2 h. ago Returned to the house of the Father: After his final blessing on Easter Sunday, the frail Pope dies of a stroke. Now a battle for the Catholic Church's future begins

As the world united in mourning, manoeuvring began in Rome over the contest to shape the Church over the next decade and guide its billion-plus adherents.

Events

8 h. ago AP PHOTOS: The last images of Pope Francis, taken at Easter services the day before he died

Francis made his final public appearance on Easter Sunday. He appeared very frail and had delegated the celebration of the Easter Mass to another cardinal. Though his voice was weak, he blessed a crowd of faithful from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Culture

13 h. ago Pope Francis 'cause of death' is revealed: How pontiff, 88, passed away peacefully after astonishing final act of Easter devotion saw him tour massive crowds for almost an hour

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday aged 88 after dedicating his 'entire life' to serving God and the Church, the Vatican announced today.

Events

13 h. ago The Pope’s final Easter mass: A look back just hours before his death

Many people were surprised to see Pope Francis deliver mass on Easter Sunday after some well-documented health problems but the pontiff continued to fulfil his duties - even while experiencing ill-health

Events

16 h. ago Did sheer willpower keep Pope alive for a final Easter? Truth about the phenomenon that allows patients in their dying days to choose when they go

As the news of the Pope's passing, mourners took to X.com with one writing: 'Talk about divine timing. May his soul rest in eternal peace.'

Science

16 h. ago The Pope's last blessings: Poignant moment Pope Francis said prayers for babies and children on Easter Sunday hours before his death

Footage of the brief exchange outside the Vatican yesterday is now deeply poignant following the pontiff's death today at the age of 88.

Events

16 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

18 h. ago Pope condemns Gaza’s humanitarian crisis in final Easter message

Pope Francis condemned Gaza’s “deplorable humanitarian situation” as he reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in his final Easter Sunday message read aloud by an aide.

Events

8 d. ago Israel’s latest strike on Gaza hospital is ‘appalling’, says Archbishop of York

Patients were forced to evacuate and a girl died as people fled the Anglican-run Al-Ahli Hospital.

Politics

2 w. ago Ambulance staff say patients are dying in their care due to hospital handover delays

UNISON surveyed nearly 600 road ambulance staff in the UK, with one in 20 (4.7%) saying patients had died in their care in the previous 12 months because of delays in being handed over to hospital.

Science

2 w. ago Musk may soon leave the White House, but his bromance with Trump will remain

Rather than an explosive split that many predicted, Musk instead appears set to keep close ties with Trump and retain influence on US politicsAfter months of exerting extraordinary power over the US government and becoming a mascot for Donald Trump’s new administration, the first signs that Elon Musk may shift away from his prominent role in the White House began to appear this week.Both Trump and JD Vance have stated in interviews over the past few days that Musk would eventually leave the administration and the “department of government efficiency” (Doge) that he founded, their most direct statements yet on his tenure. Politico also reported on Wednesday that Trump had told members of his inner circle that the Tesla CEO would be departing in the coming weeks, though Musk called the article “fake news”. Musk is a “special government employee”, a designation that technically carries a 130-day term that, depending on how the administration chooses to log those days, could run out at ...

Politics

3 w. ago Girl, 9, dies after being sedated for a dental procedure in California

Another patient almost died following a sedation procedure in 2016 under the dental surgery’s care

Events

3 w. ago Patient says he would 'rather die' than be treated in 'inhumane' Welsh hospitals

All 12 Welsh emergency departments had people being treated in corridors or waiting areas on at least one day recently, and all had patients being cared for in the back of ambulances

Science