On the eve of the funeral of Pope Francis, Cardinal Vincent Nichols spoke to several BBC local and regional radio stations to discuss the legacy of the late pontiff and the shape of the days to come.
Linking up live from Rome, the Cardinal spoke to presenter Roberto Perrone, himself a Catholic, to share his experiences.
The five-minute discussion covered the great visual gestures of Pope Francis, his human heart, his connection with all people regardless of age or status, his huge contribution to the Church, and what we will see at the funeral on Saturday morning. Read more.
Leave a message, prayer, or short reflection as we celebrate Pope Francis’ ministry and contribution to the Catholic Church as our 266th Pope. Leave tribute.
More than 90,000 people have passed by the simple wooden coffin on the main altar of St Peter’s Basilica holding the body of Pope Francis, to pray, smile, mourn and pay their respects ahead of the papal funeral on Saturday morning.
Three days after the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Vincent Nichols speaks to us from Rome about his personal feelings and experiences ahead of the papal funeral. Read more.
Pope Francis has died aged 88, the Vatican Press Office has confirmed. He served as the 265th successor of St Peter from his election on 13 March 2013 to 21 April 2025.
At 9:45am, Rome time, on Monday 21 April, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words:
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, pays tribute to Pope Francis and shares his personal thoughts on the Holy Father and the impact of his ministry as the 265th successor of St Peter. Read more.
Prayer card and liturgical resources to help parishes to pray for Pope Francis. Resources here.
Find out more about the procedure following the death or resignation of the Pope and how a new Pope is elected as Bishop of Rome and successor of St Peter. More Information.
Visit our ‘News‘ section for our full archive.
Photos from recent events can be found on our Flickr photo channel.
Press releases, news, statements and more. Learn more
Profiles of our diocesan bishops and retired bishops. Learn more
This section keeps at the forefront those iconic, important events that remain a little longer in our memories. Learn more
In this section you can find out more about the Pope, the Vatican and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. Learn more
The Catholic Church in England and Wales is made up of 22 dioceses. Learn more
