The Vatican’s Jubilee of Teenagers, scheduled for April 25–27, went ahead with modifications following the death of Pope Francis, drawing tens of thousands from around the world.
A planned highlight — the canonization of Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian boy known for using his coding skills to spread Catholic teachings online — was postponed. Acutis died of leukemia in 2006 and is widely venerated by Catholic youth. Pilgrims visited Francis’ tomb on Sunday at St. Mary Major Basilica, where he was buried in a break from tradition.
Meanwhile, conservative cardinals are reportedly lobbying ahead of the papal conclave, criticizing Francis’ 12-year papacy as divisive. The New York Times reports that figures like Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller of Germany, whom Francis removed from a senior Vatican post in 2017, are promoting a platform of unity in hopes of swaying the next election. Cardinals continue to meet daily to manage Vatican affairs and to decide the date of the conclave.
