7 h. ago As it happened: Coffin of Pope Francis sealed after 250,000 pay homage to head of Catholic Church

Pope Francis’s coffin was sealed after a quarter of million people visited the late spiritual leader, as heads of state fly in to attend Saturday’s ceremony in St Peter’s Square

Politics

11 h. ago Pope Francis funeral latest: Pontiff’s coffin sealed after 250,000 pay homage to head of Catholic Church

Pope Francis’s coffin was sealed after a quarter of million people visited the late spiritual leader, as heads of state fly in to attend Saturday’s ceremony in St Peter’s Square

Politics

40 h. ago Who could be the new Pope? The cardinals who might become the next head of the Catholic Church

The late pontiff’s health concerns in recent years led to contenders to succeed him foreseeing a papabile ahead of his death

Politics

50 h. ago ‘Who wept for these people?’ Francis’s papacy was defined by compassion for refugees

From personally promising to relocate vulnerable asylum seekers to speaking out against ‘cruel’ policies, the late pope was a voice for the marginalisedOn a glorious spring day almost a decade ago, an Airbus A320 took off from Mytilene airport on the Greek island of Lesbos. For what seemed like an age, a small group of bystanders, including officials and the media, watched in disbelief until the plane veered left over the sun-speckled Aegean Sea and its Alitalia livery could no longer be discerned. On board was Pope Francis, who had spent barely five hours on Lesbos, then at the centre of the refugee crisis on Europe’s eastern fringes.The whirlwind tour had been replete with symbolism but it was the pontiff’s fellow travellers who had caused such surprise. Moments after the head of the Roman Catholic Church had entered the aircraft, 12 refugees had also appeared, cheerfully making their way across the runway with expressions of stunned relief, their first taste of freedom after inca...

Events

66 h. ago Inside 'secretive ritual' which is triggered after a pope dies and how new leader is chosen

Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, passed away on Monday, April 21, aged 88, leaving people wondering what will happen in the Vatican now and how a new leader will be selected

Events

67 h. ago People are only just discovering the very unexpected job Pope Francis had before becoming head of Catholic Church

People are shocked after learning the bizarre job Pope Francis had before becoming the head of Catholic Church. The Pope, who grew up in Buenos Aires, once worked as a bouncer.

Politics

3 d. ago ‘His time as pope was a gift we needed’ – world pays tribute to Francis

Pontiff’s compassion, dedication and humility earned him followers from beyond the Catholic churchLatest updates after death of Pope Francis After making his last public appearance on Easter Sunday in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis died the next day at the age of 88. As head of the Catholic church, his appeal went far beyond those within his congregation. Many appreciated his views on the environment, his calls for ending poverty and inequality and for his compassionate approach to the papacy.Here, people from around the world recall their memories of the pontiff and pay tribute ahead of the conclave to choose his successor. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. 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

3 d. ago Who will be the next Pope? AI predicts the new head of the Roman Catholic Church after Pope Francis dies

If you just can't wait for the world's most secretive election to run its course, MailOnline has used AI to predict who will be voted in as the head of the Catholic Church following Pope Francis' death.

Events

4 d. ago Pope Francis dead: World in mourning as Head of Catholic church passes away aged 88 of 'stroke and heart failure'

Pope Francis died at 7.35am on Monday morning

Events

4 d. ago From 'conclave' to 'white smoke,' a glossary of terms used in a papal transition

A change in popes is a complicated process, with centuries-old rituals involving the transition in leadership for both the spiritual head of the global Catholic Church and the Vatican’s head of state

Events

4 d. ago How Pope Francis changed the Catholic church, and what happens next – podcast

Just hours after wishing the world a happy Easter, the 267th head of the Roman Catholic church passed away. What was his legacy and who will take his place? Catherine Pepinster reportsPope Francis was working until the end. On Easter Sunday, the 88-year-old head of the Catholic church offered an Easter greeting to the crowds in St Peter’s Square who had gathered for mass. By the next morning, after months battling pneumonia and bronchitis, he had passed away.From the beginning, the first Latin American pope wanted his papacy to be different. Catherine Pepinster, the former editor of the Tablet, says one of his first notable actions was to go to a prison, rather than a church, to wash people’s feet in the traditional Maundy Thursday rite. It was typical of a pontiff who refused many of the luxuries of his predecessors – from giving up an apartment in the papal palace to only wearing simple leather shoes. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Pope Francis dead: King leads tributes as Head of Catholic church passes away aged 88 of 'stroke and heart failure'

Pope Francis died at 7.35am on Monday morning

Events

4 d. ago Pope Francis latest: Global tributes pour in after head of Catholic church dies

King Charles says he and Queen ‘deeply saddened’ by Pope Francis’ death

Events

4 d. ago Who could be the next Pope? The cardinals who might succeed the head of the Catholic Church

The pontiff’s health concerns in recent years led to questions about his succession even before his death

Politics

4 d. ago Pope Francis latest: Tributes paid after head of Catholic church dies aged 88

King Charles says he and Queen ‘deeply saddened’ by Pope Francis’ death

Events

4 d. ago Pope Francis dead: King leads tributes as Head of Catholic church passes away aged 88

Pope Francis died at 7.35am on Monday morning

Events

4 d. ago Pope Francis death latest: King Charles leads tributes after head of Catholic church dies aged 88

Tributes are being paid to the Pope, who died on Monday morning

Events

4 d. ago Pope Francis' last words to Vatican crowds on Easter Sunday hours before death

The head of the Catholic Church appeared on the Vatican balcony just hours before his death to address those who had gathered in the city to hear his words on Easter Sunday

Events

4 d. ago Pope Francis was 'a pope for the poor', says Keir Starmer after pontiff's death

The Prime Minister said he was "grieving" the death of the head of the Catholic Church alongside millions around the world.

Events