Enda Kenny’s meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican had the hallmarks of a formal state visit, but it felt like an intimate family gathering where strained relations were finally addressed, writes Juno McEnroe

The Taoiseach will meet Pope Francis in the Vatican today.

Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi has rejected the Italian city’s bid for the 2024 Olympics, effectively dooming the capital’s candidacy for the second time in four years.

Pope Francis tempered his Easter Sunday message of Christian hope with a denunciation of “blind” terrorism, recalling victims of attacks in Europe, Africa, and elsewhere, as well as expressing dismay that people fleeing war or poverty are being denied a welcome, as European countries squabble over the refugee crisis.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

Tens of thousands of Catholics queued at the Vatican for the strictest security checks in living memory as Pope Francis began a Holy Year with a call to set aside “fear and dread”.

Pope Francis has canonised the Catholic Church’s first married couple in modern times, declaring the parents of St Therese of Lisieux saints in their own right.

Flash flooding around the French Riviera has killed at least 16 people, including some trapped in cars, a campsite and a retirement home.

AN understanding of the extent of the appalling refugee crisis in Southern Europe has finally reached the Vatican.

The top security officials of Germany, France and Britain are pressing for better processing of migrants arriving in southern Europe and for a European Union-wide list of countries considered safe.

Lombardstown, Co Cork, trainer Eugene O’Sullivan took the featured Pat Woodbyrne Memorial Handicap Chase on the first day of Tramore’s August festival, when A Decent Excuse bounced back to form to post an impressive success.

Pope Francis yesterday encouraged people of different religions to work together in caring for the Earth, which he called our “common house”.

Rita de Brún and Ellie O’Byrne give their opinions on banning smacking in Ireland. Have your say in our poll. 

Some of the more light hearted stories from around the world.

As many as 950 people were feared dead after a fishing boat packed with migrants capsized off the Libyan coast in what may be one of the worst disasters of the Mediterranean migrant crisis, officials said.

Pope Francis has prayed for an end to the persecution of Christians in his Easter Sunday address, commemorating the students massacred by Islamist militants at Garissa University in Kenya.

POPE FRANCIS yesterday devoted his Easter Urbi et Orbi address to one of the world’s escalating and seemingly intractable problems — religious persecution and intolerance.

Pope Francis, presiding at the traditional Good Friday Colosseum procession, condemned the “complicit silence” about the killing of Christians.

The Vatican did something it has never done before by giving a group of US gay and lesbian Catholics VIP seats at Pope Francis’ weekly general audience.

Homeless people are lining up outside the public restrooms off St Peter’s Square to take advantage of Pope Francis’ new charitable initiative: a free shave and shower for the least fortunate.

More than 300 people probably died this week after attempting to reach Italy from Libya on four separate boats in stormy weather, the UN refugee agency said after speaking to a handful of survivors.

Rome’s homeless are about to get some TLC.

Pope Francis has presided over a solemn prayer service in St Peter’s Basilica on New Year’s Eve, using his homily to stress life’s fleetingness.

Pope Francis has presided over a solemn prayer service in St Peter’s Basilica on New Year’s Eve, using his homily to stress life’s fleetingness.

The man who tried to kill former Pope John Paul II 33 years ago showed up at the Vatican over the weekend to put white roses on his tomb and said he wanted to meet Pope Francis.

The Holy See has released a radical feminist activist who bared her breasts in St Peter’s Square on Christmas Day and snatched the statue of Baby Jesus from the Vatican’s outdoor Nativity scene.

Pope Francis is focusing his attention on all those weeping in the world this Christmas, singling out the refugees, hostages and all those suffering in conflicts in the Middle East, Africa and Ukraine.

Looking tired but relaxed, Pope Francis has led his first major public ceremony since health problems forced a spate of cancelled appointments.

Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in front of more than 500,000 pilgrims, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century.

Relics of the two popes to be canonised tomorrow are to be installed during the St Peter’s ceremony in Tralee’s Dominican priory.

Welcome to your Thursday morning briefing. Let us ensure you’re up to speed on what’s happening and are prepared for the day ahead.

Pope Francis has given a lift to two lucky children during his general audience in St Peter’s Square.

‘Hup you get! Two kids are beside themselves today after they hitched a ride in the Popemobile.

Pope Francis, marking Palm Sunday in a packed St Peter’s Square, ignored his prepared homily and spoke entirely off-the-cuff in a remarkable departure from practice.

Pope Francis has marked Palm Sunday in a packed St Peter’s Square, ignoring his prepared homily and speaking entirely off the cuff.