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Iran Executes Man for Killing Cleric

Cleric Abbas Ali Soleimani (Fars news agency)
Cleric Abbas Ali Soleimani (Fars news agency)
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Iran Executes Man for Killing Cleric

Cleric Abbas Ali Soleimani (Fars news agency)
Cleric Abbas Ali Soleimani (Fars news agency)

Iran on Wednesday executed a man who was convicted of fatally shooting a senior cleric in April, state media reported.

The attacker, who has not been named, shot at cleric Abbas Ali Soleimani and killed him on April 26 in a bank in Babolsar city in the northern province of Mazandaran.

CCTV camera footage released by Tasnim news agency showed the attacker, a local security officer of the bank, shooting a religious man from behind as he was sitting in a chair at the bank, wearing a black religious uniform and a white turban.

“The sentence of qesas for the murderer of Abbas Ali Soleimani was carried out Wednesday after being approved by the country's Supreme Court,” a local official said, according to the judiciary's Mizan Online website.

Soleimani, 75, was previously a representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and led Friday prayers in the cities of Kashan and Zahedan.

He was also a member of the Assembly of Experts that selects the country's supreme leader.

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Mourners Race to Get Standing Room Spot in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ Funeral

Attendees arrive at St Peter's Square with the colonnade in the background ahead of late Pope Francis' funeral in the Vatican on April 26, 2025. (AFP)
Attendees arrive at St Peter's Square with the colonnade in the background ahead of late Pope Francis' funeral in the Vatican on April 26, 2025. (AFP)
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Mourners Race to Get Standing Room Spot in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ Funeral

Attendees arrive at St Peter's Square with the colonnade in the background ahead of late Pope Francis' funeral in the Vatican on April 26, 2025. (AFP)
Attendees arrive at St Peter's Square with the colonnade in the background ahead of late Pope Francis' funeral in the Vatican on April 26, 2025. (AFP)

As many as 200,000 people are expected to attend Pope Francis' funeral in St. Peter’s Square as he is being laid to rest Saturday.

While dignitaries are to attend, prisoners and migrants will usher him into the basilica where he will be buried, reflecting his priorities as pope.

US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, the UN chief and European Union leaders are joining Prince William and the Spanish royal family will be in attendance.

Francis is breaking with recent tradition and will be buried in the St. Mary Major Basilica, where a simple underground tomb awaits him with just his name: Franciscus.

The pope will get one more ride past the faithful on one of his beloved popemobiles.

The Vatican said for his burial procession, his casket will be placed on the back of a popemobile used during his 2015 trip to the Philippines.

The vehicle has been modified so the casket will be visible to mourners along the nearly 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) route from St. Peter’s Basilica to his place of burial.

The pope reveled in being driven through crowds of faithful whether in St. Peter’s Square or on one of his many foreign trips. His last was on Easter Sunday, when he looped around St. Peter’s Square to the delight of the faithful who had followed his five-week hospitalization for pneumonia and his recovery at the Vatican.

Ordinary mourners streamed Saturday to get a spot in standing room near the rear of the square surrounding the ancient obelisk, behind VIP seating. The area to the left of the main altar, up the basilica steps, is reserved for celebrants and Catholic hierarchy, while world leaders and royalty will be seated on the right.

Many ran toward the square as barricades opened. Some carried banners for the Jubilee Holy Year that Francis opened in December and will continue despite his death Monday following a stroke.