Pope, five days of national mourning from today to Saturday. Basilica open until midnight for last farewell to Bergoglio

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will not attend the funeral of Pope Francis. A Spanish government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister María Jesús Montero will attend the service, Moncloa sources confirmed to LaPresse.

"Do not sow discord between Kirill and me". This would have been, according to the Patriarch, the answer given by Pope Francis to some of his "collaborators" who wanted to induce him to cool relations with the Russian Orthodox Church because of the political situation. Kirill recounted the anecdote during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin at which the Patriarch of Serbia Porfirius and Father Antonij of Volokolamsk, head of external relations of the Russian Church, who had close contacts with the Pope and who will be at his funeral on Saturday, were also present.

Archbishop Cardinal Matteo Zuppi invites all the parishes, communities and churches of the diocese to hold a solemn celebration of suffrage for Pope Francis in the coming days. This was announced by the vicars-general, Msgr. Stefano Ottani and Msgr. Giovanni Silvagni, in a communication to the diocese in which they also transmitted the indications received from the Italian Episcopal Conference for the liturgical prayer for Pope Francis in these days, as well as the prayer subsidy used last night at the end of the suffrage Mass in the Cathedral. In these hours the archbishop is connected with the Italian Bishops' Conference and the Vatican to follow the agenda of the upcoming events and this evening he will leave for Rome, where tomorrow he will pay homage to the Pope's body in St. Peter's and then follow the events planned in the Vatican in the coming days. For this reason, the Archbishop's appointments for the coming days in Bologna have been postponed, including the Pastoral Visit to the Castel S. Pietro Terme - Castel Guelfo area. The Petroniana Agency is organising a trip for the faithful to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square on Saturday 26 April.

Milan Cathedral was packed with the faithful for the mass of suffrage for Pope Francis, celebrated the day after the pontiff's death by Archbishop Mario Delpini. Many authorities are seated in the front rows of the cathedral, including mayor Giuseppe Sala, Lombardy Region president Attilio Fontana, prefect Claudio Sgaraglia, quaestor Bruno Megale and deputy mayor Anna Scavuzzo. The chalice that Pope Francis had given to the then archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Angelo Scola, during his visit on 25 March 2017 will be used in the celebrations.

A surge in sales of Pope Francis' books after the announcement of his death reflects the public's interest and affection for him. In Amazon's bestseller list, the autobiography 'Spera', which arrived in bookshops on 14 January, the first by a pontiff in history, has returned to first place. Its writing has taken Carlo Musso, former non fiction editorial director of Piemme and Sperling & Kupfer and then founder of the independent brand Libreria Pienogiorno, six years to write. The book, which climbed the bestseller charts, topping them for weeks, was published by Mondadori, which managed worldwide rights and was released simultaneously in the main languages and in more than 80 countries. With the death of the Argentinian pontiff, 'Spera' is once again at number 1 among bestselling books. In Amazon's top 10 there are two other books that bear the Pope's signature: in sixth position is '365 thoughts and words to never give up' (Newton Compton Editore) or 'the Holy Father's words, selected to accompany us during a year-long journey', while in seventh position is 'Life. My story in History" (published by HarperCollins Italia) in which he tells "for the first time the story of his life, retraced through the events that have marked humanity over the last eighty years", sharing "the origins of those ideas that many consider audacious" and that distinguish his pontificate: from the courageous declarations against poverty and environmental destruction, to the direct exhortations to world leaders to chart a different course on issues such as dialogue between peoples, the arms race, and the fight against inequality.

Prince William will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome on Saturday on behalf of King Charles III. This was announced by Kensington Palace.

Argentine President Javier Milei will leave Buenos Aires for Rome on Thursday evening at 10pm local time to attend the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday. This was confirmed in an official note from the Argentine presidency, which states that the head of state will arrive in the Italian capital on Friday morning and will be accompanied by his sister Karina, in her capacity as secretary general of the presidency. Also present in the Argentine delegation, it is reported, are the head of Cabinet, Guillermo Francos; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gerardo Werthein; the Minister of Human Capital, Sandra Pettovello; the Minister of the Interior, Patricia Bullrich; and the spokesman, Manuel Adorni.

A few days of national mourning have also been proclaimed for the death of Pope Francis' predecessors, but of shorter duration than the five days established today by the Council of Ministers after Bergoglio's death. There were three in 2005 after the death of John Paul II. National mourning was also decreed in 1958 for the death of Pius XII, in 1963 for John XXIII, in 1978 after the deaths of Paul VI and John Paul I. No day of national mourning, however, for Benedict XVI, who died in 2022 as pontiff emeritus after his resignation from the papal throne.

The head of the Civil Protection Department, Fabio Ciciliano, will have to "define and implement the organisational measures relating to mobility, reception, including health care, and assistance to the population" in order to "guarantee the functional performance" of Pope Francis' funeral. This is what is laid down in the decree approved by the Council of Ministers this morning in view of the pontiff's funeral scheduled for Saturday morning in St. Peter's Square. Ciciliano, the decree goes on to say, will work in "close connection" with the government commissioner for the jubilee and mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri, with the president of the Lazio Region Francesco Rocca, and with the prefect of Rome Lamberto Giannini. The latter is responsible for coordinating the police, armed forces and fire brigade with regard to the planning and management of all security, public order and rescue measures. For the organisation of the event, the head of the Civil Protection can avail himself of the operational structures of the Civil Protection and of any 'implementing subjects for the fulfilment of specific actions or interventions', including 'in-house or participated companies of the State and the territorial bodies concerned'.

"It is with deep sadness that the Superior Council of the Magistracy has learned of the return to the house of the Father of our beloved Pope Francis. We wish to express - councillors, general secretariat, magistrates and all staff - our most heartfelt and moved participation in this moment of sorrow. The Holy Father's spiritual legacy will continue to be a source of inspiration, in gratitude for his extraordinary example of humility and courage, 'miserando atque eligendo'". This is what the vice-president of the Csm, Fabio Pinelli, said in a note.

With the death of Pope Francis, "a figure who inspired millions of people around the world with his message of love, peace and fraternity" has passed away. This is the recollection of Imam Nader Akkad of the Grand Mosque of Rome who, speaking to LaPresse, explained that "as Imam, as the Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy and the Grand Mosque of Rome we will be present at the funeral on behalf of the community". Pope Francis 'has been able to win the hearts of people of every faith and culture, leaving an indelible mark in the history of interreligious dialogue. Personally, as an Imam, I have learned a great deal from his words and conduct," recalled Imam Nader Akkad after the Pontiff's passing.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and his wife Doris Schmidauer 'will attend the funeral of the late Pope Francis in Rome'. A spokeswoman for the Austrian presidential office told LaPresse.

The coffin in brown wood with veins, bare, geometric, without decorations, placed in front of the altar and slightly inclined to allow the faithful to see. The Pope wearing a red chasuble and golden mitre, a dark rosary entwined on his fingers. Around it a red cordon and at the foot of the coffin some floral tributes left by visitors. In the background stand two Swiss guards holding halberds. One of them is black, reflecting the 'plurality' that now characterises Swiss society, and by extension also the papal guard: an aspect that Pope Francis would certainly not mind. In the funeral chamber set up in the chapel on the ground floor of Casa Santa Marta, the one where the late Pontiff celebrated so many Masses, visitors are parading this morning, in particular Vatican employees with their families. Then there are also prelates, nuns, leaders of institutions connected with the Vatican. Also arriving for a visit is President Sergio Mattarella with his daughter Laura.

Spanish monarchs Felipe VI and Letizia will attend the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, leading the Spanish delegation to Rome, the King's House has confirmed. Felipe VI and Letizia, with Queen Emerita Sofia, signed the book of condolences at the Vatican Nunciature in Madrid today.

Inspections were carried out this morning in St. Peter's Square to fine-tune the security measures in view of Pope Francis' funeral, set for Saturday morning, and the viewing of the body starting tomorrow. The police, carabinieri, civil protection and all the bodies involved will participate. Under the lens the management of the flow of the arriving faithful, the authorities and the dislocation of emergency vehicles

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome on Saturday. This was announced by his spokesman.

"The voice of Pope Francis was able to speak the universal language of humanity and at this moment the condolences for his passing is strong for everyone. For this reason, as a sign of adherence to the national mourning for the passing of Pope Francis, we have asked the regional and provincial Federations to suspend and postpone all the initiatives of every order and degree of the PD planned for today, tomorrow and Thursday 24 April". Thus in a note Igor Taruffi, head of organisation in the PD secretariat

"Saturday matches are suspended". This was said by Minister for Civil Protection and Sea Policies Nello Musumeci, responding to those who asked him if the football championship and other sporting events will also be suspended during the five days of national mourning for the death of Pope Francis, proclaimed by the Council of Ministers.

"The resources needed" for the funeral and the ceremony for the start of the new Pontiff's ministry have not yet been quantified, "but an initial measure has already been taken for the first 5 million euro". This was announced by the Minister for Civil Protection and Sea Policies Nello Musumeci at the end of the Cdm

There will also be outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as well as President Frank Walter Steinmeier, at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday at 10am at St Peter's. This was announced by a spokesman for the chancellor, Steffen Hebestreit

Five days of national mourning for the death of Pope Francis. This was decided by the Council of Ministers, according to government sources

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, was this morning at Santa Marta in the Vatican, where the body of Pope Francis is lying. The Head of State, who was accompanied by his daughter Laura, has already returned to the Quirinale

"Thank you for bringing me back to the Square". Among the last words of Pope Francis, Vatican News reports, is his thanks to those who during this time of illness, but long before, have watched over him ceaselessly: Massimiliano Strappetti, the nurse who - as he once said - saved his life by suggesting the colon operation and whom the Pontiff later named his personal health assistant in 2022. At his side for all 38 days of his hospitalisation at the Policlinico Gemelli and around the clock during his convalescence at Casa Santa Marta, Strappetti was with the Pope on Easter Sunday, during the Urbi et Orbi. The day before, they had gone to St Peter's Basilica to review the 'path' to be taken the next day when Francis would look out from the Loggia of Blessings. And after that moment, on Sunday morning, on the balcony at the heart of the facade of the Vatican Basilica, when the faithful from the initial 35,000 had already become 50,000, the Pope wanted to make a final, significant surprise by going to St. Peter's Square for a ride in the Popemobile. Not without some slight initial fear: "Do you think I can do it?" he asked Strappetti, who reassured him. From there, the embrace to the crowd and in particular to the children: the first ride after his resignation from Gemelli, the last of his life. Tired but happy, the Pope thanked his personal health assistant: 'Thank you for bringing me back to the Piazza'.

Crowds of people this morning at Santa Maria Maggiore, the basilica where the Pope will be buried, as indicated in his will. In the Pauline chapel, where the 'Salus populi romani', the Marian icon to which Francis was so devoted, is kept, a celebration was held in suffrage of the Pope and the Miserere was sung. At the entrance to the basilica, a lectern was set up with a book of signatures where people could leave a personal farewell message for the Pope, and next to it a large photo of the Pope with the dates of his birth and death underneath and the Latin phrase 'Requiem aeternam, dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei'.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has no intention of attending the funeral of Pope Francis. This was said by spokesman Dmitry Peskov quoted by Tass

The cardinals present today at the first congregation, about sixty in number, have sworn secrecy over the proceedings. This was reported by the Vatican press office. According to the norm of Universi Dominici Gregis, the text of the oath is as follows: "We, the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, of the Order of Bishops, Presbyters and Deacons, promise, oblige and swear, each and every one of us, to observe exactly and faithfully all the norms, contained in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, and to scrupulously maintain secrecy about everything that in any way has to do with the election of the Roman Pontiff, or that by its nature, during the vacancy of the Apostolic See, postulates the same secrecy".

In view of the translation of the body of Pope Francis, which will take place tomorrow morning at 9am, 'the second congregation of cardinals will be tomorrow afternoon at 5pm'. This was announced by the Holy See's press office. In the first congregation this morning 'the cardinals who will assist the camerlengo for ordinary business over the next three days were drawn. They are Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Fabio Baggio and Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko".

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend the funeral of Pope Francis next Saturday in St. Peter's Basilica. This was reported by EU sources.

The first general congregation of cardinals ended. During the meeting, which began at 9am in the Synod Hall, a number of organisational stages of the rite were decided, such as the date of Pope Francis' funeral, and the time of the transfer of the body from Santa Marta, with the exposition in St Peter's Basilica

"It was Glory Saturday and we were preparing for the Easter Vigil when, at 7 p.m. here, he telephoned us. As always, he showed his closeness, his word of consolation, his blessing, his prayer for peace. It was the last time we heard from him, with Father Iusuf and Sister Maria". The parish priest of Gaza, Father Gabriel Romanelli, recounts. "The most beautiful message was to hear the suffering of Gaza mentioned in the Urbi et Orbi, together with the appeal to stop the war". "For the parish of Gaza it is a very painful moment", "even the Orthodox and Muslims have come to give us their condolences".

The government is considering declaring between three and five days of national mourning for the death of Pope Francis, whose funeral will be held on Saturday. This was confirmed by executive sources. The decision will be deliberated by the Council of Ministers convened at 11 a.m. The Council of Ministers will also entrust the Head of the Civil Protection Department, Fabio Ciciliano, with coordinating the activities and all the structures involved in guaranteeing the orderly flow of the faithful arriving in Rome after the Pontiff's death, just as happened in 2005 on the occasion of Pope John Paul II's funeral. In that case three days of national mourning were proclaimed

Council President Giorgia Meloni will attend the funeral of Pope Francis next Saturday at 10am. The Prime Minister has therefore cancelled her international engagements scheduled for the weekend. In fact, on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 April, she was scheduled to make official visits to the Republic of Uzbekistan, in Samarkand, and then to the Republic of Kazakhstan, where on Sunday 27 April, in Astana, she was scheduled to take part in the Italy-Central Asia summit with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan..

After the funeral, the coffin of Pope Francis will be taken to St Peter's Basilica and from there to the Basilica of St Mary Major for burial. This was announced by the Office for Liturgical Celebrations

The funeral of Pope Francis will be held on Saturday, 26 April, at 10 a.m., on the parvis of St. Peter's Basilica. The liturgy will be presided over by Cardinal Dean Giovanni Battista Re. This was announced by the Office for Liturgical Celebrations

"On Wednesday 23 April 2025 at 9.00 a.m., the coffin with the late Roman Pontiff Francis will be taken from the Chapel of the Domus Sanctæ Marthæ to the Papal Basilica of St Peter's, according to the provisions of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (nn. 41-65)". This was announced by the Office for Liturgical Celebrations. "After the moment of prayer, presided over by His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, the translation will begin. The procession will pass through St. Martha's Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs; from the Arch of the Bells it will exit St. Peter's Square and enter the Vatican Basilica through the central door. At the Altar of Confession the Cardinal Camerlengo will preside over the Liturgy of the Word, at the end of which the visits to the body of the Roman Pontiff will begin".

"For me Pope Francis is a point of reference, and I think he should be for everyone, even in a self-critical way. I also say this to the left: you can't take what you like and leave what you don't like, like at the supermarket, I like the criticism of capitalism, I don't like the one on the culture of life and I take a piece of it. You have to have the humility to understand that point of view to the end'. Thus at the microphones of Radio 24, the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri.

The cardinals arrive at the Vatican for the first congregation. The meeting, at which some organisational steps will be decided, such as the date of Pope Francis' funeral, is being held in the Synod Hall

China expresses 'its condolences' for the death of Pope Francis. This was reported by the Foreign Ministry

Early pictures of the body of Pope Francis, wearing a white mitre, a red chasuble and a rosary in his hands, were circulated on social media. Next to the simple wooden coffin Cardinal Parolin praying and the Swiss Guard

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the funeral of Pope Francis, a source in the Kiev presidency told the Afp news agency.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced today - from Reunion Island, where he is staying - that he will attend the funeral of Pope Francis. 'We will be present at the Pope's funeral, as is only right,' the head of state told a press conference.

"Death is not the end of everything, but the beginning of something. It is a new beginning, as the title wisely points out, because eternal life, which those who love already experience on earth within their daily occupations, is to begin something that will not end. And that is precisely why it is a 'new' beginning, because we will experience something that we have never fully experienced: eternity". This is the 'consoling certainty' expressed by Pope Francis in an unpublished text that came out the day after his death, the preface to Cardinal Angelo Scola's book 'Waiting for a New Beginning. Reflections on old age', published by Lev (Libreria Editrice Vaticana).

In the Vatican it is the first day after the death of Pope Francis. The first general congregation of the cardinals, convened by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, will be held in the Synod Hall at 9 a.m. This could make official the date of Bergoglio's funeral, which is expected to be held between Friday and Sunday.

The death of Pope Francis immediately became viral news on Chinese social media, the most searched for ever for over 17 hours. On Weibo, the Mandarin X, the announcement of the death by the Holy See caused a surge in searches, according to graphs, settling into a trend topic with over 160 million views. Numerous posts on Jiao Huang ('the Emperor of the Church'), as the Pope is called in Chinese: between his efforts and openness towards the weakest and his numerous meetings with the powerful of the Earth, there are posts that retrieve Nostradamus and his prophecies to cite the imminent arrival of disasters