Vatican

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Pope Planned to Bless Cyclists. Now, They'll Honor Him

Giro d'Italia will pass in front of the late Francis' residence

(Newser) - It could very well be the biggest sporting event ever held inside the walls of the Vatican. The Giro d'Italia will pay homage to the late Pope Francis by passing through the Vatican gardens behind St. Peter's Basilica and in front of the Santa Marta hotel—which was...

Amid Scandal, Cardinal Becciu Bows Out of Papal Conclave

Convicted cardinal steps back after letters reportedly signed by Francis surface on eligibility

(Newser) - Once one of the most powerful voices in the Vatican, Cardinal Angelo Becciu has stepped back from the Vatican's most secretive election after a recent criminal conviction. Becciu made his decision on Tuesday after being presented with two letters written by Pope Francis before his death that said...

The Conclave Is Set
The Conclave Is Set
Apr 28, 2025 8:09 AM CDT

The Conclave Is Set

Cardinals will sequester themselves on May 7 to pick a successor to Pope Francis

(Newser) - The start date is set to pick a new pope. How long it will take remains anyone's guess. Catholic cardinals said Monday that their conclave to select Pope Francis' successor will begin on May 7, reports the AP . The cardinals delayed the secret voting for two days to...

After Chat With Zelensky, Trump Doubts Putin's Intentions

Ukrainian president says brief talk covered 'a lot'

(Newser) - President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met briefly on Saturday before the funeral for Pope Francis as the American leader steps up pressure to end Russia's war against Ukraine. It was the first face-to-face encounter between the presidents since they argued during a heated Oval Office meeting at...

Francis Built 'a Poor Church for the Poor'

US Presidents Trump and Biden, heads of state, Catholic faithful honor pope at Vatican funeral

(Newser) - World leaders and Catholic faithful bade farewell to Pope Francis in a funeral Saturday that highlighted his concern for the "most peripheral of the peripheries" and reflected his wishes as pastor. Though presidents and princes attended the Mass in St. Peter's Square, prisoners and migrants were also set...

What Conclave Gets Wrong About Picking a Pope
Conclave Gets a Fact-Check
Apr 25, 2025 4:40 PM CDT

Conclave Gets a Fact-Check

Ralph Fiennes film is an award-winning political thriller but not entirely accurate from Vatican's POV

(Newser) - Speculation surrounding a conclave to elect a pope is a time-honored tradition. But for the impending conclave following the death of Pope Francis, the ranks of armchair Vatican experts have swelled, thanks to Hollywood. Conclave the film, a 2024 political thriller that has seen renewed interest in the wake of...

Turnout to View Pope Has Been Higher Than Expected

Vatican kept St. Peter's open all night

(Newser) - So many mourners lined up to see Pope Francis lying in state in a simple wooden coffin inside St. Peter's Basilica that the Vatican kept the doors open all night due to higher-than-expected turnout, closing the basilica for just an hour and a half on Thursday morning for cleaning....

Thousands Gather to Bid Farewell to Pope Francis

Francis' body was transferred to St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday, to lie in state until Friday evening

(Newser) - Catholics and other mourners are queued up and streaming past the open casket holding Pope Francis to pay their final respects. The late pontiff, who died Monday at the age of 88, is now officially lying in state at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, where he'll remain...

Vatican Shares Photos of Pope in Open Casket

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

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

Papal Conclave Could Deliver a 'History-Making Moment'

First modern pope from Asia or Africa is possible

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

The Acting Pope Is an Irish-Born US Citizen

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

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

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

5 Things to Know About Francis' Life, Papacy

The Argentina-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio has died at 88

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

Pope Francis Dies Hours After Final Public Appearance

Pontiff, 88, had been recovering from pneumonia

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

Vatican, White House Report Vance Meeting Differently

Church statement calls session an 'exchange of opinions'

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

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

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

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

Pope Begins Holy Week With Appearance



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

Pope Greets Palm Sunday Worshippers

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

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

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

Pope paves the way for 3 canonizations

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

Vatican Releases New Photo of Pope
Vatican Releases
New Photo of Pope
Mar 16, 2025 1:40 PM CDT

Vatican Releases New Photo of Pope

It's the first time Francis has been shown in a month

(Newser) - The Vatican on Sunday released the first photograph of pope in more than a month, showing Pope Francis wearing a purple Lenten liturgical vestments sitting in a wheelchair in front of an altar in the hospital chapel. The Vatican said he was participating in the celebration of the Mass with...

Pope Marks a Milestone
Pope Marks a Milestone
Mar 13, 2025 1:17 PM CDT

Pope Marks a Milestone

Francis was elected 12 years ago, spends another day in the hospital

(Newser) - Pope Francis has marked the 12th anniversary of his pontificate in the hospital as he received increasingly positive medical news on his recovery and hundreds of messages wishing him well. The pope spent the morning in physiotherapy, followed Lenten spiritual exercises of the Roman curia, and stopped to pray at...

Report: Pope Francis Is Preparing for Death
Report: Pope Francis
Is Preparing for Death
UPDATED
Feb 19, 2025 1:00 AM CST

Report: Pope Francis Is Preparing for Death

Politico reports he's tying up loose ends, believing his days are numbered

(Newser) - The Vatican announced Tuesday that Pope Francis, hospitalized with a respiratory tract infection, has developed pneumonia in both lungs. The pontiff was initially hospitalized with bronchitis, but pneumonia is a "deeper and far more serious infection," especially when both lungs are impacted, the AP reports. Even so, the...

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