On Monday evening, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark inaugurated the St. Mina Service Complex in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, to serve the members of the Church and the broader Romanian community.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark departed Poland, heading to Romania as part of his current pastoral visit to the Diocese of Central Europe, within his 2025 pastoral agenda.

From the General Secretariat of the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Sunday, the 14th/27th of April 2025, the Patriarchate celebrated the Sunday of the Holy Apostle Thomas, that is, the event of the touching of the Lord by the Apostle Thomas, according to the Typikon of the Church and the established Status Quo. On this Sunday, eight days after Pascha, the Church commemorates that on the eighth day from the Resurrection, the Lord, “the doors being shut,” entered “into the upper room where the disciples were assembled.” Thomas was also “with them,” and he beheld the Lord and the marks of the nails in His hands and His side, and was convinced, exclaiming, “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:24–29, KJV).

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark held a meeting with the congregation of the Church of Saints John the Baptist and Philopater Mercurius (Abu Sefein) in Poland. This comes as part of his current pastoral visit to Poland, which began the day before yesterday, within the 2025 agenda of His Holiness’ pastoral tours.

The meeting began with the "Philomena" Choir performing a selection of spiritual hymns and chants from the rites of Palm Sunday, Good Friday, the Resurrection, and Pentecost. His Holiness praised and encouraged them, expressing admiration for their proficiency in both Coptic and Arabic. He also stood among them for commemorative photos.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark prayed the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saints John the Baptist and Philopater Mercurius (Abu Sefein) in the Polish capital, Warsaw. This comes as part of his pastoral visit to the Diocese of Central Europe, within his 2025 pastoral agenda.

The choir of deacons welcomed His Holiness upon his arrival with hymns, while joy filled the faces of the congregation as they received their father and shepherd, visiting to oversee and care for their community.

A delegation from the Coptic Orthodox Church attended today the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis of the Vatican, held at St. Peter’s Basilica Square in the Vatican, with the presence of 250,000 people, including 130 official delegations representing countries, churches, and organizations, along with 12 reigning monarchs and 55 heads of state.

The Funeral Service for His Holiness Pope Francis took place on Saturday, April 26, 2024, in St. Peter’s Square, drawing attendance from numerous dignitaries, including presidents, prime ministers, cardinals, archbishops, and thousands of devoted followers.

Among the esteemed religious leaders present, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), was accompanied by V. Rev. Fr. Bsag Tepirdjian and V. Rev. Fr. Hovagim Panjarjian, the head of the Information and Communication Department.

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). departed for the Vatican to attend the funeral ceremony of Pope Francis. Accompanying His Holiness are the V. Rev. Fr. Hovagim Panjarjian and the V. Rev. Fr. Bsag Tepirjian.

April 24 is not only a day to honor our martyrs; it is also a time for national self-examination and recognition. It reminds the world of our people’s oppressed rights and calls for renewed efforts in our struggle to honor their sacrifices.

On April 26, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, participated in the funeral service of His Holiness Pope Francis at St. Peter Square at the Vatican.

On April 25, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, prayed for His Holiness Pope Francis at St. Peter Basilica in the Vatican.

On April 25, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, left Damascus International Airport, heading to Rome to participate in the funeral service of Pope Francis.

The mortal remains of Pope Francis have been transferred from the Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica, where his body will lie in state so the faithful may pay their respects until his funeral on Saturday.

By Devin Watkins

The Rite of Translation of the body of Pope Francis took place in the Vatican on Wednesday morning, led by the College of Cardinals gathered in Rome following his death.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, began the liturgical rite in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta with a brief prayer for the soul of Pope Francis.

We publish the preface that the late Pope Francis wrote on February 7 for the book in Italian by Cardinal Angelo Scola, Archbishop Emeritus of Milan, titled “Awaiting a New Beginning. Reflections on Old Age.” The volume, published by the Vatican Publishing House (LEV), will be available in bookstores starting Thursday, April 24.

By Pope Francis

I read with emotion these pages born from the thought and affection of Angelo Scola, dear brother in the episcopate and a person who has held delicate roles in the Church, such as having been rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, later Patriarch of Venice, and Archbishop of Milan.

Among the final words of the late His Holiness Pope Francis was a "thank you" to his personal healthcare assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti, for encouraging him to take one last ride in the popemobile on Sunday after the Urbi et Orbi. He rested in the afternoon, had a quiet dinner, and then at dawn suddenly fell ill and died.

By Salvatore Cernuzio

"Thank you for bringing me back to the Square."

This expression of gratitude was among Pope Francis’s last words to the person who watched over him tirelessly throughout his illness, as well as before.

Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell presides over the rite of the ascertainment of death and the placement of the late Pope Francis' body in the coffin, which took place on Monday evening in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta.

By Vatican News

At 8:00 PM on Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, presided over the rite of ascertainment of death and placement of the late Pope Francis’ body in the coffin.

On the evening of Pope Francis’ death, a rite confirmed his passing and the placing of his body in the coffin took place in the chapel of his Vatican residence.

Vatican News

The rite confirming the death and the placement of Pope Francis’s body in the coffin took place on the evening of Monday 21 April in the ground-floor chapel of the Casa Santa Marta.

The Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, releases the official medical report on the death of Pope Francis, which was confirmed through electrocardiographic thanatography.

By Vatican News

The cause of Pope Francis' death has been identified as a stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.

His Holiness Pope Francis' testament, dated 29 June 2022, has been published, giving indications for his burial in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

Miserando atque Eligendo
In the name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen.

As I sense the approaching twilight of my earthly life, and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to set out my final wishes solely regarding the place of my burial.

Following the announcement his passing away on Easter Monday, we offer an overview of the highlights of Pope Francis' pontificate, his journeys, reforms, writings, work for peace and human fraternity, and outreach to the poor and migrants.

By Salvatore Cernuzio

Pope Francis became the first of many things. The first Jesuit pope, the first pope from Latin America, the first one to choose the name Francis, the first to be elected with his predecessor still alive, the first to live outside the Apostolic Palace, the first to visit lands never reached before by a pope – from Iraq to Corsica – the first to sign a Declaration on Human Fraternity with one of the highest religious authorities of the Muslim world.