Apr 21, 2025, 4:46 PM GMT
Popes of the Roman Catholic church
The Roman Catholic Church has had 266 leaders across three millennia.
Pope Francis laid to rest after historic funeral | Eyewitness News updates
Last updated: Saturday, April 26, 2025 8:49PM GMT
NEW YORK (WABC) -- World dignitaries and Catholic faithful attended Pope Francis' funeral in St. Peter's Square on Saturday.
Despite the presence of presidents and princes, prisoners and migrants ushered him into the basilica where he will be buried, reflecting his priorities as pope, as hundreds of thousands have flocked to the funeral Mass.
U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, the U.N. chief and European Union leaders, as well as Prince William and the Spanish royal family, were in attendance.
Francis is breaking with recent tradition to be buried in the St. Mary Major Basilica in a simple underground tomb with just his name: Franciscus.
Argentinian-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the Catholic Church's 266th pope and the first ever from Latin America. He took the name Francis after the well-known St. Francis of Assisi, who ministered to the poor.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke, setting off mourning in the Catholic world and days of ritual at the Vatican.
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AP Photo/Antonietta Baldassarre
Apr 21, 2025, 4:09 PM GMT
What we know about Cardinal Kevin Farrell
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the senior Vatican official who announced Pope Francis' death on Monday morning, will serve as head of the Catholic Church until a new pope is elected, according to the Vatican.
Born in Ireland, the 77-year-old Farrell has long ties in the United States, having served as the bishop of the Diocese of Dallas and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., according to the Vatican.
Pope Francis nominated Farrell in 2019 to be the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church with the responsibility of administering the property and revenues of the Holy See. In 2020, Francis also appointed Farrell as president of the Church's Commission on Confidential Matters and in 2023, the late pontiff elevated Farrell to president of the Vatican City State Supreme Court, according to the Vatican.
On Monday morning, Farrell broke the news to the world of Pope Francis' death, reading a statement at the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta at the Vatican, the pope's residence and where he died.
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Apr 21, 2025, 4:02 PM GMT
Read Pope Francis' final Easter address
The world is mourning the loss of Pope Francis, who died on Monday morning, one day after he made an appearance from the balcony of St. Peter's basilica to address the crowd on Easter Sunday.
The death of the head of the Catholic Church comes after a series of worsening health problems, including a respiratory crisis that left him in critical condition in recent months.
Pope Francis appeared at noon local time in his wheelchair and blessed the crowd. After declaring "Buona Pasqua!" (Happy Easter!), he indicated someone would read his message for him.
Francis' final Easter address called for an end to violence worldwide, and compassion for the world's marginalized people.
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Apr 21, 2025, 3:32 PM GMT
East Harlem school reflects on impact Pope Francis left after 2015 visit
Pope Francis made just one trip to the United States and during that visit in 2015, he spent time in New York City.
One of the stops was to Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem.
Tanya Rivero has more on the lasting impact of his visit to that school:
