About 1.5 million people attended his closing Mass at a riverside park in the Portuguese capital, the Vatican said, quoting local authorities.

Source: https://gazette.com/news/us-world/closing-youth-festival-in-portugal-pope-shares-old-mans-dream-of-peace/article_a092ec86-6d1f-5bf4-a11b-1ccbb8e4db01.html

According to the Vatican Gendarmerie, about 60,000 people were present in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus.

Source: https://www.ncregister.com/cna/pope-francis-the-three-kings-found-god-in-poverty

According to the Vatican, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops, who had traveled to Rome from around the world, spoke Wednesday about the suffering experienced by the Ukrainian people.

Source: https://www.ncregister.com/cna/ukrainian-greek-catholic-synod-tells-pope-francis-he-has-made-painful-statements

Advocacy groups are expected in Rome and at the Vatican to call attention to these issues during the synod.

Source: https://thegavoice.com/news/national/pope-francis-opens-possibility-for-blessing-same-sex-unions/

Although he was appointed only as FDR’s personal “Peace Ambassador,” the Vatican extended full ambassador status to him on February 13, 1940.

Source: https://www.jewishpress.com/sections/features/features-on-jewish-world/myron-taylor-jewish-refugees-the-pope-and-israel/2023/10/04/

Among the theories have been ones linking the disappearance to the aftermath of the failed assassination attempt against John Paul in 1981 in St. Peter's Square or to the international financial scandal over the Vatican bank.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11980675/Pope-Francis-slams-insinuations-John-Paul-II-prowled-Rome-looking-underage-girls.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

An estimated 195,000 people have already paid their respects during three days of lying in state at the basilica, the Vatican said, while up to 100,000 were expected for Thursday’s funeral.

Source: https://thefrontierpost.com/pope-francis-leads-ex-pontiff-benedicts-funeral/

A nun waits for the funeral mass of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s square in the Vatican, on Jan.

Source: https://nationalpost.com/news/photos-pope-benedict-mccarthy-china-covid-kraken-connor-bedard

A one-line statement from the Vatican said Francis had “relieved” Bishop of the pastoral governance of and appointed the bishop of Austin as the temporary administrator.

Source: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/nov/11/pope-forcibly-removes-leading-us-conservative-texa/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS

At the Vatican, Cardinal Pell had been lauded for his financial expertise and creative methods to protect the church from being bankrupted by cases involving claims of abuse.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/10/world/australia/cardinal-george-pell-dead.html

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said plans were underway to hold a service at the Vatican and to bring Pell's body back to Australia, where it is expected to be buried in Sydney after the requiem Mass in Rome.

Source: https://www.newser.com/story/330185/cardinal-convicted-then-cleared-of-child-sex-abuse-dead-at-81.html

Because the just lately appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, which recommends clergymen whom the pope will make bishops, he holds one of the vital influential positions on the Vatican.

Source: https://www.mccourier.com/pope-francis-names-21-new-cardinals-with-a-focus-beyond-europe/

Benedict had been frail for years, and the Vatican three days earlier had said Benedict’s health was worsening.

Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/01/01/pope-francis-grateful-for-noble-benedict-and-his-prayers/

Bolen said the Vatican's statement Thursdayshows Francis was listening to Indigenous people during their meetings at the Vatican and throughout his time in Canada.

Source: https://www.baytoday.ca/national-news/vatican-rejects-doctrine-of-discovery-a-move-indigenous-people-have-long-urged-6781927

But his death after 10 years of retirement removed the shadow of a more conservative pope looking over Francis’ shoulder from the other side of the Vatican gardens.

Source: https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2023/12/17/pope-francis-87th-birthday-closes-out-a-big-year-of-efforts-to-reform-the-church-cement-his-legacy/

By Blackfriars Bridge, I was now remembering the mysterious death of Roberto Calvi, who was known as ‘God’s Banker’ because of his work for the Vatican.

Source: https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/01/09/letter-from-london-take-me-to-the-river/

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, dressed in a yellow vest, brings a disabled man to receive the vaccine against COVID-19 in the Vatican on March 31, 2021.

Source: https://www.ncregister.com/cna/vatican-invites-rome-poor-to-a-day-at-the-circus

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM looks on after being elevated to the rank of cardinal at the Vatican, September 30, 2023.

Source: https://www.eyeradio.org/vatican-cardinal-offers-to-be-exchanged-with-hamas-hostages/

Children from Viterbo, Italy, who recently made their first Communion participate in an evening Marian prayer service led by Pope Francis in the Vatican Gardens May 31, 2021.

Source: https://thetablet.org/italian-bishops-conference-lifts-remaining-covid-restrictions/

COMMENTARY: Bishop Leo’s ascendancy from the Vatican diplomatic corps to archbishop of Toronto isn’t without precedent.

Source: https://www.ncregister.com/cna/all-glory-to-god-chiefs-butker-makes-game-winning-kick-in-the-super-bowl-while-wearing-scapular