David Willey, who spent decades reporting from Rome for the BBC, reflects on the transformation of the Vatican under Francis – the eighth Pope of our former correspondent’s lifetime. I have suddenly realised with something of shock that I am already not only four years older than the late Pope Francis, but that my own...
AP His ascension to the papacy heralded many firsts. Francis was the first Pope from the Americas or the Southern Hemisphere. Not since Syrian-born Gregory III died in 741 had there been a non-European Bishop of Rome. He was also the first Jesuit to be elected to the throne of St Peter – Jesuits were...
Sofia Ferreira Santos BBC News Watch: The King and Queen wave to crowds as they arrive for the Easter Sunday service King Charles III and Queen Camilla have attended a church service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle as part of their Easter celebrations. The traditional Easter Matins service was held in the 15th...
An American pastor has been kidnapped by armed men after they stormed his church service in South Africa, local authorities say. Josh Sullivan had been conducting a service at Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, a township in Gqeberra in the Eastern Cape, on Thursday evening when “four armed and masked male suspects entered”, police spokesman...
The former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has told the BBC he failed to follow up abuse allegations within the Church of England because the scale of the problem was “absolutely overwhelming”. In November he became the first Archbishop in more than 1,000 years to quit, after a damning independent review found he did not...
Olivia Demetriades & Matt Graveling BBC News, London BBC The baby was declared dead at the scene Police have appealed for the mother of a newborn baby boy found dead in a Marks and Spencer shopping bag outside a west London church to come forward. Officers were called at 12:46 GMT on Tuesday to Powis...
The body of a newborn baby has been found in west London, the Metropolitan Police has said. Officers were called at 12:46 GMT on Tuesday to Powis Gardens in Notting Hill following a report that the body of a baby had been found in a bag left outside All Saints Church. London Ambulance Service attended...