In the heart of Vatican City, the usually quiet Casa Santa Marta is abuzz with workers, engineers, and Vatican officials transforming the guesthouse that was the residence of Pope Francis into a secure, secluded place of lodging that would put Fort Knox to shame.
As was the case with Pope Francis, and especially since the 5th century, almost every pope has chosen a name to honor a saint or a previous pope.
In preparation for the conclave, workers have placed a protective covering over the marble mosaic floors and started carrying in pipes, couplers and sheets of subflooring into the Sistine Chapel
One by one, placing a right hand on the Book of Gospels, staff driving, cooking, cleaning and caring for the cardinals who will elect a new pope will swear an oath of perpetual secrecy about the election of the 267th successor of St. Peter.
The casket bearing the body of Pope Francis made its final journey through the streets of Rome accompanied by applause and shouts of gratitude from thousands of mourners.
On the eve of Pope Francis’ funeral — when the world would bid a final farewell to the beloved pontiff — Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated a Vigil Mass of Repose for the “People’s Pope.”
After the casket bearing Pope Francis’ body was placed in St. Peter’s Basilica, tens of thousands of mourners lined up to pay their respects.
The funeral Mass of Pope Francis will be celebrated April 26 in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced.
Pope Francis’ condition remains stable, and an X-ray showed there has been a slight improvement regarding his lingering lung infection, the Vatican press office said.
By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — After experiencing progressive improvement the past few days, Pope Francis experienced “an isolated crisis of bronchospasm” which led to coughing and “vomiting with inhalation,” which worsened his respiratory condition, the Vatican said. The pope had spent the morning “alternating respiratory physiotherapy with prayer in the chapel” in his […]
