
Pope Francis dies: an unconventional pontiff who sought to modernise Catholicism
From the moment of his election in 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the man who became Pope Francis, proved himself to be unconventional. Shedding much of the formality of previous papal elections, he appeared for the first...

Three ways Pope Francis influenced the global climate movement
The death of Pope Francis has been announced by the Vatican. I first met the late Pope Francis at the Vatican after a conference called Saving Our Common Home and the Future of Life on Earth in July 2018. My colleagues and...

Pope Francis has died, aged 88. These were his greatest reforms – and controversies
Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday, aged 88, the Vatican announced. The head of the Catholic Church had recently survived being hospitalised with a serious bout of double pneumonia. Cardinal Kevin Farrells announcement...
Twinkling star reveals the shocking secrets of turbulent plasma in our cosmic neighbourhood
Artists impression of a pulsar bow shock scattering a radio beam. Carl Knox/Swinburne/OzGrav With the most powerful radio telescope in the southern hemisphere, we have observed a twinkling star and discovered an abundance...

Pope Francis tried to change the Catholic Church for women, with mixed success
Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. On Easter Sunday, he used his message and blessing to appeal for peace in Middle East and Ukraine. Pope Francis will be remembered as a...
What will happen at the funeral of Pope Francis
A side altar with reliquary at the St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome. Pope Francis has chosen to be buried in that basilica. Photo by Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images The 88-year-old pontiff had been well aware of his...
How the next pope will be elected – what goes on at the conclave
Cardinals attend Mass at St. Peters Basilica, before they enter the conclave to decide who the next pope will be, on March 12, 2013, in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Image With the death of Pope Francis,...