Cindy Wooden

"Today, in place of the crowds mentioned in the Gospel, entire peoples are suffering more as a result of the greed of others than from their own hunger," the pope said. "In stark contrast to the dire poverty of many, the amassing of wealth by a few is the sign of an arrogant indifference that produces pain and injustice."

Just hours after the United States bombed the sites of three nuclear-enrichment facilities in Iran, Pope Leo XVI called the situation in the Middle East "alarming" and said diplomacy was the only responsible way forward.

The Institute for the Works of Religion, commonly known as the Vatican bank, reported increased profits in 2024 and gave a slightly larger dividend check to Pope Francis, who used the entire amount for charity.

At his weekly general audience, the pope spoke about the Gospel story of the healing of Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) as he continued a series of talks about how the life and ministry of Jesus is a source of hope.

"Synodality," he said, is "a word that aptly expresses how the Spirit shapes the Church." 

"Special attention was paid to the situation in Ukraine and peace," Vatican spokesman said.

The Gospel parable of the "wasteful sower" who casts seeds on fertile soil as well as on a rocky path "is an image of the way God loves us," Pope Leo XIV told visitors and pilgrims at his first weekly general audience.

During a special audience with religious leaders who came to Rome for the inauguration of his papal ministry, Pope Leo XIV vowed to continue working toward Christian unity and promoting dialogue among all religions.

As in the past, for a conclave most of the Domus Sanctae Marthae's 131 rooms will be cleared out, and the cardinals will move in. The exception is the block of rooms that were used by Francis and sealed off when he died. That leaves about 125 rooms for 133 people, since Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, said two of the 135 eligible cardinals are too ill to attend the conclave.

The conclave to elect a new pope, scheduled to begin May 7, is governed by two texts: a rule book and a prayer book.

Whether Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who relinquished the rights associated with being a cardinal after he was forced to resign in 2020, will be able to enter the conclave to elect a new pope is an ongoing question.

Pope Francis was a pastor first, "so consistently, so spontaneously and with such deep conviction," that it will remain a gift to the Catholic Church, said Cardinal Michael Czerny.

Pope Francis' funeral rites, like those for any pope or any Christian, are meant to "reinforce the hope and witness to the faith" that those who have been baptized in Christ "will rise with him to new life."

With the death of Pope Francis April 21, the practical aspects of overseeing the day-to-day needs of the church and organizing a papal election fall to U.S. Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

Pope Francis has raised the status of the Vatican's diplomatic academy to an institute of higher learning that will issue academic degrees while also strengthening its focus on evangelization.

Pope Francis' surprise visit to St. Peter's Basilica to pray and see ongoing restoration work is a clear sign that his condition is improving, the Vatican press office said.

During his second week back at the Vatican after a long hospitalization, Pope Francis continued to follow his doctors' orders to stay home, avoid visitors and keep up with respiratory and physical therapy, the Vatican press office said.

Members of the International Theological Commission, who are appointed by the pope and advise the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, released the document, "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior: 1700th Anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325-2025)."

For Pope Francis' medical team at Rome's Gemelli hospital, Feb. 28 was the worst day.