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Zelensky says Russian ceasefire memorandum is an 'ultimatum'
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Deadly stampede at India cricket celebrations
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US novelist Edmund White, chronicler of gay life, dead at 85: agent
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Germany unveils tax breaks to boost stagnant economy
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India sets date of population and caste census
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Kluivert confident Indonesia will edge China in World Cup qualifier
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Thirteen on trial in France over 'racist' stunt targeting singer Aya Nakamura
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Czechs sign nuclear deal with S.Korea firm KHNP: PM
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Huge planet discovered orbiting tiny star puzzles scientists
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Pioneering US novelist Edmund White put gay life on the page
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World Boxing say 'not correct' to have named Khelif in sex test statement
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US private sector hiring sharply slows, drawing Trump ire
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Suspected mastermind of French crypto kidnappings held in Morocco
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China seek 'perfect' Indonesia win to keep World Cup dream alive
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England defender Bright rules herself out of Women's Euros
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EU antiques import clampdown could gut trade, warn dealers
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Stocks extend gains despite US steel tariffs
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EU gives Bulgaria green light to adopt euro in 2026
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US-backed group suspends Gaza aid operations
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Beijing slams Rubio 'attack' on China after Tiananmen Square remarks
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Trump says deal with Xi 'extremely hard' as steel tariffs double
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Ex-Fiji captain Nayacalevu has 'no regrets' over Test retirement
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Aicha Macky, Niger's taboo-breaking filmmaker
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Kohli dedicates IPL title to fans ahead of homecoming celebrations
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Trump says 'extremely hard' to do deal with Xi as steel tariffs double
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Iran's Khamenei says US nuclear proposal against national interest
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Gaza aid sites shut, as Israel issues 'combat zones' warning
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200,000 Afghans left Pakistan since deportations renewed
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Kohli dedicates IPL title to fans ahead of homecoming victory parade
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China calls Rubio's comments on Tiananmen Square crackdown an 'attack'
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Marsh back to lead Australia in West Indies T20s
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French singer Nicole Croisille, of 'A Man and a Woman' fame, dies at 88: agent
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Scientists long ago envisioned the end of climate cooperation
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Japan births in 2024 fell below 700,000 for first time
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Taiwan's Lai, Rubio vow to 'never forget' Tiananmen victims
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Crusaders seek to rebuild dynasty as Super Rugby finals begin
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Sweden tries sole surviving jihadist over Jordan pilot burnt to death
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US-backed Gaza aid centres to close temporarily after 27 killed
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Kohli does it at last, teenage star wows: five IPL storylines
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Stead to exit after seven years as Black Caps search for new coach
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US doubles steel, aluminum tariffs as OECD ministers gather
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Between freedom and restrictions, Syrians navigate new reality
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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.

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