The Pope Returns to Castel Gandolfo for Summer. And There Will Be Tennis.

For 400 years, most popes escaped the Roman summer in the hilltop town of Castel Gandolfo, Italy. Then Francis stopped going, leaving the town a bit bereft.

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Cardinals Are Maneuvering Before Conclave To Elect Francis’ Successor

Some see the byword as a rallying call in a conservative campaign to reverse Francis’ push for a more inclusive church.

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Pope Francis, Who Sought a More Pastoral Church, Laid to Rest in a Majestic Ceremony

The funeral drew world leaders, including President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, who had a talk in the Basilica.

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How Pope Francis Simplified Papal Funerals

The changes reflect Francis’ view of the pope as a pastor more than a powerful person, but the rites will still be on a grand scale.

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Catholics Expected a Revolution From Pope Francis, Just Not the One He Gave Them

Liberals hoped he’d ordain women or allow gay marriage. Conservatives thought he’d tear up Church doctrine. But his papacy favored debate over radical action.

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‘The Two Popes,’ ‘Conclave’ and Francis’ Autobiography: The Papacy in Recent Culture

The Vatican — with its politics, its pageantry and its power — has long been a favorite subject for artists and thinkers.

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What Are the Plans for Pope Francis’ Funeral?

The timing of Pope Francis’ funeral, which will span several days, has yet to be announced.

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Francis, the First Latin American Pope, Dies at 88

After decades of conservative leadership, Francis tried to reset the course of the Roman Catholic Church, emphasizing inclusion and care for the marginalized over doctrinal purity.

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Francis Worked to Make Catholic Church More Inclusive

Pope Francis sought to make the church more welcoming, global and collegial, after his predecessors adopted more doctrinaire and traditional approaches.

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Catholics Around the Globe Heed Francis’ Call to ‘Pray for Me’

The pope’s words emphasized his humility and belief that simple acts of devotion could unite the church. His illness has made the appeal more urgent than ever.

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