The Sinn Fein vice president has cut short a family holiday to attend Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome.

Bishop Paul Tighe also said there is ‘a little bit of national pride’ that an Irish-born man is the chief organiser while the post is vacant.

The people of Ireland have ‘appreciation’ for the life of the late pontiff, Michael D Higgins has said.

Post offices in Ireland had received queries from the public on what was the correct address and stamp to use.

Patrick and Alice Gavigan, from Leixlip, Co Kildare, are on holiday in Rome and said the experience felt surreal.

Marguerite O’Leary and her teenage daughter Ellen stood for more than five hours on Wednesday to be among the first members of the public to see the late pontiff’s remains inside St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

The late pontiff will be buried on Saturday after dying at the age of 88.

The President said he hopes the next pope will build on the steps Francis was able to take.

A proposed trip north of the border during the pontiff’s historic visit to the island of Ireland in 2018 was shelved because of time constraints.

The former taoiseach met Francis during his visit to Ireland in 2018.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell was asked in 2019 by Pope Francis to take on the role managing the Vatican during the ‘interregnum’ between papacies.

A book of condolences for Pope Francis, who died this morning, will be available to sign in Carlow cathedral over the next few days.

The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin opened a book of condolences to the late pontiff.

Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin said the 2018 visit was ‘overshadowed by the story of abuse’.

Only cardinals who are under the age of 80 at the time the papacy becomes vacant (either by death or resignation of the pope) are eligible to enter the conclave and vote for the new pope.

Father Tim Bartlett helped organise Francis’s visit to the island in 2018

Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin said that Pope Francis would regularly ask about the peace process

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Pope held a ‘special place in the hearts of Irish people’

Despite being called a ‘phenomenal’ advocate for migrants, Pope Francis’ statement in Dublin on clerical abuse was labelled ‘disappointing’.

Pope Francis has announced a number of significant changes to the Catholic dioceses in Connacht

Prof McAleese acknowledged that this was not a change to the Catholic definition of marriage.