5 h. ago Vatican readies for Pope Francis’s funeral as world leaders set to fly in to Rome

Tens of thousands of mourners have queued for hours to pay their last respects to pontiff, whose coffin will be closed on Friday eveningThe Vatican will make final preparations on Friday for Pope Francis’s funeral as the last of the huge crowds of mourners file through St Peter’s Basilica to view his open coffin.Many of the 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs attending Saturday’s ceremony in St Peter’s Square, who include US president Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are expected to arrive in Rome on Friday. Continue reading...

Events

15 h. ago What to expect at Pope Francis’ funeral from Vatican rituals to iron

Tens of thousands have already turned out to pay their respects to the late Pope ahead of his funeral service on Saturday

Politics

18 h. ago Pope Francis: thousands more pay respects on second day of lying in state

More than 60,000 people have viewed body of late pontiff since Wednesday morning, says VaticanThousands of mourners lined up for hours on a second day to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis’s body, after St Peter’s Basilica stayed open all night to cope with the huge crowds who had come to pay their final respects.The 16th-century basilica, where Francis’s simple wooden coffin is placed on the main altar, was scheduled to close at midnight on Wednesday but remained open until 5.30am to allow in those who still wished to enter. After just 90 minutes of cleaning, it was reopened at 7am. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Pope Francis latest: Outrage over mourners taking selfies with casket as thousands pay respects at the Vatican

Pope Francis’ funeral will be held on Saturday with world leaders in attendance

Economics

20 h. ago Italy prepares ring of steel for Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome with Nato jets, snipers and 8,000 police

Italian authorities are preparing one of the most complex and secretive security operations in Vatican history as 200,000 people descend to pay respects to Pope Francis ahead of his funeral.

Events

21 h. ago How Pope Francis can stay on display for three days without any signs of decay

EXCLUSIVE: Pope Francis is currently laying in state at the Vatican and will remain there for three days to give the public the chance to pay their respects - but how does he not decay

Politics

21 h. ago Married couple who met during papal visit 40 years ago describe 'surreal' moment they saw Pope Francis' remains

The retired pair from Ireland were among some 20,000 people who queued to pay their respects overnight

Politics

22 h. ago Pope Francis: basilica stays open overnight so thousands can pay final respects

More than 50,000 people, queuing for hours, viewed body of late pontiff over 24-hour period, says VaticanSt Peter’s Basilica has reopened for thousands of people to pay their final respects to Pope Francis for a second day, following a brief pause after keeping its doors open all night.The 16th-century basilica, where Francis’s simple wooden coffin is placed on the main altar, was scheduled to close at midnight but remained open until 5.30am to allow in those who still wished to enter. Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago Fury at 'disrespectful' mourners taking selfies with the Pope's corpse as the faithful queue for eight hours to pay respects

After passing away aged 88 on Easter Monday, Francis' body has been carried into Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City for the three-day lying-in-state ritual.

Politics

22 h. ago Pope Francis mourners furious as people snap 'disrespectful' selfies with his dead body

Some 20,000 worshippers have queued up to pay their respects to the late pontiff - but many sparked widespread fury after they were spotted snapping selfies with Francis' body

Events

24 h. ago AP PHOTOS: Faithful join the line to pay their final respects to Pope Francis

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 to accommodate the higher-than-expected turnout.

Culture

25 h. ago Pope Francis latest: Vatican keeps St Peter’s Basilica open all night as thousands flock to pay respects

Pope Francis’ funeral will be held on Saturday with world leaders in attendance

Economics

26 h. ago Pope Francis death: Mourners tell of 'momentous' occasion as St Peter's Basilica stays open overnight for thousands to pay respect

St Peter’s Basilica remained open throughout the night to allow more people to pay their respects to Pope Francis

Events

27 h. ago Pope Francis latest: Vatican says it could extend viewing hours as thousands flock to pay final respects

Pope Francis’ funeral will be held on Saturday with world leaders in attendance

Economics

29 h. ago Thousands pay final respects to Pope Francis as Vatican considers extending public viewing

The public viewing of Pope Francis' casket is scheduled to resume Thursday, a day after it began with numbers that were so strong that the Vatican said it would consider longer hours to meet the demand

Economics

37 h. ago Tears and hugs as hundreds remember 'caring, selfless' soul Paria Veisi after suspected murder

Paria Veisi, 31, was described as a 'vibrant soul who brought joy to everyone around her' and they struggled to make room for the numbers who wished to pay their respects

Events

39 h. ago Thousands from around world wait hours to visit coffin of Pope Francis

Pope’s simple open casket lies on main altar of St Peter’s Basilica as mourners say: ‘It’s a privilege to be here’ Thousands of people queued for hours under the hot spring sun in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, whose simple wooden coffin has been placed on the main altar of the 16th-century basilica, where he will lie in state until Friday evening.The pope, the head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, died at his home in Casa Santa Marta on Monday aged 88 after a stroke and subsequent heart failure. He had been recovering from double pneumonia, which had kept him in hospital for five weeks. Continue reading...

Politics

43 h. ago Pope Francis death latest: 20,000 mourners gather at St Peter's Basilica to pay respects to late pontiff

The Pope died on Easter Monday aged 88

Events

46 h. ago Catholic faithful pay their respects to Pope Francis as lying in state begins – live

Francis will lie in state for three days at St Peter’s Basilica before funeral is held on SaturdayThe coffin makes it way through the Vatican towards St Peter’s Basilica, accompanied by the choir’s singing, starting with Psalm 22.You can follow the ceremony live watching the stream at the top of the blog. Continue reading...

Politics

46 h. ago Pope Francis lies in state as thousands begin to pay their respects

Vatican breaks with tradition as public viewing begins at St Peter’s Basilica.

Politics