In a brief encounter with the media, Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, assistant archpriest of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, explained why Pope Francis chose to be buried in the Liberian basilica: a decision inspired by the Mother of God, depicted in the icon to which the Pope had a deep devotion.
Just before the Pope's funeral, the Presidents of Ukraine and the United States met for a "very productive" discussion on the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The world gathers in the heart of Rome for the Pope’s final farewell. A mosaic of faces, languages, and songs weaves a living atlas beneath the sky over St Peter's Square. It’s not a goodbye, but the beginning of a journey that continues — a poem “that will never reach the last verse.”
Pope Francis’ decision to be buried in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major is “surprising… but not novel,” according to historian Donald Prudlo, who in this interview reflects on the significance of papal burial places.
After funeral mass, Pope Francis’ mortal remains were carried through Rome to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where he was laid to rest near the icon of Mary Salus Popoli Romani.
In his homily at the Requiem Mass for Pope Francis, the Dean of the College of Cardinals recalls the highlights of his intense and prophetic 12 years of pontificate marked by his closeness to the people, especially the least and the last amongst us, and his deep love for the Church open to everyone.
For the Octave of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, Jenny Kraska reflects on the peace offered by the Risen Lord as the Church marks the passing of Pope Francis.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster offers Vatican News a personal reflection on the defining character of the late pontiff’s ministry: joy and hope deeply rooted in the relation with God.
The Deed for the Pious Passing of His Holiness Pope Francis has been placed in his coffin, which was sealed in a solemn rite ahead of his Requiem Mass.
A group of religious leaders, academics and economists pay tribute to Pope Francis, highlighting his call for an economy that prioritises human dignity and ecological responsibility. They propose debt conversion initiatives as a practical way to balance global inequalities and advance his vision of fraternity and sustainable development.
At Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa leads the fifth recitation of the Rosary in memory of Pope Francis.
Pope Francis’ coffin is sealed in a private ceremony in St Peter’s Basilica, after some 250,000 mourners had paid their respects.
Thousands of young people from around the world, in Rome for their Jubilee and to pay their respects to Pope Francis, gather to pray the “Via Lucis”, reflecting on the Resurrection.
We publish a recollection of the late Pope Francis, signed by the professor who was the initiator of the letter written to Pope Francis by some 400 rabbis and scholars, in the aftermath of the outbreak of war in Gaza, to which the Pope responded with a reply expressing appreciation.
The funeral Mass for Pope Francis will begin at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 26 in St. Peter's Square. It will be presided over by Cardinal Re and will conclude with the transfer of the coffin to Saint Mary Major, where the burial will take place.
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar, highlights how the late pontiff urged the Church to accompany every attempt for peace in the world.
After the solemn funeral Mass at St. Peter’s on Saturday, 26 Apri, Pope Francis remains will be transferred in procession to the Basilica of St. Mary Major where a group of poor and marginalized people will pay their last respects before his burial in the church, as he expressed in his last wishes.
Vatican Radio - Vatican News will provide live coverage of the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square, followed by the procession through the streets of Rome to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, offering broadcasts in 15 languages, including four sign languages.
Cardinals present in Rome hold their fourth General Congregation on Friday morning, as the papal liturgist explains that Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will be that of “a shepherd, not a sovereign.”