O'Neill cuts short holiday to potentially attend Pope's funeral
PA MediaNorthern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill has cut short a family holiday in the hope of attending the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome on Saturday.
Her attendance has not been officially confirmed but it is understood talks are taking place to secure an official invite.
It follows confirmation that the Scottish First Minister John Swinney will be at the ceremony on Saturday along with heads of state from around the world.
The deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly has confirmed she will not be attending.
It comes as events continue to be held in Northern Ireland to mark Pope Francis, who died on Monday aged 88.
Belfast City Council held a special council meeting to mark his death on Thursday.
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Mickey Murray said Pope Francis's "influence extended beyond the Catholic Church".
"Pope Francis will be remembered for his commitment to bringing people together from different backgrounds through mutual respect and understanding. His death marks the end of an era."
Meanwhile in Armagh, the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, will celebrate a Requiem Mass for the Pope later tonight.
Opportunity to remember Pope
The Mass will be held in St Patrick's Cathedral at 19:00 BST.
Speaking ahead of the service, Archbishop Martin said it would be "an opportunity to remember [Pope Francis], to give thanks for his amazing contribution to church and to the word and the world and also to commend his soul to the mercy of God".
He said that he had been "astounded" by the "number of young people" who has visited Armagh to pay tribute to the late Pope.
"He has spoken to them, he has really been youthful himself despite his big age... he has called young people to friendship with Christ."
On the task of choosing a new pope, Archbishop Martin said: "If we can find another person of prayer, a humble man, a great communicator, somebody who's courageous to speak into the world and to really give a very important counterbalance to the awful fragility and turbulence and fragmentation in the world, I'll be very pleased if we can find such a holy person."
Darren Marshall, reporting from Armagh
At St Patrick's Cathedral, a constant stream of people are calling in.
Some are here to say a prayer or light a candle.
The only sound in the Cathedral is the music coming from a live stream from the Vatican, which is broadcasting on the cathedral's many screens.
A book of condolence is open close to the altar.
There has been a queue of people lined up to sign it since I arrived this morning.
At times it has been more than 30 deep - young and old, some in work clothes, construction jackets or sports tops. Each leaving their own personal tribute to the late pontiff.
Later on Thursday, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Catholic Primate of All Ireland, will lead a Mass of thanksgiving for the life of Pope Francis.
Political leaders will be in attendance including Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald and the Social democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Claire Hanna.
Sorcha Eastwood will represent the Alliance Party.
Neither the Democratic Unionist Party or the Ulster Unionist Party are sending a representative.
On Friday, Archbishop Martin will travel to Rome to attend Saturday's funeral of Pope Francis.
Ahead of the Mass in the Cathedral people have also been coming to sign a book of condolence.
Armagh people pay tribute to 'amazing' Pope
After she signed her name, Libby Rose O'Sullivan told BBC News NI that she "wished that he has a good time up in heaven".
"He was an inspiration, he is such a good person to go and pray for and he will look down on everyone."
Jacqueline Loughran said: "I wanted to show my respect to our Pope who has led us in difficult times and difficult challenges in the world and has worked right up until his passing."
"You always felt like he cared for everyone from the lowest to the highest, your social standing didn't matter," she said.
Tom McKay said he came to the Cathedral to "pay tribute to a special man, a man who brought the Church back to earth again, who had great feeling for the poor and disadvantaged".
"I think over the last few months despite his ill health he showed that it was worthwhile making the sacrifice to come and meet his people."
Mr KcKay said the Pope's successor will have big shoes to fill.
Getty ImagesBelfast City Hall will be illuminated in yellow and white on Saturday to coincide with the day of his funeral.
Books of condolence are also being opened at buildings across Northern Ireland.
Councils such as Derry and Strabane Council, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and Mid Ulster Council have also opened a book of condolence.
Other councils are expected to follow suit in the coming days.
When was the Pope's death announced?
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday.
Francis, who was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected as Pope in 2013.
He was the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Vatican said he died following a stroke, less than 24 hours after appearing in a wheelchair at St Peter's Square to lead an Easter address in front of thousands of worshipers.
The Pope's death followed a period of ill-health that saw him spend five weeks in hospital with double pneumonia.