ZENIT Staff, Author at ZENIT - English

Cardinals Meet for the Fourth Time: 149 Are Now in Rome. Novelties Reported by the Holy See Press Office

It was decided that on Sunday the Cardinals will visit together the tomb of the Holy Father Francis at Saint Mary Major. Their arrival is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. The Cardinals will cross the threshold of the Holy Door, visit Francis’s tomb, and then the Chapel where the image of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, is displayed. They will then celebrate Vespers together.

Apr 25, 2025 10:01

ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis•Vatican Diplomacy

Where will Trump sit? Here’s how world leaders will be seated at pope’s funeral

The Vatican Press Office confirmed the official seating and procedural arrangements for the funeral, a protocol steeped in both tradition and geopolitical nuance. The right side of the square, facing the Basilica, will be reserved for state delegations. Opposite them, on the left, will sit the College of Cardinals, robed in crimson.

Apr 25, 2025 08:54

ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis

This Is What 113 Cardinals Talked About and Decided in Their Third Meeting After the Pope’s Death

A shared reflection on the Church and the world began with some interventions. The next Congregation is scheduled for tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.

Apr 24, 2025 17:41

ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis•Testimonies

Pope Francis’ nephew to attend funeral thanks to anonymous benefactor who paid for his trip

The story has resonated deeply in Argentina and beyond, not only because it highlights a poignant family bond in the midst of global mourning, but because it has stirred an uncomfortable contrast: Mauro, a member of the Pope’s own family, arrived in Rome not with an official delegation but through a stranger’s kindness

Apr 24, 2025 17:38

ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis•Rome

From Cells to Vatican: Inmates May Attend Pope Francis’ Burial in Rare Gesture of Mercy

The penitentiary administration has expressed its full support for the plan, contingent on security assessments and the authorization of the surveillance court.

Apr 24, 2025 17:36

ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis

The Poor Will Have the Privilege of Saying The Last Goodbye to the Pope Before He Is Buried in Saint Mary Major

A group of poor and needy people will be present on the steps leading to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, to pay their last respects to Pope Francis before the intement of the coffin.

Apr 24, 2025 08:50

ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis

This Is What Pope Francis’ Tomb Will Look Like: First Photos from Santa Maria Maggiore

The tomb is made of marble from the Italian region of Liguria. It bears a single inscription, «FRANCISCUS,» and a reproduction of his pectoral cross.

Apr 24, 2025 08:17

ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis

Cardinals Meet for the Second Time: This Is What They Decided and This Is the Number of Journalists Who Have Arrived in Rome

The meeting ended at 6:30 p.m. The next Congregation is scheduled for April 24, at 9:00 a.m.

Apr 23, 2025 08:10

ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis•Vatican Diplomacy

Jewish State of Israel asks embassies to remove condolences for Pope’s death

Only Israeli President Isaac Herzog has broken the silence, offering a more measured reflection: “May his memory inspire acts of kindness and hope for humanity.” His words stand alone, a lone olive branch in an otherwise barren official response.

Apr 22, 2025 18:21

ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis

This is how the Pope died and these were his last words, those who accompanied him reveal

“Thank you for bringing me back to the Square,” he told Strappetti. It was more than gratitude for a physical return to a place. It was a recognition of something deeper—the heart of Francis’ mission: to walk with the people, touch their wounds, and meet them where they are. His papacy was never one of distance or protocol, but of proximity.

Apr 22, 2025 18:19

ZENIT Staff

Cardinals and Bishops•Pope Francis