Pope Francis funeral live updates: St Peters Basilica prepares for mass as head of Catholic Church set to be laid to rest
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4.19pm
Eyes of the world on the Vatican
By Rob Harris
Vatican City: Hello from my spot near St Peter's Basilica, where the eyes of the world are fixed on the Eternal City as the Catholic Church prepares to bury one of its most influential and beloved leaders.
Despite the early hour, thousands are already descending on the Vatican for the funeral of Pope Francis, who died earlier this week at the age of 88.
With all the streets blocked off nearby, we had to walk through the dark laneway to get into position.
Thousands of people are streaming past us now to get the best viewing position possible. For days now St Peter's Square has been heaving.
Over the past three, more than 250,000 mourners have filed quietly through the basilica to pay their respects as Francis lay in state. Some wept, others prayed silently. I was lucky enough to be one of them (link here)
The funeral on Saturday will begin at 10am local time and will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals. It will mark the first of nine Masses in the traditional Novemdiales, a nine-day mourning period prescribed for the burial of a Roman Pontiff.
4.17pm
Race for spots in St Peter's Square
Ordinary mourners streamed into St Peter's Square on Saturday to get a standing-room spot near the rear of the square surrounding the ancient obelisk, behind VIP seating.
The area to the left of the main altar, up the basilica steps, is reserved for celebrants and Catholic hierarchy while world leaders and royalty will be seated on the right.
Many ran toward the square as barricades opened. Some carried banners for the Jubilee Holy Year that Francis opened in December and will continue despite his death on Easter Monday following a stroke.
4.12pm
Mourners gather from around the world for Pope's funeral
Mourners have been streaming into St Peter's Square ahead of the funeral for Pope Francis today.
We will bring you live updates from the funeral in the St Peters Square in the Vatican and procession to his final resting place in the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome.
The funeral mass begins at 10am local time, which is 6pm Australian eastern.
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7NEWS
22-06-2025
- 7NEWS
Hot-air balloon pilot reveals terrifying moments before eight people killed
A hot-air balloon caught fire and tumbled from the sky on Saturday in Brazil's southern state of Santa Catarina, killing eight people, firefighters said. Footage shared by local news outlet G1 showed billows of smoke coming from the balloon in flames as it hurtled toward the ground in the municipality of Praia Grande. On a video on social media, two people can be seen falling through the air as the fire spread onboard the aircraft. Three people died hugging each other, said Ulisses Gabriel, chief of Santa Catarina's civil police force, on X. 'It hurts the soul.' Thirteen people survived and were taken to hospitals, Santa Catarina's military fire brigade said, adding that 21 people were on board including the pilot. 'We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened. We will see how it unfolds, what happened, why it happened. But the important thing now is for the state structure to do what it can,' Gov. Jorginho Mello said in a video on X. Mello said he has asked authorities to head to the municipality 'to do as much as possible to rescue, to help, to take to hospital, to comfort the families.' 'According to the pilot, who is one of the survivors, a fire started inside the basket and then he began to lower the balloon. When the balloon was very close to the ground, he ordered people to jump out of the basket,' Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper quoted Praia Grande head police officer Tiago Luiz Lemos as saying. 'Some of them didn't manage to jump. The fire increased and the balloon ended up falling,' Lemos added. G1 reported that the balloon's expected flight time was 45 minutes, with the balloon reaching 1000 meters, and cost 550 reais (around $100) per passenger. Praia Grande is a common destination for hot-air ballooning, a popular activity in some parts of Brazil's south during June festivities that celebrate Catholic saints such as St. John, whose feast day is on June 24. Last Sunday, a balloon came down in Sao Paulo state, killing a 27-year-old woman and injuring 11 other people, G1 reported.
The Advertiser
22-06-2025
- The Advertiser
Coming out an 'indelible memory' with lasting impacts
Coming out as LGBTQI to friends and family can be one of the most vulnerable times in a person's life. Despite growing acceptance culturally, research shows almost half - 49 per cent - of young people who come out experience heartbreaking parental rejection. James Wright was 19 years old when he decided to tell his mum and dad he was gay. Now 46, the memory of that experience remains clear. "I would say for all gay people, coming out becomes an indelible memory, whether it's a good or bad experience," he told AAP. "I came out to mum and dad separately, within a few weeks of each other, and it really shocked me the difference in their response." Mr Wright's father, a devout Catholic with Italian heritage, was completely accepting. "He said loving his son was the priority over adhering to what the Catholic Church told him," Mr Wright said. "It brought us so much closer together ... I felt relieved and that he made it so easy was so beautiful." His mother, who Mr Wright had expected to be more accepting, did not respond the same way. "She was horrified," he said. "We've not had a great relationship since then." Almost 45 per cent of LGBTQI youth experience high or very high levels of psychological distress and almost half (48 per cent) have seriously considered suicide - more than three times the rate of their heterosexual peers. The impact of rejection could be particularly devastating for young people beginning to understand and explore their identities, Online Psychologists Australia clinical psychologist Michelle Olaithe said. "We are seeing increasing numbers of youth questioning their sexuality or gender, reaching out to us out of fear of a lack of acceptance from the adults in their life, or are already facing discrimination and prejudice," she said. "The impacts of this experience can continue to be damaging for the rest of their lives if they do not get support." Three in four LGBTQI people have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives. This is not due to a predisposition to poor mental health within the community but rather stigma, discrimination and a lack of acceptance, particularly from those closest to them. Many people did not realise just how much their first reaction impacted someone who has come out to them, Online Psychologists Australia chief executive Sarah Richardson said. "The truth is, when someone comes out to you, they're opening up in an incredibly vulnerable way - they're not just telling you something personal, they're asking for acceptance and for safety," she said. "The best response is to lead with love: say 'thank you for trusting me', tell them you support them. "You don't need to have all the answers. Just being warm, open and non-judgmental can mean everything in that moment." The psychologists' platform has released a free guide for parents, teachers, carers and friends as part of Pride Month, celebrated each June. The guide includes tips on what to say and what not to say, how to be a "safe person" and how to support someone after they come out. "This guide is for people who care but maybe aren't sure how to respond when someone comes out," Ms Richardson said. "It's here to take the fear and awkwardness out of that moment and replace it with empathy and confidence." Mr Wright said he had one piece of advice for the parents of LGBTQI children. "My advice to parents would be to be brave," he said. "If you have your suspicions, choose a safe time to raise it, because the child or young adult is probably aching for you to give them permission to talk about it. "It's your responsibility as a parent to have these conversations and gently give them that opportunity." Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Coming out as LGBTQI to friends and family can be one of the most vulnerable times in a person's life. Despite growing acceptance culturally, research shows almost half - 49 per cent - of young people who come out experience heartbreaking parental rejection. James Wright was 19 years old when he decided to tell his mum and dad he was gay. Now 46, the memory of that experience remains clear. "I would say for all gay people, coming out becomes an indelible memory, whether it's a good or bad experience," he told AAP. "I came out to mum and dad separately, within a few weeks of each other, and it really shocked me the difference in their response." Mr Wright's father, a devout Catholic with Italian heritage, was completely accepting. "He said loving his son was the priority over adhering to what the Catholic Church told him," Mr Wright said. "It brought us so much closer together ... I felt relieved and that he made it so easy was so beautiful." His mother, who Mr Wright had expected to be more accepting, did not respond the same way. "She was horrified," he said. "We've not had a great relationship since then." Almost 45 per cent of LGBTQI youth experience high or very high levels of psychological distress and almost half (48 per cent) have seriously considered suicide - more than three times the rate of their heterosexual peers. The impact of rejection could be particularly devastating for young people beginning to understand and explore their identities, Online Psychologists Australia clinical psychologist Michelle Olaithe said. "We are seeing increasing numbers of youth questioning their sexuality or gender, reaching out to us out of fear of a lack of acceptance from the adults in their life, or are already facing discrimination and prejudice," she said. "The impacts of this experience can continue to be damaging for the rest of their lives if they do not get support." Three in four LGBTQI people have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives. This is not due to a predisposition to poor mental health within the community but rather stigma, discrimination and a lack of acceptance, particularly from those closest to them. Many people did not realise just how much their first reaction impacted someone who has come out to them, Online Psychologists Australia chief executive Sarah Richardson said. "The truth is, when someone comes out to you, they're opening up in an incredibly vulnerable way - they're not just telling you something personal, they're asking for acceptance and for safety," she said. "The best response is to lead with love: say 'thank you for trusting me', tell them you support them. "You don't need to have all the answers. Just being warm, open and non-judgmental can mean everything in that moment." The psychologists' platform has released a free guide for parents, teachers, carers and friends as part of Pride Month, celebrated each June. The guide includes tips on what to say and what not to say, how to be a "safe person" and how to support someone after they come out. "This guide is for people who care but maybe aren't sure how to respond when someone comes out," Ms Richardson said. "It's here to take the fear and awkwardness out of that moment and replace it with empathy and confidence." Mr Wright said he had one piece of advice for the parents of LGBTQI children. "My advice to parents would be to be brave," he said. "If you have your suspicions, choose a safe time to raise it, because the child or young adult is probably aching for you to give them permission to talk about it. "It's your responsibility as a parent to have these conversations and gently give them that opportunity." Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Coming out as LGBTQI to friends and family can be one of the most vulnerable times in a person's life. Despite growing acceptance culturally, research shows almost half - 49 per cent - of young people who come out experience heartbreaking parental rejection. James Wright was 19 years old when he decided to tell his mum and dad he was gay. Now 46, the memory of that experience remains clear. "I would say for all gay people, coming out becomes an indelible memory, whether it's a good or bad experience," he told AAP. "I came out to mum and dad separately, within a few weeks of each other, and it really shocked me the difference in their response." Mr Wright's father, a devout Catholic with Italian heritage, was completely accepting. "He said loving his son was the priority over adhering to what the Catholic Church told him," Mr Wright said. "It brought us so much closer together ... I felt relieved and that he made it so easy was so beautiful." His mother, who Mr Wright had expected to be more accepting, did not respond the same way. "She was horrified," he said. "We've not had a great relationship since then." Almost 45 per cent of LGBTQI youth experience high or very high levels of psychological distress and almost half (48 per cent) have seriously considered suicide - more than three times the rate of their heterosexual peers. The impact of rejection could be particularly devastating for young people beginning to understand and explore their identities, Online Psychologists Australia clinical psychologist Michelle Olaithe said. "We are seeing increasing numbers of youth questioning their sexuality or gender, reaching out to us out of fear of a lack of acceptance from the adults in their life, or are already facing discrimination and prejudice," she said. "The impacts of this experience can continue to be damaging for the rest of their lives if they do not get support." Three in four LGBTQI people have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives. This is not due to a predisposition to poor mental health within the community but rather stigma, discrimination and a lack of acceptance, particularly from those closest to them. Many people did not realise just how much their first reaction impacted someone who has come out to them, Online Psychologists Australia chief executive Sarah Richardson said. "The truth is, when someone comes out to you, they're opening up in an incredibly vulnerable way - they're not just telling you something personal, they're asking for acceptance and for safety," she said. "The best response is to lead with love: say 'thank you for trusting me', tell them you support them. "You don't need to have all the answers. Just being warm, open and non-judgmental can mean everything in that moment." The psychologists' platform has released a free guide for parents, teachers, carers and friends as part of Pride Month, celebrated each June. The guide includes tips on what to say and what not to say, how to be a "safe person" and how to support someone after they come out. "This guide is for people who care but maybe aren't sure how to respond when someone comes out," Ms Richardson said. "It's here to take the fear and awkwardness out of that moment and replace it with empathy and confidence." Mr Wright said he had one piece of advice for the parents of LGBTQI children. "My advice to parents would be to be brave," he said. "If you have your suspicions, choose a safe time to raise it, because the child or young adult is probably aching for you to give them permission to talk about it. "It's your responsibility as a parent to have these conversations and gently give them that opportunity." Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Coming out as LGBTQI to friends and family can be one of the most vulnerable times in a person's life. Despite growing acceptance culturally, research shows almost half - 49 per cent - of young people who come out experience heartbreaking parental rejection. James Wright was 19 years old when he decided to tell his mum and dad he was gay. Now 46, the memory of that experience remains clear. "I would say for all gay people, coming out becomes an indelible memory, whether it's a good or bad experience," he told AAP. "I came out to mum and dad separately, within a few weeks of each other, and it really shocked me the difference in their response." Mr Wright's father, a devout Catholic with Italian heritage, was completely accepting. "He said loving his son was the priority over adhering to what the Catholic Church told him," Mr Wright said. "It brought us so much closer together ... I felt relieved and that he made it so easy was so beautiful." His mother, who Mr Wright had expected to be more accepting, did not respond the same way. "She was horrified," he said. "We've not had a great relationship since then." Almost 45 per cent of LGBTQI youth experience high or very high levels of psychological distress and almost half (48 per cent) have seriously considered suicide - more than three times the rate of their heterosexual peers. The impact of rejection could be particularly devastating for young people beginning to understand and explore their identities, Online Psychologists Australia clinical psychologist Michelle Olaithe said. "We are seeing increasing numbers of youth questioning their sexuality or gender, reaching out to us out of fear of a lack of acceptance from the adults in their life, or are already facing discrimination and prejudice," she said. "The impacts of this experience can continue to be damaging for the rest of their lives if they do not get support." Three in four LGBTQI people have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives. This is not due to a predisposition to poor mental health within the community but rather stigma, discrimination and a lack of acceptance, particularly from those closest to them. Many people did not realise just how much their first reaction impacted someone who has come out to them, Online Psychologists Australia chief executive Sarah Richardson said. "The truth is, when someone comes out to you, they're opening up in an incredibly vulnerable way - they're not just telling you something personal, they're asking for acceptance and for safety," she said. "The best response is to lead with love: say 'thank you for trusting me', tell them you support them. "You don't need to have all the answers. Just being warm, open and non-judgmental can mean everything in that moment." The psychologists' platform has released a free guide for parents, teachers, carers and friends as part of Pride Month, celebrated each June. The guide includes tips on what to say and what not to say, how to be a "safe person" and how to support someone after they come out. "This guide is for people who care but maybe aren't sure how to respond when someone comes out," Ms Richardson said. "It's here to take the fear and awkwardness out of that moment and replace it with empathy and confidence." Mr Wright said he had one piece of advice for the parents of LGBTQI children. "My advice to parents would be to be brave," he said. "If you have your suspicions, choose a safe time to raise it, because the child or young adult is probably aching for you to give them permission to talk about it. "It's your responsibility as a parent to have these conversations and gently give them that opportunity." Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
The Advertiser
22-06-2025
- The Advertiser
At least killed as hot air balloon crashes in Brazil
At least eight people have been killed after a hot air balloon carrying 21 passengers crashed in Brazil's southern state of Santa Catarina, local and state officials say. Footage shared by local news outlet G1 showed billows of smoke coming from the balloon, which was in flames as it hurtled toward the ground in the municipality of Praia Grande. A video on social media shows two people falling through the air as the fire spread onboard the aircraft. Thirteen survivors were transported to nearby hospitals, according to the fire department. Footage shared by local news outlet G1 showed billows of smoke coming from the balloon in flames as it hurtled towards the ground. The crash happened about 8am Saturday local time, military firefighter Zevir Cipriano said. A fire started in the basket, prompting the pilot to try to land the balloon. Thirteen people, including the pilot, managed to jump out but eight were unable to. Without the weight of the others, the balloon began rising again. "These people ended up dying - four charred and another four jumped out of the balloon when it was falling," Cipriano Jr said. Three people died hugging each other, said Ulisses Gabriel, chief of Santa Catarina's civil police force, on X. "It hurts the soul." "We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened. We will see how it unfolds, what happened, why it happened. But the important thing now is for the state structure to do what it can," Governor Jorginho Mello said in a video on X. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his solidarity with victims' families and said he was placing the federal government at the disposal of victims and local authorities. Mello said he had asked authorities to head to the municipality "to do as much as possible to rescue, to help, to take to hospital, to comfort the families". The balloon's expected flight time was 45 minutes, G1 said, with the balloon reaching 1000 metres and cost 550 reais (about $A150) per passenger. Sobrevoar, the company responsible for the multi-coloured balloon, said it complied with all regulations and had a clean accident record before Saturday. Praia Grande is a common destination for hot air ballooning, a popular activity in some parts of Brazil's south during June festivities that celebrate Catholic saints such as Saint John. Last Sunday, a balloon fell in Sao Paulo state, killing a 27-year-old woman and injuring 11 others, G1 reported. with AP At least eight people have been killed after a hot air balloon carrying 21 passengers crashed in Brazil's southern state of Santa Catarina, local and state officials say. Footage shared by local news outlet G1 showed billows of smoke coming from the balloon, which was in flames as it hurtled toward the ground in the municipality of Praia Grande. A video on social media shows two people falling through the air as the fire spread onboard the aircraft. Thirteen survivors were transported to nearby hospitals, according to the fire department. Footage shared by local news outlet G1 showed billows of smoke coming from the balloon in flames as it hurtled towards the ground. The crash happened about 8am Saturday local time, military firefighter Zevir Cipriano said. A fire started in the basket, prompting the pilot to try to land the balloon. Thirteen people, including the pilot, managed to jump out but eight were unable to. Without the weight of the others, the balloon began rising again. "These people ended up dying - four charred and another four jumped out of the balloon when it was falling," Cipriano Jr said. Three people died hugging each other, said Ulisses Gabriel, chief of Santa Catarina's civil police force, on X. "It hurts the soul." "We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened. We will see how it unfolds, what happened, why it happened. But the important thing now is for the state structure to do what it can," Governor Jorginho Mello said in a video on X. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his solidarity with victims' families and said he was placing the federal government at the disposal of victims and local authorities. Mello said he had asked authorities to head to the municipality "to do as much as possible to rescue, to help, to take to hospital, to comfort the families". The balloon's expected flight time was 45 minutes, G1 said, with the balloon reaching 1000 metres and cost 550 reais (about $A150) per passenger. Sobrevoar, the company responsible for the multi-coloured balloon, said it complied with all regulations and had a clean accident record before Saturday. Praia Grande is a common destination for hot air ballooning, a popular activity in some parts of Brazil's south during June festivities that celebrate Catholic saints such as Saint John. Last Sunday, a balloon fell in Sao Paulo state, killing a 27-year-old woman and injuring 11 others, G1 reported. with AP At least eight people have been killed after a hot air balloon carrying 21 passengers crashed in Brazil's southern state of Santa Catarina, local and state officials say. Footage shared by local news outlet G1 showed billows of smoke coming from the balloon, which was in flames as it hurtled toward the ground in the municipality of Praia Grande. A video on social media shows two people falling through the air as the fire spread onboard the aircraft. Thirteen survivors were transported to nearby hospitals, according to the fire department. Footage shared by local news outlet G1 showed billows of smoke coming from the balloon in flames as it hurtled towards the ground. The crash happened about 8am Saturday local time, military firefighter Zevir Cipriano said. A fire started in the basket, prompting the pilot to try to land the balloon. Thirteen people, including the pilot, managed to jump out but eight were unable to. Without the weight of the others, the balloon began rising again. "These people ended up dying - four charred and another four jumped out of the balloon when it was falling," Cipriano Jr said. Three people died hugging each other, said Ulisses Gabriel, chief of Santa Catarina's civil police force, on X. "It hurts the soul." "We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened. We will see how it unfolds, what happened, why it happened. But the important thing now is for the state structure to do what it can," Governor Jorginho Mello said in a video on X. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his solidarity with victims' families and said he was placing the federal government at the disposal of victims and local authorities. Mello said he had asked authorities to head to the municipality "to do as much as possible to rescue, to help, to take to hospital, to comfort the families". The balloon's expected flight time was 45 minutes, G1 said, with the balloon reaching 1000 metres and cost 550 reais (about $A150) per passenger. Sobrevoar, the company responsible for the multi-coloured balloon, said it complied with all regulations and had a clean accident record before Saturday. Praia Grande is a common destination for hot air ballooning, a popular activity in some parts of Brazil's south during June festivities that celebrate Catholic saints such as Saint John. Last Sunday, a balloon fell in Sao Paulo state, killing a 27-year-old woman and injuring 11 others, G1 reported. with AP At least eight people have been killed after a hot air balloon carrying 21 passengers crashed in Brazil's southern state of Santa Catarina, local and state officials say. Footage shared by local news outlet G1 showed billows of smoke coming from the balloon, which was in flames as it hurtled toward the ground in the municipality of Praia Grande. A video on social media shows two people falling through the air as the fire spread onboard the aircraft. Thirteen survivors were transported to nearby hospitals, according to the fire department. Footage shared by local news outlet G1 showed billows of smoke coming from the balloon in flames as it hurtled towards the ground. The crash happened about 8am Saturday local time, military firefighter Zevir Cipriano said. A fire started in the basket, prompting the pilot to try to land the balloon. Thirteen people, including the pilot, managed to jump out but eight were unable to. Without the weight of the others, the balloon began rising again. "These people ended up dying - four charred and another four jumped out of the balloon when it was falling," Cipriano Jr said. Three people died hugging each other, said Ulisses Gabriel, chief of Santa Catarina's civil police force, on X. "It hurts the soul." "We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened. We will see how it unfolds, what happened, why it happened. But the important thing now is for the state structure to do what it can," Governor Jorginho Mello said in a video on X. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his solidarity with victims' families and said he was placing the federal government at the disposal of victims and local authorities. Mello said he had asked authorities to head to the municipality "to do as much as possible to rescue, to help, to take to hospital, to comfort the families". The balloon's expected flight time was 45 minutes, G1 said, with the balloon reaching 1000 metres and cost 550 reais (about $A150) per passenger. Sobrevoar, the company responsible for the multi-coloured balloon, said it complied with all regulations and had a clean accident record before Saturday. Praia Grande is a common destination for hot air ballooning, a popular activity in some parts of Brazil's south during June festivities that celebrate Catholic saints such as Saint John. Last Sunday, a balloon fell in Sao Paulo state, killing a 27-year-old woman and injuring 11 others, G1 reported. with AP
