7 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

8 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

12 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

13 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

15 h. ago Faithful queue around the clock to see the Pope: Vatican abandons plans to close St Peter's Basilica overnight as 20,000

Some 19,430 people had been to St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City 'to pay homage to Pope Francis' less than 12 hours after his coffin was transferred there.

Culture

15 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

15 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

17 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

18 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

27 h. ago Pope Francis death: Crowds take ghoulish snaps of pontiff lying in state in sea of phones

Huge eight-hour queues are building up outside St Peter's Basilica to see Pope Francis lying in state - and some mourners have been taking photographs of his body once they are inside the church

Events

29 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

32 h. ago Watch live: Pope Francis’ coffin lies in St Peter’s Basilica for public viewing

Watch live as Pope Francis’ coffin lies in state in St. Peter's Basilica for public viewings from Wednesday, 23 April.

Politics

33 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

33 h. ago Pope Francis latest: Tens of thousands of mourners view Pontiff’s open casket at St Peter’s Basilica

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

Politics

34 h. ago Barriers at the basilica: the logistical challenges of Pope Francis’s funeral

Defence and security mechanisms are deployed across Rome as authorities expect crowds of up to 200,000 peoplePope Francis’s funeral – latest updatesDespite Pope Francis’s desire for a simple and comparatively low-key send-off, those tasked with organising and delivering the funeral of the 266th bishop of Rome still face a vast array of logistical, technological and security challenges.With as many as 170 foreign delegations – including those of Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prince William – expected to descend on the Vatican for Saturday’s funeral, along with crowds of up to 200,000 people, those overseeing the event are in for a hyper-vigilant few days. Continue reading...

Politics

35 h. ago Pope Francis latest: Tens of thousands of mourners view Pontiff’s open coffin at St Peter’s Basilica

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

Politics

36 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

36 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

36 h. ago Pope Francis latest: First mourners view Pontiff’s coffin at St Peter’s Basilica as thousands queue outside

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

Politics

37 h. ago The world says goodbye to Pope Francis: Emotional faithful enter St Peter's Basilica as the pontiff's body is placed on display for three days of mourning

Twelve pall bearers, all dressed in pale blue suits, carried Pope Francis' open coffin at shoulder height through the square behind the Vatican and into St Peter's Basilica today.

Politics