Pope Francis: A pope of surprises to the end April 22, 2025By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News From the moment of his election, Pope Francis made clear from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica that his first mandate was to serve as bishop of Rome and be close with the people.
Clericalism was chief target of Pope Francis’ teaching April 22, 2025By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, Vocations, World News From the moment he took the helm of the Catholic Church’s sprawling hierarchy, Pope Francis positioned himself as a pastor close to the people he served, and he called out the behavior of priests who were distant from and thought they were superior to their flocks.
World leaders remember Pope Francis as an important international player April 22, 2025By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News World leaders offered condolences for Pope Francis almost immediately after the pontiff died April 21 — a reflection of popes’ importance in diplomacy and geopolitics.
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.
‘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.
