2 h. ago Child sexual abuse scandal cast long shadow over Pope Francis’s papacy

Issue threatened to derail Francis’s papacy and dominated his trips abroadPope Francis: cardinals to meet in Rome to set date for funeral – liveIn 2002, the Boston Globe published a series of articles exposing the scale of child sexual abuse in the local Catholic church. It shone a spotlight – the title of a later movie based on the investigation – on the church’s dark shameful secrets.Eleven years later, Francis became pope. Wave after wave of abuse revelations continued to crash at the Vatican’s doors amid mounting anger and revulsion among the faithful and beyond. The issue threatened to derail Francis’s papacy and dominate his trips abroad. He was slow to grasp the scale and systemic nature of the issue and apparently reluctant to take firm action to deal with abusers and those who covered up abuse. Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago Child sexual abuse scandal cast long shadow over Francis’s papacy

Issue dogged Francis throughout his time as head of Catholic church, with abuse survivors saying he failed to do enoughPope Francis: cardinals to meet in Rome to set date for funeral – liveIn 2002, the Boston Globe published a series of articles exposing the scale of child sexual abuse in the local Catholic church. It shone a spotlight – the title of a later movie based on the investigation – on the church’s dark shameful secrets.Eleven years later, Francis became pope. Wave after wave of abuse revelations continued to crash at the Vatican’s doors amid mounting anger and revulsion among the faithful and beyond. The issue threatened to derail Francis’s papacy and dominate his trips abroad. He was slow to grasp the scale and systemic nature of the issue and apparently reluctant to take firm action to deal with abusers and those who covered up abuse. Continue reading...

Events

7 h. ago Nostradamus's prediction on Pope Francis death and Catholic Church's future

One of the astrologer's prophecies is being linked to the Pope's death yesterday.

Events

10 h. ago ‘A signal of simplicity’: Pope Francis’s funeral will be his final humble gesture

One of pontiff’s last acts was to simplify papal rites, stripping away elaborate rituals and scaling back processionLatest updates: tributes paid after Pope Francis dies aged 88When the late Pope Francis stepped on to the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to give his first speech as leader of the Catholic church in March 2013, he cast away formality by dressing in simple white robes instead of the regal ermine-trimmed cape usually worn by newly elected pontiffs.The next day, Francis – a name chosen in honour of Francis of Assisi, the Italian saint who renounced a life of luxury to help the poor – returned to the Rome hotel in which he had stayed before the conclave to pick up his luggage and pay his bill. He substituted a plush apostolic apartment for a simple room within the Vatican walls and, unlike his predecessors, did not spend his summers in Castel Gandolfo, an opulent 12th-century fortress close to Rome. Continue reading...

Politics

15 h. ago Inside Conclave: The cardinals seen as contenders to be the next pope after Francis's death

Former US president Joe Biden has said Pope Francis will be remembered as “one of the most consequential leaders of our time”.

Events

16 h. ago Nostradamus's eerie prediction of Pope Francis's death and future of Catholic Church

Pope Francis died of a stroke today and astrologers are claiming that Nostradamus made a prophecy nearly 500 years ago about his death - and the future of the Catholic Church

Events

17 h. ago Every word of Pope Francis's will including plans for his tomb

Francis proclaimed that the tomb should only have “Franciscus” written on it

Politics

17 h. ago Pope Francis's final testament released as burial wishes detailed – read pontiff's will in full

Pope Francis's final testament has been released by the Vatican, in which he shares his wishes for his burial and expresses gratitude to those who have loved him

Politics

18 h. ago Pope Francis's final testament released by Vatican reveals burial wishes

Pope Francis died following a stroke aged 88 on Easter Monday just a day after greeting crowds in Vatican City and now his final testament has released by the Vatican

Economics

18 h. ago Pope Francis' final hours and how he defied doctors to the end as full death certificate revealed

After a lengthy health battle, Pope Francis died aged 88 on Monday morning from a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure - triggering a nine-day mourning period

Events

24 h. ago Pope Francis's message was to be joyful, merciful and to look forward when lost

Father Gerard Maguiness, who met Pope Francis in February, writes about what the first Jesuit to be Supreme Pontiff meant to him

Events

26 h. ago Pope Francis's wildest moments from aliens vow, Joe Biden 'head butt' to lags' feet kiss

Joe Biden in a moment of skin to skin contact, promises about Martians and an unlikely previous career, the late Pope Francis had a number of moments in his life that might take you by surprise

Politics

27 h. ago Pope Francis's final day in photos: How pontiff spent yesterday celebrating Easter Sunday with the faithful, bringing smiles to the faces of thousands

An aide to the 88-year-old pontiff delivered his 'Urbi et Orbi' benediction from a balcony overlooking the square following mass to mark the holiday.

Culture

29 h. ago Pope Francis' very unusual funeral plans and every rule he tore up for his own service

Pope Francis, who has died at the age of 88, made sure to have his funeral plans finalised as he reached his final years, and his choices reflect the humble approach that defined his outward-looking papacy

Politics

3 w. ago March design news: Maurzio Cattelan goes Greek, art teapots and house paint that changes colour

Exhibitions at this year’s Milan Furniture Fair, a guide to green wood carving and funeral urns by AlessiThis is the final monthly design news round-up, so we’ve made it a bumper edition. As well as previewing some shows that will be this year’s Salone del Mobile in Milan, there’s pyjamas from Grayson Perry and Greek mythology reinterpreted by conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan. Enjoy. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Pope Francis's doctors almost stopped his treatment so he could die before final miracle plan

Pope Francis had a number of breathing crises during his time in hospital, with a doctor admitting that two of them put the pontiff's life in danger, and medics were close to ending treatment

Events