PARIS — A staggering $53 million worth of diamonds and other jewels was stolen Sunday from the Carlton Intercontinental Hotel in Cannes, in one of Europe's biggest jewelry heists in recent years, police said. One expert noted the crime follows recent jail escapes by members of the notorious “Pink Panther” jewel thief gang.

The hotel in the sweltering French Riviera was hosting a temporary jewelry exhibit over the summer from the prestigious Leviev diamond house, which is owned by Israeli billionaire Lev Leviev.

A police spokesman said the theft took place around noon, but he could not confirm local media reports that the robber was a single gunman who stuffed a suitcase with the gems before making a swift exit.

The luxury Carlton hotel is situated on the exclusive Promenade de la Croisette that stretches a mile and a half along the French Riviera, and is thronged by the rich and famous. The hotel's position provides not only a beautiful view of the sea but also an easy getaway for potential thieves along the long stretch of road.

RIO DE JANEIRO — Pope Francis' historic trip to his home continent ended Sunday after a marathon weeklong visit to Brazil that drew millions of people onto the sands of Rio de Janeiro's iconic Copacabana beach and appeared to reinvigorate the clergy and faithful alike in the world's largest Catholic country.Dignitaries including Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer turned out at Rio's Antonio Carlos Jobim international airport to bid farewell to the Argentine-born pontiff after a visit marked by big moments.Speaking from a white stage on the sands of Copacabana on Sunday, Francis urged a crowd estimated at 3 million people to go out and spread their faith “to the fringes of society, even to those who seem farthest away, most indifferent.”

ROME — An Italian tour bus crushed through a sidewall of a highway bridge in southern Italy, and plunged some 100 feet into a wooded ravine, killing at least 38 people, authorities said today.Rescuers cut through the twisted wreckage of the bus overnight, looking for survivors after it had plunged to the ground on Sunday night.State radio quoted a local police chief as saying the bus driver was among the dead. It was not immediately clear why the driver lost control of the vehicle, but prosecutors were investigating technical problems and had ordered an autopsy on the driver.