The World Is Turning Over, Again!

Our household enjoyed a nice Easter Sunday, with early morning church attendance follow by family lunch. In the afternoon, I watched television from the Vatican. St. Peter's square was full of people. Pictures showed Pope Francis on the balcony at St. Peter's giving an Easter Sunday blessing, then riding in the Popemobile through the crowd in Saint Peter's Square. Pope Francis Saint Peter's Basilica Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 Waking up early Easter Monday, around 2 am CST, I sent two emails to contacts in Vatican City trying to get information on obtaining Easter stamps, then returned to bed. I listened to the nightly BBC radio broadcast and learned that Pope Francis had been pronounced dead by Cardinal Kevin Farrell at 7:35 am Rome time (that was 12:35 am CDT here in the US). The BBC was presenting special newscast information about the various world leaders reacting to the news of Pope Francis's death. U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance had been to Vatican City over the weekend and had a meeting with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday. He had met with other Vatican officials earlier in the week to discuss topics such as international relations, religious freedom, and humanitarian concerns, with a focus on issues such as migrants, refugees, and prisoners. The BBC newscast also presented Anglican reactions (from York in Great Britain). The Russian Orthodox Church acknowledged Pope Francis' contributions to fostering dialogue between Moscow and the Vatican. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences and praised Pope Francis for his efforts in promoting unity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed deep sorrow over Pope Francis' passing, highlighting the Pope's prayers for peace in Ukraine and his support for the Ukrainian people. Palestinian leaders acknowledged Pope Francis' commitment to peace and his recognition of the Palestinian state. The militant group Hamas also mourned the passing of Pope Francis, appreciating his vocal condemnation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A period of mourning will now begin before the process to elect a new pope gets underway. The preparations for the funeral of Pope Francis have begun. The plans will likely adhere to his personal wishes for a simple and humble ceremony. Unlike previous popes, he chose not to be buried beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, instead opting for a final resting place at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, a site he frequently visited for prayer (he visited the Basilica and prayed before the iconic Salus Populi Romani as recently as Saturday, April 12). Salus Populi Romani Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore From Wikipedia In the public domain The Conclave of the College of Cardinals will convene shortly after the funeral to elect the 267th pope. The world will see new Church leadership, with probable changes in the way Vatican City handles diplomacy. Buckle up, and say a few prayers. It could get to be very interesting!