The Catholic Church opened the solemn Lenten season leading to Easter on Wednesday without the participation of Pope Francis, who is in the third week of hospital treatment for double pneumonia.

The Vatican has made alternative plans for Ash Wednesday next week, making clear Pope Francis still had a long road to ...

Just before Easter last year, Francis declined to attend a Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum in a bid to conserve his health, but the pope later led tens of thousands of worshipers in ...

The 88-year-old pope responded well, and remained conscious and alert at all times, the Vatican said in its late update.

This time of year sees an emptied out city and slashed room rates – with the exceptions of Christmas in December and Easter in March or April. In January, historically Rome's coldest months ...

Christian and Catholic holidays will be especially busy times to visit Rome, with papal masses at Easter expected to draw crowds of one to two million.

But the outlook is much better for the eastern Mediterranean, particularly Italy and Greece which will enjoy the driest and warmest weather over Easter. Rome and Palermo will both be hot and sunny ...