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Marc Marquez continues MotoGP dominance by winning Mugello sprint
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Bangladesh draw first Test with Sri Lanka after rain hampers play
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Pant scores India's third hundred in 1st Test before England hit back
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Vondrousova surprises Sabalenka to reach Berlin final
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Mexican boxing legend Alvarez promises Crawford bout will be one of his 'best'
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French scientists find new blood type in Guadeloupe woman
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Farrell adamant Lions 'won't suger-coat' Argentina loss
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Malaysia's Dayaks mark rice harvest end with colourful parade
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Shanto clinches second ton as Bangladesh set Sri Lanka 296-run target
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Israel says killed three Iranian commanders in fresh wave of strikes
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Crusaders out-muscle Chiefs to clinch 15th Super Rugby crown
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VP Vance says US troops still 'necessary' in Los Angeles
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Australian opener Konstas says he has 'come a long way'
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'Survive, nothing more': Cuba's elderly live hand to mouth
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Last member of K-pop megaband BTS to finish military service
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Olympic balloon to rise again in Paris
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Samaranch Senior -- controversial diplomat who saved the Olympics
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As sports embrace gender tests, Coventry and IOC may follow
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Flamengo floor Chelsea at Club World Cup, Bayern edge out Boca
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Bayern overcome battling Boca to reach Club World Cup last 16
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Jeeno extends lead at Women's PGA Championship
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Israel says delayed Iran's presumed nuclear programme by two years
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Japan-US-Philippines coast guards simulate crisis amid China threat
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Flamengo floor Chelsea at Club World Cup, Bayern face Boca
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Tech-fueled misinformation distorts Iran-Israel fighting
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Panama declares state of emergency over deadly pension protests
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Trump says Iran has 'maximum' two weeks, dismisses Europe peace efforts
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Defending champions Toulouse hold off Bayonne to reach Top 14 final
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Teams from 'south' have Club World Cup heat advantage: Dortmund's Kovac
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'It's only match one' says Itoje after Lions mauled by Pumas
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Fleetwood, Thomas and Scheffler share PGA Travelers lead
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Mexican authorities rescue 3,400 trafficked baby turtles
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Maresca accepts Chelsea were second best in Flamengo loss
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Global stocks mixed, oil lower as market digests latest on Iran
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Argentina's Kirchner urges backers not to gather as police deploy
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Lions slump to warm-up defeat by Argentina
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Habz, Stark light up Diamond League as Girma banishes Paris blues
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Haliburton warns Pacers of 'poison' of outside noise before NBA Finals game 7
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Benfica knock out Auckland in delayed Club World Cup romp
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Benfica knock out Auckland in Club World Cup romp
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Flamengo fightback floors Chelsea at Club World Cup
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Jaiswal salutes 'special' hundred as Vaughan 'staggered' to see England bowl first
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Wirtz wants to 'win everything' for Liverpool after record move
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World Bank and IMF climate snub 'worrying', says COP29 presidency
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Iran rejects nuclear talks with US before Israeli 'aggression' stops
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Sahel juntas pile pressure on foreign mining firms
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Europe powers urge Iran to keep up diplomacy despite Israeli strikes
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Sabalenka saves four match points against Rybakina to reach Berlin semis
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Liverpool complete record swoop for Wirtz from Leverkusen
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Armenia PM hails 'in depth' talks with Erdogan on 'historic' Turkey visit
Pope Francis: A Transformative Legacy
The Catholic Church mourns the loss of Pope Francis, who passed away on 21 April 2025 at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped the Church and touched the world. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was the first Jesuit, the first Latin American, and the first non-European pontiff in over 1,200 years. His death, caused by a stroke, marked the end of a 12-year papacy defined by bold reforms, profound compassion, and inevitable controversies.
Francis ascended to the papacy in 2013, following the historic resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. From his first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he chose the name Francis in homage to St. Francis of Assisi, he signalled a departure from tradition. Eschewing the opulent Apostolic Palace for a modest residence in Casa Santa Marta, he embodied humility. His early words, asking the crowd to pray for him, set the tone for a papacy rooted in accessibility and service.
His transformative vision centred on a “poor Church for the poor.” Francis prioritised the marginalised, visiting prisons, washing the feet of inmates, and advocating for refugees and the homeless. His 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, was a clarion call for environmental stewardship, urging global action on climate change and sustainable living. This landmark document resonated beyond the Catholic faithful, earning praise from world leaders and environmentalists alike. His commitment to interfaith dialogue also broke new ground. The 2019 Document on Human Fraternity, co-signed with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, promoted peace and coexistence, while his historic visits to Iraq and Indonesia furthered ecumenical ties.
Francis sought to modernise the Church through the Weltsynode, a global reform process launched in 2021. For the first time, laypeople and women were given voting rights at the 2023 Synod of Bishops, a move hailed by progressives as a step towards inclusivity. He appointed women to senior Vatican roles, challenging the Church’s male-dominated hierarchy. Yet, his refusal to ordain women as priests or deacons disappointed those hoping for deeper doctrinal change, highlighting the delicate balance he struck between reform and tradition.
His papacy was not without shadows. The ongoing clergy abuse scandal cast a long pall. While Francis expressed deep sorrow and implemented measures to address the crisis, critics argued he was too slow to act decisively. His handling of cases, such as those involving high-profile clerics, drew scrutiny. Geopolitically, his outspoken criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza strained Vatican-Israel relations, and his failure to sway the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill on the Ukraine war underscored the limits of his influence. Within the Church, ultraconservative factions opposed his reforms, with some accusing him of diluting doctrine. His decision to sign a document affirming the diversity of religions sparked fierce debate, with critics claiming it undermined Catholic exclusivity.
Francis’s personal struggles added complexity to his tenure. Health challenges, including a prolonged hospital stay for pneumonia in early 2025, tested his resilience. Yet, even in his final days, he remained active, attending Easter services and visiting his beloved Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he will be laid to rest on 26 April 2025, per his wishes for a simple burial. His choice of this basilica, rather than St. Peter’s, reflects his lifelong devotion to humility and his connection to the Marian icon Salus Populi Romani.
Tributes poured in from across the globe. World leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden, lauded his compassion and advocacy for the vulnerable. Hollywood figures like Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio praised his moral leadership, while Argentina declared seven days of national mourning. In Rome, tens of thousands gathered at St. Peter’s Square, where his body was displayed for public homage until Friday, before a funeral attended by global dignitaries.
As the Vatican prepares for the conclave to elect the 267th pope, the Church stands at a crossroads. Francis’s reforms have opened doors, but his unfinished agenda—on women’s roles, abuse accountability, and doctrinal evolution—leaves his successor a daunting task. His papacy, a beacon of hope for many, was a tightrope walk between progress and tradition, light and shadow. His legacy endures as a call to compassion, a challenge to power, and a vision of a Church closer to the people it serves.

Azerbaijan is in control: Armenians flee Nagorno-Karabakh

EU countries agree on watered-down car emissions proposal

Hungary-Dictator PM Orban claims EU 'deceived' Hungary

Ruble at the end: Russia's currency on the brink of collapse

Russia in Ukraine: murder, torture, looting, rape!

That's how terror Russians end up in Ukraine!

Spain: Sánchez's aim of a left coalition will fail!

Russland, der Terror-Staat / Russia, the terrorist state!

Ukraine in the fight against the russian terror State

The Russian criminals will never own Ukraine!

ATTENTION, ATENCIÓN, УВАГА, ВНИМАНИЕ, 注意事项, DİKKAT, 주의, ATENÇÃO
