Tom Kington

Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesman, dismissed rumours that Cardinal Pietro Parolin had been taken ill as “not true”, raising the possibility that the papal favourite was a victim of the disinformation which often spreads at conclaves to besmirch rivals https://t.co/KBrOEPwg38

'Scorsese and Francis both loved Notes from Underground by Dostoevsky. “Scorsese told me he based Taxi Driver on it, and was surprised when I told him Francis loved the book too,” said Jesuit priest Antonio Spadaro' https://t.co/vG9RYZGOCC

My visit to the Rome restaurant where Pope Benedict asked the female owner to dine with him because 'it's sad to eat alone' and where a US cardinal loved to order a spicy pasta dish invented by prostitutes in Naples https://t.co/bQBddjngZZ

'Asked if he agreed with Cardinal Müller's claim the Church will split if it gets another Francis, Cardinal Nichols said: “Certainly not. Cardinal Müller has a fine and wonderful scholar’s mind and he tends to see things in those somewhat abstract ways.” https://t.co/TrGI1W74fa

How are cardinals at the biggest conclave ever getting acquainted? Name tags, says British cardinal Vincent Nichols: “After a request, we will have name badges stating where we are from.” https://t.co/TrGI1W74fa

Every Italy correspondent's nightmare: There is a chance the Bayesian will break surface at around the same time the next pope emerges onto the balcony at St Peter's https://t.co/5uxgZ1QSWJ

Overheard in the Vatican press room: "Pope Francis' funeral was an hour shorter than Oppenheimer"

RT @Scavino47: Behind Scenes, Vatican City—President Trump sat down to meet privately with Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine this morning in S…

Cardinal Vincent Nichols on how the Vatican will deftly deal with big ego politicians at Francis' funeral (he did not say which): “They’ve been doing it for centuries — they had to live and deal with Roman emperors who thought they were God.” https://t.co/oI42XJeg3k

By 8.30 this morning, 48,600 had paid respects to Pope Francis, including 13,000 between midnight and 5.30 this morning

Vatican News @vaticannews_it

📌#PapaFrancesco Dalle 11.00 di ieri alle 8.30 di questa mattina, 48.600 persone hanno reso omaggio alla salma di Francesco nella Basilica di #SanPietro. Nella notte, dalle 24.00 alle 5.30, lo hanno salutato in 13mila

St Peter's basilica was due to stay open until midnight last night to allow people to pay respects to Pope Francis. Due to the crowds it remained open until 5.30am. 90 minutes later it reopened at 7am.

Vatican News @vaticannews_it

📌La Basilica di San Pietro è rimasta aperta per l'omaggio dei fedeli alla salma di #PapaFrancesco fino alle 5.30 di questa mattina. Poi ha riaperto alle 7.00 #vaticannewsit https://t.co/cdtAFKk7xB

A leading conservative cardinal has told me he will be promoting his brand of Catholicism to fellow cardinals ahead of the conclave and warns the Church may split if it picks another progressive pope https://t.co/Grkqf8czQy

St Peter’s basilica, at the front of a very long queue https://t.co/wbUCVhCBFs

Procession bringing Pope Francis’ body into St Peter’s enters basilica in cloud of incense https://t.co/ynXrLVJSnj

Wandering round an empty St Peter’s waiting for the body of Pope Francis to arrive. It’s pretty stunning without the crowds https://t.co/BgmJPoR8Pl

In position in St Peter’s for the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, which will lie in state here until the funeral on Saturday https://t.co/Ot0lbJxKsg

Reposting my profile from last week of Rome's St Mary Major church which Pope Francis visited 125 times (always taking flowers) and will now be buried at. With chunks of Jesus' manger and the world's best known icon of the Virgin, this church has it all https://t.co/0vchYPVYXw