2 h. ago Conclave viewership rose 283% on day of Pope Francis’s death

Ralph Fiennes was Oscar-nominated for his role in the thriller which follows cardinals wrangling to replace a fictional pontiff after his deathThe death of Pope Francis on 21 April led to an abrupt uptick in viewership of Conclave, Edward Berger’s thriller which depicts the events following the death of a fictional pope, and the cardinals wrangling to replace him.The film, which won best picture at the Baftas earlier this year and was nominated for eight Oscars, is available on assorted streaming platforms worldwide. According to Luminate, which tracks streaming viewership, Conclave was viewed for about 1.8m minutes on 20 April, and 6.9m minutes the next day – an increase of 283%. Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago Vatican's secret links to UFOs laid bare as Pope Francis' successor is urged to share 'the truth'

Following the death of Pope Francis, UFO researcher and film maker Mark Christopher Lee has called on his successor to finally reveal the Vatican's hidden knowledge of alien phenomena.

Politics

2 h. ago Pope Francis death latest: Crowds gather at St Peter's Basilica to mourn late pontiff

The Pope died on Easter Monday aged 88

Events

4 h. ago The global south has lost its pope. The world has lost its conscience | Nathalie Tocci

He was no liberal, but Francis embodied a spirit of international solidarity that is in alarmingly short supplyPope Francis died hours after meeting the US vice-president, JD Vance. If that wasn’t a bad enough omen, the Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, Donald Trump’s acolyte and self-styled “Christian nationalist”, appeared to welcome the pope’s death as a sign of “evil” being “defeated”.In fact, despite a series of clashes with the Trump White House, Francis was no liberal. While refraining from judging homosexuality, he explicitly disapproved of the liberalising synodal path embarked on by the Catholic church in Germany, which ruled in 2023 that church employees could not be sacked for entering same-sex relationships or remarrying after divorce. On abortion, euthanasia, women and LGBTQ+ rights, Francis betrayed the high hopes that liberals and progressives had bestowed upon him. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Outrage as Vice President JD Vance shows 'lack of respect' following Pope's death

The vice president was trailed by White House photographer Emily Higgins as he toured the iconic Vatican City before releasing pictures of his controversial visit

Politics

4 h. ago Pope Francis death latest: Late pontiff's body arrives in St Peter's Basilica for public mourning

The Pope died on Easter Monday aged 88

Events

4 h. ago Pope hopeful from same place as Cristiano Ronaldo, had interesting childood and rare job

Cardinal Jose Tolentino Mendonca is on a list of other key figures who have been touted as possible future pontiffs following the death of Pope Francis on April 21 age 88

Society

5 h. ago Simon Calder: What to expect visiting Rome and the Vatican after Pope Francis’ death

Pilgrims from around the world are expected to flock to the Vatican for Pope Francis’ funeral, following his death aged 88 on Monday, 21 April.

Events

6 h. ago Pope Francis' death sparks massive spike in Conclave streaming numbers as viewers seek answers over selection of next pope

While the Catholic church prepares for its first papal conclave in 12 years, following the death of Pope Francis , many have been flocking to the hit movie Conclave.

Politics

6 h. ago JD Vance shows 'lack of respect' following Pope's death as he breaks key rule

The image inside the Sistine Chapel, taken by official White House photographer Emily Higgins during the VP’s Easter weekend visit, quickly ignited online outrage

Events

6 h. ago Pope Francis death latest: Late pontiff's body to be moved to St Peter's Basilica for public mourning

The late pontiff’s coffin is set to be moved to St Peter’s Basilica at 8am BST

Events

8 h. 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

9 h. ago Readers' letters: Pope Francis had a rare gift – he was greater than his office

Readers pay tribute to Pope Francis following his death at the age of 88 on Easter Monday

Politics

14 h. ago Pope Francis dies latest: Prince William and Trump to attend funeral while details of pope’s final hours emerge

Tens of thousands of pilgrims are expected to flock to the Vatican for Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday

Politics

15 h. ago Pope Francis' final moments show rapid deterioration before his death

The pontiff is understood to have woken at 6am on Monday and was fine for at least an hour. However around 7am Vatican medics rushed to an emergency call from his Casa Santa Marta apartment.

Events

18 h. ago Pope Francis' final moments show rapid deterioration before pontiff's death

Pope Francis died at 7.35am on Monday after a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure the Vatican confirmed with a police escort to a hospital having to be cancelled

Events

20 h. ago Pope Francis’s funeral to be held at St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday

Francis will be buried in Rome’s Esquilino neighbourhood, in break from traditionLatest updates after death of Pope FrancisThe funeral of Pope Francis will be held on Saturday at St Peter’s Square, the Vatican said on Tuesday, as a host of world leaders and royals including Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump and the Prince of Wales confirmed their attendance.The pope, the head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, died at his home in the Vatican on Monday aged 88 after a stroke. He had been recovering from double pneumonia for which he was hospitalised for five weeks. Continue reading...

Politics

21 h. ago Jimmy Kimmel on the pope’s death: ‘Now we know JD Vance is bad at praying, too’

Late-night hosts talk Pope Francis’s death after meeting with vice-president, JD Vance, and Trump’s dark Easter postWith several hosts on post-Easter holiday, Jimmy Kimmel recaps Donald Trump’s hypocritical messages on religion and the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88. Continue reading...

Events

22 h. ago Who could be the next Pope after Francis? All the cardinals in the running for the Papacy

The Catholic College of Cardinals convening to elect a new pope is one of the oldest methods of electing a head of state - the Standard looks at who is in contention for the role

Politics

22 h. ago ‘He felt our pain’: Catholic church in Gaza grieves Pope Francis’s death

Pope made nightly phone calls to the Holy Family Catholic church from the start of the war in October 2023Latest updates after death of Pope FrancisThe first time he spoke to Pope Francis during the pontiff’s nightly calls to the Holy Family Catholic church in Gaza City, the congregant George Antone, 44, found himself at a loss for words.It was October 2023, a few weeks after Hamas ignited a devastating war in the Gaza Strip by attacking Israel. The Palestinian territory’s tiny Christian community had taken shelter in the strip’s three churches, but that didn’t mean they were safe. An Israeli airstrike had just hit the Greek Orthodox church, killing 18 people; soon, snipers and bombs would also kill civilians at the Holy Family. Continue reading...

Events