But at the entrance, “when you first walk in, the space is framed with two beautiful red curtains. The sun could be blaring … and it shuts in front of you, and you don’t know what time it is ...

The bells of St Peter’s Basilica and churches across Rome rang out, and crowds rushed towards the square to watch the balcony of the basilica, fitted out with red curtains for the first address ...

Shortly after a new pope is elected, he steps onto the Vatican balcony, framed by red curtains, where he will deliver his first apostolic blessing, known as the “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City ...