Person: Pope Francis

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Workers and restorers prepare the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, where the conclave will start on Wednesday. Picture: AP</p>

world

What's in a papal name? An agenda for the Catholic Church

First look at new pope will include announcement of papal name

<p>Last year, Francis met separately with relatives of Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinians living through the war and set off a firestorm by using words that Vatican diplomats usually avoid: terrorism' and, according to the Palestinians, 'genocide'. File Picture: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino</p>

world

Pope Francis urges probe to determine if Israel's attacks in Gaza constitute genocide

<p>Pope Francis greets volunteers on his arrival in Singapore last Wednesday. Getting to 'see the Pope' anytime is a big experience for a lot of Catholics. Picture: Vincent Thian/AP</p>

comment-analysis

Has the Catholic Church become too Pope-centric?

culture

Late Late Show host Kielty feared he’d infected the Pope with shingles

ourview

Irish Examiner view: British voters will take their chance for revenge

news

Patrick Kielty, Tommy Tiernan and Ardal O'Hanlon among comedians to meet Pope

The pope wants Ukraine to surrender; that would give Russia a green light for endless war

It is not the first time Pope Francis has displayed overtly pro-Russian sympathies

Wed, 13 Mar, 2024

Wine is a gift from God, Pope Francis tells Italian producers

Pope tells industry leaders at the Vatican the drink is a ‘source of joy’, but encourages healthy habits

Thu, 25 Jan, 2024

S Gareth O'Callaghan: Reforming Pope Francis resistant to change in area of surrogacy

Why did the pontiff call for a ban on surrogacy, asks Gareth O'Callaghan

Sat, 13 Jan, 2024

Irish Examiner view: Conservative voices prevail in Catholic Church

The concluding report from the 2023 Synod on Synodality, approved by a two-thirds majority of the voting members, fell far short of the inclusivity the Pope had aspired to

Tue, 31 Oct, 2023

Letters to the Editor: Mary McAleese playing to the gallery with remarks on the Church

Readers respond to the former president's comments about the Catholic Church, while others reflect on remarks made by President Michael D Higgins about Israel's actions in Gaza

Fri, 20 Oct, 2023

President Higgins to meet with Pope Francis in the Vatican

At the meeting, President Higgins and the Pope will discuss a number of global issues, including climate change, migration, global poverty, food security, the rights of indigenous people and global peace

Thu, 19 Oct, 2023

Letters to the Editor: Women failed by Cervical Check do understand what happened

A reader responds to Tony Holohan's remarks on 'The Meaning of Life', while others examine issues including elder abuse, the attacks on Israel and Gaza, and Catholic Church reform

Wed, 18 Oct, 2023

Letters to the Editor: Stemming the tide of Fentanyl

Irish Examiner readers write about opiods, passion for GAA, and same-sex unions

Thu, 12 Oct, 2023

John Gibbons: Pope Francis takes the gloves off in climate change fight

The pontiff's new encyclical, 'Laudate Deum' is an unapologetic attempt to influence the COP28 climate negotiations being hosted by the United Arab Emirates

Sun, 08 Oct, 2023

Irish Examiner view: Church could promote self-sacrifice in the name of sustainability

Pope Francis could call on the faithful to reduce consumption as part of the radical response to global warming he proposes

Mon, 01 May, 2023

Episcopal Diocese plans sanctuary for undocumented

Pope Francis praises late Cork bishop's devotion to those in need

Bishop O’Connell will be laid to rest on Friday in a crypt in the Cathedral of Los Angeles

Fri, 03 Mar, 2023

The Funeral Of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Takes Place In St Peter's Basilica

Irish Examiner view: Pope's passing has historic significance

Church influence may have waned but there are still many on whom matters such as papal succession have a direct impact

Fri, 06 Jan, 2023

Donegal woman 'honoured' to do reading at funeral of Pope Benedict

Letterkenny native Mary Maguire said she 'felt so much joy' after doing the reading

Thu, 05 Jan, 2023

Catherine Pepinster: Like a papal 'Succession', the plotting will begin at Benedict XVI’s funeral

Cardinals are already considering a successor to Pope Francis — and the conservatives may aspire to someone more traditional

Wed, 04 Jan, 2023

Irish Examiner view: Reform is in the air at the Vatican

A global synod initiated by Pope Francis has revealed an across-the-board desire for reform in a variety of Catholic cultures

Tue, 03 Jan, 2023

Picture for every year of The Queen's life

Irish Examiner view: Legacy of reluctant pope divides opinion

In a year marked by the loss of two Church heads — Elizabeth II and Benedict XVI — it is the latter whose legacy is most divisive

Mon, 02 Jan, 2023

The greatest service that Benedict XVI did the papacy was his leaving of it

Shy, unworldly, and donnish, Joseph Ratzinger was temperamentally unsuited for the presures and demands of the papacy, and incapable of coping with the in-fighting and jealousy of the papal court, writes TP O'Mahony

Mon, 02 Jan, 2023

Pope could help cut world's carbon emissions with call for return to meat-free Fridays

Tue, 01 Nov, 2022

TP O'Mahony: Pope faces formidable opposition in promotion of a synodal Church

The rejection of collegiality has perhaps been the greatest single loss of Vatican II’s legacy, writes TP O'Mahony

Mon, 10 Oct, 2022

Bishop launches search to find Ireland's most popular hymn

The Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin will once more operate a stand at next week's National Ploughing Championships where Ireland's favourite hymn will be revealed

Wed, 07 Sep, 2022

Secularisation of Irish society isn’t immune to the shadow of the past

The fortunes of the Irish Catholic Church have changed dramatically over the past four decades. Mary Kenny's new book focuses on the links between faith and fatherland and their role in shaping the Irish State

Mon, 05 Sep, 2022

Irish Examiner view: Pope Francis is still fired with enthusiasm for his mission

Defying rumours that he may wish to retire, the Pontiff displays extraordinary energy as he opens the next phase of the Catholic Church's Synod 21-23 process

Mon, 29 Aug, 2022

Irish Examiner view: Synthesis report is a moment of truth for the Catholic Church

The Vatican has to heed this cri de coeur from Irish Catholics when Pope Francis calls together next year’s Synod in Rome

Thu, 18 Aug, 2022

Campaigners hope report sent to Vatican will result in radical reform of Church in Ireland

Pope Francis called a Universal Synod last year which — for the first time — aimed to gather feedback at all levels of the Church in every parish on its future.

Mon, 15 Aug, 2022

Terry Prone: Secrecy a thing of the past as Pope opens up trove of Second World War letters

Pope Francis has made 40,000 files accessible to anyone who wants to read them — but they do not make for comfortable reading

Mon, 27 Jun, 2022

Terry Prone: ‘Fake news’ in the Vatican amid the struggle over the Pope’s reforms

Synodality — the Pope’s desire to have the Church begin to listen to local communities and the grassroots faithful — drives traditionalists nuts

Mon, 13 Jun, 2022

Irish Examiner View: Have you heard the one about the Pope and the mother-in-law?

Mother-in-laws are the victim of cliches, the pontiff said.

Fri, 29 Apr, 2022

Pope targets old Latin Mass with new limits on sacraments

Pope Francis said in July he had to reverse course because Benedict’s decision had divided the church and been exploited by conservatives on ideological grounds

Sat, 18 Dec, 2021

Joyce Fegan: How to overcome climate fatalism? Do an Obama on it

It's difficult to change minds with words like 'disaster', 'crisis', and 'radical', but appealing to common values like making the world a better place for our children are what bring the story home.

Sat, 30 Oct, 2021

Letters to the Editor: Welcome TV debate on United Ireland

After 100 years of partition, a debate on unity was hosted on RTÉ’s Claire Byrne Live (March 22), which in itself is a small step for those left trapped in a six-county statelet that would serve as an artificially created utopian melting pot for the ...

Thu, 25 Mar, 2021

TP O'Mahony: Pope Francis remains a contradictory leader

Pope Francis celebrated his 84th birthday recently. While some very good things have happened on his watch, we should register some failings, writes TP O’Mahony

Tue, 22 Dec, 2020

Coveney expects to talk to US ambassador on violence

Tanaiste Simon Coveney expects to speak to the US ambassador here about the violence in US cities, as Irish people are “disturbed” by the violence there.

Wed, 03 Jun, 2020

Coronavirus: Latest updates from around the world

Coronavirus has infected more than 2.4 million people around the world, with the death toll passing 170,000.

Wed, 22 Apr, 2020

Cleared Australian cardinal links child abuse charges to corruption fight

Cardinal George Pell has linked his fight against corruption in the Vatican with his prosecution in Australia for alleged child sex abuse.

Tue, 14 Apr, 2020

Denis Lehane: Dear Denis... Cabin fever and other lockdown problems

I received a curious letter during the week from a concerned West Cork woman whose philandering husband can no longer philander.

Fri, 10 Apr, 2020

Phoenix Park gates to be refurbished at cost of €820k

The refurbishment of the famous gates of the Phoenix Park, Dublin, which were removed in advance of the visit of Pope Francis, will cost just over €820,000.

Fri, 14 Feb, 2020

Pope Francis slams IMF over developing nation debt burden

Pope Francis staged a surprise visit to admonish the IMF chief and several finance ministers to help alleviate the debt burden of struggling countries, calling for “a new financial architecture” to ensure social justice.

Wed, 05 Feb, 2020

Test of faith: New books explores Catholicism in contemporary Ireland

Irish author Declan Henry’s new book ‘Forbidden Fruit: Life and Catholicism in Contemporary Ireland’ looks at what he calls the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church towards the LGBT community. He spoke with Donal O’Keeffe

Thu, 30 Jan, 2020

Government departments ring up costs for ‘executive travel’ as €280k spend at airports on VIP services

More than €280,000 has been spent by two Government departments on VIP services at Irish airports over the past three years.

Mon, 20 Jan, 2020

Victims welcome abolition of Vatican sex abuse secrecy rules

Clerical abuse victims have welcomed the decision by Pope Francis to abolish the Vatican’s strict secrecy rules covering sex abuse proceedings.

Wed, 18 Dec, 2019

Pope changes sexual abuse rules: Initial welcome

Its abolition was a key demand emanating from a Vatican summit on sexual abuse in February.

Wed, 18 Dec, 2019

Scene and Heard: Clive James and Jonathan Miller pass away

One of the other big deaths this week was Clive James, and while we haven’t been able to find any Leeside branches in his family tree, some might remember his visit to the Everyman in 2006 as part of a tour around his memoir, North Face of Soho.

Fri, 29 Nov, 2019

‘Daddy, are you the pope?’: Jonathan Pryce tipped for Oscar nomination playing Pope Francis

JONATHAN Pryce has not slept. He is fresh off a plane from New York, where he is appearing in a play on Broadway, and is due to fly back to perform again the following day.

Wed, 27 Nov, 2019

Pope and Beast from the East send profits tumbling at Dublin Zoo and Fota company

The Pope’s visit and extreme weather last year contributed to profits tumbling at the company that operates Dublin Zoo and Fota Wildlife Park.

Fri, 25 Oct, 2019