Pope Francis

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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....

After Pope's Death, Ralph Fiennes Flick Gets a Boost

Conclave , about the selection of a new pope, saw 283% streaming spike right after Francis died

(Newser) - As the world awaits the papal conclave that will replace the late Pope Francis with a new head of the Catholic Church, many are taking to their TV remotes to get an idea of how that process works—specifically, by watching the Oscar-winning movie Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes. NBC News...

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...

Pope Francis Never Went Home to Argentina

Political divides may have been a factor in what some viewed as a snub

(Newser) - Pope Francis became a global leader and symbol of change, but he never returned home to Argentina after leaving Buenos Aires for the Vatican in 2013—a decision that sparked questions and debate across his homeland, per the AP . Many Argentinians felt confused and snubbed as he visited four...

Vatican Reveals Some of Pope's Final Words

He thanked his nurse for bringing him out to greet the public

(Newser) - It's not clear what the very last words of Pope Francis were before his death early Monday, but the Vatican is revealing details about one of his last exchanges with longtime nurse Massimiliano Strappetti. "Thank you for bringing me back to the Square," Francis told Strappetti on...

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...

The Beloved Pope Francis Did Have 'Many Critics'

The progressive pontiff sometimes butted heads with conservative clergy

(Newser) - Pope Francis was being remembered as a beloved leader of the Catholic Church following his death Monday at age 88, but the pontiff was not without his critics over the years since he was elected pope in 2013. A look at some of them:
  • Conservative US Catholics: As the New
...

Every Night, Pope Called a Small Church in Gaza

Francis asked Palestinian Catholics 'to be strong'

(Newser) - Hours after the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023, the only Catholic church in Gaza received a call from Rome. It was the first of what became nightly discussions between the parishioners of Holy Family Church and Pope Francis, Reuters reports. The pope "always healed our wounds and asked...

Trump Says He'll Be at Pope's Funeral

He orders flags flown at half-staff to honor Francis

(Newser) - President Trump has ordered flags at the White House and all other federal buildings to be flown at half-staff Monday in honor of Pope Francis. Trump made the announcement at the start of the White House Easter Egg Roll, flanked by Melania Trump and the Easter Bunny, USA Today reports....

Vatican: Pope Died From Stroke, Heart Failure
Vatican: Pope Died of a Stroke
Apr 21, 2025 2:35 PM CDT

Vatican: Pope Died of a Stroke

Vatican says pontiff asked for a 'simple' tomb with a one-word inscription

(Newser) - Pope Francis' death hours after his final appearance was caused by a stroke, followed by irreversible heart failure, the Vatican said in a statement Monday. In a death certificate, Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli said the 88-year-old fell into a coma before his death early Monday, Reuters reports. The Vatican statement...

An American Pope? One Name Is in Contention
An American Pope? One
Name Is in Contention
the rundown
Apr 21, 2025 8:23 AM CDT

An American Pope? One Name Is in Contention

Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago native, is among those seen as a possible successor

(Newser) - So who will be the next pope? Even as the tributes pour in for Pope Francis after his death on Monday morning , the question is at the forefront for the Catholic Church. The Washington Post sees no clear favorite at the moment, but the newspaper and other outlets are...

5 Things to Know About Francis&#39; 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
...

JD Vance: I'm Happy I Got to Meet the Pope

US vice president snagged the pontiff's 'last official meeting'

(Newser) - Vice President JD Vance has acknowledged the passing of Pope Francis a day after their meeting at the Vatican . "My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him," the Catholic convert wrote Monday on X , per USA Today . Vance said he...

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,...

Pope Has Easter Meeting With JD Vance

Pontiff also makes a surprise trip in the popemobile

(Newser) - Vice President JD Vance met briefly with Pope Francis on Sunday to exchange Easter greetings, after they got into a long-distance tangle over the Trump administration's migrant deportation plans. The Vatican said they met for a few minutes at the papal residence in Vatican City "to exchange Easter...

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...

&#39;Maverick&#39; Pope Visits Rome Prison
'Maverick' Pope
Visits Rome Prison
Apr 17, 2025 4:45 PM CDT

'Maverick' Pope Visits Rome Prison

Francis has been making surprise public appearances despite doctors' orders

(Newser) - It's been less than a month since Pope Francis was released from a Rome hospital after a five-week stay in which he came close to death , but he has been making an increasing number of public outings despite doctors' orders to take it easy and avoid crowds. On Thursday,...

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...

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