Gaza’s only Catholic church – a refuge for many Christians during Israel’swar on Palestinians – has been bombed this morning.

Strikes pounded the Holy Family Church, killing two people and wounding several others, including the parish priest.

Father Gabriel Romanelli was very close with the late Pope Francis and the two spoke every night since the beginning of Israel’s massacre on Gaza.

The church was damaged in the attack, which witnesses said appeared to be an Israeli tank shelling.

Fr Romanelli had earlier said that no one was killed in the Israeli assault, but doctors at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City said two women had died.

Footage published by Palestinian photographer Abdalaziz Khalil shows the priest being treated for his injuries.

His right leg is being bandaged, but otherwise he is believed to be in good condition. 

Italian premier Giorgia Meloni blamed Israel for the church strike, saying: ‘The attacks on the civilian population that Israel has been demonstrating for months are unacceptable.

‘No military action can justify such an attitude.’

Foreign minister Antonio Tajani also described the attack as a ‘serious act against a Christian place of worship,’ adding that it is ‘time to stop and find peace.’

‘The attacks by the Israeli army against the civilian population in Gaza are no longer acceptable,’ he wrote on X.

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Personally, I would have preferred a more progressive new Pope.

‘Talk about the most random fact for the week!’

‘Calling my very religious mum to tell her that CBS News said the cardinals are rawdogging.’

The 2024 has been considered ‘remarkably accurate’ by figures in the Catholic Church.

What happens with the black smoke, white smoke, and a top secret conclave of cardinals?

The race is now on for the top job.

The reason why women can’t become the Pope can be traced back to a simple reason: women can’t become priests.

The reason why women can’t become the Pope can be traced back to a simple reason: women can’t become priests.

Numerous nuns have fled the abbey after the Vatican stepped in to try and settle the controversy.

Donald Trump has posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope after joking that he was his own ‘number one choice’ for the role.

Posted on his Truth Social platform just 11 days after the death of Pope Francis, it shows him in full regalia pointing one finger up.

It was then shared by the official White House and POTUS accounts, where it has been liked hundreds of thousands of times.

Most comments appeared to be critical, with one saying the post was ‘Inappropriate, insensitive, and disrespectful’.

Others called it ‘disgusting’, ‘disturbing’ and ‘offensive’, while one user wrote: ‘I regret voting for u (sic)’.

The US president was previously accused of making light of Pope Francis’ death by joking about becoming the next pontiff.

Asked by reporters on the White House lawn who he favoured to succeed the Argentinian, he said: ‘I’d like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice.’

He then said he didn’t have a preference but said New York’s cardinal Timothy Dolan would be ‘very good’.

President Trump was also heavily criticised for chewing gum during Pope Francis’ funeral and eschewing traditional black wear by wearing a blue suit.

Francis died of a stroke and heart failure at the age of 88 on Easter Monday.

Despite appealing to the hard Christian right, Trump has rarely discusssed his religious views, claiming he was a Presbyterian in 2016 before describing himself as non-denominational four years later.

He previously came under fire for posting a bizarre AI-generated video of Gaza as a luxury holiday destination in the midst of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

He previously said he wanted to ’empty’ the strip of residents and redevelop it as a tourist zone, adding: ‘We’ll make it exciting’.

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‘Is that smoke black or white?’

‘Is that smoke black or white?’

President Donald Trump joked he wants to be the next pope on his way to a rally celebrating his first 100 days in office.

The Cardinal was also once a papal contender in the last conclave in 2013 due to his extensive church contacts in Africa and Europe.

There were some rather striking outfits…

The race is now on for the top job.

Vladimir Putin skipped Pope Francis’s funeral – and launched attacks on Ukraine during it.

His obituary described him as a ‘simple and much-loved shepherd’.

A meeting between the pair, who last spoke in late February, caught attention after tensions boiled over.

A moment of history is unfolding in the Vatican City as an estimated 1.4 billion Catholics are preparing to bid farewell to Pope Francis during his final journey today.

For the first time in more than a decade, the world will watch the funeral of a pontiff – not one who resigned, but one who died in office – and crucially, one who broke Catholic convention by accepting LGBTQ+ couple.

It is one of the most significant moments in recent Catholic history – and one that will be remembered for generations to come.

Metro is on the ground in the heart of the Vatican, so follow along with us from St Peter’s Square.

What is the mood in the Vatican?

As clouds clear above the cobblestones of St Peter’s Square, the gates are overwhelmed with the crowds of mourners pouring from all directions.

Some are clutching rosaries, small flags and pictures of Francis, but most are armed with cameras and selfie sticks.

It is a well-oiled security operation by now – despite all the logistics. Official entry points, luggage scanners, checks every few metres. The perimetre is locked down and thousands of officers from Swiss Guards, Carabinieri andvarious branches of the Italian military are ensuring the safety.

For now, everyone’s eyes are peeled on the gates of St Peter’s Basilica from where Francis will begin his final journey. The weight of what is to come in the next few hours is hanging in the air.

Outside its walls, hundreds of thousands of people are lining the streets in the Italian capital to say goodbye to the pontiff and the number is expected to rise closer to the funeral.

For those still hoping to get to a vantage spot in St Peter’s Square, there is a level of anxiety.

Many have travelled from afar, so there is an additional layer of pressure to make the most of this historic moment.

What are the funeral plans? Schedule and route to burial site

The official ceremony will begin with the pope’s coffin being taken out of St Peter’s Basilica and into the square.

The funeral Mass is due to start at 10 am (9am BST) with a choir singing introductory rites in Latin.

Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will deliver the homily and lead the Mass, which is expected to be con-celebrated by 220 cardinals and 750 bishops and priests near the altar, and more than 4,000 other priests con-celebrating in the square.

Francis will then be buried according to his wishes in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, outside the Vatican.

The last pontiff to be buried outside the Vatican was Leo XIII, who died in 1903.

The funeral cortege will travel to the basilica at walking pace, for around three hours.

Crowds are expected to gather along the route, which is 3.4 miles long and will pass by many of Rome’s famed monuments, including the Colosseum.

A group of poor people will be present on the steps leading to Mary Major to pay their final respects to Francis, reflecting his devotion to serving the poor and oppressed during his reign.

The burial will be a private service, but visitors to the tomb will be allowed shortly afterwards. The tomb will be inscribed only with the Latin name for Francis, Franciscus.

Who is attending the event?

More than 200,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony in the vast square.

So far, at least 100 foreign delegations are among them, including some 50 heads of state.

Francis’ funeral will be something of a ‘spot the world leader’ game – but it is only a testament to the pope’s legacy and his reach beyond the Catholic Church.

Sir Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump will soon arrive for the start of the procession after flying in last night.

Kensington Palace confirmed that Prince William will represent the Royal Family in Rome, not King Charles.

Their presence is just one reason why security measures across Rome and especially inside the Vatican is tighter than ever.

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More than 100 foreign delegations have expressed a desire to attend the ceremony, including 50 heads of state – the US president among them – and 10 reigning monarchs.

President Donald Trump put his arm around his wife Melania in a rare public display of affection.

President Trump is expected to arrive later this evening (Picture: Shutterstock; Metro.co.uk)

Another security operation is unfolding in Italy – in secret, far away from the Vatican City – ahead of the arrival of Donald Trump.
…

The break of protocol was permitted for one reason.