In the news today: Vatican announces pope’s funeral for Saturday

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…

Vatican announces pope’s funeral for Saturday

The Vatican has announced a funeral for Pope Francis will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square.

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That’s two days before Canada’s federal election, and while it’s an event prime ministers typically attend, the Prime Minister’s Office did not confirm Monday whether Mark Carney would step away from campaigning to be there.

PMO spokesperson Emily Williams says Canada’s representation at the funeral “will be announced in due course.”

Cardinals have also decided today that the public viewing of Pope Francis will begin Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica, after his casket is taken by procession from the Vatican hotel where he lived.

Francis died of stroke and heart failure at the age of 88 on Monday morning, just after the end of Holy Week.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

Toronto, Montreal archbishops to hold mass for Pope Francis

Canada’s newest cardinal will lead a mass in honour of Pope Francis this afternoon.

Cardinal Frank Leo, Archbishop of Toronto, will preside at a mass for the repose of the soul of the pontiff at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica before meeting with the media.

The Vatican announced yesterday that Francis had died of a stroke and heart failure at age 88, just after the end of Holy Week.

Leo was among the last group of cardinals Francis elevated into the role back in December, and one of five cardinals from Canada. He will also preside over an evening prayer for the late pope.

In Montreal, Archbishop Christian Lépine will preside over an evening requiem mass at the Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, followed by a vigil.

Ministers ask new pope to do more for LGBTQ people

Serge Quevillon made it a point Monday to visit Montreal’s Mary Queen of the World Cathedral to pay respect to Pope Francis.

Speaking outside the cathedral, he said he vividly remembers a question the pope was asked in June 2013.

“He was asked, ‘What do you think about homosexuality?’ And he gave the nicest, most incredible comment: Who am I to judge?” Quevillon told The Canadian Press.

Pope Francis died Monday at the Vatican at age 88. The Vatican said he had a stroke.

Some Canadian church leaders say they hope his replacement does more to advance the church’s inclusion of LGBTQ+ people.

Early in his papacy, the pope, unlike his predecessors, showed more tolerance and acceptance for LGBTQ+ people, delivering in 2013 the landmark line “Who am I to judge?” when asked about a gay priest.

Tories expected to release their platform today

As the federal election campaign nears its end with less than a week to go before voting day, all federal party leaders are making their last pitches to Canadians on why they deserve their vote.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is expected to unveil his party’s platform today, while the Liberals and NDP already released theirs over the weekend.

Poilievre spent Monday in Toronto and announced a homebuilding plan, pledging to build 2.3 million homes over the next five years.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney spent his time in Charlottetown Monday talking about his health-care plan and efforts to address Canada’s shortage of primary-care providers.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh started his day in Nanaimo, B.C., where he promised to cover “essential medicines” by the end of the year in an expansion of pharmacare.

Jury selection to start in hockey players’ trial

Jury selection is expected to begin today in the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team.

Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were charged with sexual assault early last year in an incident that allegedly took place in London, Ont., in June 2018.

McLeod is facing an additional charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault.

All five players are expected to plead not guilty.

The charges relate to an incident that allegedly occurred as many of the team’s members were in London for a Hockey Canada gala celebrating their gold-medal win at that year’s world junior tournament.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2025.

The Canadian Press