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Germany's Merz heads for delicate talks with Trump
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Rangers appoint former Southampton boss Martin as new head coach
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Zelensky slams Russia after three generations killed in drone strike
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TotalEnergies on trial in landmark greenwashing case in France
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Equities on front foot as US data feeds rate-cut hopes
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Vietnamese say no to more kids after two-child limit scrapped
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Namibia's Mouton eyes Top 14 'dream' with Grenoble
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Indonesia allowing nickel industry abuses to go unchecked: report
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Albania town where everything's coming up roses
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As birthrates fall, Turkey's government steps in
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US pressures NATO to seal deal on ramping up defence spending
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American, Kazakhs in Bali face death penalty over drugs: authorities
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Sci-fi writer Charles Stross' dark take on Silicon Valley 'religion'
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Kohli 'lost for words' after 11 die celebrating Bengaluru IPL win
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Fighter pilot takes next giant step for India's space plans
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New eurozone rate cut expected as Trump trade war weighs
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Oilers beat Panthers in OT to win NHL Stanley Cup Final opener
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Gamers get hold of Nintendo's hotly awaited Switch 2
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NATO looks to thrash out spending deal under US pressure
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Burundi votes but with opposition neutered
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China lead mine plan weighs heavily on Myanmar tribe
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Most Asian markets rise as US data feeds rate-cut hopes
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EU eyes 'leadership' role on oceans ahead of UN summit
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Muslim pilgrims pray at Mount Arafat in hajj apex
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'Floating village' to house thousands of Asian Games athletes
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Morocco set for sheepless Eid as drought persists
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Trump administration ramps up attack on Harvard, Columbia
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North Korea's Kim vows 'unconditional support' for Russia's war in Ukraine
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Starbase city grows near Musk's launch site and wilderness refuges
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More people leave homes in Canada as huge wildfires spread
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US-backed group extends closure of Gaza aid sites
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Trump slaps new travel ban on 12 countries
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'I am a political prisoner' says detained Salvadoran activist
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Trump orders inquiry into 'conspiracy' to hide Biden's health decline
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Hobson blazes to 200m free victory at US Swim Championships
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Trump signs travel ban on 12 countries after Colorado attack
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A lingering Musk: Will ex-aide Elon get up Trump's nose?
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Who said what: French Open day 11
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Djokovic downs Zverev to set up French Open semi clash with Sinner
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Pledge to protect oceans falling billions short: report
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Silver says 2026 NBA All-Star game to have USA v World format
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Portugal praise veteran Ronaldo's 'hunger' after Nations League win
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Pacers' Haliburton relishes NBA title shot against dominant Thunder
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Djokovic beats Zverev after Boisson lights up French Open
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Djokovic downs Zverev to reach French Open semis
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'No means no' prosecutor tells jurors as Harvey Weinstein trial wraps
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Witness testifies Sean Combs dangled her from balcony
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Trump says Putin plans to retaliate for Ukraine attack on bombers
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Reddit sues AI giant Anthropic over content use
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Thunder's Gilgeous-Alexander hungry to cap MVP season with NBA crown
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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