Cardinals are set to convene on Tuesday to begin preparations for Pope Francis' funeral, following his sudden death on Monday, and to initiate the transition toward electing the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Pope Francis, aged 88, passed away unexpectedly after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest, the Vatican announced on Monday. His death marks the end of a historic and often controversial papacy defined by efforts to reform the Church, confront global inequality, and challenge long-standing traditionalist views.
The pontiff, who had recently returned to the Vatican after a prolonged hospital stay for double pneumonia, appeared in good spirits during his last public appearance on Easter Sunday in St. Peter's Square. His sudden passing triggered the Vatican's centuries-old protocols, including the symbolic destruction of his “Fisherman’s Ring” and papal seal to prevent misuse.
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti led prayers for the late pontiff in St. Peter’s Square, calling him “a pilgrim of hope” and giving thanks for his ministry. The Vatican has invited all cardinals currently in Rome to meet at 9 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Tuesday to finalize arrangements for the funeral, which is expected to take place between Friday and Sunday.
World leaders are preparing to attend the ceremony. U.S. President Donald Trump, who often clashed with Pope Francis over issues such as immigration, confirmed that he and the First Lady would travel to Rome. Argentine President Javier Milei, representing Francis’ homeland, is also expected to be present.
In a notable departure from papal tradition, Pope Francis requested in his final testament that he be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome rather than in St. Peter’s Basilica, where most of his predecessors lie.
The College of Cardinals will also begin overseeing the interim governance of the Church. According to tradition, a conclave to elect a new pope is typically held 15 to 20 days following the death of a pontiff, suggesting that voting will not commence before May 6. Approximately 135 cardinals are eligible to participate in the secretive process, which can take several days to complete.
As the Church mourns the passing of a transformative and often divisive figure, attention now turns to the future leadership of its 1.4 billion members worldwide.
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China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to participate in the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the opening ceremony of the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo.
The Asian Development Bank will grant nearly $1 million to upgrade Kyrgyzstan’s energy data system, with more large-scale energy investments in the pipeline.
After nearly a decade of talks, Indonesia and the European Union aim to finalize a free trade deal by the end of June.
Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali and Dmitry Bakanov, CEO of the Russian state space corporation Roscosmos, met on Friday to discuss expanding space cooperation, including the joint production of satellites.
Tensions are rising along the Thailand–Cambodia border as both nations reinforce their military presence following a deadly skirmish and failed de-escalation talks.
While the world's attention is often captured by rising sea levels, another critical environmental crisis is unfolding beneath our feet: land subsidence.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to participate in the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the opening ceremony of the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo.
The Asian Development Bank will grant nearly $1 million to upgrade Kyrgyzstan’s energy data system, with more large-scale energy investments in the pipeline.
After nearly a decade of talks, Indonesia and the European Union aim to finalize a free trade deal by the end of June.
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