The transition from one pope to the next can be a mystifying time for those who aren’t familiar with the workings of the Roman Catholic Church — and even to some who are. The process is governed by centuries-old rules and traditions that come with their own vocabulary, much of it in Latin. The election […]

Among the tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday for Pope Francis’ funeral were monarchs, world leaders, at least one former president and other familiar faces. Filling up the rows of nondescript chairs, according to Vatican protocol, reigning monarchs went first, including King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain. Then

Russia’s top military commander said on Saturday that Moscow’s forces had retaken the last village that Ukraine was holding in the Kursk region of western Russia, though Ukrainian officials denied that their brazen campaign in the area had finally come to an end. The Russian claim was made by Gen. Valery V. Gerasimov, who has

Sometimes, the encounters were quieter, such as that of one artist who was invited to the Vatican to present his work to the pope. When asked what he made of the selfies, Pope Francis said at a news conference, “I feel like a great-grandfather!” But he added: “It’s another culture. I respect it.” Melbourne, Australia

Ukraine’s leadership has drafted a counterproposal to a Trump administration peace plan that has drawn criticism for conceding too much to Russia. While the counteroffer digs in on some of Kyiv’s earlier demands, it hints at possible concessions on issues that have long been seen as intractable. Under the plan, which was obtained by The

Pope Francis Laid To Rest In Rome … Trump & Melania Attend Funeral Published April 26, 2025 5:28 AM PDT Pope Francis made it to his final resting place … and President Trump and Melania watched in person, attending the late pontiff’s funeral in Rome from the front row. Francis — who publicly opposed Trump’s

President Trump met privately with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Saturday in Rome, the White House said, the first time the two leaders have met since their televised argument in late February in the Oval Office exacerbated the deep breach between the two countries. The meeting took place in St. Peter’s Basilica, the two

The life and legacy of Pope Francis — a pontiff who defied easy definition and led the Roman Catholic Church through a dozen years of different phases and contradictions — are not easy to fit into a single homily. But that was the task for Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of

The life and legacy of Pope Francis — a pontiff who defied easy definition and led the Roman Catholic Church through a dozen years of different phases and contradictions — are not easy to fit into a single homily. But that was the task for Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of

Although two of the five popes before Pope Francis have been named saints, merely serving as pontiff is not a shoo-in to canonization. At least not anymore. In the early years of the Roman Catholic Church, most popes, starting with St. Peter, who is considered the first to hold the seat, were named saints after