Category: World

Chris Brown Freed on Sh868M Bail By London Court

US singer Chris Brown has been freed on bail by a court in London after being charged with inflicting an “unprovoked attack” in a nightclub in 2023.

The Grammy-winning star, who has not yet been asked to enter a plea in the case, is able to begin his world tour next month as planned as part of his bail conditions.

He was arrested last week and later charged with grievous bodily harm over an incident in which he allegedly attacked a music producer with a tequila bottle at the Tape nightclub in London’s Mayfair.

The 36-year-old was not present at Southwark Crown Court for Wednesday’s bail hearing, at which the judge said he must pay a £5m (approximately Sh868 million) security fee to the court.

A security fee is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court. Mr Brown could be asked to forfeit the money if he breaches bail conditions.

The musician had been held in custody since being arrested in Salford last Thursday, and was initially refused bail on Friday.

But bail was granted on Wednesday, on the condition that he pay £4m immediately, with a further £1m due in seven days.

His tour is scheduled to start in Amsterdam on 8 June, with stadium and arena dates in Manchester, London, Cardiff, Birmingham and Glasgow later that month and in July.

The two-time Grammy-winner is known for hits like Loyal, Run It and Under the Influence.

His next court date is 20 June, between shows at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium and London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

He must surrender his passport if he is not travelling on tour, Judge Tony Baumgartner said.

Other bail conditions include living at a specific address known to the court, not contacting the alleged victim, not visiting the Tape nightclub, and not applying for international travel documents.

He will appear at court next month with his co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, a 38-year-old who performs under the name HoodyBaby, also from the US.

May 21, 2025
First US Pope Leo XIV Warns Against Exploitation at Inaugural Mass

Pope Leo XIV set the tone for his papacy Sunday with a call to stop exploiting nature and marginalising the poor, before an audience including JD Vance and tens of thousands of pilgrims.

Ten days after Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost became the first US head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, he celebrated his inaugural mass in St Peter’s Square.

The 69-year-old began the day by making his debut tour in a popemobile, standing up in the custom-made white vehicle and smiling, waving and blessing the cheering crowds at the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV greets the crowd from the popemobile before a Holy mass for the beginning of his pontificate © Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

In front of dignitaries including US Vice President Vance and Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky, he then gave a homily calling for the Church to be a transformational force in a world of division and hatred.

“In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest,” he said.

Thousands gathered for Leo’s inaugural mass © Tiziana FABI / AFP

The new pontiff, who spent many years as a missionary in Peru, also warned against “closing ourselves off in our small groups”.

“We are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people,” he said.

Prevost, who was made a cardinal only in 2023 and is unknown to many Catholics, has repeatedly emphasised the importance of peace and social justice in his first few days as pope.

Inacia Lisboa, 71, a pilgrim from Cape Verde who lives in Rome, told AFP at the Vatican on Sunday that Leo had already “entered my heart”.

She said she wanted him to “pray for us all, for peace in the world — we need it so much”.

First US pope

US Vice President JD Vance shakes hands with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky as they arrive at the mass © Jacquelyn Martin / POOL/AFP

Leo has made history as first pontiff from the United States, and his home country was represented on Sunday by Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Catholic.

Before becoming pope, Leo reposted on his personal X account criticism of President Donald Trump’s administration over its approach to migration and also pilloried Vance, but the account is no longer accessible.

Vance was the last world leader to meet with Pope Francis, the day before the Argentine died on April 21 after 12 years as pontiff.

Leo’s elevation has sparked huge enthusiasm in the United States, but also some consternation elsewhere that a country with an already outsize political and military role in the world now boasts one its foremost spiritual leaders.

“There is going to be extra weight because he is American, I think there’s going to be a lot of extra eyes, and maybe criticisms,” said Sophia Tripp, a 20-year-old student visiting from Leo’s hometown of Chicago.

But she said she hoped he would “bring people together”, adding: “We are all human, and we should just all be loving to one another.”

Other guests on Sunday included German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Colombia’s Gustavo Petro and a host of European royals also attended.

Italian authorities deployed thousands of security officers for the event, alongside snipers on rooftops and anti-drone operations.

‘Fear and trembling’

Pope Leo XIV arriving to lead a mass for the beginning of his pontificate in St Peter’s square © Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP

Leo XIV was elected the 267th pope on May 8 after a conclave vote of cardinals that lasted less than 24 hours.

Succeeding the charismatic but impulsive Francis, he takes over a Church still battling the fallout of the clerical child abuse scandal, and trying to adapt to the modern world.

Leo acknowledged on Sunday some trepidation in his new role.

“I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy,” he said.

Ahead of the mass, Leo visited the tomb of Saint Peter — who in the Christian tradition was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, and the first pope — located under the altar of the basilica that bears his name.

He then received the pontifical emblems — the pallium, a strip of cloth worn over the chasuble, his robe and the fisherman’s ring, which is forged anew for each pope and which he will wear on his finger until he dies, when it will be destroyed.

(AFP)

May 18, 2025
Iran Upholds Death Sentence for Pop Star Tataloo on Blasphemy Charges

Iran’s Supreme Court has confirmed the death sentence against popular pop singer Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, known by his stage name Tataloo, on charges of blasphemy, according to a judiciary spokesman on Saturday.

Tataloo, who was extradited from Turkey to Iran in December 2023, was originally sentenced to five years in prison by Tehran’s Criminal Court for blasphemy. However, the Supreme Court later overturned this verdict, referring the case to another court, which imposed the death penalty.

Judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir said the ruling “has now been confirmed and is ready for execution.” He also noted that the singer’s lawyer has submitted two requests—a retrial and a plea for clemency—that are currently under formal review, with a decision expected in due course.

Tataloo was also handed a 10-year prison sentence for “promoting corruption and prostitution” and spreading “propaganda” against the Islamic Republic, charges for which he is currently serving time.

Known for his heavily tattooed appearance and outspoken style, the singer has been a controversial figure in Iran’s music scene. Despite his clashes with authorities, he had received support from conservative politicians, including the late president Ebrahim Raisi, who sought to connect with younger Iranians. In 2015, under then-President Hassan Rouhani, Tataloo released a pro-nuclear deal anthem that was promoted by state media.

Before his arrest and extradition, Tataloo had been living in Istanbul since 2018.

May 18, 2025
Meaning of Ring of The Fisherman Pope Leo XIV Will Receive During Inauguration

The Vatican’s Office for Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff released an image of the new Ring of the Fisherman, which will be given to Pope Leo XIV during his Mass of Inauguration on May 18.

Bearing an image of St. Peter, the ring has New Testament roots and significance. In the Gospel of Matthew (16:19), St. Peter was given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, and in the Gospel of Luke 22:32, Jesus tells Peter he must strengthen his brothers in the faith and mission.

The Ring of the Fisherman thus authenticates the faith and symbolizes the duty with which the first Pope was entrusted.

As Peter is known as the fisherman Apostle, the ring is referred to as the Ring of the Fisherman, or the Piscatory Ring, symbolizing the continuous lineage from the first Pope to today.

A ring for the ages

This ring has been part of the symbols of the papacy since at least the 13th century. It was used as a signet ring to seal official documents signed by the Pope until 1842. Now, it is used symbolically, but every Pope still has a ring.

When the Pope dies, his Ring of the Fisherman, along with the Lead Seal, is marked with a chisel, thereby ensuring the seal cannot be forged. Therefore, every ring is unique and personal to each Pope.

In 2013, Pope Francis received a gold-plated silver ring, which was previously owned by the secretary to Pope Paul VI. His predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, had a gold ring engraved with a bas-relief of St. Peter fishing from a boat.

Now, Pope Leo XIV continues the tradition of the Ring of the Fisherman, with an image of St. Peter with the keys and the net—signaling the passing of the torch, as the 266th Successor to St. Peter now officially undertakes the mission entrusted to St. Peter over 2 millennia ago.

(Vatican News)

May 18, 2025
Pope Leo XIV Affirms Family is Based on Union Between a Man And a Woman, Unborn has Inherent Dignity

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV affirmed Friday that the family is founded on the “stable union between a man and a woman,” and that the unborn and elderly enjoy dignity as God’s creatures, articulating clear Catholic teaching on marriage and abortion at the start of his pontificate.

Leo, the first American pope, also called for reviving multilateral diplomacy and promoting dialogue between religions in the search for peace, in his first meeting with the Vatican diplomatic corps. The audience was private, but the Vatican released Leo’s prepared text and that of the dean of the diplomatic corps.

The encounter is one of the protocol requirements after a conclave, allowing a new pope to greet representatives of world governments ahead of his formal installation Mass this Sunday. The Holy See is a sovereign state under international law, has diplomatic relations with over 180 countries and enjoys observer status at the United Nations.

Leo, a member of the Augustinian religious order, has emphasized peace as a priority of his pontificate, from the first words he uttered on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica after his May 8 election, “Peace be with you all.”

In his remarks, he said the search for peace was one of the pillars of the papacy. He insisted that peace isn’t just the absence of conflict but a “gift” that requires work, from an end to the production of weapons to choosing words carefully. “For words too, not only weapons, can wound and even kill.”

He said it was up to governments to build peaceful societies “above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman.”

“In addition, no one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike,” he said.

Pope Francis strongly reaffirmed core Catholic teaching opposing abortion and euthanasia, saying they were evidence of today’s “throwaway culture.” But he also made reaching out to LGBTQ Catholics a hallmark, insisting they are welcome in the church. He never changed church doctrine defining marriage as a union between man and woman and homosexual acts as “intrinsically disordered.”

As the then-head of the Augustinian order, the Rev. Robert Prevost in 2012 criticized the “homosexual lifestyle” and the role of mass media in promoting acceptance of same-sex relationships that conflicted with Catholic doctrine. A decade later, during Francis’ pontificate, he acknowledged Francis’ call for a more inclusive church, and said he didn’t want people excluded just on the basis of their lifestyle.

(AP)

May 17, 2025
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan Steps Aside Pending Outcome of Sexual Misconduct Investigation

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has stepped down temporarily pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, the court announced Friday.

Karim Khan has categorically denied accusations that he tried for more than a year to coerce a female aide into a sexual relationship and groped her against her will.

The ICC’s announcement was welcomed by women’s rights groups, who had called for Khan to step down after the allegations emerged last year.

“In any other professional setting, someone facing such serious allegations would have been expected to step down months ago,” said Eimear Shine, a spokesperson for The Hague-based Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice.

An investigation by The Associated Press last year found that two court employees, in whom the alleged victim confided, reported the alleged misconduct in May 2024 to the court’s independent watchdog.

That was a few weeks before Khan sought arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, his defense minister and three Hamas leaders on war crimes charges.

The watchdog said it interviewed the woman and ended its inquiry after five days when she opted against filing a formal complaint. Khan himself wasn’t questioned at the time.

While the watchdog could not determine wrongdoing, it nonetheless urged Khan in a memo to minimize contact with the woman to protect the rights of all involved and safeguard the court’s integrity.

The ICC statement on Friday said Khan “communicated his decision to take leave until the end” of an external investigation being carried by the Office of Internal Oversight Services, the U.N. internal watchdog.

The court’s deputy prosecutors will be in charge of managing the prosecutor’s office while Khan is on leave, the statement said.

The work of the court will continue, according to Danya Chaikel, the ICC representative from the International Federation for Human Rights. “The cases and investigations have been carried out by professionals,” she told the AP.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration filed sanctions against Khan in February in relation to his Israel warrants. The sanctions are hampering work on a broad array of investigations at the court.

(AP)

May 16, 2025
Russia Responsible For Downing Of Malaysian Plane MH17, UN Body Rules

Russia was responsible for the downing of the Malaysia Airlines flight, MH17, over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, the United Nations aviation agency has ruled.

All 298 people on board the passenger plane were killed when it was shot down by a Russian-made missile.

The Kremlin has always denied any responsibility for the air disaster.

On Monday, the UN’s Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) voted that the Russian Federation failed to uphold its obligations under international air law, which requires states to “refrain from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight”.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was struck down over the Donbas region of Ukraine, during a conflict between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian forces.

The majority of passengers and crew, 196 people, were from the Netherlands.

There were also 38 people from Australia, 10 British citizens, as well as Belgian and Malaysian nationals on board.

The case to the UN was brought in 2022 by the Australian and Dutch governments, who have both welcomed the ICAO’s ruling.

“We call upon Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for this horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct”, said Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong in a statement.

The Dutch foreign minister, Caspar Veldkamp, said it marked an “important step towards establishing the truth and achieving justice and accountability”.

It sends a clear messaged to the international community, he added: “states cannot violate international law with impunity” .

In 2022, a Dutch court ruled that a Russian-controlled group had downed the plane and two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian national were convicted of murder in absentia.

The trio were all sentenced to life in prison however, as they were not extradited, they have not served time in jail.

(BBC)

May 13, 2025
Soft-Spoken Prevost is First Pope From the United States

Robert Francis Prevost, the first pope from the United States, has a history of missionary work in Peru but also a keen grasp of the inner workings of the Church.

The new Leo XIV, a Chicago native, was entrusted by his predecessor Francis to head the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, charged with advising the pontiff on new bishop appointments.

The sign of confidence from Francis speaks to Prevost’s commitment as a missionary in Peru to the “peripheries” — overlooked areas far from Rome prioritised by Francis — and his reputation as a bridge-builder and moderate within the Curia.

The 69-year-old Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo, Peru, was made a cardinal by Francis in 2023 after being named prefect of the dicastery, one of the Vatican’s most important departments — and a post that introduced him to all key players in the Church.

Vatican watchers had given Prevost the highest chances among the group of US cardinals of being pope, given his pastoral bent, global view and ability to navigate the central bureaucracy.

Italian newspaper La Repubblica called him “the least American of the Americans” for his soft-spoken touch.

His strong grounding in canon law has also been seen as reassuring to more conservative cardinals seeking a greater focus on theology.

May 8, 2025
Latest: Conclave is Black Smoke Again, No Pope
Black smoke is again pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating no pope was elected on second or third ballots of the conclave.

The smoke appeared just before noon after morning voting sessions to elect a successor to Pope Francis.

The cardinals will now return to the Vatican residences where they are being sequestered for lunch. After that, they will go back to the Sistine Chapel for the afternoon voting session.

Two more votes are possible today.

What to know
- How the pope is elected: The College of Cardinals, composed of 133 voting eligible cardinals, is sequestered inside the Vatican to pray, discern and vote for the next pope without distraction. A two-thirds majority is required for a new pope to be elected. Voting will occur regularly in the morning and afternoon until a pope is selected.
- Smoke watch: After voting, ballots are burned in a special stove — black smoke signals no decision, while white smoke means a new pope has been chosen. Before the conclave began, the Vatican press office said that morning smoke would likely rise around 10:30 a.m. or noon local time, though cardinals overshot the office’s Wednesday estimates by hours.
- Cardinals contenders: There are no official candidates for the papacy, but some cardinals are considered “papabile,” or possessing the characteristics necessary to become pope. Some names include Pietro Parolin, who will oversee the conclave, Luis Tagle, dubbed the “Asian Francis,” Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, a conservative cardinal native to the Congo, and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, potentially the first Italian pope in decades.
May 8, 2025
Black Smoke Signals No Pope Elected in 1st Round of Vatican Conclave

Black smoke rose from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, signaling that the first round of voting in the papal conclave failed to elect a new pope.

Continuing a centuries-old tradition, 133 cardinal electors gathered at the Vatican to begin the process of selecting the 267th head of the Catholic Church, following the death of Pope Francis last month.

The day commenced with a solemn mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who also presided over the 2013 conclave that elected Francis.

Afterward, the cardinal electors convened in the Pauline Chapel and processed into the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave is taking place.

The Sistine Chapel, adorned with Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes, remains sealed off from the outside world until a new pope is chosen.

Under the conclave’s rules, a two-thirds majority is required to elect the next pontiff.

This year’s conclave continues a tradition dating back to 1492, when the Sistine Chapel hosted its first papal election—the same year Christopher Columbus reached the Americas.

While the papal selection process once stretched on for years, as in the mid-1200s, more recent elections have moved swiftly. In 2013, Francis was elected after five ballots over two days.

Pope Francis passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, following a series of health complications, including cardiac arrest.

The conclave will resume voting on Thursday as the Church awaits the emergence of its next leader.

If a new pope is elected, white smoke will billow out of the chimney and the formula “habemus papam” (Latin for “we have a pope”) will be pronounced by the cardinal protodeacon from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

May 7, 2025
Potential Successors to Pope Francis

With no official campaign nor list of candidates and an election process shrouded in secrecy, speculation about who will succeed Pope Francis after the conclave beginning Wednesday is just that — speculation.

But here are 15 cardinals among the potential favourites to succeed Pope Francis — so-called “papabili” — divided by region.

Europe

Pietro Parolin (Italy), Francis’s number two at the Vatican

Parolin, 70, was secretary of state — the Vatican’s effective number two — during almost all of Francis’s pontificate and its most visible exponent on the world stage.

Known for his calm and subtle sense of humour, the polyglot also has a fine grasp of the intricacies of the Roman Curia, the Holy See’s central government, and was part of a group of cardinal advisers to Francis.

He is currently considered one of the leading candidates to become the next pope.

Parolin played a key role in a landmark — and controversial — 2018 Vatican agreement with China on naming bishops.

Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Italy), Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

Pizzaballa, 60, is the top Catholic in the Middle East with an archdiocese encompassing Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, and Cyprus.

He was made a cardinal in September 2023, shortly before the war broke out between Israel and Hamas.

The Franciscan has appealed for peace from both sides, and at Christmas in 2024, led mass in both Gaza and Jerusalem.

Matteo Maria Zuppi (Italy), Archbishop of Bologna

A member of the Roman lay community of Sant’Egidio, Zuppi has for more than three decades acted as a discreet diplomat for the Vatica,n including serving as Pope Francis’s special peace envoy for Ukraine.

Known for riding his bicycle around Bologna, 69-year-old Zuppi is a popular figure for his decades of work on behalf of the needy. He also advocates for welcoming migrants and gay Catholics into the Church.

He has been president of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) since 2022.

Cristobal Lopez Romero (Spain), Archbishop of Rabat

Spanish-born Cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero, 72, has spent decades of his career in South America and has Paraguayan nationality. He is now based in Morocco, in majority-Muslim North Africa.

Lopez is seen by some as a successor to Francis due to his support for migrant rights and inter-faith dialogue, while his career is emblematic of the late pontiff’s push into the Catholic Church’s “peripheries”.

But Lopez himself told AFP that the new pope “doesn’t necessarily have to be a Francis mark II, a Francis impersonator”.

Francis named Lopez an archbishop in 2017 and promoted him to cardinal in 2019.

Jean-Marc Aveline (France), Archbishop of Marseille

Born in Algeria, 66-year-old Aveline has spent most of his life in the French port city of Marseille.

Like his close friend Pope Francis, he has been a voice for welcoming migrants and promoting interreligious dialogue.

Appreciated for his discretion, intellectual abilities, and people skills, Aveline has carved out a reputation as a cardinal to watch since his elevation in 2022.

Anders Arborelius (Sweden), Bishop of Stockholm

Appointed in 2017 as Sweden’s first cardinal, Arborelius is a convert to Catholicism in the overwhelmingly Protestant Scandinavian country, home to one of the world’s most secularised societies.

He is the first Swedish Catholic bishop since the Protestant Reformation and a staunch defender of Church doctrine, notably opposed to allowing women to be deacons or blessing same-sex couples.

Like Francis, 75-year-old Arborelius advocates welcoming migrants to Europe, including Christians, Catholics, and potential converts.

Mario Grech (Malta), Bishop Emeritus of Gozo

Born into a small village on the tiny Mediterranean archipelago of Malta, 68-year-old Grech is a peace broker and potential compromise candidate for the papacy.

He was secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, a body that gathers information from local churches on crucial issues for the Church — such as the place of women or divorced spouses who remarry — and passes it on to the pope.

He had to perform a delicate balancing act following Pope Francis’s lead on creating an open, attentive Church while acknowledging the concerns of conservatives.

Peter Erdo (Hungary), Metropolitan Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest

An intellectual and respected expert in canon law, Erdo speaks seven languages, has published more than 25 books, and is recognised for his openness to other religions.

But the 72-year-old has faced criticism for his ties with the government of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose harsh views on migration clashed with those of Francis.

Known for his enthusiasm for evangelism, Erdo — who grew up under Communism — is a conservative on such issues as gay marriage and the divorced who remarry.

Jose Tolentino de Mendonca (Portugal), prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education

A Portuguese theologian and poet, Tolentino has led the Vatican’s dicastery, or department, of culture and education since 2022.

A former archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church, the 59-year-old was made a cardinal by Francis in 2019.

Regarded as progressive within the Church, his stance on welcoming homosexuals has earned him the hostility of some conservatives.

With a doctorate in biblical theology, he has published books and articles on theology as well as poetic works, which have earned him several literary awards.

Asia

Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines), Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Manila

Tagle, Asia’s front-runner for the papacy, is a charismatic moderate who has not been afraid to criticise the Church for its shortcomings, including over the sexual abuse of minors.

Fluent in English and active on social media, the 67-year-old is an eloquent speaker with self-deprecating humour and, like Francis, a leading advocate for the poor, migrants and marginalised people.

Nicknamed “Chito”, he was made a cardinal by Benedict XVI in 2012 and was already considered a candidate for pope in the 2013 conclave in which Francis was elected.

Charles Maung Bo (Myanmar), Archbishop of Yangon

Myanmar-born Bo became the Buddhist-majority country’s first and only cardinal in 2015, appointed by Francis.

Bo has called for dialogue and reconciliation in his conflict-ridden country, and after the military coup of 2021 appealed to opposition protesters to remain non-violent.

The 76-year-old has defended the mainly Muslim Rohingya, calling them victims of “ethnic cleansing”, and spoken out against human trafficking uprooting the lives of many young Burmese.

He was head of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) between 2019 and 2024.

Malcolm Ranjith (Sri Lanka), Archbishop of Colombo

Sri Lanka’s conservative Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has long been considered a dark horse for the papacy, but his credentials were boosted in the wake of the island’s worst terrorist attack in 2019.

The 77-year-old Sinhalese prelate has pursued a campaign in the ensuing years, petitioning the United Nations and the international community for justice over the suicide bombings of Easter Sunday in April 2019 that killed 279 civilians.

Ranjith’s efforts have placed the 167 Catholic victims of the attacks on the path to sainthood, after the Vatican declared them “Witnesses of the Faith” last month.

A former papal nunio, or ambassador, to Indonesia and East Timor, Ranjith was made a cardinal in 2010 by Benedict XVI. He is considered a traditionalist who has prohibited cultural practices borrowed from other religions and supports the Latin Mass.

Africa

Peter Turkson (Ghana), Archbishop emeritus of Cape Coast

One of the Church’s most influential cardinals from Africa, 76-year-old Turkson has for years been mentioned as a possible first black pope.

Made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2003, the multilingual Turkson has been a papal envoy and mediator, including in South Sudan.

He also served between 2016 and 2021 as the first head of a top Vatican department, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, which deals with human rights and migrants, among other issues.

Born into a humble family of 10 children, Turkson has criticised anti-gay legislation in Uganda, but defends Catholic sexual morality and has denied that homosexuality is a human rights issue.

Robert Sarah (Guinea), former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

Had Francis lived a few more months, conservative prelate Robert Sarah, who turns 80 on June 16, would have been too old to join the conclave to choose his successor.

As it is, though, he has found himself championed by conservative Catholics in the French-speaking world as a candidate to turn the clock back on progressive reforms.

An ardent opponent of what he called in 2015 “Western ideologies on homosexuality and abortion and Islamic fanaticism”, he denounced Francis’s 2023 text that paved the way for the blessing of same-sex couples.

Experts believe his views make him too conservative to win a two-thirds majority at the conclave — but even a possible candidacy has boosted his profile.

Americas

Robert Francis Prevost (United States), Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo

A native of Chicago, Prevost was in 2023 appointed prefect of the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which is charged with advising the pope on appointments of new bishops.

The 69-year-old spent years as a missionary in Peru and is the Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo in the South American country.

Made a cardinal by Francis in 2023, he is also the president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

May 7, 2025
Operation Sindoor: The Pakistani Terrorist Sites India Struck and Why

India struck several terrorist-linked locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the wee hours of Wednesday (May 7).

The multi-branch military operation is named Operation Sindoor.

The strikes were aimed at dismantling the training and logistical infrastructure of terrorist groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen, and others, that have been known to have terror bases in these regions for years.

A total of nine sites were hit, which includes Bahawalpur, Muridke and Kotli. Here is why India chose these places to carry out Operation Sindoor.

Bahawalpur: Jaish-e-Mohammed Headquarters

Bahawalpur has long been known as the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed. Masood Azhar leads the terrorist organisation and has been responsible for the attack on the Indian parliament in December 2001, the 2016 Pathankot attack on an Indian air base, and the Pulwama attack in 2019 in which 44 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel died.

Muridke: Lashkar-e-Taiba Base and Training Ground

Muridke is only 40 kilometres from Lahore and is a major commercial hub. Lashkar-e-Taiba and its charitable wing, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, have terror facilities spread over more than 200 acres here. LeT was responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attack in which 10 members of the terror group opened fire and bombed several places in Mumbai for over four days, killing a total of 175 people.

Kotli: Bomber Training and Terror Launch Base

Kotli lies in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and is a major training facility for terrorists, especially suicide bombers. India has often flagged the place for preparing insurgents to carry out attacks against India.

Gulpur

Gulpur was reportedly used in 2023 and 2024 as a base to prepare for and carry out attacks on civilians and Indian security convoys in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri and Poonch.

Mehmoona camp

The Mehmoona camp near Sialkot was a hub for the terror group Hizbul Mujahideen that carried out attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in the past. Although it isn’t seen to be as active today, India believes terrorists are still trained here who then cross the border with support from local networks.

Other places include the Bilal Camp, which is a JeM launchpad. Sawai has been linked to attacks in Kashmir Valley, especially Sonmarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam in northern Kashmir. Sarjal and Barnal are located near the International Border and the Line of Control and are used by terrorists to infiltrate India.

May 7, 2025
India Launches Strikes on Pakistan

India on late Tuesday said it fired missiles on Pakistani cities and parts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Multiple explosions were heard in different parts of Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir.

Lt Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the spokesman of Pakistan’s military, told local broadcaster Geo News that India had fired missiles on the cities of Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh, Muzaffarabad and Kotli from its own air space. He confirmed at least three deaths and more than a dozen injuries.

He said Pakistani forces had begun retaliatory attacks against India.

According to an Indian Defense Ministry statement, Indian armed forces launched “Operation Sindoor” and targeted nine sites in Pakistan. It claimed “hitting terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir “from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed.”

“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution,” the statement said.

The escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors comes in the wake of April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir in which 26 people were killed. India had blamed Pakistan for the attack, claiming there were cross-border links.

Pakistan denied that it had anything to do with the killings.

Both countries took a plethora of measures against each other after the attack, including suspension of visas and expulsion of diplomats.

Indian missile attacks kill 8, injure 35: Pakistan Army

At least eight people have been killed and 35 injured while two are missing after India launched missile attacks inside Pakistan, a spokesperson for the Pakistani Army said Wednesday.

The Indian army, “using different weapons, targeted six places, which left 24 impacts,” Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told a pre-dawn news conference in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Pakistan has downed 5 Indian Air Force jets: Defense chief

The Pakistani Air Force has downed five Indian Air Force jets following missile strikes by India, Pakistan’s defense chief said early Wednesday.

“The Pakistan Air Force has shot down at least five Indian fighter jets in response to India’s recent cross-border aggression,” Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed to private broadcaster Geo TV.

Earlier, military spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed downing two aircraft of the Indian Air Force, according to CNN.

“There are other reports of multiple damage that Pakistani forces, both on the ground and air, have inflicted. But I can confirm to you that at least two aircraft of the Indian Air Force have been downed,” Chaudhry added.

There was no immediate reaction from Indian authorities to Pakistani state media reports about the downing of the jets.

“There are other reports of multiple damage that the Pakistani forces, both on the ground and air, have inflicted. But I can confirm to you that at least two aircraft of the Indian Air Force have been downed,” he added.

There was no immediate official reaction from Indian authorities to Pakistani state media reports about the downing of the two jets.

Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said during an interview with Sky News that Pakistan’s response is “ongoing” but declined to share details.

Pakistan giving ‘befitting reply’ to ‘act of war’ imposed by India: Premier Sharif

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif early Wednesday called India’s strikes on Pakistani cities and Pakistan-administered Kashmir a “cowardly attack” and that Islamabad was giving a “befitting reply” to the “act of war” by New Delhi.

The “Pakistani nation and the Pakistani armed forces know how to deal with the enemy very well,” Sharif said in a statement.

“The enemy will never be allowed to succeed in his nefarious objectives,” he added.

Trump hopes tensions between India, Pakistan end ‘very quickly’

US President Donald Trump described the latest flare-up between India and Pakistan as “a shame” and expressed hope that tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors end “very quickly.”

Speaking to reporters Tuesday at the White House when asked for his reaction to attacks between India and Pakistan, Trump said: “It’s a shame. We just heard about it just as we were walking in the doors of the Oval.”

“I guess people knew something was going to happen based on a little bit of the past. They’ve been fighting for a long time. You know, they’ve been fighting for many, many decades and centuries, actually, if you really think about it,” he said.

“I just hope it ends very quickly,” he added.

UN chief ‘very concerned’ over India’s missile attacks on Pakistan

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern Tuesday over recent missile attacks by India against Pakistan.

“The Secretary-General is very concerned about the Indian military operations across the Line of Control and international border. He calls for maximum military restraint from both countries,” said his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric in a statement.

“The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” he added.

May 7, 2025
World’s Most Secretive Election: How The Next Pope Will Be Chosen On Wednesday

The world’s most secretive election begins Wednesday, when 133 Catholic cardinals will be locked inside the Sistine Chapel to choose a successor to Pope Francis.

Each cardinal will have sworn an oath of lifelong secrecy, as will every staff member supporting the process—from doctors and dining staff to Vatican officials. Anyone who breaks the rules faces excommunication.

Electronic devices are banned, and all participants must surrender phones, tablets, and smartwatches. The Vatican enforces strict isolation, with rooms swept for bugs and electronic jammers in place to prevent any communication with the outside world.

“There are no TVs, radios, newspapers or even open windows,” said Monsignor Paolo de Nicolo, a former papal household chief. “The cardinals are completely incommunicado.”

The conclave is not just secret—it’s also secure. Vatican police, walkie-talkies for emergencies only, and heavily vetted staff ensure total lockdown until a new pope is chosen. The result is announced to the world by white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney.

Despite the religious framing, political undercurrents are hard to ignore. Media speculation has swirled around potential successors, and books and videos promoting certain cardinals have circulated. But inside the conclave, external lobbying is blocked out.

“It’s meant to be a decision guided by the Holy Spirit, not by headlines,” said Ines San Martin of the Pontifical Mission Societies.

Cardinals have been meeting daily in “general congregations” to prepare for the vote. Many are new and unfamiliar with each other, thanks to Pope Francis’ diverse appointments.

By Wednesday morning, voting cardinals—those under age 80—will be sealed off behind Vatican walls. Over the following hours or days, they will vote up to four times daily until one of them receives a two-thirds majority.

The stakes are global: the pope leads over 1.3 billion Catholics and commands immense influence on moral, social, and political issues worldwide.

As John Allen of Crux put it: “The Vatican takes isolation seriously. This is one of the biggest decisions of their lives.”

May 6, 2025
Wait For Vatican White Smoke Fires Up Social Media

Hype has been building on social media around the Catholic Church’s secretive, centuries-old tradition of conclaves to elect a new pope, animating users from the White House on down.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday posted an apparently AI-generated image of himself wearing papal vestments and sitting on a throne, one finger directed to the heavens.

The striking picture was the most notorious among thousands that have bubbled up since the death of Pope Francis on April 21 and ahead of the cardinals’ gathering from Wednesday.

More than 1.3 million tweets have been published on X about the conclave, according to monitoring platform Visibrain, while TikTok videos on the topic have been viewed over 363 million times on the network with unparallelled reach among the young.

Particularly passionate pope-watchers can fire up online game “Mantapa” to pick their favourite cardinals and make predictions for the next pontiff in a style similar to sports betting.

– Pomp and secrecy –

The mystery, pomp and ritual around the conclave — from the opulent Sistine Chapel surroundings to the ethereal black or white smoke signalling ballot results — “lends itself to the narrative formats of social networks” said Refka Payssan, a researcher in information and communication sciences.

“A conclave means both gilt, protocol, ceremony, but also secrecy and mystery” cannily nurtured by the Vatican, agreed Stephanie Laporte, founder of digital strategy consultancy OTTA.

“Young people love to speculate” about outcomes, Laporte added.

“Everyone on social networks has an opinion and everyone wants to decode the news, look for clues, know which cardinal will become the pope. It’s almost like an ‘escape game’,” she suggested.

Payssan noted that the conclave fires up the “curiosity of seeing history happen live”, marking a rare event — the first in 12 years — with potential global consequences.

Even if not Catholic themselves, “young people are very conscious of the pope’s influence on hundreds of millions, even billions of people, whether it’s in his stance on contraception or the environment,” Laporte said.

– Digital turn –

Conclave fever is also a reflection of the Vatican’s successful turn to digital communications in recent years to build bonds with younger generations.

Created by Benedict XVI in 2012 but mostly used by Francis, the papal X account @pontifex reaches 50 million followers across its nine languages.

And Francis’s own Instagram account had more than 10 million followers.

The Church has backed many cardinals’ own ventures into the digital realm, with some becoming bona fide internet stars.

New York prelate Timothy Dolan has been publishing videos about the run-up to the conclave to his almost 300,000 X followers and 55,000 on Instagram — without giving away any sensitive information.

Moderate Philippine cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has made his mark online with karaoke videos, tallying 600,000 Facebook followers.

Selfie snapshots are in the mix, with Tokyo’s archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi posting a photo with colleagues from the bus on the way to pray at Francis’s grave.

Cardinals “are absolutely fascinating personalities who’ve taken their place in pop culture,” firing public enthusiasm for the event, Laporte said.

That fascination has been stoked by pop culture blockbusters like Dan Brown’s novel “Angels and Demons”, adapted for film in 2009, or the acclaimed thriller “Conclave” released this year, based on a book by novelist Robert Harris.

(AFP)

May 6, 2025
Pope Francis’ Popemobile to Become Mobile Health Unit for Children in Gaza

In a final act of compassion and legacy, Pope Francis’ Popemobile is being repurposed into a mobile health unit traveling across Gaza to provide crucial medical care for children.

This transformation is part of the Vatican’s plan to carry out the Pope’s final wishes, extending his legacy of peace, care, and healing.

The Popemobile, once a symbol of the Pope’s worldwide outreach, will now serve as a life-saving vehicle in one of the world’s most volatile regions.

The conversion of the Popemobile into a medical vehicle reflects the Pope’s deep commitment to the well-being of others. It also reflects his love for peace and his desire to leave behind a legacy of helping those in need, even in his final days. [Photo/Courtesy]

Popemobile’s New Mission in Gaza

The Popemobile is not just a car; it has been a constant companion for Pope Francis as he made his rounds to greet the public.

For years, the vehicle has carried him through crowds, offering blessings and providing moments of connection between the Pope and the people. However, its role is evolving.

The Vatican has revealed plans to transform the Popemobile into a mobile health clinic designed to help children in Gaza. This vehicle, which has served the Pope so well, will now provide critical healthcare to the most vulnerable.

In Gaza, where healthcare infrastructure is often overwhelmed, a mobile health unit could be a game-changer. Children, in particular, have suffered from the lack of medical resources in this region, and the Popemobile will address some of their pressing needs.

This new mission aligns with Pope Francis’ long-standing advocacy for peace and social justice, especially in regions plagued by conflict and poverty.

The conversion of the Popemobile into a medical vehicle reflects the Pope’s deep commitment to the well-being of others.

It also reflects his love for peace and his desire to leave behind a legacy of helping those in need, even in his final days. The Vatican is currently putting the finishing touches on this project, which will serve the children of Gaza in ways that will extend beyond the Pope’s life.

The Popemobile’s Journey from Blessings to Healthcare

The Popemobile has seen some of the world’s most notable events, from mass gatherings to private blessings. Its transformation into a mobile clinic marks the start of a new chapter for this unique vehicle.

Engineers originally designed the vehicle to carry the Pope safely through large crowds, and they are now adapting it to serve as a vital tool for delivering healthcare to children with no other options.

The medical team will fully equip the unit to provide basic healthcare services, vaccinations, and emergency treatment.

Doctors and nurses will accompany the vehicle, providing medical care to children across Gaza. The vehicle’s mobility allows it to reach areas that may not have accessible healthcare facilities, bringing much-needed services to children in remote or underserved locations.

A Legacy of Peace and Healing

Pope Francis’ decision to repurpose his Popemobile into a mobile health unit for Gaza is not just an act of charity. It is a reflection of his unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and inclusion.

Pope Francis has always emphasized the importance of supporting the vulnerable and marginalized, particularly children, and this project embodies that ethos.

By sending the Popemobile to Gaza, the Pope is fulfilling his vision of a world where peace is at the forefront, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

Gaza, as one of the world’s most conflict-ridden areas, is a symbol of the suffering that children often endure. The mobile health unit will offer a lifeline to those who are often forgotten in the chaos of war.

In the final years of his papacy, Pope Francis made a point of focusing on the well-being of vulnerable populations.

From advocating for refugees to addressing climate change, his leadership has consistently pushed for inclusivity and care for all. The Popemobile’s transformation into a mobile clinic is a fitting tribute to his dedication to these values.

The Impact Popemobile Will Have on Children in Gaza

The mobile health unit is expected to profoundly transform the lives of children in Gaza. With limited access to healthcare and an overwhelming number of medical needs, the children in this region often suffer from preventable diseases and lack basic treatments.

The Popemobile will offer them a chance for better health and a brighter future. The mobile unit will make regular trips throughout Gaza, visiting schools, communities, and refugee camps where children are most in need of medical attention.

These visits will actively ensure that healthcare workers reach every child, even in the most challenging circumstances.

A Symbol of Compassion

Pope Francis’ Popemobile is more than just a vehicle; it is a symbol of his journey to spread compassion, peace, and goodwill.

As it takes on this new role as a mobile health clinic, it becomes an even greater symbol of care, proving that the Pope’s message of peace is one that extends beyond words to meaningful action.

The Popemobile’s new mission will stand as a testament to Pope Francis’ lasting impact on the world and his unyielding devotion to helping those who need it the most.

This transformation of the Popemobile into a mobile health clinic is not just about medical care—it’s about ensuring that the legacy of Pope Francis lives on in the hearts of children who will benefit from this gift for years to come.

May 5, 2025
DV Lottery 2026 Results Are Out – How to Check Your Green Card Status Online
Kenyans who applied for the 2026 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

The US State Department has officially released the DV Lottery 2026 results as of Saturday, May 3.

Applicants who submitted their entries between October 2 and November 5, 2024, can now check their status online.

This long-awaited announcement brings hope to thousands dreaming of a new life in the United States. If you are one of them, knowing exactly how to access your results is crucial.

In this guide, we break down the easy steps to check your DV Lottery 2026 status securely and what to do next.

The results will remain available from May 3, 2025, until September 30, 2026. Keep your confirmation number safe during this entire period. [Photo/Courtesy]

How to Check DV Lottery 2026 Results Online

The US State Department has made it simple to check your DV Lottery 2026 results. Here’s how you can do it in a few quick steps:
1. Visit the Official Website:
  Go to the official Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website: https://dvprogram.state.gov.
2. Access Entrant Status Check:
  On the homepage, click on the “Check Status” button. This will lead you to the Entrant Status Check portal.
3. Enter Your Details:
  You will need your unique confirmation number, last name, and year of birth to proceed. This confirmation number was provided when you submitted your DV-2026 application.
4. Submit and View Results:
  After entering your details, submit the form. If you have been selected, you will see a confirmation page with further instructions. If not selected, a standard message will appear.
5. Lost Your Confirmation Number?
  Don’t worry. The portal offers a recovery tool. Click on “Forgot Confirmation Number” and follow the prompts to retrieve it.
The results will remain available from May 3, 2025, until September 30, 2026. Keep your confirmation number safe during this entire period.

What Happens After You Are Selected

Being selected in the DV Lottery 2026 is an exciting first step, but it doesn’t guarantee a Green Card. Here’s what you need to do next:
- Follow the Instructions:
  The confirmation page will guide you on the next steps, including filling out Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application).
- Prepare Documents:
  Gather your required documents, such as a valid passport, birth certificate, and police clearance certificates.
- Schedule an Interview:
  The US Embassy will schedule an interview to review your application and documents. Be sure to attend your appointment with all necessary paperwork.
- Pay Fees:
  You will be required to pay visa processing fees at the appropriate stage. The US government warns applicants to avoid any upfront payment requests or fraudulent messages claiming you have been selected.
- Stay Alert:
  Remember, the US State Department will never send emails or letters to inform you of your selection. All communications are done through the E-DV portal.
If approved, you will be granted a visa to enter the US, become a permanent resident, and receive your Green Card.

Final Tips:
- Always use the official US government website to check your status and process your application.
- Do not trust messages from unknown sources claiming you have won the DV Lottery.
- Mark your calendar—results are accessible only until September 30, 2026.
- Keep your confirmation number safe until the program ends.
With this guide, you are now ready to check your DV Lottery 2026 results and take the next steps toward your American dream. Good luck!
May 3, 2025
Pope Francis’ Tomb Adorned With Single Rose As First Images Released

Images of Pope Francis’ tomb at the Santa Maria Maggiore Church in Rome have been released.

A single, white rose was pictured lying on the stone tomb that bears the name he was known by during his pontificate, below a crucifix illuminated by a single spotlight.

The late pope was laid to rest at the church – one of four major basilicas in the Italian capital, and one he would regularly visit during his time as cardinal and pontiff – in a private ceremony following his public funeral in the Vatican on Saturday.

Mourners queued outside the church early on Sunday morning to be among the first to pay their respects to Pope Francis, who died aged 88 on Monday.

Francis was particularly devoted to the Virgin Mary, and Santa Maria Maggiore was the first church to be dedicated to her when it was built in the 4th Century.

The basilica sits near the Colosseum, a stone’s throw from the city’s endlessly bustling and chaotic central Termini station – well beyond the limits of the Vatican, where popes are traditionally entombed.

Francis’ funeral was attended by heads of state, heads of government and monarchs from around the world – as well as hundreds of thousands of Catholics who lined the streets leading to the Vatican to pay their respects.

Hymns played out on giant speakers, occasionally drowned out by the sound of helicopters flying overhead, before 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re gave a homily on the pope’s legacy.

The cardinal emphasised that Pope Francis had repeatedly urged the world to “build bridges, not walls”.

April 27, 2025
Who Was at Pope Francis’ Funeral and Where Did They Sit?

Numerous world leaders and royals have gathered in Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral.

Among the most prominent figures at the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square on Saturday morning were Prince William, US President Donald and his predecessor Joe Biden, Britain’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Their attendance comes at a fragile time for international diplomacy, with Trump meeting Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky before the service, according to Zelensky’s spokesman.

Here are some pictures of the VIP attendees.

Trump and Zelensky 10 seats apart

Trump was in a front-row seat near Francis’ coffin, alongside his wife Melania Trump, across the aisle from Macron and his wife Brigitte.

Intriguingly, he and First Lady Melania were sitting between two staunch supporters of Ukraine. Estonia’s President Alar Karis was to Melania’s left, and Finland’s Alexander Stubb to Trump’s right.

The Trumps sandwiched by Finland’s Alexander Stubb (to the left of this image) and Estonia’s President Alar Karis (right)/Screengrab

Estonia and Finland are both staunch allies of another man of the moment in attendance – Zelensky, who looked sombre-faced at the Vatican. He was sitting on the same row as Macron, separated by a few other dignitaries.

Zelensky, who has been locked in negotiations and public arguments with Trump in recent weeks, was just 10 seats and one aisle away from him, on the same row.

The VIPs were in a separate section from the hundreds of thousands of members of the public who have descended on Rome for the event.

Dignitaries were sitting on the the right-hand side of the square, next to St Peter’s Basilica.

Those with the best seats were Javier Milei, president of Argentina, where Francis was from, and Italy’s prime minister and president, representing the country that surrounds the Vatican City state.

Behind them were reigning sovereigns, and other delegations were seated in alphabetical order in French, the official language of diplomacy, on other benches.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella (left), Argentina’s General Secretary of the Presidency Karina Milei (left of centre) and Argentina’s President Javier Milei (centre) in their prime seats/Screengrab

Representing British royalty, the Prince of Wales was sitting next to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the service.

Prince William (centre) seated next to Scholz (right)/Screengrab

Starmer arrived in conversation with his wife Victoria.

Former US President Joe Biden was seen hand in hand with his wife Jill. He was sitting four rows behind Trump.

Many European leaders, as well as European royalty, were in attendance.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron and France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron/Screengrab

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was at the proceedings, and was seen chatting with Macron.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the funeral/Screengrab

Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit/ Screengrab

Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia/Screengrab

April 26, 2025
In Photos: Pope Francis’ Funeral Staged in Front of St. Peter’s Square

Pope Francis’ wooden coffin was carried into St. Peter’s Square on Saturday at the start of a funeral Mass attended by a multitude of mourners, including powerful world leaders, clerics and pilgrims.

Applause rang out as the coffin, inlaid with a large cross, was brought out of St. Peter’s Basilica and into the sun-filled square by 14 white-gloved pallbearers.

Bells tolled as the last of the leaders from more than 150 countries took their places. Dignitaries included U.S. President Donald Trump, who clashed with Francis on numerous occasions over their starkly contrasting positions on immigration.

The open-air ceremony, which will be celebrated by 220 cardinals, 750 bishops and more than 4,000 other priests, was due to last 90 minutes.

The pope’s casket was placed on a carpet in front of the altar, with the book of gospels laid on top, as the Vatican choirs sang.

Massed ranks of red-robed cardinals sat to one side of the altar, facing rows of black-suited world leaders on the other side. In front of them were hundreds of priests in white vestments and then thousands of ordinary mourners.

The faithful hurried to the Vatican from the early hours while many camped out to try and secure spots at the front of the crowd for the ceremony.

“We want to say goodbye because he (was a) living saint, very humble and simple,” said Mary James, a Franciscan nun, who had stayed up overnight to guarantee a good place.

The Argentine pope died on Monday, aged 88, following a stroke. His death ushered in a meticulously planned period of transition for the 1.4-billion member Roman Catholic Church, marked by ancient ritual, pomp and mourning.

Over the past three days, around 250,000 people filed past his body, which was laid out in an open coffin before the altar of the cavernous, 16th-century St. Peter’s Basilica.

Before taking their seats, Trump and his wife Melania paid their respects to Francis’ coffin in St. Peter’s Basilica. The coffin was sealed shut on Friday night.

Among the other heads of state who flew into Rome were the presidents of Argentina, France, Gabon, Germany, the Philippines and Poland, together with the prime ministers of Britain and New Zealand, and many European royals.

Applause rang out in the square when Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appeared. Zelenskiy met Trump while both were in Rome, a spokesman for the Ukrainian leader said, but gave no details.

The Vatican has said some 250,000 mourners were expected to fill the vast, cobbled esplanade and access routes to the basilica. The ceremony will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, a 91-year-old Italian prelate.

“You can feel a lot of energy, yes, a little bit of despair because we are tired, but ultimately we want to come and say ‘thank you’, thanks to Pope Francis for all he did for his church,” said Eduardo Valencia, visiting from Mexico.

The first non-European pope for almost 13 centuries, Francis battled to reshape the Roman Catholic Church during his 12-year reign, siding with the poor and marginalised, while challenging wealthy nations to help migrants and reverse climate change.

“Francis left everyone a wonderful testimony of humanity, of a holy life and of universal fatherhood,” said a formal summary of his papacy, written in Latin, and placed next to his body.

Traditionalists pushed back at his efforts to make the Church more transparent, while his pleas for an end to conflict, divisions and rampant capitalism often fell on deaf ears.

BREAK WITH TRADITION

The pope shunned much of the pomp and privilege usually associated with the papacy and will carry that desire for greater simplicity into his funeral, having rewritten the elaborate, book-length funeral rites used previously.

Francis also opted to forego a centuries-old practice of burying popes in three interlocking caskets made of cypress, lead and oak. Instead, he has been placed in a single, zinc-lined wooden coffin, which was sealed closed overnight.

In a further break with tradition, he will be the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in more than a century, preferring Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, some 5.5 kilometres (3.4 miles) from St. Peter’s, as his final resting place.

His tomb has just “Franciscus”, his name in Latin, inscribed on the top. A reproduction of the simple, iron-plated cross he used to wear around his neck hangs above the marble slab.

His funeral motorcade will drive him through the city for one last time, allowing Romans to say farewell.

Italy has mounted one of the biggest security operations the country has seen since the funeral of John Paul II. It has closed the airspace over the city and called in extra security forces, with anti-aircraft missiles and patrol boats guarding the event.

As soon as Francis is buried, attention will switch to who might succeed him.

The secretive conclave to elect a successor is unlikely to begin before May 6, and might not start for several days after that, giving cardinals time to hold regular meetings beforehand to sum each other up and assess the state of the Church, beset by financial problems and ideological divisions.

April 26, 2025