Memorial shrine for Pope Francis in St Peter's Square My name is Michael O’Rourke and I’m from Liverpool and I wanted to see the Pope one last time and to say thank you for his service for the church What does the atmosphere feel like to you today It’s good to see a lot of young people here as well Did you come to Rome just for the Pope’s funeral I was going to come for the canonisation of Carlos Acutis but I decided not to because of work commitments I think he gave a human face to the Church and I think he helped people who maybe felt alienated from the Church to feel more welcome And what do you hope for the direction of the Church I hope the next Pope has a conservative mind but a liberal heart but has got his heart and arms open to the world Can you tell me your name and where you are coming from today I’m 17 years old and I’m coming from Australia We’re here to mourn the passing over Pope Francis and to pay our respects to him one last time It is kind of half-fortunate that we are here for this because something like this doesn’t happen every day We were originally here for the Jubilee of teenagers for a two week Catholic expedition sort of thing and we have been going around to a lot of religious sites Pope Francis was a big symbol of peace to me no matter what your religion was or who you were not just who he was associated with in the Vatican So we came about a week ago to celebrate Holy Week and to stay for the Jubilee of teenagers It’s just so happened that Pope Francis has unfortunately died so obviously we wanted to come for his funeral today And what does it mean to you to be here for Pope Francis’ funeral It’s amazing because it’s something that we’re not going to see much of in our lifetime We’re probably only going to see another one or two So it’s amazing to be part of such history What do you hope for the future of the Church after today I hope that the Church keeps on moving forward welcoming people Can you tell me your name and where you’re from I’m here with other students from St Ignatius High School we came here for the canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis but a change of plans led us to Saint Peter’s Square for the funeral of Pope Francis he meant a lot to the people at my High School because of his emphasis on social justice our environment and being good stewards of God’s creation What do you want to see in the future of the Church our spiritual father in the Catholic faith One thing that most inspired me about Pope Francis is his love for the poor and the marginalised What do you hope for the future of the Church My general hope for the future of the Church is for us to grow in unity and peace We need to all remember that we are all children of God Can you tell me your name and where you’re coming Our group today is coming from New Jersey in the United States I’m very Catholic and I felt really bad for the whole situation of the Pope especially for young people in promoting happiness and compassion What did Pope Francis mean to you personally I was so excited when he was Pope because he’s Latin American so for me it was a real pleasure to have a Spanish Pope His legacy of encouraging young people to be happy and to not be so serious What direction would you like to see the Church take I hope that the future Pope coming in will follow the same legacy that Pope Francis had started because he created a lot of change for the church in a positive way So I hope that the future Pope will follow in his footsteps I was born in Hungary but have been living in Canada for the past 40 years The Bible says that those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God and the Lord is leading me through the Holy Spirit to this place because this is a very historically important time and he also had a gift from God to demonstrate the Gospel of Jesus Christ very effectively Get the latest news and special offers delivered to your inbox Subscribe Advertise Jobs About us Permissions Help Contact us Pope inaugurates livestream as part of efforts to connect with faithful around the world during holy year St Peter’s tomb is now being livestreamed as the Vatican embraces technology in its quest to connect with Catholics in far-flung places during holy year an event expected to bring as many as 33 million pilgrims to Rome Pope Francis on Monday inaugurated the live webcam which has been installed at the tomb of the apostle beneath the main altar of St Peter’s Basilica A webcam will also be placed on the basilica’s huge bronze holy door which Francis will open on 24 December to officially mark the beginning of the Jubilee 2025 a year of celebrations for Catholics around the world to reconnect with their faith is especially poignant for pilgrims as those who walk through it will be granted a plenary indulgence something Catholics believe cleanses the soul from sin The Vatican has also used artificial intelligence-enabled technology to create a stunning 3D replica of St Peter’s Basilica that will allow virtual visitors to explore every nook and cranny of the Renaissance-era building A Catholic jubilee usually occurs every 25 years “It’s basically a moment for Catholics to restore their belief in God a Vatican reporter for Ireland’s Sunday Independent “They come to Rome on the basis of all sorts of blessings to be received.” The Vatican also plans to launch an app that will guide pilgrims in Rome for example on where they can obtain a plenary indulgence they can receive such a blessing by going to pray at the basilicas of San Giovanni in Laterano Santa Maria Maggiore or San Paolo Fuori le Mura “Technology is part of everyone’s strategy and the Vatican doesn’t want to miss out on that,” Agnew said “It’s simply a means to a result and the result is to spread the good news.” with much of the city an open-air construction site as monuments are restored roads are fixed and pedestrian areas restyled The works have been a source of frustration for local people and tourists alike has promised that once they are completed “Rome will be more beautiful and efficient than before” To commemorate the third anniversary of Ukraine being invaded by Russian forces St Peter’s Church in Sheringham is serving as a hub for those across North Norfolk who want to share prayers and artistic creations in solidarity with those affected by the war A specific service for Ukraine is scheduled on Tuesday 25 February while the church is welcoming visitors to visit or contribute to an artistic display housed within St Peter’s reflections and artwork by anyone who wishes to take part with all contributions to be collated and printed into a booklet which will be sent to the Anglican Church in Kyiv Local primary school who have added their artworks to the display will also receive a copy of the collected submissions Discussing the church’s plans for the third anniversary and his own personal connections to the current crisis in Europe “We wanted to hold a service at St Peter’s to mark the third anniversary of this dreadful war and to demonstrate our continued solidarity with the people of Ukraine in their time of need My own Great Uncle was a Czech Jewish refugee from the horrors of the Nazi Annexation just before World War II and the crisis in Ukraine has been at the heart of my prayers for a long time “Our hope in holding this service is to remind those Ukrainians who have joined our local community in North Norfolk that they are not alone that Christ walks with them and with all those who suffer from this war and we have not forgotten them.” In advance of Tuesday’s service for Ukraine the church received a visit from a regional network offering support to those impacted or displaced by the war “This weekend I had the real pleasure of meeting with Matt Cole who works for North Norfolk Aid for Ukraine We chatted through some of the incredible work they’ve done getting desperately needed aid to Ukrainian people – ranging from teddy bears for children rescue equipment for the Kharkiv fire department and so much more “We’re delighted to host some photographs of their work and to fundraise and collect for them at St Peter’s.” The service for Ukraine at St Peter’s will take place at 7pm on Tuesday 25 February and the display within the church is open to all visitors between 10am and 3pm daily – except for Wednesday mornings Game Recap: Baseball | 5/2/2025 6:26:00 PM | Pete Janny Saint Peter's took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double from Ashby Vining Manhattan tied the score in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from Hunter Sute that scored Lordier, who started off the inning with a walk which was followed by a single from Aidan Taclas The Jaspers struck back in the bottom of the second inning by scoring five runs on five hits Back-to-back RBI singles for Ryan Ash and Dylan Mayer in the second gave Manhattan the lead for good Mayer came on with a bunt single that advanced the runner to second and scored Sosa from third Lordier kept the Jaspers' rally going by scoring two more with his RBI double that saw him advance to third on a bad throw Another run came home to score when Taclas reached on a fielding error by Peacocks' first baseman Tyler Cotten An RBI groundout from Ash in the third inning extended the Jaspers lead to 7-1 The Peacocks answered with three runs in the fourth to cut the lead to 7-4 A solo shot for Aidan Taclas in the sixth grew Manhattan's lead to 8-4 The Jaspers added a pair of much-needed insurance runs in the seventh, scoring on an RBI double from Sosa which scored Andreaus Lewis from first and another on a free run home for Sosa after an errant throw to third on his steal attempt After Saint Peter's cut the deficit to 10-6 in the top of the eighth Manhattan scored two more in the bottom of the frame to go back up six The Jaspers cashed in on a sacrifice fly from Sute and an RBI double from Lewis Joey Craska closed out the ninth after giving up a grand slam to Tyler Smith Sosa's four hits marked the second four-hit game of his freshman season Taclas teed off for his eighth home run in the sixth The junior from California also has 31 runs-batted-in in his first season as a Jasper With a pair of hits on Friday, Trevor Hansen extended his hit streak to five games Ryan Lordier extended his hit streak to five and has recorded hits in nine of his last 10 games Ryan Ash's two RBIs were good for the first multi-RBI game of his career Braedon Romero earned the win by virtue of seven innings of four-run ball Manhattan snapped a three-game losing streak versus Saint Peter's The Jaspers lead the all-time series with the Peacocks by a 46-9 count Manhattan remains a game and a half out of the eighth and final playoff spot Manhattan Baseball will hold its annual senior day ceremony before the start of game two at 1pm on Saturday The pregame ceremony at Clover Stadium will begin at approximately 12:30 pm before the Jaspers (16-26 5-16 MAAC) take the field for the middle game of the series Follow Manhattan Baseball on Instagram (@jaspersbaseball) and X (@JaspersBaseball) Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Peter’s Square is transformed into a small piece of the Netherlands as flowers from all parts of the country color the steps of the smallest nation in the world It all started in 1985 with the beatification of a Dutch priest Dutch florists decorated the Square in honor of their countrymen they were invited to decorate the Square for Easter One man has been involved from the beginning in this tradition which has now become a sense of national pride Charles Lansdorp recalls that very first Easter where Pope St John Paul II thanked the Dutch people for their flowers in their native language everybody knows what you’re talking about.” Lansdorp says this collaboration between the Vatican and Dutch florists “is the longest project” in the flower industry in the Netherlands this collaboration “brings spring to Rome” as thousands of flowers line the area in front of St In order to prepare the flowers and decorations for Easter the Vatican gardeners and Dutch florists work together Volunteers start working on Holy Thursday collecting the world watches as the floral arrangements come together Some 10,000 flowers from various parts of the countries are driven from the Netherlands to Vatican City over the course of two days Peter’s Basilica are transformed as “it is almost like we bring spring to Rome.” “We will have the colors of the logo of the pilgrims for the Holy Year,” Dr it is no wonder that the Easter flowers are such a source of pride for the Netherlands He says this activity has perhaps the biggest visibility for the Dutch industry worldwide “It’s unique because we have the cut flowers “It is really the Netherlands presenting itself as a flower industry.” Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here known as a "general congregation" when they could set the date for the conclave.Reporting by Joshua McElwee; additional reporting Veronica Altimari and Leonardo Benassatto; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Giles Elgood Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved By | 15 January 2025News Peter's Square have been there for 10 months now depending on the outcome of a possession hearing Peter’s Square can’t fail to notice the row of tents in front of the arches at the rear of the Town Hall extension This collection of tents evolved out of a pro-Palestinian protest camp into a camp for the homeless Most camp residents are now people who came to this country seeking sanctuary While being in the category of asylum seekers as soon as they were given ‘leave to remain’ legally in the UK they had to leave Home Office accommodation they are bottom of the list for council housing and are very unlikely to be taken on by a private landlord The land on which the camp stands is owned by Manchester City Council. From the outset, they have suffered from harassment by the authorities. Originally, the tents were under the arches, until the Council erected barriers which forced the tents to be moved out into the square. The camp became notorious for an attack by a police officer on a Sudanese man apparently acting on the wishes of council officials who wanted to disperse the camp The council have twice managed to move the camp, once before Remembrance Sunday and again before New Years Eve celebrations but each time the camp returned to its current position at the rear of the Town Hall Now the council has resorted to legal action to clear the camp It chose the middle of the recent cold snap to apply to the courts for an eviction order The hearing took place on Monday 13 January 2025 at Manchester Civil Justice Centre the council cited health and safety concerns including the presence of pregnant women at the camp the council claimed that the camp risks attracting violence it is the camp residents themselves who are at risk of racist violence and abuse and one of the main reasons they give for staying in the camp is that it gives them safety in numbers supporters and residents of the camp deplore the council’s deployment of heavy-handed tactics against such a precarious and vulnerable group of people the residents of the camp deserve respect and support A group of the camp residents attended court to make their case against the eviction order the judge decided that the council have not yet made their case for an eviction order and the hearing was adjourned while further investigations can be made The case will now be heard in the High Court at a date to be fixed in early to mid-February Sign up to The Meteor mailing list – click here The Meteor is a media co-operative on a mission to democratise the media in Manchester. To find out more – click here Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a2f5759cc8df8d2ffe1b65d6d5b23afe" );document.getElementById("a0def058df").setAttribute( "id" Culture News Features independent media co-operative – an alternative community-based publication for the people of Manchester We tell stories that are neglected in the mainstream investigate and challenge local power structures and explore important issues More about us under-represented or ignored by the mainstream Sign up to our mailing list to get our monthly round ups Copyright © 2025 | The Meteor removal vans pulled into St Peter’s Square Rain was falling so hard it looked like the ground was sizzling Bailiffs dressed in black and wearing body cameras stepped tentatively around the tents; you could see people moving inside them Over the last year, the encampment of red tents on St Peter’s Square has been a source of debate in the city. It was set up as a protest against the war in Gaza last March with a mix of activists and homeless people living there and more recently the camp has been made up mostly of homeless refugees who have the right to remain in the UK according to Manchester City Council.  The debate over the encampment has been between those who say the men living there have turned down accommodation from the council and should be cleared from a public square and those who say the council hasn’t done enough to help them and that just moving them along won’t solve the problem But differences of opinion are still just words The actions that have followed — described by the MEN as a “dawn crackdown” — were rather more bleak A man packs up his tent during the eviction of the St Peter's Square encampment and a Biffa worker helps another clear cardboard from their tent leant into one of the tents where a man was just rousing from sleep Here is some information on where you can go for assistance who would only describe themselves as members of the public acting in solidarity with the homeless trailed the bailiffs and attempted to appeal to their humanity “Don’t you see these people have nowhere to go?” One woman in a green jumpsuit and wearing love-heart sunglasses asked before turning to a police officer to ask him the same.  “I’m here to stop any breach of the peace.” An upturned sign reading 'peace' on one of the tents and an information document handed to a refugee by a bailiff Bailiffs continued to wake up the men in the tents A small huddle formed as they tried to plead and told they needed to gather their things “I suggest you start packing your belongings away” and used them as hoods to shield against the rain.  They were jubilant to see that the tents were being cleared shouted — presumably talking about when the tents were cleared from under the porticoes last summer Then he said: “these n****** have been here for months.” The second homeless man asked Scott to hurry up The police didn’t do anything either way.  The huddle around the bailiff continued growing: “I sympathise with you “But a high court writ has ruled you can’t be here.” Manchester City Council was granted a possession order over St Peter’s Square by the high court and in January a judge decided the council had not supplied the claim’s paperwork to the defendants The council put up the documents in five languages on the fencing behind the encampment that same month and this persuaded the judge to grant the order.  Litter is cleared as a man continues packing up his tent another walks away from the square with his belongings The Greater Manchester Law Centre (GMLC) represented 18 of the refugees living on the square that the council had not fulfilled its duty to them Some said they were not offered accommodation by the council or by supporting services although the council has said in multiple statements that it has offered support to those living in the encampment.  This may have contributed to the number of refugees living on St Peter’s Square One Sudanese man pseudonymised as Mohammed told the refugee charity RAPAR that he was made homeless in Blackburn when he was dispersed from Home Office accommodation last September then came to Manchester and has lived in a tent for the past two months.  Charity bosses I spoke to last year said that some of the people living in tents have been offered accommodation and ended up back at the encampment because they feel safer there “There are people that might have been accommodated but in another area where they don’t feel safe So they’re coming here (St Peter’s Square) where they feel that there’s a sense of community.” An activist films as Biffa workers begin to dispose the homeless' tents The possession order was sought despite the fact that there is already a Public Space Protection Order in place in the city centre, which prohibits setting up tents. But as one insider told me last October “we’re not going to remove them forcibly we don’t even want to go there.” That said even if the council did want to go there the PSPO does not enable a blanket ban of tents — it can apply to individual cases that pose a health and safety risk and can only request that a person move their tent the punishment for breaching the PSPO is a fine and the council has already decided it will not fine homeless people But the possession order also made for better optics it wasn’t council workers evicting these people Although that didn't translate to those witnessing the eviction “That’s someone’s home!” A man cried as two Biffa workers — bin collectors — picked up the first tent It sagged with the weight of the belongings inside as they placed it on the back of a van Other tents were being emptied and the ground was strewn with their contents duvets and piles of cardboard that had been used as insulation Some moved their tents a few metres away from the porticoes The possession order covered all of St Peter’s Square It began to feel like it was the Biffa workers doing the evicting while the bailiffs watched They had to handle the activists telling them they were turfing out vulnerable people “We have to clean this up!” One snapped back before taking himself to the side to calm down.  Tents being dragged away and thrown in the back of garbage vans There were moments of miscommunication amongst those in charge of the eviction a worker began dragging a tent towards a van that would have shut a steel door over it and crushed it He was stopped by activists because there was still someone inside “You told me it was empty!” He shouted to the bailiff.  “Fuck!” said the woman in the green jumpsuit when she heard what had happened the council said that “people were given the choice to pack up and take their tents with them The only tents which were disposed of were ones which had been abandoned.” But we spoke to one man from Eritrea who told us his tent and personal belongings and facing down rebuilding his life without documents.  We also caught the end of one conversation between a homeless man and the bailiff in which the homeless man was evidently confused and angry about the situation he was in I don’t have the power to deport you or find you a house do you want to gather your belongings?”  The man walked away as his tent was dragged towards the van.  A new encampment started beside the Midland Hotel It isn’t the first time the encampment has been removed from the square around Remembrance Day and on New Years Eve the council managed to get the square cleared only for it to repopulate immediately afterwards the tents tended to moved over Peter Street and set up beside the Midland Hotel Some picked their tents up without even collapsing them and just carried them over the road outside the demarcated zone the bailiff showed them they couldn’t sleep in When I asked the council if it found this to be a successful outcome “The possession order was specific to St Peter’s Square — and the issues there — to ensure it was reasonable and proportionate While those specific issues have now been addressed we remain clear that such encampments anywhere in the city are not in anyone’s best interests and are not a suitable place from which to access support We will continue to engage with the people in the tents and monitor the situation." hurled abuse at those living on the square He stood up and nodded as he counted the tents Then he shook his head and saw more coming over the road Share this story to help us grow- click here NY — A torrential downpour at Clover Stadium suspended game two between Manhattan and Saint Peter's with the Jaspers leading 4-3 with two outs in the ninth The resumption of game two will happen at 10:30 am at Naimoli Family Baseball Complex in Teaneck New Jersey followed by the start of game three approximately 25 minutes later NY — A torrential downpour suspended game two between Manhattan and Saint Peter's with the Jaspers leading 4-3 with two outs in the ninth Manhattan scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning on a double-play groundout from Aidan Taclas. Working in relief in the ninth, Chris Fidanza was down 3-0 on Tyler Smith before play was suspended Before Saturday's game, Manhattan honored its four seniors—Ryan Ash, Andreaus Lewis, Ryan McLaughlin and Nico Mattera—on Senior Day Thanks for visiting is reporting from Vatican City and has this report: Pope Francis has been eulogised as “a pope among the people with an open heart towards everyone” during a funeral mass that brought together an array of mourners from pilgrims and refugees to powerful world leaders and royals Francis, 88, died on Monday after a stroke and subsequent heart failure setting into motion a series of centuries-old rituals and a huge meticulously planned logistical and security operation not seen in Italy since the funeral of John Paul II in April 2005 The crowd erupted into applause as the late pontiff’s wooden coffin was carried from the altar of the 16th-century St Peter’s Basilica by 14 white-gloved pallbearers and into the square for the open-air ceremony Cardinals arrive at the funeral mass of Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City Photograph: James Veysey/REX/ShutterstockApplause also rang out when the Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re the need for negotiations to end wars and the importance of the climate Under a blue sky, more than 250,000 pilgrims descended on the Vatican, with the crowds stretching along Via della Conciliazione, the road connecting the Italian capital with the Vatican. More than 2,000 journalists from around the world travelled to Rome to cover the event. The 90-minute mass was celebrated by 220 cardinals, 750 bishops and more than 4,000 priests. “The outpouring of affection that we have witnessed in recent days following his passing from this Earth into eternity tells us how much the profound pontificate of Pope Francis touched minds and hearts,” Battista Re said at the start of his eulogy. Thank you for following along and reading the updates Applause also rang out when the Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re At least 400,000 people turned out for Pope Francis’s funeral at the Vatican and lined Rome’s streets Italy’s interior minister said on Saturday afternoon who famously refused to judge gay or divorced Catholics Francis was driven by “the conviction that the Church is a home for all a home with its doors always open … a Church capable of bending down to every person Leaders from more than 150 countries attended the funeral mass who had repeatedly clashed with Pope Francis over immigration the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and Prince William were also among the guests Cardinals performed the rite of burial for Pope Francis at his simple tomb inside Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica. The burial ceremony on Saturday was private, attended by top cardinals and people close to the pope. Video provided by the Vatican showed Cardinal Kevin Farrell who is running the Vatican in between papacies blessing Francis’ coffin before it was interred Francis’ tomb has been constructed using stone from Liguria the Italian region where his grandparents once lived The simple tomb bears just the inscription “Franciscus” and a replica of his pectoral cross Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to receive a round of applause as he attended the funeral of Pope Francis The crowd of assembled world leaders could be heard clapping as the Ukrainian president left St Peter’s Basilica where he had paid his respects in front of the pontiff’s coffin ahead of the funeral ceremony Trump and Zelenskyy used their time at the Vatican while attending the funeral of Pope Francis to discuss a possible ceasefire with Russia with the Ukrainian president releasing a photograph of a seemingly intense conversation in St Peter’s Basilica The White House described the meeting as “very productive” while Zelenskyy said on X that the talk with the US president was very symbolic and had the “potential to become historic Macron and Starmer had a “positive meeting” on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral The 90-minute funeral mass for the late pope was celebrated by 220 cardinals, 750 bishops and more than 4,000 priests. More than 2,000 journalists from around the world travelled to Rome to cover the event. The public can begin visiting Pope Francis’s tomb at the Roman basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore “as early as Sunday morning”, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni announced on Friday. You can also catch up on the day’s events with our main story and a picture gallery linked below: Buenos Aires mourners marked the burial of pontiff and native son Pope Francis on Saturday As the 88-year-old was being laid to rest an ocean away in Rome thousands gathered by Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral for dawn vigils and a mass of remembrance They were urged to take up the activist mantle of Latin America’s first pope and to carry on his life’s work “Let us be the outgoing church that Francis always wanted us to be a restless church that mobilises,” Buenos Aires’ archbishop Jorge García Cuerva told a funeral mass A person holds up a picture of Pope Francis with writing that translates as‘Thank you’ Photograph: Matias Baglietto/ReutersBraving rain and the an autumn chill dozens of people set up tents in the city’s famed Plaza de Mayo for an overnight vigil until 5am local time (8am GMT) when Pope Francis’s funeral began in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican Images of the pope and the Virgin of Lujan were illuminated with candles said she wanted the vigil “to reclaim the pope’s legacy to transform the sadness left by his departure into a beacon of hope.” A drone view of people gathering outside the Buenos Aires Cathedral on Saturday. Photograph: ReutersMourners hung banners with some of the most emblematic phrases of Francis’s papacy: “Make a ruckus” and “dream big.” An image of the pope with the inscription “pray for me” was projected on to a nearby obelisk. Lucas Pedro, a 40-year-old teacher, told AFP that those gathered did so “with a deep sense of gratitude”. Updated at 17.20 CEST26 Apr 202516.40 CESTItaly’s Giorgia Meloni expects Russia to show concrete signs of its willingness to pursue peace in Ukraine, the prime minister said in a statement after meeting Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome. Meloni, who met Zelenskyy after Pope Francis’s funeral, stressed “the urgency of an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as well as the need for a concrete commitment by Moscow to launch a peace process”. 26 Apr 202516.23 CESTWho are the frontrunners to be the next pope?Sam JonesAs the recent film Conclave showed predicting the next pope is not a straightforward matter But among the names frequently mentioned as possible successors are Matteo Zuppi, a progressive Italian cardinal; Pietro Parolin, who serves as the Vatican’s secretary of state; and Luis Antonio Tagle, from the Philippines. 26 Apr 202516.15 CESTConclave: the Vatican’s secret process for choosing a new popeHarriet SherwoodThe next pope will be chosen by the College of Cardinals the Catholic church’s most senior figures appointed by the pontiff who will make their way to Rome in the next few days for the conclave indicating the closed process of electing a pope There are more than 250 cardinals from more than 90 countries but only about 135 are cardinal electors (those over the age of 80 are excluded) About 110 of the cardinal electors have been chosen by Francis in the past 10 years and largely reflect his vision of a more inclusive church they gather under Michelangelo’s magnificent painted ceiling in the Sistine Chapel to begin their deliberations After the words extra omnes – everyone out – are declared referring to all but voting cardinals and a handful of officials and doctors The cardinals swear an oath of absolute secrecy and are permitted no contact with the outside world for the duration of the election process The chapel is also swept for listening devices before and during the conclave The cardinals sleep and eat in a purpose-built hostel, St Martha’s house, near the Sistine Chapel, where Pope Francis had lived for the past 12 years. The conclave begins with a celebration of mass, after which deliberations and voting begins. Votes are taken each day, morning and afternoon, until a candidate wins a two-thirds majority. There is a day’s break for prayer and reflection after every seven ballots. The longest papal conclave in recent history was 1922, when the cardinals took five days to choose their new leader. Any baptised male can be elected as pope, although a serving cardinal is invariably chosen. Each elector is given a ballot card with the words eligo in summum pontificem (I elect as supreme pontiff) printed at the top. They insert the name of their choice, fold the card and drop it into a chalice. The ballot is secret, but that does not mean the process is immune from factionalising, intrigue and lobbying. After each round of voting, the ballot cards are burned. Chemicals are added to make the smoke black or white. Black smoke emerging from the 60ft chimney indicates an inconclusive ballot; white smoke announces to the world that a new pope has been elected. The successful candidate is asked if he accepts election and, if so, which name he chooses to take as pontiff. The cardinals pledge obedience to the new pope, who is led into the adjacent Room of Tears to be dressed in a white cassock and skull cap, and red slippers. Three sets of vestments in different sizes will have been made by Vatican tailors in advance. The dean of the cardinals steps on to the main balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, in front of which thousands of Catholic devotees and tourists will be gathered. The dean will declare: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus papam” – “I announce to you a great joy: We have a pope.” It was the first time that Zelenskyy and Trump had met face to face after a frosty February encounter in the White House where Trump and the US vice-president berated the Ukrainian leader and accused him of ingratitude for US aid Donald Trump, left, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome for Pope Francis’s funeral, deep in conversation in St Peter’s Basilica. Photograph: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/ReutersIn an effort to end fighting between Ukraine and Russia Washington is engaging in intense mediation betweenthe two countries Despite Trump’s eagerness for a deal, significant differences remain between the US vision for peace and what Ukraine and its European allies have deemed acceptable conditions for a ceasefire. who as camerlengo is running the Vatican’s day-to-day affairs until a new pope is elected sprinkled it with holy water after it was lowered into a tomb set inside an alcove A reproduction of the pectoral cross worn by Francis during his lifetime hung above it reflecting the humble spirit of his papacy The tombstone bears only the inscription “Franciscus” – the pope’s name in Latin the north-western Italian region once home to the Argentine pontiff’s Italian ancestors Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell (L) presiding over the entombment of the late Pope Francis in the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome Photograph: Vatican Media Handout/EPAFrancis had specified in his will the exact spot he wanted to be buried in the side nave of the beloved fifth-century church The pontiff was devoted to the worship of the Virgin Mary and made a point of praying in Santa Maria Maggiore before leaving on trips abroad and upon his return to Rome He declared his desire to be entombed there in 2023 the basilica already holds the tombs of seven popes but the last one to be buried there was Clement IX in 1669 More recently popes have usually been buried in St Peter’s Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore also holds the remains of several other renowned figures such as the architect and sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini who designed St Peter’s Square and its surrounding columns Built in about AD432 under Pope Sixtus III the basilica holds some of the Catholic church’s most important relics including an icon of the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell seals the coffin of late Pope Francis during the entombment rite in the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome, Italy. Photograph: Vatican Media Handout/EPAThe pope chose the basilica because of his devotion to the Salus Populi Romani icon of the Virgin Mary, which is located next to his tomb. 26 Apr 202515.30 CESTStarmer and Zelenskyy agree to keep positive momentum in Ukraine peace talks Downing Street saysUK prime minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to work intensively to maintain the positive momentum in peace talks to end the war with Russia “They discussed positive progress made in recent days to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” a Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement after Starmer and Zelenskyy met in Rome, where world leaders gathered on Saturday for Pope Francis’s funeral at the Vatican UK prime minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy talk during a bilateral meeting in the garden of the Villa Wolkonsky in Rome Photograph: Marco M Mantovani/PAThe spokesperson added: They agreed to maintain momentum and continue working intensively with international partners to drive forward the next stages of planning Members of the clergy attend the funeral mass of Pope Francis, in Saint Peter's Square, at the Vatican. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/ReutersYou can view the full gallery here: The Argentinian pontiff, who died on Monday aged 88, was laid to rest during a 30-minute burial ceremony which started at 1pm, local time (11am GMT) at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in the Italian capital. 26 Apr 202515.11 CESTWhat happens after the pope's coffin arrives at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica?After the procession fom Vatican City to the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome Pope Francis’s coffin was welcomed by “‘the last ones,’ a group of poor and marginalised people who always had a special place in Pope Francis’s heart” The group gave a final tribute before the coffin was carried to the altar The remains of the Successor of Peter [Pope Francis] will be laid in the tomb and sprinkled with holy water. After the Regina Cæli prayer, the notary of the Liberian Chapter will draw up the official act confirming the burial and will read it aloud to those present. The act will be signed by the samerlengo cardinal, the regent of the papal household, the master of papal liturgical celebrations, and finally the notary. Updated at 15.13 CEST26 Apr 202514.54 CESTUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy had separate meetings with French president Emmanuel Macron and UK prime minister Keir Starmer in Rome after they attended the funeral of Pope Francis, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X. 26 Apr 202514.46 CESTAt least 400,000 people at Pope Francis’s funeral, says Italian interior ministerAt least 400,000 people turned out for Pope Francis’s funeral at the Vatican and lined Rome’s streets, Italy’s interior minister has said. This is up from the 250,000 estimated earlier by the Vatican. “We estimate not fewer than 400,000 people between those present in St Peter’s Square and those along the route,” Matteo Piantedosi told the TG5 news programme, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). Updated at 14.48 CEST26 Apr 202514.40 CESTPilgrims and the powerful come together for Pope Francis’s funeralAngela GiuffridaMy colleague Cardinals arrive at the funeral mass of Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City between the Pauline Chapel and the Sforza Chapel the tomb reflects the pope’s wish to rest in a place connected to his family heritage shared the details in a recent television interview Vatican News reported: It is precisely in the small town of Cogorno that a plaque of slate – a fine-grained grey, green or bluish metamorphic rock – commemorates Bergoglio’s great-grandfather, Vincenzo Sivori. He travelled from Italy to Argentina in the 1800s. There, he raised his family, including his granddaughter Regina Maria Sivori: Pope Francis’ mother. Pope Francis often kept his connection to Liguria private, so the mayor of the town, Enrica Sommariva, described her surprise when she heard that the pope had requested stone from his grandparents’ region for his tomb. Angela Sivori, who still lives in Cogorno, recounted the moment in which she found out she was Pope Francis’ cousin. She described receiving a phone call from Buenos Aires, and a genealogy tree via email. She and her daughter, Cristina, said the pope’s request regarding the stone for the tomb was a wonderful gift to the family, “one last surprise”, Cristina said. 26 Apr 202514.05 CESTAngela GiuffridaAs a priest Jorge Mario Bergoglio would always call into Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major) during his regular visits to the Italian capital The fourth-century basilica with its distinctive bell tower is perched on one of Rome’s seven ancient hills in Esquilino a neighbourhood that lies between the Colosseum and Termini train station which during the Roman empire served as a burial ground for slaves Bergoglio had a close shave with a suspected pickpocket But that did not sully his experience. Years later, in March 2013, on the morning after he became Pope Francis a name chosen in honour of Francis of Assisi the Italian saint who renounced a life of luxury to help the poor he snuck out of the Vatican to go to pray at Santa Maria Maggiore Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Tens of thousands have already turned out to pay their respects to the late Pope ahead of his funeral service on Saturday I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Pope Francis has continued to break with tradition even in death, having requested before he died several changes to the ceremony and burial that accompany the passing of a pontiff a number of other rituals surrounding his funeral will follow ancient traditions By Friday morning, more than 128,000 mourners had filed past Francis's open coffin placed in front of the main altar of St Peter’s Basilica — at times praying at times holding smart phones aloft — despite instructions not to — for a photo of the late pontiff laid out in red liturgical robes a bishop's pointed mitre and a rosary entwined in his hands More vast crowds will gather for Saturday’s funeral, as well as more than 130 foreign dignitaries among them 50 heads of state and 10 reigning sovereigns Follow updates from Pope Francis’ funeral They include US president Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and first lady Olena Zelenska, the Prince of Wales, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen as well as the most highly ranked members of the Catholic Church Below we look at how the service will unfold The three days of public viewing in St Peter’s Basilica will come to an end when Pope Francis’s coffin is sealed in a ritual on Friday evening The event will be conducted by American Cardinal Kevin Farrell a trusted aide to Pope Francis and the current camerlengo - the official who runs the Holy See between the death or resignation of a pope and the election of the next one Pope Francis eschewed the previous three coffins made of cypress lead and oak and will be interred in a simplified zinc coffin The tomb has been prepared behind a wooden barrier within the basilica that he chose to be near an icon of the Madonna that he revered and often prayed before Photos released by the Vatican on Friday show the marble tombstone flat against the pavement with the simple engraving in Latin that he requested in his last testament: "Franciscus" A bag of coins minted during Francis’s time as pope is placed in the coffin along with a one-page account of his papacy That account is read aloud by the master of liturgical ceremonies before being rolled up into a tube that is put in the coffin Senior members of the Catholic Church will attend One ancient ritual already carried out was the breaking of the pope's "Fisherman's Ring" and lead seal so they cannot be used by anyone else in front of the Basilica where his body has been lying in state will begin at 10am local time (9am BST) with a choir singing introductory rites His Reverend Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re The late pope’s face is covered with a silk veil and his body sprinkled with holy water Mr Trump may be disappointed to find himself not at the front but in the third row back The Vatican has not released official details yet but based on the funeral of John Paul II in 2005 Catholic royalty will be seated in the front row Next will come non-Catholic royals such as the Prince of Wales who is attending on behalf of King Charles World leaders and heads of state are likely to be next 750 bishops and priests are expected to be near the altar and more than 4,000 other priests will be in St Peter’s Square The cardinal who presides over the funeral and other cardinals bishops and officials will wear white damask mitres Patriarchs and cardinals will be distinguished from bishops by the purple of their liturgical garments Archbishops and bishops’ clothes include the alb It follows the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis the Vatican’s official liturgical text for papal funerals which was updated at Pope Francis’ request last year and the homily will be followed by prayers in French “The celebration will be accompanied by the Choir of the Sistine Chapel,” the website says Cardinal Re will then sprinkle the coffin with holy water and incense the choir will sing in Latin: “May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come and welcome you and take you into the holy city the coffin will be carried through the “door of death” to the left of the altar at St Peters The presence of the overseas dignitaries and hundreds of thousands of mourners creates a logistical and security challenge for the Italian authorities Security around the Vatican has been tightened with Italian authorities adding drones to foot and horse patrols along routes to St Peter’s Square have been protecting the pope’s coffin while lying in state but have been brought into commission to help protect the Vatican City and the square where crowds of tens of thousands will be assembled Although soldiers from the world’s smallest army are officially a purely ceremonial force and wear colourful medieval-style costumes they have undergone training for the well rehearsed security operation told a news conference: "I believe that the 'security machine' is ready," but will remain flexible and "ready to reshape and above all transmit a sense of serenity." Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera reports a special waste taskforce of 400 staff and 150 vehicles to maintain public cleanliness in the square has already been organised and pharmacy opening hours have been extended through Rome to boost available medical services the coffin will be taken through the streets of Rome to an underground tomb in the basilica of Saint Mary Major The procession will be at walking pace to allow people to bid farewell to the pope on his final journey But that will not be Pope Francis’s final resting place. The largest break from tradition is the Pope’s request to be buried outside the Vatican grounds he will be interred at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) in Rome which is about 4km from St Peter’s Basilica and which houses the bodies of seven earlier popes the leader of Catholics in England and Wales said the open-air procession through the Italian capital would “enlarge the stage on which this is played out something that they will appreciate very deeply” The Vatican said that because the disadvantaged had a special place in the heart of Pope Francis a group will wait on the steps of Saint Mary Major to pay their last respects before he is buried While the funeral mass and procession to Santa Maria Maggiore will be broadcast live around the world Italian news outlet Corriere reports the burial will be a private ceremony but people will be able to visit his burial place from Sunday morning In his will, Francis stipulated a simple burial "in the earth marked only with his papal name in Latin: Franciscus Corriere says the stone used for the epitaph is marble from the north-west Italian region of Liguria nine days of mourning called the “novendiali” will also begin While the funeral mass is open to the public services on the other eight days are open to different groups including one for employees and the faithful of Vatican City From May 5, the conclave to elect a new pope can begin In the conclave, the 133 cardinals of voting age (two cannot make it to Rome for health reasons) will gather inside Michelangelo's exquisitely frescoed ceiling of the Sistine Chapel – home of all the Papal Conclaves since 1858 where they will whittle down candidates through successive rounds of voting An exact date for this will be decided after the funeral arriving for the cardinals' meeting on Thursday said they were not meeting for the conclave yet “For the moment I do not believe the cardinals are saying 'who will be the next?' For the moment we are here completely for Francis." The conclave is secretive. The cardinals are forbidden from communicating with the outside world, and the gathering begins and ends with ritual words in Latin: “Extra omnes" or “Everyone out", expelling all but voting cardinals. A two-thirds majority is required to become pope, and after the ballot, the victorious cardinal utters, “Accepto” or “I accept”. With additional reporting from Associated Press Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Faith Omoboye $(document).ready(function(){(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})}); Tens of thousands of mourners are making their way to Saint Peter's Basilica to pay their last respects to the late Pope Francis The solemn procession began Wednesday morning drawing approximately 20,000 people to witness the moving ceremony SPECIAL COVERAGE | The death of Pope Francis: Remembering his life and legacy Crowds are anticipated to swell in the coming days with estimates suggesting as many as 250,000 may attend the pope's funeral on Saturday morning The service is set to take place outdoors in St with large crowds expected along the adjacent roads Preparations are underway across Vatican City with large screens being erected to accommodate attendees with a noticeable increase in police presence visitors must pass through security checks ensuring the safety of those attending the historic farewell RELATED STORY | What's next for the future of the papacy? the atmosphere around Saint Peter's Basilica is charged with a poignant mix of remembrance and reverence as the world prepares to say goodbye to a beloved leader Early Saturday morning promises to bring a deeply felt tribute to Pope Francis from both the faithful and dignitaries alike Mark Carney was elected as the new leader of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party on Sunday and will succeed Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister of Canada Carney received an MPhil in Economics at St Peter’s College in 1993 and a DPhil in Economics at Nuffield College in 1995 Carney was formerly the Governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013 and Governor of the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020 Carney’s tenures at both banks were marked by several economic shocks and the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic He is the first Canadian prime minister to not previously have held elected office Speaking in Ottawa on Sunday following the Liberal Party leadership elections, where Carney won 86% of the vote, he said that US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods were weakening the Canadian economy and “attacking Canadian workers “We can’t let him succeed.”  The Master of St Peter’s College, Professor Judith Buchanan, said: “On behalf of the St Peter’s College community I congratulate our alumnus and Honorary Fellow Dr Mark Carney (MPhil Economics SPC) on being elected as the next Prime Minister of Canada His impressive record as Governor of the Bank of Canada Governor of the Bank of England and a United Nations Special Envoy on Climate Change speaks for itself.” we warmly wish him well as he adds the weighty role of Prime Minister of Canada to his already distinguished career.” Nuffield College provided a comment to The Oxford Student: “The Warden of Nuffield College was delighted to see that Honorary Fellow Mark Carney has become Canada’s next prime minister She wishes him well in his new post.” Dear readers — the clocks go back this weekend but we will still be imagining you reading these morning newsletters by candlelight If you happen to be taking the tram into the city on your morning commute odds are you’re getting off at St Peter’s Square the subject of today’s main feature by Jack Six months after a homeless encampment was cleared from beneath the porticoes on the square It begs the question of what the council was looking to achieve and also brings the city’s homelessness problems back to the fore 🧼 Police cracking down on the drone pilots delivering contraband to HMP Forest Bank in Salford have seized hard drugs "These drone pilots have got a really high skill set you can pinpoint them to certain areas via coordinates and other methods," said GMP’s deputy superintendent Buckthorpe Recently released prisoners said drugs are an everyday amenity on the wings repeating what has become something of an adage for Forest Bank: “the inmates run it ⚫ A body recovered from Dovestone Reservoir by Greater Manchester Police has been identified as the missing Simon Daniels An underwater search team had been combing the area since Sunday after GMP were alerted of two people getting into difficulty in the water The first person was recovered and taken to hospital and Daniel’s body was found at 6.15pm on Wednesday evening ✏️ And the ‘bard of Salford’ John Cooper Clarke has premiered a new poem named “Look in Any Junkyard”. The 75-year-old performance poet gave listeners a preview of his latest work on Tuesday over at BBC North West Clarke will be performing at Co-op live in March 2025 making him the first ever poet to headline the arena 🛍️ We’re writing about one of the great Mancunian venues this week: Afflecks Palace. What are your favourite memories of Afflecks? What were the best things to buy, and what were the worst things to buy? Which celebs did you spot there and who were your favourite local characters? Can it survive as the city changes? If you have strong views on this, please email Mollie Mohamed wakes up just after nine and puts on a shoe He wipes the sleep from his eyes and takes a deep breath — long exhale — then puts on the other shoe and his jacket before packing his bag He gets out the door and sets off walking across St Peter’s Square The trams are screeching and people are eyeing him as he walks He pats his pockets like anyone else would after leaving home He takes something else out and throws it in the bag Mohamed has been living in a tent on St Peter’s Square for the last three weeks. In that time, the number of tents lining the square has surged — there were around 20 yesterday morning. The last time there was that many was in April, when a pro-Palestine protest developed into a sleep-in protest and then metamorphosed into a homeless encampment.  Back then, the tents were under the square’s porticoes, a well-loved, Insta-friendly feature of the space and also a controversial one when it comes to sheltering the homeless. In March, footage of a GMP officer dragging a man in a sleeping bag from beneath the porticoes and proceeding to step on his stomach went viral and caused widespread consternation It meant tensions around the city’s homeless population were high by the time the camp which was also framed as a kind of protest was established (“we’re showing people the homeless crisis,” Emma Mohareb told me at the time.) Activists came to support the camp’s community when council officers were trying to help them get housing often filming and reporting back on social media.  the council offered 51 people living in the camp temporary accommodation But it also fenced off the porticoes afterwards then in hoardings advertising the co-working space behind them Six months later and the porticoes are still inaccessible Not long after Mohamed sets off for breakfast — at the Mustard Tree a charity in Ancoats that hosts breakfasts for refugees and the homeless — a passerby named John “I know there is a home for every single one of them if they want it But they choose not to take the accommodation that is offered.” He goes on to add: “Quite frankly they’re spurning the society that is trying to help them.” He says he’s speaking from experience in helping homeless people get off the streets When I mention that often homeless people are put in areas they don’t feel safe in he says: “There might be some unsafe areas but working people have to live in those areas people on benefits have to live in those areas While John believes the homeless on the square are breaking the law and should be cleared she says: “I’m glad they don’t seem to get moved on says: “My thought as I was walking down here was: ‘Andy Burnham said he was going to get everybody off the streets numbers of rough sleepers recorded in Greater Manchester last year were 149 A source at the city council tells me there has indeed been a rise in the number of people coming to the city and setting up tents “A lot are under the perception they’re going to get a council house if they come to Manchester he tells me he came to Manchester from Birmingham The closure of the porticoes has raised questions around how in the midst of a housing crisis,  Manchester’s homeless population can best be supported — while also keeping public spaces safe and accessible to everyone at a time when those spaces have been continually restricted Already have an account? Sign in Already have an account? Sign In ‘I don’t know what the solution is. But it’s not doing that, is it?’ Peter’s BasilicaAdvanced technology meets Renaissance architecture in a groundbreaking project that’s transforming how visitors experience one of the world’s most iconic religious landmarks and Iconem collaborated to create a digital twin of St Peter's Basilica using advanced photogrammetry and AI making the historic site globally accessible through an interactive website and immersive exhibitions.ByMichael BelfiorePhotographs byAaron HueyFebruary 7 is a monument to human ingenuity and the power of spiritual inspiration Microsoft used AI and photogrammetry to craft a 3D model of St facilitating virtual exploration and advancing digital preservation efforts.The digital twin is the result of a trailblazing partnership between the Vatican a French startup specializing in digitizing sites of cultural significance they’ve combined expertise in technology and cultural heritage and preservation to evoke the feelings of awe inspired by the Basilica itself—even from afar As the Basilica’s archpriest, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, said during the project’s unveiling in late 2024 interacting with the digital twin is akin to gazing into a “starry sky on a summer night." Creating the Basilica’s digital twin required an unprecedented fusion of ancient architecture and cutting-edge technology and laser scanning technology to capture more than 400,000 high-resolution images of every corner of the Basilica Iconem captured over 400,000 high-resolution images to document every architectural detail of St Peter's Basilica.“Photogrammetry is technology that enables you to capture visible reality with thousands of pictures in 3D,” explains Yves Ubelmann you need to process everything to get a full copy of the monument.” Such pixel-by-pixel processing of the massive amount of data the images represented was the job of advanced AI provided by Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab chief data Scientist at the AI for Good Lab oversaw the development of specialized AI algorithms for the project these algorithms first learned to identify specific features like tiles and cracks through human-labeled training data the AI could automatically detect and analyze these features throughout the Basilica’s complex architecture “The first thing that surprised us was the magnitude and size of the building,” Ferres says “The other thing that surprised us is how technology can help on the preservation perspective.” This combination of human expertise and AI capabilities resulted in what Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith calls “a powerful example of how innovation can connect people to history.” Peter's Basilica lies the tomb of Saint Peter the first pope and apostle of Jesus Christ.Within the Vatican Grottoes beneath St Peter's Basilica lies the marble tomb of Pope Pius XI decorated with reliefs depicting significant moments from his pontificate from 1922 to 1939.The project has also blazed a trail for digital preservation projects to come “This project shows the future of how AI can enhance cultural assets,” he says we can use AI to enable people to explore sites like this in a way they could never have done before we're able to use AI algorithms and all of this photographic imagery to identify the cracks So it's really something not only for this generation The digital twin has opened up new ways to experience the Basilica both for in-person visitors and virtual pilgrims Peter’s Basilica,” says Father Enzo Fortunato “It allows us to explore the Basilica and take in parts that are not perceptible or clearly visible to the naked eye.” The Pétros ení exhibit, meaning "Peter is here," offers two ways to explore St. Peter's Basilica: a self-guided public exhibition for spontaneous visits and an intimate "Octagons" experience that guides small groups through the church's sacred spaces.The on-site Pétros ení exhibition offers two distinct experiences: a public exhibit accessible to all visitors and a specialized reservation-only “Octagons” experience providing a more focused journey through select artifacts and spaces Through interactive kiosks and digital platforms visitors can explore detailed visualizations of specific areas and learn about their significance The project also includes an interactive website that allows people worldwide to explore previously inaccessible areas of the Basilica including the intricate artwork high in the dome the Basilica’s digital twin indeed serves as a crucial tool for preservation Ferres confirms that the AI analysis has revealed structural vulnerabilities that were previously invisible to the human eye including missing mosaic tiles and subtle fissures This information is proving invaluable for guiding restoration efforts and ensuring the Basilica’s long-term preservation “A 3D model is not only an image of something; it’s a full database,” Ubelmann explains I like the idea of keeping an archive and transmitting these assets to the next generation but I also like this idea of understanding better what we cannot see even when we are inside the monument.” “The new tools act like a telescope or spaceship for better viewing,” allowing us to see this magnificent structure in ways its builders could never have imagined The initiative arrives at a crucial time as the Vatican is set to welcome an estimated 35 million pilgrims for the 2025 Holy Year Jubilee While the digital experience can’t replace the full impact of visiting in person it ensures that the Basilica’s spiritual and cultural significance remains accessible to millions of people worldwide who may never have the opportunity to visit Rome And the technology serves another vital purpose: preservation for future generations If any part of the Basilica were to be damaged or degraded over time the digital twin provides an exact record of its state at the time of digital capture This detailed documentation could prove invaluable for future restoration work allowing conservators to reference precise measurements and architectural details that might otherwise be lost to time To learn more about the La Basilica di San Pietro digital preservation project, visit https://virtual.basilicasanpietro.va/en Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2025 National Geographic Partners Doctors have advised the pontiff to rest for at least two months following his five-week hospital stay earlier this year Pope Francis was discharged from hospital on 23 March after being treated for a lung infection that developed into pneumonia Please whitelist confidentials.com to continue to our site and enjoy an Ad-Light experience St Peter’s Tavern has now opened on Seel Street following an impressive refurbishment.  Mary Jane King said: “The response to our renovations of The Vines and most recently The Monro on Duke street has been hugely gratifying We embarked on our pub ‘mission’ over two years ago with the establishment of the Red Lion on Slater St and then The Green Man on lark lane “The early success of our pub project gave us the confidence to open the White Hart and Engineer pubs on Hope Street and has ultimately brought us to the point where we [could] take on our greatest challenge to date - the revival of the former ‘Alma de Cuba’ at the site of the 250 year old St Peter’s church.” I visited on Thursday (14 November) the day after it opened, much like I did when The Monro opened, and while I was very impressed with the Duke Street pub, I was truly taken aback by the work done to the building, calling it “a marvel of refurbishment” Get the latest food & drink news and exclusive offers by email by signing up to our mailing list This is one of the ways that Confidentials remains free to our readers and by signing up you help support our high quality Summer’s exhibitions provide opportunity to be immersed in work of the masters World-renowned art installation to celebrate brighter days ahead Hop into spring with these fantastic Easter gifts Show Mum your appreciation with these thoughtful gifts Pope Francis's body arrived at Saint Peter's Basilica on Wednesday to lie in state before his weekend funeral The late pope's open wooden coffin was carried by pallbearers the 500 metres (yards) from the Casa Santa Marta where he lived and died behind a procession of red-robed cardinals Tens of thousands of mourners began saying their last goodbyes to the Pope as a long line of pilgrims and tourists stretched across the sprawling St Peter's Square before the doors opened at 11.00 am (0900 GMT) when the public were allowed inside to file past the open coffin "I came to say a last goodbye to a great man He stood for the people," Simonetta Marini an energetic reformer who took over as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics in 2013 He had recently been hospitalised for five weeks with pneumonia Dressed in his papal vestments -- a red chasuble white mitre and black shoes -- and with a rosary laced between his fingers the pope's body has been laid out in a red-lined wooden coffin it will rest on a low bier before the Altar of the Confession underneath the soaring dome painted by Michelangelo before being closed at 8.00 pm (1800 GMT) on Friday evening ahead of Saturday's funeral at 4.00 am to be among the first to see the pontiff "It was really moving," she said after exiting the basilica adding: "They don't let you stay long A retired Irish couple in their 60s said that despite being on holiday in Rome it was a "priority" to come see Francis whom they said had made efforts in their country to address the problem of clerical sexual abuse the underprivileged and those who suffered at the hands of his flock," said Cliodhna Devlin Many world leaders have announced they will travel to Rome for Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday which is expected to draw a huge crowd in the square in front of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican The Solemn Requiem Mass for Pope Francis will draw the attention of the entire world recalling memories of a similar solemn moment twenty years ago with the funeral Mass of Pope John Paul II this funeral will mark a unique occasion for today's media as it will mark the first time the transfer of a Pope's mortal remains from the Vatican to another location for burial will be broadcast live globally when Vatican Radio - Vatican News will broadcast live the full Requiem Mass followed by the procession accompanying the Pope's coffin from St To ensure the widest possible audience can follow the events the Dicastery for Communication (our parent organization) will provide live radio and television commentary in 15 languages: English along with four sign languages: American Sign Language (ASL) provided by the Vatican Television Center – Vatican Media will include aerial and ground video of both St Peter’s Square and the entire route to the Basilica of St including commentary and in-depth analysis) will be offered in 56 languages—the same used across the platforms of Vatican News Here are the details on how to follow the 26 April broadcast: - Vatican News YouTube channels (English channel - Original sound only channel) - Vatican Radio web radio in 11 languages (Radio Vatican App - Google Play, Radio Vaticana App - iTunes) - Shortwave broadcasts in English - Live coverage on Facebook in Italian - Instagram live in Italian Three Italian-language commentary positions will be active: two in St Peter’s Square and one outside the Basilica of St Live coverage begins at around 8:10 AM from the Charlamagne Wing coverage will switch to the main studio for the Requiem Mass Mary Major broadcasting position will also share live coverage of the prayers and the participation of the faithful - 103.8 FM in the city of Rome   - 105 FM for Rome and surrounding areas   - DAB+ digital radio (info at [www.digitalradio.it](http://www.digitalradio.it))   - TV channel 733 in the Rome area   VATICAN CITY (AP) — A convalescing Pope Francis greeted the crowd in St wishing more than 20,000 faithful a “Happy Palm Sunday Happy Holy Week,” in yet another reassuring public sign of his recovery from a life-threatening battle with double pneumonia READ MORE: Pope Francis shows ‘surprising improvement’ after surviving life-threatening crises, doctor says Many in the crowd reached out to touch Francis’ hand or garments as he was brought in a wheelchair down a ramp to the main altar where he issued his brief greeting into a microphone The 88-year-old pope was not wearing nasal tubes for supplemental oxygen as he had during a similar appearance last Sunday Peter’s Basilica from where he had emerged and offered candy to a boy who greeted him The 88-year-old Francis is entering his fourth week of convalescence during which doctors have advised him to avoid crowds While Francis is clearly eager to show he is feeling better he has not spoken more than a few words in public as he recovers from a severe respiratory crisis that has labored his speech The Vatican said it was waiting to advise on what role he may play in upcoming Holy Week events leading up to Easter Sunday Peter’s Square before a crowd since leaving the hospital following last Sunday’s unexpected appearance that thrilled the faithful He also met privately with King Charles III and Queen Camilla this week and to thank a pair of restorers for their work on the basilica’s masterpieces Mary Major Basilica in central Rome to pray privately before a favorite icon of the Virgin Mary which he typically visits before and after his foreign trips was also his first stop after leaving the Gemelli hospital on March 23 the pontiff thanked the faithful for their prayers compassion and tenderness even more.” For the ninth week including his five-week hospitalization starting Feb The pope offered prayers for those suffering in the conflict in Sudan which marks its second anniversary on Tuesday In a prepared Palm Sunday homily read by a top Vatican cardinal Francis urged the faithful to carry the cross “of those who suffer around us” to mark the start of the solemn Holy Week leading a procession of cardinals around the piazza’s central obelisk carrying an ornately braided palm that recalls Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem when crowds waved palm branches to honor him The initial welcome contrasts with the suffering that follows Peter’s Square carrying blessed palm fronds or olive branches to mark the occasion While the pope’s appearance was widely expected pilgrims acknowledged some concern that gusts of wind might keep him from entering the square “There was a bit of worry when a few drops fell and it was windy but then at the end he surprised us and it was a really great emotion,” said Luigi Mighali ‘Happy Holy Week and Happy Palm Sunday,’ moved everyone.” said she was gratified to see the pope doing so well “The truth is that it has given me a lot of joy to see that he is getting better and may he get better soon Video journalist Francesco Sportelli contributed © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins Manchester City Council were yesterday (Tuesday 11 February) granted a possession order to remove the tents that have been pitched on St Peters Square since last Spring.  A Manchester City Council spokesperson said: “We welcome the decision to grant us a possession order for St Peter’s Square to bring the encampment there to an end.  “But throughout this period we have been clear with those camping in the square that this is not a safe suitable or sanitary place from which to access this support Nor does camping in a public space accelerate their homelessness application or gain them any other advantage.” The spokesperson continued: “We have had a number of issues in keeping the area safe secure and clean - as we saw in the run-up to Remembrance Weekend and New Year’s Eve events – and delivering services from the nearby town hall extension.      The council said the timeframe for when the tents will be removed is to be confirmed exclusives and offers by joining the Manchester Confidential WhatsApp group Hotel has become a standout in the city since opening just over a year ago Your bumper briefing of news and what to look out for Lily Wallen asks if the canalside clubbing destination has lost its allure David Adamson reports back from goingson in the city and beyond The former Alma de Cuba site on Seel Street is set to be the latest historic building to be transformed by the team behind The Monro Mary Jane from the 1936 Pub Company said: “The Alma de Cuba/St Peter’s church site is a heritage building that will be a perfect addition to our pub family The chance to develop a concept within a structure as special as St Peter’s church is an honour and an opportunity we simply couldn’t resist Mary Jane continued: “We are planning something spectacular and dramatic as the building’s heritage and scale demands but at the same time familiar and accessible Our re-imagined St Peter’s will welcome all.  Work is now underway on refurbishing the site For more information and updates on the relaunch follow St Peter’s Tavern on Instagram Just a week after the unexpected appearance of the Holy Father in a wheelchair in St Peter’s Square—where 20,000 faithful had gathered for the Jubilee of the Sick—Pope Francis once again stepped outside Casa Santa Marta and spent some time in St a pope with whom Pope Francis has always expressed a deep spiritual bond the news of his presence in the Basilica quickly spread Among them were some restorers working behind protective screens on a couple of projects currently undertaken by the Fabbrica di San Pietro Children approached to receive his blessing and entire groups of pilgrims visiting Rome for the Jubilee crowded forward to catch a glimpse of him “The Pope passed through the Door of Prayer and finally to the tomb of St Pius X to pray,” explained Msgr but his gestures conveyed affection and closeness to those gathered around him Some even lined up for a chance to draw near to the Bishop of Rome whose public appearances have been limited during his convalescence Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker No decision has been made on the future of St Peter’s Street Post Office one of the organisation’s surviving Crown Post Offices is on the list of branches at risk of being sold to a franchisee or closing permanently said it would be some time before we know its fate “I’ve pressed the Post Office for details of their process “The Post Office is in dialogue with the Unions until the end of March to consider options including retention and franchising “To gauge market appetite and explore whether franchising could be a viable option they were inviting expressions of interest to operate Post Offices in all remaining DMB locations until early January they will put options on the table for consultation with the public and any affected staff the Post Office assures me that they have not made any decisions about any of the Crown Post Offices MPs are lobbying ministers and Post Office bosses hard to protect the Crown Post Office concept – the only remaining cast iron guarantee of any level of service across the country – and I’m lobbying hard for the protection of all services here in St Albans for residents and small businesses.” You can help keep quality local journalism alive by making a one-off donation or set up a regular direct debit Any contributions will help ensure the long-term future of the St Albans Times ©2025 St Albans Times. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Website by Moxie From the very beginning of Russia's war in Ukraine Pope Francis continuously offered to mediate to help bring about peace He appealed for an end to the war at almost every public appearance and his prayers for "martyred Ukraine" became a familiar refrain calls for dialogue - for key players to come together and find a way to put an end to the conflict such a dialogue took place between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Photos showed the two Presidents seated face-to-face in St Peter's Basilica, deep in conversation A spokesperson for the White House called the discussion "very productive" said that it had been a "good meeting," adding that the pair had "discussed a lot one on one." "Hoping for results on everything we covered," President Zelensky wrote on social media Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out." that ceasefire had appeared less and less likely The last time Presidents Trump and Zelensky met in person the discussion devolved into an acrimonious verbal brawl President Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatened to "walk away" from efforts to broker a peace deal Russia carried out its deadliest air attack on Kyiv since the beginning of the year President Zelensky said it was a "very symbolic meeting If those results do manifest themselves - if the 'just peace' so often spoken of by the late Pope is achieved - it might just be Francis' first miracle 04 March, 2025 By Surrey County Council has appointed Graham as the principal contractor for the A320 improvement scheme in Runnymede which includes the construction of new embankments and other ground engineering works The £41.8M A320 North of Woking improvements project funded through the Homes England Housing Infrastructure Fund aims to enhance capacity and improve traffic flow on the critical route between Chertsey and Ottershaw facilitating future housing developments across Runnymede Construction firm Graham has been awarded the contract to deliver the upgrades by Surrey County Council under the GEN 5 Southern Highways and Civils Framework The project includes significant upgrades to key junctions and links roads along the A320 M25 junction 11 interchange and Holloway Hill/Green Lane junction The main ground engineering elements of the scheme include the construction of new embankments to form new jet lanes on both the M25 J11 northbound and southbound off-slip as well as installation of ground anchors on St Peter’s Way eastbound When asked about the project’s main geotechnical challenges a Graham spokesperson told GE that “initial trial holes indicate the presence of peat and soft soils near Ottershaw junction and it is envisaged that local excavation to a depth shall be replaced to achieve stability of the embankment and minimise the magnitude of residual settlement after construction” The geology in the area is predominantly defined by “the London Basin with its silty clay deposits” and “locally sands and gravels will overlay these London Clay deposits” with support from a specialist subcontractor will carry out the detailed design and construction of ground anchors and a geotextile-facing solution for a proposed cutting on St Peter’s Way “It is anticipated that percussion driven earth anchors overlaid with seed soil packed behind a geotextile finish will be the solution,” the spokesperson noted Enabling works for the scheme began towards the end of February while phase one of the improvement works will get going from mid-March The project is expected to be completed by winter of 2026 Want to read more? Subscribe to GE’s enewsletters and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn Transport Scotland has alerted the market to a £205M procurement opportunity on the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie section of the A9 Dualling programme in Scotland as main construction works start on the Tomatin to Moy section Enabling works on the £10bn Lower Thames Crossing scheme – a 4.2km twin bore road tunnel under the river between Kent and Essex – could begin in October of this year The completion date for the East Renfrewshire Council’s Aurs Road improvement project has been pushed back further due to complex ground conditions Ground investigations are continuing to determine the cause of a large void in Godstone after surveys detected subsurface “anomalies” near the hole that could be “a series of tunnels” Sign in or Register a new account to join the discussion. Business news, Project news, Industry news and Top Stories You don't have permission to access the page you requested. 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By 2024-10-15T15:40:00+01:00 St Peter’s also took over Wild Beer last year St Peter’s Brewery has taken on London-based Portobello Brewing to add to its growing beer portfolio Rob Jenkins will remain as Portobello managing director with no changes to his existing team of 18 staff at the brewery in west London St Peter’s said the company’s customer-focused service model remained unchanged and both teams would continue to work together to enhance the Portobello brand with increased resources and support St Peter’s CEO Richard Mather added: “This is an exciting development in line with our goal of working with great people and brands The aim being to accelerate growth and innovation through building long-term relationships with customers and consumers “We are looking forward to supporting Rob and his team in this new chapter for Portobello Brewing.” Jenkins said: “The partnership will bring increased investment improved brewing capabilities and enhanced marketing support for our products.” Financial details for the investment were not disclosed Sign in to comment on this article Site powered by Webvision Cloud Learn moreExplore related questionsDiscover more about the topics that matter most Browse our suggested questions or ask your own to find out more The acquisition of Portobello follows on from the group's purchase of Curious Brewery in 2023 UK beer manufacturer St Peter’s Brewery Group has acquired London-based brewer Portobello Brewing Financial details of the deal were not disclosed When asked how the group planned to grow the Portobello Brewing business St Peter’s Brewery Group Richard Mather CEO told Just Drinks the investment “will be focused on the demand side of the business” He added: “It will be used to drive growth by supporting existing customers and attracting new customers by leveraging St Peter’s Brewery Group’s wider portfolio.” Portobello Brewing’s portfolio includes the 4.6% abv Market Porter and 5% abv Stiff Lip IPA Its products are sold across the UK through its website and the 19 pubs run by the Portobello Starboard group across London Commenting on the acquisition in an official statement Portobello Brewing managing director Rob Jenkins said the move would “bring increased investment improved brewing capabilities and enhanced marketing support for our products” Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis Portobello Brewing employs a team of 18 people at its brewery in White City with production to still take place at the White City brewery Mather added: “This is an exciting development in line with our goal of working with great people and brands We are looking forward to supporting Rob and his team in this new chapter for Portobello Brewing.” The acquisition of Portobello follows on from the group’s purchase of Curious Brewery for an undisclosed sum in 2023. The deal also included the Wild Beer brand, which Curious itself bought out of administration earlier that same year St Peter’s Brewery is the holding company for St Peter’s Brewery Co. According to Companies House filings yesterday (10 October) St Peter’s Brewery Group has changed its name to Sunrise Alliance Beverages The group declined to comment on the matter to Just Drinks The St Peter’s Brewery beer brand is sold to UK retailers including Sainsbury’s and Morrisons but the business is “predominantly export-focused” Nominations are now open for the prestigious Just Drinks Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation This is your chance to showcase your achievements Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network