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Inside, the rows of red velvet seats were empty. But outside, huddling in the cold and dark, thousands of people had come to hear the Milanese opera house La Scala say goodbye to one of its most admired and beloved sons.

Pope Francis on Friday received Fiat Chairman John Elkann in a private audience.
The meeting took place "in a very cordial atmosphere", Fiat sources said. Earlier Friday Francis received some of the top brass of ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset empire including his son Piersilvio. 

A small makeshift bomb has exploded in a street in central Rome, causing slight damage to a building belonging to a French religious establishment and three parked cars, police said. There was no immediate word on what was behind the explosion early on Friday morning, which occurred hours before a visit to Pope Francis by French president François Hollande, but security was tight near the Vatican before the meeting. 

A Rome court has recognised a little-known Italian actor as the fourth child of legendary crooner Domenico Modugno. Fabio Camilli, 51, is the child of a relationship the 'Volare' singer-songwriter had with choreographer Maurizia Cali, the court ruled.