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USA Today
26-04-2025
- General
- USA Today
Pope Francis lauded at funeral: 'An open heart toward everyone.' Live updates
Pope Francis lauded at funeral: 'An open heart toward everyone.' Live updates Pope Francis, the humble pontiff whose acts of inclusiveness, modesty and mercy rippled through his 12-year papacy, was laid to rest Saturday in a service he deliberately simplified. Tens of thousands of mourners and dozens of world leaders and dignitaries packed St. Peter's Square at the Vatican for the funeral, which got underway in bright sunshine and was being held mostly outdoors. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, who was presiding over the service, lauded Francis in his homily as "a pope among the people, with an open heart toward everyone." "He established direct contact with individuals and peoples, eager to be close to everyone, with a marked attention to those in difficulty, giving himself without measure, especially to the marginalized," he said. Pope Francis' casket met by thousands of mourners Pope Francis' casket was met by thousands of mourners in honor of his 12-year papacy. The Mass began with readings from the Scripture after Francis' simple wooden coffin, adorned by a large cross, was carried into the square by white-gloved pallbearers. Applause echoed through the crowd as bells tolled. Some mourners had camped out overnight to secure a spot. "We have been waiting all night," Maria Fierro of Spain said. "Accompanying (Francis) in his last moments is very emotional." James Mary, a Franciscan nun, said she had been "up the whole night. We want to say goodbye because he (was a) living saint, very humble and simple." Francis, the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, died Easter Monday at 88 from a stroke, weeks after battling back from respiratory ailments. On Easter Sunday, the frail but resolute pope − who championed the poor and marginalized and was often called "the people's pope" − thrilled crowds with an impromptu popemobile outing into St. Peter's Square. The Argentine pope, who contended with Catholic Church traditionalists opposed to his reforms, was known for his warm demeanor and for spurning any kind of grandeur: Living at a guesthouse in the Vatican, taking public transportation, wearing plain white cassocks. On his U.S. trip in 2015, he zipped around the nation's capital in a small black Fiat. Francis, who scaled back rules for papal funeral rites a year ago, made sure his own service and burial reflected that same message of simplicity − breaking from tradition even in death. Pope Francis' funeral service is expected to take 90 minutes, compared to John Paul's service in 2005 that last lasted three hours. In his final testament, Francis asked to be buried inside the burial niche between Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani and Sforza Chapel, which are located within the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome instead of in the Grotto at St. Peter's Basilica. He is the first pope being laid to rest outside the Vatican in almost a century. The pope, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, also requested a "simple" burial: "The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, and bearing only the inscription: Franciscus," he instructed. St. Mary Major was special to Francis because of his devotion to Mary, Mother of God. He prayed there before and after many overseas trips. President Donald Trump had a brief "private" meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the funeral, White House communications director Steve Cheung said. Cheung said the two leaders had a "very productive" conversation and that further details of the meeting would be made public in the coming hours. It was the first meeting since Trump and Zelenskyy had a fiery clash in the Oval Office in February about how to reach a peace settlement with Russia over their war. The order of service was published by the Vatican on its website. It is 87 pages long and contains the service in English, Italian and Latin. The Entrance Antiphon begins: "Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him." Pope Francis' coffin also breaks with papal tradition. Instead of being buried in three coffins − each made of cypress, lead and elm and placed inside the other − his coffin will be wooden and lined with zinc. The coffin is shaped like a tapered hexagonal box. It it wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, resembling a human body. − George Petras, Janet Loehrke The security operation in and around Vatican City is in full swing. The funeral has brought together dozens of world leaders and thousands of people from around the world who traveled to Rome to pay their respects. About 2,000 local police officers are on duty at Pope' Francis' funeral. They are joined by thousands more officers from the national security forces. Security measures include patrols on the Tiber, drones and snipers. Streets were closed to traffic around the Vatican on Saturday. Authorities also announced a no-fly zone over Rome for the week. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re spoke in his homily of the pope's constant call to "build bridges, not walls" between people. The pope held a Mass on the U.S.-Mexico border to highlight what he described as the "human tragedy" of "forced migration" when he visited the area in 2016. The cardinal also recalled that Franics' first ever foreign trip as pope was when he went to the Italian island of Lampedusa, a key spot in Europe's refugees and migrants crisis. Francis met with refugees and migrants in Lampedusa. Dozens of world leaders and heads of state are now in Rome. Some of them have clashed with both the pope and each other. Pope Francis once said that President Donald Trump's plans to impose mass deportations of immigrants were a 'disgrace.' Before taking their seats, Trump and his wife Melania paid their respects to Francis' coffin in St. Peter's Basilica. The coffin was sealed shut on Friday night. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not had any easy time navigating Trump's attempts to secure a peace deal for the Ukraine-Russia war. The two leaders clashed in an Oval Office meeting in late February. The two leaders briefly met before the service. Former President Joe Biden and wife Jill are also in Rome. One notable absence is Russia's Vladimir Putin, who portrays himself as a main of serious faith. Putin is subject to an international criminal court arrest warrant over his invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin said he wouldn't be attending. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the funeral Mass, which will be celebrated by patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops and priests from around the world, the Vatican said. The College of Cardinals decides who will be the next pope in a highly secretive ritual called a papal conclave. As dean, Re is one of the most senior figures in the church. He has spent five decades serving in the Roman curia, the church's various administrative institutions. In a biography on the College of Cardinals website, Re is described as having an "affable manner and efficient approach to issues and conflicts." Pope Francis' simple tomb, inscribed with just "Franciscus" and a reproduction of his pectoral cross, is made of marble from Italy's Liguria region, where Francis traces his family's origins before they settled in his native Argentina, according to Vatican News. Francis requested to be buried in a tomb made from Ligurian stone. The plaque of slate, described as a 'fine-grained gray, green or bluish metamorphic rock,' commemorates Francis' great-grandfather, Vincenzo Sivori, on his mother's side, the news website said. Franca Garbaino, president of the Slate District in Liguria, said it was 'not a noble stone,' but instead it was 'the people's stone' that 'gives warmth.' Francis' family traces back to Cogorno, located southeast of Genoa, the capital of Liguria. − Eduardo Cuevas The Swiss Guard has been protecting popes since the 1500s. Members have a ceremonial role but also a protective one and, to an extent, they are mercenaries. They wear distinctive uniforms with feathered helmets, ruffled collars and puffed-out sleeves. They are sometimes referred to as the world's smallest army and are trained to an elite level in counterintelligence, close-quarters combat and bomb disposal. They are independent of Switzerland's army, though they are trained in Switzerland. Competition to be a Swiss Guard is intense. There are only 135 of them. The weather has been spectacular all week in Vatican City, and conditions for the funeral also look terrific, forecasters said. "It should a nice and calm day," AccuWeather meteorologist Jacob Hinson told USA TODAY. He said sunny to partly cloudy skies are expected, with highs in the 70s. Wind should not be an issue either, he added, with gusts of only 6-10 mph in the forecast. − Doyle Rice About 250,000 people bid farewell to Francis through this week as the pope was lying in state at St. Peter's. Lines stretched more than half a mile north of the Vatican, and some people reported waits of about three hours to get inside the basilica. 'He was a wonderful pope,' Alessandra Caccamo of Rome said as she waited outside the Vatican. 'I'm going to miss him so much, because it's like I've lost a piece of me.' Rachel Mckay, from Britain, said Francis was "somebody who made the church very accessible to everybody and inclusive to everybody. He's like a member of the family, somebody very close to our hearts." Pope is a global icon: Fascination with papacy's rituals take center stage A conclave to choose a new pope normally takes place 15 to 20 days after the death of a pontiff, meaning it should not start before May 6. As of this week, there were 252 cardinals, of whom 135 are electors, according to the Vatican. Cardinals over the age of 80 are excluded from voting. In medieval times, cardinals could take years to elect a new pope. Conclaves are much shorter now. Pope Francis was elected the day after the conclave began in 2013. Voting takes place in a series of rounds until a clear winner emerges. The world is waiting with bated breadth to find out who the next pontiff will be. Several names have emerged as possible front-runners, including bishops from Canada and the Philippines. Pope Francis was the first non-European pope elected in 1,300 years. Contributing: Reuters
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope Francis' funeral draws thousands bidding farewell to a 'living saint': Live updates
Pope Francis, the humble pontiff whose acts of inclusiveness, modesty and mercy rippled through his 12-year papacy, is being laid to rest Saturday in a service he deliberately simplified. Thousands of mourners packed St. Peter's Square overnight into Saturday at the Vatican and spots along the Tiber River for the funeral, which is set to start at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET), and is being held mostly outdoors. Officials had estimated 200,000 people would attend, including dozens of world leaders and dignitaries. Some mourners had camped out to secure a spot. "We have been waiting all night," Maria Fierro of Spain said. "Accompanying (Francis) in his last moments is very emotional." James Mary, a Franciscan nun, said she had been "up the whole night. We want to say goodbye because he (was a) living saint, very humble and simple." Francis, the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, died Easter Monday at 88 from a stroke, weeks after battling back from respiratory ailments. On Easter Sunday, the frail but resolute pope − who championed the poor and marginalized and was often called "the people's pope" − thrilled crowds with an impromptu popemobile outing into St. Peter's Square. The Argentine pope, who contended with Catholic Church traditionalists opposed to his reforms, was known for his warm demeanor and for spurning any kind of grandeur: Living at a guesthouse in the Vatican, taking public transportation, wearing plain white cassocks. On his U.S. trip in 2015, he zipped around the nation's capital in a small black Fiat. Francis, who scaled back rules for papal funeral rites a year ago, made sure his own service and burial reflected that same message of simplicity − breaking from tradition even in death. Pope Francis' funeral service is expected to take 90 minutes, compared to John Paul's service in 2005 that last lasted three hours. In his final testament, Francis asked to be buried inside the burial niche between Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani and Sforza Chapel, which are located within the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome instead of in the Grotto at St. Peter's Basilica. He is the first pope being laid to rest outside the Vatican in almost a century. The pope, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, also requested a "simple" burial: "The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, and bearing only the inscription: Franciscus," he instructed. St. Mary Major was special to Francis because of his devotion to Mary, Mother of God. He prayed there before and after many overseas trips. Pope Francis' coffin also breaks with papal tradition. Instead of being buried in three coffins − each made of cypress, lead and elm and placed inside the other − his coffin will be wooden and lined with zinc. The coffin is shaped like a tapered hexagonal box. It it wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, resembling a human body. − George Petras, Janet Loehrke The security operation in and around Vatican City is in full swing. The funeral has brought together dozens of world leaders and thousands of people from around the world who traveled to Rome to pay their respects. About 2,000 local police officers are on duty at Pope' Francis' funeral. They are joined by thousands more officers from the national security forces. Security measures include patrols on the Tiber, drones and snipers. Streets were closed to traffic around the Vatican on Saturday. Authorities also announced a no-fly zone over Rome for the week. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the funeral Mass, which will be celebrated by patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops and priests from around the world, the Vatican said. The College of Cardinals decides who will be the next pope in a highly secretive ritual called a papal conclave. As dean, Re is one of the most senior figures in the church. He has spent five decades serving in the Roman curia, the church's various administrative institutions. In a biography on the College of Cardinals website, Re is described as having an "affable manner and efficient approach to issues and conflicts." The weather has been spectacular all week in Vatican City, and conditions for the funeral also look terrific, forecasters said. "It should a nice and calm day," AccuWeather meteorologist Jacob Hinson told USA TODAY. He said sunny to partly cloudy skies are expected, with highs in the 70s. Wind should not be an issue either, he added, with gusts of only 6-10 mph in the forecast. − Doyle Rice Dozens of global leaders and dignitaries were scheduled to attend Pope Francis' funeral. Among them: President Donald Trump, who clashed repeatedly with Francis over immigration, and first lady Melania. Former President Joe Biden and wife Jill were also expected to attend. Britain's Prince William, son of King Charles III, will attend the funeral on his father's behalf, Kensington Palace said. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also will attend. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres was scheduled to attend, his office said. Javier Milei, president of Francis' native Argentina, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were among others who said they would attend. About 250,000 people bid farewell to Francis through this week as the pope was lying in state at St. Peter's. Lines stretched more than half a mile north of the Vatican, and some people reported waits of about three hours to get inside the basilica. 'He was a wonderful pope,' Alessandra Caccamo of Rome said as she waited outside the Vatican. 'I'm going to miss him so much, because it's like I've lost a piece of me.' Rachel Mckay, from Britain, said Francis was "somebody who made the church very accessible to everybody and inclusive to everybody. He's like a member of the family, somebody very close to our hearts." Pope is a global icon: Fascination with papacy's rituals take center stage A conclave to choose a new pope normally takes place 15 to 20 days after the death of a pontiff, meaning it should not start before May 6. As of this week, there were 252 cardinals, of whom 135 are electors, according to the Vatican. Cardinals over the age of 80 are excluded from voting. In medieval times, cardinals could take years to elect a new pope. Conclaves are much shorter now. Pope Francis was elected the day after the conclave began in 2013. Voting takes place in a series of rounds until a clear winner emerges. The world is waiting with bated breadth to find out who the next pontiff will be. Several names have emerged as possible front-runners, including bishops from Canada and the Philippines. Pope Francis was the first non-European pope elected in 1,300 years. Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pope Francis funeral live updates: Thousands say farewell
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Pope Francis' funeral draws thousands bidding farewell to a 'living saint': Live updates
Pope Francis' funeral draws thousands bidding farewell to a 'living saint': Live updates Pope Francis, the humble pontiff whose acts of inclusiveness, modesty and mercy rippled through his 12-year papacy, is being laid to rest Saturday in a service he deliberately simplified. Thousands of mourners packed St. Peter's Square overnight into Saturday at the Vatican and spots along the Tiber River for the funeral, which is set to start at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET), and is being held mostly outdoors. Officials had estimated 200,000 people would attend, including dozens of world leaders and dignitaries. Some mourners had camped out to secure a spot. "We have been waiting all night," Maria Fierro of Spain said. "Accompanying (Francis) in his last moments is very emotional." James Mary, a Franciscan nun, said she had been "up the whole night. We want to say goodbye because he (was a) living saint, very humble and simple." Francis, the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, died Easter Monday at 88 from a stroke, weeks after battling back from respiratory ailments. On Easter Sunday, the frail but resolute pope − who championed the poor and marginalized and was often called "the people's pope" − thrilled crowds with an impromptu popemobile outing into St. Peter's Square. The Argentine pope, who contended with Catholic Church traditionalists opposed to his reforms, was known for his warm demeanor and for spurning any kind of grandeur: Living at a guesthouse in the Vatican, taking public transportation, wearing plain white cassocks. On his U.S. trip in 2015, he zipped around the nation's capital in a small black Fiat. Francis, who scaled back rules for papal funeral rites a year ago, made sure his own service and burial reflected that same message of simplicity − breaking from tradition even in death. Pope Francis' funeral service is expected to take 90 minutes, compared to John Paul's service in 2005 that last lasted three hours. In his final testament, Francis asked to be buried inside the burial niche between Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani and Sforza Chapel, which are located within the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome instead of in the Grotto at St. Peter's Basilica. He is the first pope being laid to rest outside the Vatican in almost a century. The pope, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, also requested a "simple" burial: "The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, and bearing only the inscription: Franciscus," he instructed. St. Mary Major was special to Francis because of his devotion to Mary, Mother of God. He prayed there before and after many overseas trips. Pope Francis' coffin also breaks with papal tradition. Instead of being buried in three coffins − each made of cypress, lead and elm and placed inside the other − his coffin will be wooden and lined with zinc. The coffin is shaped like a tapered hexagonal box. It it wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, resembling a human body. − George Petras, Janet Loehrke About 2,000 local police officers will be on duty at Pope' Francis' funeral joined by thousands more officers from the national security forces. Security measures will include patrols on the Tiber, drones and snipers. Streets were closed to traffic around the Vatican on Saturday. Authorities also announced a no-fly zone over Rome for the week. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the funeral Mass, which will be celebrated by patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops and priests from around the world, the Vatican said. The weather has been spectacular all week in Vatican City, and conditions for the funeral also look terrific, forecasters said. "It should a nice and calm day," AccuWeather meteorologist Jacob Hinson told USA TODAY. He said sunny to partly cloudy skies are expected, with highs in the 70s. Wind should not be an issue either, he added, with gusts of only 6-10 mph in the forecast. − Doyle Rice Dozens of global leaders and dignitaries were scheduled to attend Pope Francis' funeral. Among them: President Donald Trump, who clashed repeatedly with Francis over immigration, and first lady Melania. Former President Joe Biden and wife Jill were also expected to attend. Britain's Prince William, son of King Charles III, will attend the funeral on his father's behalf, Kensington Palace said. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also will attend. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres was scheduled to attend, his office said. Javier Milei, president of Francis' native Argentina, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were among others who said they would attend. About 25,000 people bid farewell to Francis through this week as the pope was lying in state at St. Peter's. Lines stretched more than half a mile north of the Vatican, and some people reported waits of about three hours to get inside the basilica. 'He was a wonderful pope,' Alessandra Caccamo of Rome said as she waited outside the Vatican. 'I'm going to miss him so much, because it's like I've lost a piece of me.' Rachel Mckay, from Britain, said Francis was "somebody who made the church very accessible to everybody and inclusive to everybody. He's like a member of the family, somebody very close to our hearts." Pope is a global icon: Fascination with papacy's rituals take center stage A conclave to choose a new pope normally takes place 15 to 20 days after the death of a pontiff, meaning it should not start before May 6. As of this week, there were 252 cardinals, of whom 135 are electors, according to the Vatican. Cardinals over the age of 80 are excluded from voting. Contributing: Reuters
Fox News
26-04-2025
- General
- Fox News
World leaders and mourners of the Catholic faith gather in Vatican City for Pope Francis' funeral
incoming update… "In the Name of the Holy Trinity. Amen. "Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with lively hope in the Eternal Life, I wish to express my testamentary will only with regard to the place of my Burial. "I have always entrusted my life and the priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy. Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest waiting for the day of the resurrection in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. "I want my last earthly journey to end in this ancient sanctuary Mariano where I went for prayer at the beginning and end of each Apostolic Journey to confidently entrust my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and thank Her for the docile and maternal care. "I ask that my tomb be prepared in the hole of the aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica as Indicated in the attached annex. "The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decorum and with the only inscription: Franciscus. "The expenses for the preparation of my burial will be covered with the sum of the benefactor who I have arranged, to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and of which I have provided to give appropriate instructions to Mons. Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Chapter Liberian. "May the Lord give the well-deserved reward to those who have loved me and will continue to pray for me. The suffering that was made in the last part of my life I offered to the Lord for peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples." Pope Francis' funeral will be held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. local Rome time (4:00 a.m. ET) and more than 200,000 people are expected to attend the deceased Vicar of Christ's services. Thousands of mourners have taken to the Vatican this week to pay their final respects to Pope Francis following his death on Monday. The funeral Mass will be held on the parvis of St. Peter's Basilica, and His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the Catholic rites and blessings. There have been 266 papal leaders of the Catholic Church since Jesus Christ's death in the AD 30s through Pope Francis – Jorge Mario Bergoglio – who died on Easter Monday at 88. The most prominent pope is considered to be St. Peter, the first holder of the title. Christ had appointed him the inaugural Bishop of Rome, and the papal church – St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City – is named in his honor. This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Charles Creitz. Live Coverage begins here
The Independent
24-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
What Pope Francis left behind in his last will and testament
Pope Francis has decreed in his will that he be buried in a simple underground tomb in St Mary Major Basilica. The will specified the late pontiff wanted to be buried "in the ground, without particular decoration" but with the inscription of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus. In his final testament, the pope expressed his wish to be buried in Rome, and not at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican like many previous pontiffs. Alongside the will, the Vatican announced the pope died following a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure. The Vatican added that the pontiff had arranged for an unnamed benefactor to cover the costs of his burial. Published on the Holy See's website, here is the Pope's will in full. It reads: 'In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen. 'Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with lively hope in Eternal Life, I wish to express my testamentary will only with regard to the place of my burial. 'I have always entrusted my life and my priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy. Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest awaiting the day of resurrection in the Papal Basilica of St Mary Major. 'I wish that my last earthly journey conclude precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary where I went for prayer at the beginning and end of each Apostolic journey to confidently entrust my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and thank Her for her docile and maternal care. 'I ask that my tomb be prepared in the niche of the side nave between the Pauline Chapel, Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani, and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica as indicated in the enclosed attachment. 'The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus. 'The expenses for the preparation of my burial will be covered by the sum of the benefactor that I have arranged, to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and of which I have provided appropriate instructions to Rolandas Makrickas (a Catholic cardinal) Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Chapter. 'May the Lord give the deserved reward to those who have loved me and will continue to pray for me. The suffering that has become present in the last part of my life I have offered to the Lord for peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples.' Francis's coffin was moved from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel, where he lived, to St Peter's Basilica to allow the faithful to pay their respects. His funeral will take place on Saturday, 26 April. Following his death, the Catholic Church has now entered a period called 'sede vacante', or 'empty seat', during which there is no pope sitting on the throne of St Peter. Pope Francis, originally from Argentina and the first pope from Latin America, had led the 1.4 billion-member church since 2013.
