Thousands of mourners and dozens of world leaders are attending the funeral of Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica, following his death at age 88.
Dozens of world leaders and thousands of mourners are gathering for the funeral of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
The funeral Mass is taking place on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the Catholic Church’s most sacred sites, with more than 50 world leaders and 11 reigning monarchs attending.
U.S. President Donald Trump is in Rome for the ceremony — his first foreign trip of his second term. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also arrived in Rome, his spokesman confirmed.
Pope Francis died after suffering a stroke just one day after he appeared in the same square to offer a blessing to the faithful at the high point of the Christian calendar.
Over the past three days, more than 250,000 people have filed past the pope’s body, which was laid out in a coffin before the altar inside the vast, 16th-century St. Peter’s Basilica.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella, accompanied by his daughter and Italy’s First Lady Laura Mattarella, arrived solemnly at St. Peter’s Square ahead of the funeral Mass for Pope Francis. The president's presence reflected the nation's deep mourning and enduring connection with the Vatican.
Britain was represented by Prince William, who walked with quiet reverence among the attendees, honoring the pontiff’s legacy. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria Starmer, were also present, joining other global leaders in paying tribute to Pope Francis.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella, accompanied by his daughter and Italy’s First Lady Laura Mattarella, arrived early to represent the host nation. Britain's Prince William walked quietly among the mourners, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria Starmer, offered their respects.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei, representing the pope’s homeland, was seen making a heartfelt gesture ahead of the ceremony. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, alongside his wife Elke Büdenbender and Chancellor Olaf Scholz, also attended, highlighting the broad European representation.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden made their way through the square, reflecting the pope’s significant impact on American Catholics and global diplomacy. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres walked solemnly, paying tribute to a leader who often championed peace, human rights, and care for the poor on the world stage.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and France’s President Emmanuel Macron with his wife Brigitte Macron were also present among the mourners.
Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, the Catholic Church is preparing for one of its most ancient and secretive traditions: the papal conclave. This process to elect the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church combines centuries-old rituals with modern security measures to ensure
As cardinals prepare to choose the next leader of the Catholic Church, tensions are rising over whether Rome should continue to hold central authority in a rapidly globalizing faith.
As Catholic cardinals prepare to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, a key question arises: will the papacy return to an Italian after nearly 50 years of foreign leadership?
Roman Catholic cardinals will meet in a secret conclave to elect the new leader of the global Church starting from May 7, a senior Vatican source said on Monday.
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met ahead of Pope Francis' funeral at the Vatican, according to sources.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved its Strategic and Capital Framework (SCF) for the next five years, demonstrating strong and continued support for Ukraine.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited all Arab League leaders and the organization's Secretary General to the first-ever Russia-Arab summit on October 15, aiming to strengthen cooperation and enhance peace and stability in the Middle East and North Africa.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet behind closed doors at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace at 10:00 local time today to explore security guarantees, territorial integrity and a possible ceasefire.
EU approves 17th Russia sanctions, blacklisting almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships, 30 evasion firms and 75 defence figures, banning missile chemicals and arming Brussels to strike Kremlin hybrid and operations.
Poland will restart negotiations with the Czech Republic over a decades-old 400-hectare border dispute, raising questions about the EU’s sovereignty-focused, bilateral approach and its relevance for talks like those between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Our report examines this diplomatic revival and its
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for May 17th , covering the latest developments you need to know.
A drone strike believed to have been carried out by Russian forces hit a civilian bus in the town of Bilopillia in Ukraine’s Sumy region on Saturday, killing nine people and injuring four, Ukrainian officials said, while Russia’s defence ministry said its drones had struck a military staging area in
Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited all Arab League leaders and the organization's Secretary General to the first-ever Russia-Arab summit on October 15, aiming to strengthen cooperation and enhance peace and stability in the Middle East and North Africa.
French President Emmanuel Macron is in Albania for an official visit, where he will meet with Prime Minister Edi Rama to sign key agreements and hold a joint press conference.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved its Strategic and Capital Framework (SCF) for the next five years, demonstrating strong and continued support for Ukraine.
Poland will restart negotiations with the Czech Republic over a decades-old 400-hectare border dispute, raising questions about the EU’s sovereignty-focused, bilateral approach and its relevance for talks like those between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Our report examines this diplomatic revival and its
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for May 17th , covering the latest developments you need to know.
A drone strike believed to have been carried out by Russian forces hit a civilian bus in the town of Bilopillia in Ukraine’s Sumy region on Saturday, killing nine people and injuring four, Ukrainian officials said, while Russia’s defence ministry said its drones had struck a military staging area in
Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited all Arab League leaders and the organization's Secretary General to the first-ever Russia-Arab summit on October 15, aiming to strengthen cooperation and enhance peace and stability in the Middle East and North Africa.
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