AP’s Italy bureau showed the power of preparation to cover Pope Francis’ death

By All the members of AP's Italy bureau

AP’s Italy team and others from the around the globe showed the power of preparation to cover the breaking news and immediate aftermath of Pope Francis’ death.

The timing of Pope Francis’ death the day after Easter Sunday was unexpected, but it was a moment AP had meticulously prepared for. Months—and in some cases, years—of planning came together swiftly, starting with an alert that beat the competition and broke the news a full minute ahead of Italian newswires.

Work by the Italy staff, the Top Stories Hub, the religion team, photo and text editors, and TV producers around the world ensured AP was in a strong position when the news first broke Monday.

That alert kicked off sweeping, multiformat coverage that captured the global significance of the pope’s passing. As the first pontiff from Latin America, Francis had left a wide-reaching impact, and AP’s reporting reflected that.

Live video became available to customers immediately following the announcement, thanks to the Vatican’s feed of St. Peter’s Square. AP’s own live coverage from the piazza began within a half hour. The first photos from AP photographers in Rome followed shortly afterward.

Pre-prepared sidebars went live, covering topics such as Francis’ influence on church policy, his most memorable quotes, papal funeral rites, a timeline of key moments in his papacy, and analysis of possible successors. Additional stories from across AP’s global network were filed in rapid succession.

A bank of about 200 curated file photos was ready to go, with an additional 100 images captured that day by Rome-based photographers. Video coverage included a six-part obituary, an explainer on the upcoming conclave, and footage of the Vatican bells tolling—a powerful moment underscoring the day’s historic nature.

This coverage was possible due to years of building deep expertise and trusted Vatican sources. It also came together through sacrifice and coordination, as many staffers cut short Easter holiday travel to return to Rome and lead the coverage. Their efforts followed a month of dedicated reporting during the pope’s recent hospitalization.

Judges were particularly impressed by the depth of preparation and the execution of every element—from video and photo to the authoritative mainbar written by Nicole Winfield, whose even-handed and expert perspective anchored global understanding of the moment.

For owning one of the most consequential global stories in both speed and depth, AP’s Italy and Vatican team are this week’s Best of AP — First Winner.

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