Pope was a pastor first, which is lasting gift to church, cardinal says April 22, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News Pope Francis was a pastor first, “so consistently, so spontaneously and with such deep conviction,” that it will remain a gift to the Catholic Church, said Cardinal Michael Czerny.
Special terms used during the period between popes April 22, 2025By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News An explanation of some of the terms and practices related to the time between the death of Pope Francis April 21 and the election of his successor.
Timeline of recent papal transitions April 22, 2025By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News After the deaths or resignations of their predecessors, the last six popes have been elected within a fairly short period of time — between two and three weeks.
Cardinals hold first meeting after pope’s death April 22, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Cardinals already present in Rome and those who were able to get to the city after Pope Francis’ death April 21 held their first meeting at the Vatican April 22.
Pope’s funeral set for April 26, public viewing April 23-25 April 22, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News The funeral Mass of Pope Francis will be celebrated April 26 in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced.
Francis took pastoral and practical approach against abuse April 22, 2025By Carol Glatz OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News Over the course of his pontificate, Pope Francis held up two recurring images: the good shepherd who looks for the lost sheep and lays down his life to save them; and the good Samaritan, who did not ignore the wounded traveler, but helped him without asking for anything in return.
Pope Francis dies during Jubilee, leaving Holy Door open in papal first April 22, 2025By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Jubilee 2025, News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News With his death April 21, Pope Francis marked yet another first in the history of the Catholic Church: he became the first pope to open the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica without living to close it.
Maryland Catholic Conference leader witnesses reflective, reverent mood settle over Rome April 21, 2025By Patricia Zapor Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican Pilgrims and tourists who had just one day earlier flocked to St. Peter’s Square awoke to the news that Pope Francis, who had greeted them there on Easter Sunday, had died. Pope Francis died at at 88, a few weeks after returning to his apartment at the Vatican following a five-week hospitalization for pneumonia.
‘Pope of the people’: Catholic leaders recall Pope Francis as champion of mercy, love April 21, 2025By Maria Wiering OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News Calling Pope Francis “a modern-day prophet,” Kerry Alys Robinson said the late pope “read the signs of the times and awakened us to meaningful change in our behavior — within the Church and within the world.”
In final testament, pope asks for simple burial, prayed for peace April 21, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News In his brief final testament, Pope Francis asked to be buried at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major and said he had offered his suffering for peace in the world.
Analysis: What Pope Francis brought to the church, and what he leaves behind April 21, 2025By Ines San Martin OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News Pope Francis, history’s first pope from the global south and a maverick who often delighted the world, died April 21 after fighting pulmonary disease for the last few months.
Crowds gather to pray the rosary for repose of pope’s soul April 21, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News Just as hundreds of people had gathered at the Vatican each night to recite the rosary when Pope Francis was hospitalized, throngs returned to recite the Marian prayer for the repose of his soul after his death.