WORLD

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, the 88-year-old leader of the Catholic Church, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at 7:35 AM (Vatican time) due to a stroke, coma, and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.

His death came nearly a month after being discharged from a five-week hospital stay, during which he nearly lost his life to double pneumonia.

At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, officially announced the pontiff's death from Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis’ residence within the Vatican.

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

The Vatican has since confirmed that preparations for the funeral and papal succession are currently underway, as the world mourns the passing of the beloved pontiff.

REFERENCE LINK:

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/4/21/pope-francis-died-of-stroke-irreversible-cardiovascular-collapse-vatican-1136

https://youtu.be/biXz3cMbw94?si=fuDKk4PZoAsLAuua

WASHINGTON, USA – On Thursday, May 1, US President Donald Trump dismissed his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as interim replacement, marking the first significant change in his inner circle since taking office in January.

Trump announced his intention to nominate Waltz as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, adding that “he has worked hard to put our nation’s interests first.”

Earlier in the day, several sources revealed that Trump had already made the decision to remove Waltz from his national security position. Waltz, retired Army Green Beret and former Republican lawmaker from Florida, had come under fire within the White House, particularly after becoming entangled in a Signal app controversy in March involving senior members of Trump's national security team.

Rubio will be the first person since Henry Kissinger in the 1970s to hold the positions of secretary of state and national security adviser simultaneously.

“When I have a problem, I call up Marco. He gets it solved,” Trump said at a White House event earlier on Thursday.

According to someone familiar with the situation, Trump aimed to hit the 100-day mark in his term before firing a cabinet-level official. The reshuffle came so suddenly that State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce found out from journalists during a press briefing.

The position of national security adviser is highly influential and does not need Senate confirmation. In his first term, Trump had four different people serve in that role: Michael Flynn, H.R. McMaster, John Bolton, and Robert O’Brien.

Two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that Alex Wong, Waltz’s deputy and an Asia affairs expert, is also being forced out. Wong previously worked on North Korea policy at the State Department during Trump’s earlier presidency.

The removal of Waltz marks the peak of ongoing personnel instability in Trump’s national security team. Since April 1, over 20 staffers from the National Security Council have been fired, the head of the NSA has been replaced, and three senior Pentagon political appointees were dismissed.

According to several administration officials, these widespread firings have severely impacted morale within the national security team. Some government areas are reportedly lacking essential security expertise, and attracting high-level candidates has become a challenge. The NSC is the main body used by presidents to coordinate security strategy, and its staff often make key decisions regarding America’s approach to the world’s most volatile conflicts.

Waltz was blamed for accidentally adding the editor of The Atlantic magazine to a private thread describing details of an imminent US bombing campaign in Yemen. The Atlantic subsequently reported on the internal discussions about the strikes.

At a subsequent Cabinet meeting with Waltz in the room, Trump expressed his preference for holding such conversations in a secure setting, a clear sign of his displeasure. But he and others in the White House publicly expressed confidence in Waltz at the time.

Trump so far has expressed confidence in his defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, despite the turmoil at the top levels at the Pentagon and his involvement in the Signal controversy.

Waltz also attended Trump’s televised cabinet meeting on Wednesday. In a Reuters photograph from the meeting, Waltz appeared to be using the Signal app on his phone. The photograph appears to show a list of chats he has had on the messaging app with other cabinet members, including Vice President JD Vance and Intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard.

Commenting on the photo, White House communications director Steven Cheung said on social media: “Signal is an approved app that is loaded onto our government phones.”

Wave of firings

The NSC that Waltz will leave behind has been thinned by dismissals in recent weeks. The bloodletting began a month ago, when Laura Loomer, a right-wing conspiracy theorist, handed Trump a list of individuals in the NSC she deemed to be disloyal during a meeting at the White House. Following that meeting, four senior directors were released.

Those four senior directors – who oversaw intelligence, technology, international organizations and legislative affairs, respectively – had a long history in conservative policymaking and no apparent animosity toward Trump, leaving colleagues puzzled by their dismissals, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Some NSC staffers were upset that Waltz did not defend his staff more forcefully, those people said. Since then, more than 20 additional NSC staffers of various profiles have been let go, typically with no notice, the people said.

The signal incident wasn't the only factor that influenced Trump's decision. A person familiar with the Cabinet’s internal dynamics said Waltz was too hawkish for the war-averse Trump and was seen as not effectively coordinating foreign policy among a variety of agencies, a key role for the national security adviser.

Waltz’s removal may unsettle U.S. allies in Europe and Asia, who saw him as a strong supporter of NATO and a moderating force against more confrontational voices in Trump's circle, one foreign dimplomant in Washington said.

Trump’s nomination of Waltz to the UN fills a vacancy left when he pulled back the nomination of Representative Elise Stefanik, whose vote is crucial in the closely divided House of Representatives.

REFERENCE LINK: 

https://www.rappler.com/world/us-canada/trump-ousts-waltz-names-rubio-national-security-adviser/

VATICAN CITY — In a historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States has been elected as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American and 267th pope following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.

Cardinal Prevost, a 69-year-old Augustinian priest born in Chicago, emerged from the conclave as the new leader of over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. The cardinal electors announced his election Thursday with the traditional declaration “Habemus Papam” from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where Pope Leo XIV greeted thousands gathered in the square.

“Peace be with all you,” the new pontiff said in his first public address, calling on global communities to “build bridges through dialogue and come together as one people, always in peace.” He also paid tribute to Pope Francis and signaled a continuation of his predecessor’s legacy of inclusivity.

Before becoming pope, Prevost served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo in Peru, where he worked as a missionary and holds dual Peruvian citizenship. Appointed cardinal in 2023, he was responsible for selecting bishops around the world.

His papacy begins at a time of global unrest—from the Ukraine-Russia war to humanitarian crises in Gaza and Myanmar—as well as internal Church challenges, including clerical abuse scandals, the role of women, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion.

Despite the pressing issues, Pope Leo XIV is expected to bring a pastoral approach rooted in dialogue. As Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown noted before the conclave, "I think whoever is elected pope will make changes. That's normal. Every pope has his own idea. He keeps the teaching of the Catholic Church intact, but he presents it in his own way," 

REFERENCE LINK:

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/world/945509/american-cardinal-robert-francis-named-pope/story/

VATICAN CITY—The recent election of Pope Leo XIV has been met with optimism among conservative circles within the Catholic Church, who anticipate a return to traditional values and increased doctrinal rigor under his leadership.

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, is recognized for his commitment to orthodox teachings and his emphasis on spiritual discipline. His ascension to the papacy is seen by many as an opportunity to reinforce the Church’s foundational doctrines and moral teachings.

In his inaugural address, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of upholding the Church’s teachings and traditions, stating, “The Church must remain steadfast in its mission, guided by the timeless truths of our faith.”

Observers note that Pope Leo XIV’s leadership may influence the Church’s stance on various contemporary issues, potentially leading to a reaffirmation of traditional positions on matters such as family, marriage, and bioethics.

REFERENCE LINK:

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/623456/conservatives-hopeful-that-pope-leo-xiv-will-restore-rigor-to-papacy