"It's a very real special moment for all, for all Christianity," Fortunato said. Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Dec. 24, 2024.

The ceremony with Pope Francis' body, who will lie in state at St. Peter's Basilica for three days, passes through the crowd at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

Catholic cardinals on Wednesday performed the ritual ceremony to transfer Pope Francis’ body from his home in the Vatican hotel to St. Peter’s Basilica for three days of public viewing.

"The last thing I imagined was an American pope," said Daniel Runde, 21, a Catholic from the United States who was in St. Peter's Square with two friends.

Pope Francis appears at the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica before the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations, at St Peter's Square in the ...

Mourners are gathering to pay their respects to Pope Francis, who died earlier this week and is now lying in state in an open casket at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City ahead of his funeral on ...