically, during the passing of a pope - as we experienced firsthand in April 2005 during the death of Pope John Paul II - travellers witnessed a profound moment of history," James Ridgway, CEO of Christian travel specialist ETS, told Travel Weekly. ADVERTISEMENT "While some sites around St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican City experienced closures or restricted access, many travellers were able to participate in public gatherings, memorials and prayer services, creating a deeply meaningful experience." Related Florence, Rome, Venice: Italian cities are cracking down on overtourism in 2025 This ancient amphitheatre near Rome doesn't know if it's a football pitch or a tourist attraction If you are planning a short-notice trip to participate in some of the events, you should expect higher flight prices. 'We'll definitely see an increase in flight prices to Rome and to Italy over the next few weeks, as the faithful flock to pay their respects and potentially to see the announcement of the new Pope,' Angus Kidman, travel expert at Finder, told Australian site Hotel prices in Rome are also likely to rise as demand increases, says Tim Hentschel, the co-founder and CEO of travel company HotelPlanner, while some shops and restaurants may be closed as a sign of respect. ADVERTISEMENT Where to witness the announcement of the new pope When the conclave begins, St. Peter's Square will remain open, but it will be packed with visitors and media. The outcome of voting rounds is indicated via smoke released from the chapel chimney - black for inconclusive, white for the successful election of a new pope. According to the National Catholic Reporter, you can see the smoke from the chapel twice daily - around noon after the first two ballots and again at 7 pm after the last round of voting. White smoke might appear earlier, at around 10.30 am or 5.30 pm. ADVERTISEMENT
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
See All of the Most Striking Photos of the Funeral of Pope Francis
Today, mourners from around the globe have gathered in Vatican City for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square. The 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, Argentinian-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, took on the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi after was elected as leader of the faith in 2013. His election was a historic choice; he was the first pope from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, the first from the Jesuit Order, and the first born outside Europe since Pope Gregory III, who held the position from 731 to 741 AD. Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. Ahead of the funeral, Francis lay in state in St. Peter's Basilica, where popes are traditionally buried. However, in a break from tradition, Francis will be laid to rest at Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major) basilica in Rome following the funeral services today. Similarly, the services themselves were recently simplified by the late pontiff, in line with what he felt was "the need to simplify and adapt certain rites so that the celebration of the funeral of the bishop of Rome may better express the faith of the Church in the risen Christ,' according to the Vatican's master of liturgical ceremonies, Archbishop Diego Ravelli. Among the numerous people paying tribute to the late pontiff will be members of royal families across Europe, including Prince William, who will represent his father, King Charles, King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco. Likewise, world leaders including President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and many more are also expected. Here, a look at some of the most poignant photos from the day's services. Members of the clergy gathered to pay respects. Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re anoints the coffin of Pope Francis with incense. Laid atop it is a book of gospels. Prince William was in attendance as a representative of his father, King Charles. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania attended the event. Seated next to them were President Alar Karis of Estonia and Spain's King Felipe VI. St. Peter's Square was filled for the funeral. The cardinals gathered in homage to the late pontiff. King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain arrive at the ceremony. France's President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte paid their respects. Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco were among the mourners. Former President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden attended. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was also a guest. You Might Also Like 12 Weekend Getaway Spas For Every Type of Occasion 13 Beauty Tools to Up Your At-Home Facial Game
Irish Daily Star
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
How accurate is Ralph Fiennes' Conclave film as it lands on Amazon Prime Video
The Vatican announced on Easter Monday that Pope Francis, the Argentinian-born leader known for his progressive push to modernize the Catholic Church, died on April 21 from a respiratory illness. After his passing, a gathering of cardinals, the most senior officials in the church from both the Vatican and around the globe, will come together to choose a new pope through a conclave. This enigmatic process of electing a pope inspired Robert Harris's novel "Conclave" in 2016, which was adapted into an award-winning film starring Ralph Fiennes , Stanley Tucci, and Isabella Rossellini. The story revolves around Cardinal Lawrence, a fictional character charged with managing the secretive conclave . He finds himself entangled in a web of intrigue that threatens to rock the Catholic Church to its core. Read More Related Articles Jenna Bush Hager announces major career move in heartfelt statement Read More Related Articles Yellowstone star Kelly Reilly moves on from Kevin Costner series in new detective drama Rev. Thomas Reese, a political science Ph.D. holder from the University of California , Berkeley, and columnist at Religion News Service, praised the film's accuracy. "The voting procedure was done very well," said Reese. Pope Francis died on Easter Monday (Image: Franco Origlia, Getty Images) Reese, however, noted a substantial inaccuracy in the film's portrayal of Cardinal Vincent Benitez, played by Carlos Diehz. The character was depicted as a Cardinal in pectore, a Latin term meaning "in the heart," referring to a secret appointment, reports the Mirror US . In reality, a Cardinal appointed in pectore cannot participate in a conclave unless the Pope publicly announces his name before passing away, which was not the case in the film. As depicted in "Conclave," once a Vatican official addresses the assembled cardinals with the phrase "extra omnes," they are only allowed to interact with each other. Nevertheless, certain officials can act as messengers when necessary, even though the cardinals themselves cannot leave until a successful vote is cast. A successful vote occurs when one cardinal receives two-thirds of the votes, resulting in their election as pope. Typically, the conclave commences 15 to 20 days after the papacy becomes vacant. According to USA TODAY, there is no fixed schedule for the duration of the conclave. Following the passing of Pope Francis, Irish Cardinal Kevin Farrell assumed the mantle of responsibility. After the funeral and nine days of official mourning prayers, the focus shifts to the College of Cardinals. Only cardinals under 80 years old are eligible to vote. They travel to Rome, take an oath of secrecy, and are sequestered in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a guesthouse within Vatican City. Isolated from the outside world, they have no access to mobile phones or any form of communication with their homes. Their daily routine includes Mass, shared meals, and voting in the Sistine Chapel. Each cardinal writes a name on a ballot, folds it, and places it into a chalice, all under the magnificent ceiling painted by Michelangelo. The votes are counted and then burned, with the resulting smoke signaling the result to the public - black smoke indicates "no pope yet," while white smoke announces the election of a new pope. Sister Susan Francois, who serves as the assistant congregation leader for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in New Jersey , was particularly moved by the human elements of the election process depicted in the film. "While we wish and hope and pray that it is entirely a spiritual discernment process, we are only human beings," she noted.
Euronews
24-04-2025
- Euronews
When is the Sistine Chapel closed? What to know about visiting Rome following Pope Francis' death
ADVERTISEMENT Tourists who have booked to visit Rome in the coming weeks will experience the city during a rare historical moment. Following the death of Pope Francis on 21 April, a series of religious rituals and procedures will be enacted that might impact travel plans. The Argentinian-born pontiff died on Monday of a stroke, which triggered a coma and 'irreversible' heart failure, the Vatican announced. The Sistine Chapel will be closed to the public while it is used for voting on the new pope - a process that will see the famous room closed for over a week. Crowds and queues around the Vatican are expected to be particularly heavy, especially given the celebrations for the Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee Year are already drawing an increased number of visitors. Here's what to know about expected travel disruptions in Rome, or, if you're planning a trip to witness some of the religious traditions, where you can participate in them. When will the Sistine Chapel be closed? Travellers to Rome in the next few weeks have been warned to expect closures, visitor restrictions and crowds at some of the city's main attractions. Rome's key tourist sites within the Vatican - the heart of the Catholic Church - will now be absorbed by mourning and reelection procedures. Around 15-20 days after the pontiff's death, the conclave will begin, a storied process to determine the next pope. This strictly confidential gathering sees Roman Catholic cardinals locked inside the Sistine Chapel until a decision is made. As such, the room adorned by Michelangelo's frescoed tour de force will be closed for about a week before the conclave begins and will remain closed for the entire duration of the process. It will likely open again a couple of days after the conclave ends, as it has done after the death of previous Popes. The Vatican City State has announced that the Sistine Chapel will be closed to the public from Monday 28 April, for the requirements of the conclave. The chapel is accessed through the Vatican Museums. These will remain open to visitors with all other parts accessible, including the Raphael Rooms, according to tour operator Through Eternity Tours. The Vatican Museums and the Castel Gandolfo Museum Complex will, however, be closed on 26 April as a sign of mourning for the funeral of Pope Francis. ADVERTISEMENT Tours of the Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis and the Vatican Gardens will be suspended for security reasons, however, as the cardinals are bused back and forth from the chapel to their accommodation through the grounds. The Vatican Museums states that all tickets, including for the Sistine Chapel, are non-refundable and dates, times or names cannot be modified. If you have purchased tickets through a third-party operator, you should check their website or contact them about refunds or date changes. Long queues and dress codes for St Peter's Basilica Tourists should expect limited access to St Peter's Basilica, where Pope Francis' body is now lying in state from today, 23 April. ADVERTISEMENT As mourners flock to pay their respects, tourists wanting to visit the church should expect lengthy queues and heightened security. The dress code for visiting the sacred site will be strictly enforced. This includes having shoulders and knees covered and avoiding wearing short skirts, shorts, flip-flops and sleeveless tops. Some areas of the basilica may not be accessible, including the dome. Guided tours to the basilica are suspended as access is via the Sistine Chapel. Pope Francis requested to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a majestic UNESCO-designated sanctuary containing a piece of the Holy Crib and a venerated icon of the Virgin Mary as the protector of the Roman people. ADVERTISEMENT Access to the church is likely to be restricted due to funeral preparations and the burial. Millions expected in Rome for Pope's funeral While it may be disappointing to forgo seeing the Sistine Chapel or St Peter's Basilica, a visit in this period can also be a once-in-a-lifetime experience (the Italian expression for 'once in a blue moon' is 'every time a pope dies'). Visitors from around the world are expected to descend on Rome in the coming weeks for a chance to witness this monumental event for the Catholic Church. "Historically, during the passing of a pope - as we experienced firsthand in April 2005 during the death of Pope John Paul II - travellers witnessed a profound moment of history," James Ridgway, CEO of Christian travel specialist ETS, told Travel Weekly. ADVERTISEMENT "While some sites around St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican City experienced closures or restricted access, many travellers were able to participate in public gatherings, memorials and prayer services, creating a deeply meaningful experience." Related Florence, Rome, Venice: Italian cities are cracking down on overtourism in 2025 This ancient amphitheatre near Rome doesn't know if it's a football pitch or a tourist attraction If you are planning a short-notice trip to participate in some of the funeral and reelection events, you should expect higher flight prices. 'We'll definitely see an increase in flight prices to Rome and to Italy over the next few weeks, as the faithful flock to pay their respects and potentially to see the announcement of the new Pope,' Angus Kidman, travel expert at Finder, told Australian site Hotel prices in Rome are also likely to rise as demand increases, says Tim Hentschel, the co-founder and CEO of travel company HotelPlanner, while some shops and restaurants may be closed as a sign of respect. ADVERTISEMENT The Pope's body will be lying in state for public viewing in St Peter's from 23 April until Saturday, 26 April, when the funeral will take place in St Peter's Square. The chapel where he is on display is accessible on 23 April from 11 am to midnight, 24 April from 7 am to midnight, and 25 April from 7 am to 7 pm. The funeral is expected to draw huge crowds, possibly larger than that of Pope John Paul II in 2005, which was attended by approximately four million people. Where to witness the announcement of the new pope When the conclave begins, St. Peter's Square will remain open, but it will be packed with visitors and media. ADVERTISEMENT The outcome of voting rounds is indicated via smoke released from the chapel chimney - black for inconclusive, white for the successful election of a new pope. According to the National Catholic Reporter, you can see the smoke from the chapel twice daily - around noon after the first two ballots and again at 7 pm after the last round of voting. White smoke might appear earlier, at around 10.30 am or 5.30 pm.
