Putin hails the pope’s ‘highly positive attitude to Russia’

With clouds descending over the last glimmer of the setting sun, the Paris monument extinguished its sparkling lights for a moment of memory.

Bells of mourning tolled across predominantly Catholic France when the pope’s death was announced, including at the recently restored Notre Dame Cathedral.

Grieving Catholic believers and tourists paying respects streamed through the medieval landmark all day and into the night, while it held special Easter Monday services.

Notre Dame rector Olivier Ribadeau Dumas recalled how Francis was “the pope of the poor.”

“He is the one who invited us to live the Gospel in its radical form,” the rector said. “When he spoke of the peripheries, he was speaking of those who are excluded, whoever they may be.”As Catholic leaders sealed the pope’s formal apartment, it wasn’t immediately clear if they also closed off Francis’ other apartment in the Domus Santa Marta.

Following his 2013 election, Francis chose to live there — rather than the Apostolic Palace — taking up residence in a two-room suite on the second floor. The hotel is for visiting priests and guests, as well as a residence for some priests who work at the Vatican.

It wasn’t clear if those rooms, and others on the second floor of the hotel would be available to other cardinals who will have to be sequestered there for the conclave to elect Francis’ suc

Sealing up the pope’s formal apartment at the Apostolic Palace is a key part of Catholic tradition declaring a “sede vacante” or vacant see — the period between the death of one pope and the election of another.

Officials draped a red ribbon through the door handles on Monday afternoon, then poured liquid wax on the bow and impressed Francis’ papal seal on the wax to hold the knot.

The camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, and other church leaders tested the big doors to make sure they were locked tight.

In the short text, Pope Francis decreed he would be buried in a simple underground tomb — with only “Franciscus” written on it — at St. Mary Major Basilica, home to Francis’ favorite icon of the Virgin Mary, to whom he was particularly devoted.

Francis thanked those who prayed for him and asked for continued prayers.

“The suffering that became present in the latter part of my life I offered it to the Lord for world peace and brotherhood among peoples,” he concluded.

The Vatican says Pope Francis died of a cerebral stroke that put him into a coma and led to irreversible heart failure. The death was confirmed Monday by Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, the head of the Vatican’s health department.

In a statement, he noted that Francis also suffered from episodes of respiratory insufficiency and had had bilateral pneumonia, as well as type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Francis died Monday at 7:35 a.m

The prime duty of the all-male corps, with its colorful uniforms and plumed helmets, is to protect the pope. The members stand guard during papal ceremonies as well as at the various entrances of the Vatican — a tiny, independent walled city-state near Rome’s Tiber River.

The Catholic archbishop of Mexico City, Carlos Aguiar Retes, highlighted Pope Francis’ devotion toward Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico’s more than 100 million Catholics.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on X that the pope “leaves behind a great legacy of true love for one’s neighbors.”

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who received the pope four years ago in a historic meeting, said Francis was “greatly respected by all for his distinguished role in serving the causes of peace and tolerance, and for expressing solidarity with the oppressed and persecuted across the globe.”

As the sun sets over St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican has begun a Rosary prayer for Francis, who died after offering his final blessing from the square on Easter Sunday.

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, led the Vatican’s first public commemoration following the pope’s death.

At the start of the Rosary, Gambetti bowed before an icon of the Madonna as a choir sang.

The first reading was delivered by Sister Raffaella Petrini, the president of the Vatican City State and one of the highest ranking women at the Vatican, whose appointment was a sign of his insistance that women be given more prominent, decision-making ro

The South Sudan Council of Churches says it remembers with gratitude Francis’ visit to the country and his “dedicated efforts to promote healing and unity among our leaders.”

The pope once famously knelt and kissed the feet of rivals President Salva Kiir and deputy Riek Machar, which the council called “a profound act of humility.”

Tensions continue, however, recently raising fears of a return to civil war.

To mourn Pope Francis, the Home Ministry said the Indian flag would be flown at half mast on government buildings nationwide for the next two days as well as the day of pontiff’s funeral. There will also be no official entertainment activities.

India has roughly 30 million Christians, about 2.3% of the country’s population.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says “the pope has done a lot of good not only for his flock, but also for the entire world.”

He noted in televised remarks that Pope Francis passed away immediately after Easter, suggesting, “This is a special sign that the person has lived their life not in vain and has done a lot of good.”

All professional matches in Argentina are postponed for a day due to the pope’s death, the country’s soccer body AFA said.

The games moved to Tuesday will be preceded by a minute of silence to mourn Francis, who was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires before being elected pope.

Games in Italy have also been postponed.

The U.S. House Speaker Emerita from California said it was a high honor to attend Pope Francis’ installation in 2013 and to be in the House chamber during his historic address to the Congress in 2015.

“In San Francisco, we take special pride in Pope Francis, as he shares the namesake of our City and honors the call of our anthem, the Song of Saint Francis, to be an ‘instrument of peace,’” Pelosi said.