The funeral Mass of Pope Francis will be celebrated April 26 in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced.
Pope Francis
A Papal First: Pope Visits Arab Peninsula to Promote Interfaith Relations
Among the many trips Pope Francis took after he was elected to the papacy in 2013, his historic first visit to the Arabian Peninsula was a landmark journey. He was the first pope to visit the region and meet with leaders from different religious backgrounds for an interfaith summit.
Pope Prioritized Challenging Just War Doctrine Amid Many Global Conflicts
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis was an outspoken critic of war and cautioned against abusing the “just war” theory detailed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Papal Travel: A 291,000-Mile Journey of Faith and Solidarity
It’s not known if Pope Francis ever suffered from jet lag, but the Holy Father logged a lot of air miles during his papacy, traveling to dozens of countries to spread the message of Jesus Christ’s love of mankind.
Pope Francis Initiated Unprecedented Synod to Unite Catholic Voices Worldwide
Pope Francis’ Synod on Sydonality was a four-year undertaking that included dialogue and listening sessions between Catholic bishops, religious, and laity at the local, national, and international levels.
Through Writings Pope Francis Was Champion of Fraternity and Environmentalism
Since the publication of his first book in 1982, Jorge Mario Bergoglio wrote prolifically about brotherly love, human dignity, social justice, environmentalism, and the role of the Roman Catholic Church in turbulent times.
Pontiff’s Faithful Affinity for World Youth Day Throughout His Papacy
Since attending World Youth Day for the first time as pope in 2013, Pope Francis encouraged young people to invite God into their lives and go forward as Christ’s disciples.
Pope Francis: Milestones in a Transformative Pontificate
The Tablet offers readers a comprehensive overview of Pope Francis’ papacy in this timeline found in the April 26, 2025 print edition.
A Vision For a Globalized College of Cardinals
Pope Francis wasn’t the first pontiff to appoint to the College of Cardinals bishops from non-European, non-traditional locales in terms of Catholicism. He did, however, globalize the college in a way that far exceeds anyone who came before him.
Jesuit Influence Shaped First America’s Pope
It had never happened before. The College of Cardinals in March 2013 selected a prelate from the Americas, specifically South America, as pontiff. More than that, they had selected Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a member of the Society of Jesus, as the leader of the world’s Roman Catholics.