The Dispatch

Pope Francis’s popemobile set to become health clinic for Gaza children

One of Pope Francis's popemobiles is being transformed into a mobile health clinic for children in the Gaza Strip, fulfilling one of his final wishes, the Vatican's official media outlet…

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France considers referendum over country’s budget

France’s Prime Minister François Bayrou said he is considering proposing a national referendum over the country's budget. In an interview with the French weekly Journal du Dimanche published late Saturday,…

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Post-blackout in Spain and Portugal, companies count the cost

As Spain and Portugal recovered from a major blackout, businesses began assessing the economic toll. Spain’s main business lobby, CEOE, estimated that the power outage would reduce GDP by 0.1%,…

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French justice minister wants to make prisoners pay for their time behind bars

France's Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced new plans to make prisoners contribute to their incarceration costs . Speaking to broadcaster TF1, Darmanin said he planned to “amend the law” and…

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Convicted cardinal Becciu skips conclave to elect new pope

An Italian cardinal who was convicted of embezzlement and fraud said on Tuesday he will not take part in the secret conclave to elect the new pope that will be…

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What could be behind the Iberian power outage?

The hunt has begun for the cause of a massive blackout across Spain, Portugal and parts of France that halted trains, bank machines and traffic lights, in one of Europe's…

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Over 70,000 have visited Pope Francis’s tomb so far

Over 70,000 mourners have already paid homage to Pope Francis by visiting his tomb in the Basilica of St Mary Major, Rome police said. The Argentine pontiff, who died aged…

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UPDATED: Spain, Portugal hunt for cause of power outage as electricity returns

Electricity had been restored to most of Spain and Portugal early on Tuesday after huge nationwide blackouts, although authorities were still trying to find out what caused the sudden outage.…

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Conclave to elect new Pope to start on May 7

The Vatican announced Monday the conclave to elect the next pope will begin on Wednesday, May 7. “The conclave will take place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, which remain[s] closed…

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Pope Francis’ Funeral: A Tribute to His Leadership and Vision

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presided over the solemn and moving celebration. He was joined by some 250 Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, and consecrated religious. US President Donald Trump, Ukraine…

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The official liturgical booklet for Pope Francis’ funeral Mass

The Vatican has released the official liturgical booklet for Pope Francis' funeral Mass, scheduled for April 26, 2025. The document outlines the full ceremony, including prayers, readings, and rituals, reflecting…

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What will happen at the funeral of Pope Francis

By Joanne M. Pierce, Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross The 88-year-old pontiff had been well aware of his fragile state and advanced age. As early…

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French PM calls for crackdown on knife crime after fatal high school stabbing

The French prime minister, François Bayrou, has called for a crackdown on teenage knife crime after a high-school student stabbed four other children at his school, killing at least one…

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Thunderstorms lash Italy

After Storm Hans battered northern Italy in the runup to Easter, severe weather continued to lash much of the country this week. Since Tuesday, the conditions have triggered potent showers…

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Closing of Pope Francis’s coffin today at 8pm

A ceremony will be held at 20.00 on Friday in Saint Peter's Basilica for the closing of Pope Francis's coffin, the Vatican said.It said Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the…

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Where Pope Francis stood on Abortion, Islam, Capitalism and other key issues

Pope Francis changed the Catholic Church's teaching in areas such as the death penalty and nuclear weapons, upheld it in others such as abortion, and made inroads with Muslims and…

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Betting Markets Favor Cardinals Parolin and Tagle, but History Suggests Caution

As the Catholic Church prepares for the conclave to elect the 267th pope following the passing of Pope Francis, betting markets have identified Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy and Cardinal…

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Global Leaders to Convene for Pope Francis’ Funeral Amid Diplomatic Nuances

Preparations are underway for the funeral of Pope Francis, scheduled for Saturday, April 26, at St. Peter’s Basilica. The ceremony is expected to draw a significant international presence, with over…

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Scammers exploit Pope Francis’s death

Online scammers are using the death of Pope Francis in attempts to steal data and scam people, according to research by cybersecurity firm Check Point shared with POLITICO. Check Point…

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UPDATED: Pope Francis’ body to be taken to St Peter’s Basilica ahead of funeral

The body of Pope Francis, laid out in an open coffin, was carried in a solemn procession from his residence within the walls of the Vatican City to St. Peter's Basilica…

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Everything you need to know about visiting Rome and the Vatican following the death of Pope Francis

Travellers to Rome should expect closures, visitor restrictions and crowds at some of the city’s main attractions. Tourists who have booked to visit Rome in the coming weeks will experience…

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Trump and von der Leyen set to attend Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday

Pope Francis’ funeral will take place on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. CET, the Vatican said Tuesday in a statement. A slew of world leaders and foreign dignitaries are set…

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Pope Francis’ funeral to be held on Saturday, many world leaders expected

Pope Francis’ funeral will take place Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican officials announced Tuesday, following his sudden death on Monday at age 88 from a stroke and cardiac arrest.…

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Cardinals prepare to choose next Pope after Francis’s death

With the Vatican announcing Pope Francis’s death on Monday, attention now turns to who will succeed him. The secretive conclave of cardinals under 80, most appointed by Francis himself, will…

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Italy’s demographic crisis worsens as births hit record low

Italy's demographic crisis deepened in 2024 as the number of births hit a new record low, emigration accelerated and the population continued to shrink, national statistics bureau ISTAT said. Italy's…

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UPDATED: Pope Francis has died

Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican said in a video statement on Monday, ending an often turbulent reign marked by…

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UPDATED: Reactions to the death of Pope Francis

Following are reactions to the death of Pope Francis: ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIORGIA MELONI: Meloni mourned the departure of "a great man, a great shepherd". "I had the privilege of…

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Vatican Suspends Canonization Ceremony for Millennial Teen Carlo Acutis

The Vatican has announced the suspension of a highly anticipated canonization ceremony for Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian boy who passed away from leukemia in 2006 and was poised to…

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Who might succeed Pope Francis?

An old Italian saying warns against putting faith, or money, in any presumed front-runner ahead of the conclave, the closed-door gathering of cardinals that picks the pontiff. It cautions: "He who enters a…

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Pope Francis: Key moments from his life

Here are some facts about Pope Francis, who has died at the age of 88. - Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, of…

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What next after the death of Pope Francis?

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, after 12 years as spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. His death has set in motion the centuries-old process of…

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Pope Francis greets cheering Easter crowds from popemobile as he recovers from pneumonia

Pope Francis entered St. Peter's Square on Sunday in an open-air popemobile for the first time since surviving double pneumonia, greeting tens of thousands of Catholics after the Vatican's celebration…

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Venice’s €5 tourist fee returns – and will double for last-minute day-trippers

Venice’s entrance fee will resume from Friday, with the main novelty this year being that last-minute day-trippers will pay double. Last year, as part of an experiment aimed at dissuading…

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President Mattarella in Stable Condition Following Planned Pacemaker Surgery

Italian President Sergio Mattarella is in stable condition and recovering well following a scheduled surgical procedure to implant a pacemaker, sources confirmed on Wednesday. The operation was performed without complications…

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French prisons hit by wave of overnight attacks

Vehicles were set alight outside several French prisons, and one jail was hit by gunfire from an automatic weapon, in a wave of overnight attacks. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said…

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Sagrada Familia architect Gaudi on path to sainthood

He’s long been nicknamed “God’s architect” by those who point to his piety and the religious imagery woven through his soaring spires, colourful ceramics and undulating lines. Now it seems…

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Greece to repay first bailout loans by 2031, 10 years early

Greece will pay off loans granted under the first of three debt-crisis bailouts by 2031, two government officials told Reuters, as the country seeks to lose its label as the…

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44 per cent of Cypriot workers say ready to emigrate for better life

A staggering 44 per cent of workers would consider moving to another country for better pay, Sek trade union said this week. Presenting the findings of a survey it commissioned,…

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The Pope’s recent appearance has intensified concerns regarding his health

Pope Francis, who is taking two months' rest as he recovers from double pneumonia, made an unannounced visit to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Thursday dressed in black…

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France to tighten mobile phone ban in middle schools

France is to tighten its ban on the use of mobile phones in middle schools, making pupils at the ages of 11 to 15 shut away their devices in a…

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Pope Francis may miss Holy Week celebrations due to health

The Catholic Church starts its busiest week of the year on Sunday (April 12) with the countdown to Easter, but Pope Francis remains out of public view after surviving double pneumonia…

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Cyprus flights cancelled due to strike in Greece

An air traffic control strike in Greece has affected 31 flights to and from Cyprus’ airports to and from those in Athens and Salonica, Hermes Airports said on Wednesday. Due…

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Italian police disrupt migrant smuggling ring, 15 Egyptians arrested

Italian police said they had dismantled a migrant smuggling network, leading to the arrests in several countries of 15 Egyptians involved in using sailboats for dangerous illegal sea crossings from…

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Pope Francis Gradually Resumes Duties Amid Ongoing Recovery from Pneumonia

Pope Francis has begun a measured return to his official responsibilities following a period of hospitalization and recovery from bilateral pneumonia, the Vatican Press Office announced. The 88-year-old pontiff, who…

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King Charles to begin Italy tour with Queen Camilla

The King and Queen will fly into Rome later for their state visit to Italy, despite the recent concerns about his health. The trip comes just a week and a…

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Pope Francis makes surprise first appearance at Vatican after hospital stay

Pope Francis made his first public appearance since being discharged from hospital two weeks ago after treatment for double pneumonia, entering St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in a wheelchair…

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Italy Sees Massive Youth Emigration, With Significant Loss of Graduates

Over one million people emigrated from Italy between 2013 and 2022, with young professionals making up a significant portion of the exodus, according to Istat President Francesco Maria Chelli. Speaking…

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Trump offers support to French far-right leader Le Pen after her conviction

U.S. President Donald Trump offered support to French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Thursday after a Paris court earlier this week convicted her and two dozen figures from her…

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Macron weighs in on Le Pen verdict for first time: ‘The law is the same for everyone’

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday commented for the first time since far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzlement and barred from running in France’s next presidential…

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Greece announces ‘drastic’ defense overhaul

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Wednesday that the government will spend some €25 billion euros ($27 billion) on its military through 2036. Mitsotakis called it the "most drastic"…

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Italy’s Meloni says U.S. tariffs would hit Italian producers hard

The introduction of new U.S. tariffs would hit Italian producers hard, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in Rome on Wednesday, adding that every effort should be made to avoid a…

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Italy tightens citizenship laws

Italy's government tightened its citizenship laws, preventing people from delving deep back into their family history to try to claim a much sought-after Italian passport. Under existing rules, anyone who…

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France’s Le Pen convicted of graft, barred from running for president in 2027

A French court on Monday barred French far-right leader Marine Le Pen from running in the 2027 presidential election after she was convicted of embezzlement, in a seismic ruling that…

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France and Britain plan European troop deployment to Ukraine post-peace

France and Britain want to move ahead with an initiative to send European troops to Ukraine if a peace deal materializes. Currently troop numbers and participating countries are unclear but…

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Greece ready to participate in an international force in Ukraine under three conditions

Greece will participate in an international force in Ukraine only under three conditions: a ceasefire agreement, no deployment on Russian soil, and a clear exit strategy if hostilities resume. Prime…

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Macron says European troops in Ukraine would deter Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron has sketched out his vision for a potential deployment of European troops in Ukraine, emphasizing that their role would be to secure key cities and bases…

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UPDATED: Doctor reveals Pope Francis came close to dying

Pope Francis came so close to death at one point during his 38-day fight in hospital against pneumonia that his doctors considered ending treatment so he could die in peace,…

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