of big ben, where the countdown was projected within the london eye in the lead up to midnight. a spectacular firework display lit up the skies for around 12 minutes in what was thought to be the largest display in europe, with over 12,000 fireworks. there were tributes to the late queen elizabeth, to ukraine s resistance against russian invasion, and 50 years of pride celebrations. the display returned to the banks of the river thames for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. 0ur correspondent greg mckenzie has been soaking up the atmosphere amongst the many thousands of revellers. i am absolutely speechless. that was a 12 minute spectacular. the biggest firework display in the entire europe having taken place just a few minutes ago, and in an incredible way to start the new year. big ben, the chimes the bongs of the big ben started as did the fireworks over here at the london eye iconic around the world. a 12 minute spectacular extravaganza. i am actually
hello and welcome to bbc news. it is good to have your company here. we begin with international news. pope francis has addressed worshippers in the vatican this morning. his address follows the death of his predecessor, benedict xvi. the former pope will be lying in state in st peter s basilica from monday to allow mourners to pay their respects until his funeral on thursday. pope francis celebrated mass for the solemnity of mary in the vatican, and afterwards he paid tribute to his predessecor in st peter s square. translation: the beginning . of the new year is for mary most holy, who we celebrate today as mother of god. at this time, let s invoke her intercession, especially for pope benedict xvi, who left this world yesterday morning. let us alljoin together with one heart and one soul in thanking god for the gift of this faithful servant of the gospel and of the church. we saw recently, on the television, his images and all of the activities and life of pope benedict. o
and croatia begins the new year with a new currency, switching from the kuna to the euro. if you have just joined if you havejustjoined us, welcome to bbc news. pope francis has addressed the thousands of people who gathered at st peter s square in the vatican, a day after the death of benedict xvi. the pope described his predecessor as a faithful servant of the gospel and the church. our religion editor aleem maqbool is at the vatican. we heard from pope francis a couple of times today, first at a mass for peace that was held in st peter s basilica behind me. he talked about entrusting our beloved pope emeritus benedict xvi to the holy mother, to accompany him from this world to god. and then later, pope francis appeared at a balcony here at the vatican for what is his regular sunday lunchtime homily, where he started this week by asking people to join together, as you rightly say, to pray for the man he called a faithful servant to the gospel and to the church. extraordinar
hgppy message for you this morning. happy new year! in other news, two men have been charged with the murder of cody fisher who was stabbed to death in a nightclub in birmingham on boxing day. it s a very happy new yearfor arsenalfans. their team are seven points clear at the top of the premier league, after beating brighton. a hero s welcome for gary mckee. he s raises £1 million by running 365 marathons one every day in 2022. we start the new year with quite a bit of snowfall sunshine elsewhere, mixed in with some showers. we have your forecast for the start of the new year here on a breakfast. happy new year. it s sunday the 1st of january. our top story: cities around the world have been welcoming in 2023, with large crowds gathering for fireworks and light displays, many for the first time since the start of the pandemic. in london, big ben signaled the start of a spectacular display, which included a tribute to queen elizabeth. louisa pilbeam reports. big ben bongs.
reaching the finish line the british man who has run a marathon every day of this year to raise a million pounds for charity. celebrations are under way to mark the start of 2023 this is the scene live in paris with the first new year s eve fireworks since 2019 and covid pandemic. they are clearly making the most of that. it s the same across much of europe. we can show you the pictures from the dread. again, the party is well under way as we see and the new year. another look at these extraordinary pictures, absolutely packed with regularities on the first of the new year celebrations able to celebrate in person in public for three years now. it also marks, of course, the moment at which peruvians can say next year we will be hosting the olympic games because the games in 2024 will be coming from paris. an opportunity to rehearse some of their stage management with quite a spectacular display, not over the eiffel tire, but the arctic triumph. we will keep those pictures