Hawaii Catholic Herald Word of Pope Francis’ death broke late in the evening on Easter Sunday, April 20, for the faithful in the Diocese of Honolulu. Many learned of the sad news on Easter Monday. By then diocesan officials were already hard at work making plans for Hawaii to mourn Pope Francis, including sending out […]
Embracing ‘peripheries,’ Pope Francis preached mercy, reconciliation
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, who died April 21 at age 88, gave new energy to millions of Catholics — and caused concern for some — as he transformed the image of the papacy into a pastoral ministry based on personal encounters and strong convictions about poverty, mission and […]
Dates for public viewing, funeral are set
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The funeral Mass of Pope Francis will be celebrated April 26 in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the liturgy, which begins a nine-day period of official mourning and daily memorial Masses. The […]
Pope died of stroke, coma and heart failure, Vatican says
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis died April 21 after suffering a stroke and heart failure, said the director of Vatican City State’s department of health services. The pope had also gone into a coma. “I certify that His Holiness Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on […]
Pontiff continued to surprise, inspire in last weeks
By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV 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. “We take up this journey: the bishop and the people,” he said March 13, 2013, […]
Church has precise rules for navigating time between popes
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Centuries of experience dealing with the death, or occasional resignation, of a pope has left the Catholic Church with thorough instructions detailing who has responsibility for planning the funeral, preparing for the election of a new pope and taking care of essential business in the meantime. […]
Timeline: Highlights of a historic pontificate
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Here is a timeline of some significant events in Pope Francis’ 12-year pontificate: 2013, March 13: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected pope on the second day of the conclave, becoming the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European elected in almost […]
Passing of Pope Francis is a first in tradition of opening Holy Doors
By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — 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. The pope opened the Holy Door Dec. 24, 2024, […]
Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis put on hold; memorial Mass scheduled
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — With the death of Pope Francis, the April 27 canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis was postponed and the Mass scheduled for that day will be a memorial Mass, the Vatican said. “Following the death of the Supreme Pontiff Francis, notice is hereby given that the Eucharistic […]
‘They are faces, not numbers’: A legacy of justice and mercy for migrants
By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News ROME — Not long after Pope Francis’ election in 2013, media pundits and faithful wondered and speculated what countries he would visit as pope. Naturally, many assumed the newly elected pontiff would make Brazil his first official visit given that World Youth Day, a global event that has always […]
