(ANS – Vatican City) – Following the announcement his passing away on Easter Monday, Vatican News offers an overview of the highlights of Pope Francis’ pontificate, his journeys, reforms, writings, work for peace and human fraternity, and outreach to the poor and migrants. Pope Francis became the first of many things. The first Jesuit pope, the first pope from Latin America, the first one to choose … Continue reading Pope Francis: Twelve years of New Paths, Processes, and Open Doors

(ANS – Vatican City) – In his homily at the Requiem Mass for Pope Francis, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, recalls the highlights of his intense and prophetic 12 years of pontificate marked by his closeness to the people, especially the least and the last amongst us, and his deep love for the Church open to everyone. Over two hundred … Continue reading Requiem Mass for Pope Francis: 250 Thousand People in the Square, the Funeral Procession Greeted by Long Applause

(ANS – Vatican City) – The Cardinals present in Rome have agreed to begin the conclave on May 7th, 2025. The date was set on Monday morning by the approximately 180 cardinals present (just over a hundred of whom are electors) gathered for the fifth General Congregation in the Vatican. The conclave will take place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, which will remain closed to … Continue reading Conclave to elect new Pope to begin on May 7th

(ANS – Vatican City) – Amid tears and long waits in line, thousands of faithful crowded Via della Conciliazione and St Peter’s Square to pay their last respects to Francis in the Vatican Basilica. “For me it was an act of duty to come and say goodbye to a Pontiff who has given so much to me;” “I was struck by the fact that he always … Continue reading Queues Beneath the Sun, Prayers and Gratitude. Everyone’s Final Farewell to the Pope

(ANS – Madrid) – In these days of anticipation at the funeral of the 266th Pontiff of the Catholic Church and of projections towards the forthcoming Conclave, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, was approached by various media to recount his direct experience with Pope Francis and to receive indications from him on the … Continue reading Cardinal Fernández Artime, SDB: ‘Francis has sought, by every means, to have a Church ever closer to the lowliest, the most afflicted of humanity’

(ANS – Rome) – “Love, reverence, respect the Supreme Pontiff, Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth. He who is with the Pope is on God’s side,” Don Bosco taught his boys. Devotion to the Holy Father is one of the three ‘special loves’ that he always passed on as part of his spirituality, and today it shines through clearly in the moving words full of gratitude … Continue reading Pope Francis, Unforgettable Throughout the Salesian World

(ANS – New Delhi) – “I would like us to once again have hope and trust in others, even in those who are not close to us or come from distant lands… because we are all children of God.”— Pope Francis, in his final message. In a time of growing walls and shrinking compassion, Pope Francis stood as a bridge-builder, a voice of conscience, and a father … Continue reading Pope Francis: Shepherd of the Migrants and Refugees

Saint Peter’s Square Easter Sunday, 20 April 2025 Mary Magdalene, seeing that the stone of the tomb had been rolled away, ran to tell Peter and John. After receiving the shocking news, the two disciples also went out and — as the Gospel says — “the two were running together” (Jn 20:4). The main figures of the Easter narratives all ran! On the one hand, “running” could express … Continue reading Easter Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis – Read by Cardinal Angelo Comastri

(ANS – Vatican City) – The world mourns for Pope Francis at his ‘transitus’, to use a word that is both rich in meaning and familiar to the Church and the Franciscan spiritual tradition to describe one’s passing. His death, no doubt, is the end of a remarkable era. He leaves behind a great legacy. Pope Francis has many firsts to his credit: the first Latin … Continue reading “Transitus” of Francis: End of an Era and a Great Legacy. Pope Francis (1936-2025)

(ANS – Rome) – The Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco and the entire Salesian Congregation join the whole Church around Pope Francis, who rose with Christ this morning. Grateful for his constant attention and repeated encouragement to go out and ‘share the mission of bringing the Gospel to the ends of the earth,’ especially where the poorest and most abandoned young people live, … Continue reading The Salesian Congregation in Prayer for Pope Francis: Faithful Servant Risen in Christ