Pope Francis Passes Away

Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio), who passed away on 21 April 2025, in Casa Santa Marta, Vatican City, aged 88, was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until his death. He was the first pope from the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order), the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, and the first born or raised outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio was inspired to join the Jesuits in 1958 after recovering from severe illness. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969; from 1973 to 1979, he was the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina. He became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.

Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March. He chose Francis as his paal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. Throughout his public life, Francis was noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, international visibility as pope, concern for the poor, and commitment to interreligious dialogue. He was known for having a less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors by, for instance, choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae (House of St. Martha) guest house rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by previous popes.

Francis made women full members of dicasteries in the Roman Curia.  He maintained that the Catholic Church should be more sympathetic toward members of the LGBTQ community, and stated that although blessings of same-sex unions are not permitted, the individuals can be blessed as long as blessings are not given in a liturgical context. Francis was a critic of unbridled capitalism, consumerism, and overdevelopment, he made action on climate change a leading focus of his papacy. He is widely interpreted as denouncing the death penalty as intrinsically evil, stating that the Catholic Church is committed to its abolition.  In international diplomacy, Francis criticized the rise of right-wing populism, called for the decriminalization of homosexuality, helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba, negotiated a deal with China to define how much influence the Communist Party had in appointing Chinese bishops, and supported the cause of refugees. He called protection of migrants a "duty of civilisation" and criticised anti-immigration politics, including those of U.S. President Donald Trump.  In 2022, he apologized for the Church’s role in the “cultural genocide” of the Canadian Indigenous peoples.  Francis convened the Synod of Synodality which was which was described as the culmination of his papacy and the most important event in the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council.

Francis died at the age of 88 at 7:35 am on 21 April 2025, Easter Monday. In the weeks before his death, he had been treated for chronic lung disease—including a respiratory crisis and pneumonia.

Queen Elizabeth II Birth Anniversary

 

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary), born on 21 April 1926, in Mayfair, London, was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She had been queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was the monarch of 15 realms at her death. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days is the longest of any British monarch, the second-longest of any sovereign state, and the longest of any queen regnant in history.

The eldest daughter of George VI, she became the heiress presumptive when her father acceded the throne following the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII. During World War II, she began to undertake public duties and worked in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. After the death of her father she acceded the throne in 1952.

Her reign has seen immense constitutional changes in Britain. This includes devolution to the regional governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Canadian patriation, African decolonization and the continuing evolution of the Commonwealth, of which she is the head. Personal tribulations have included the collapse of her children's marriages, a fire at Windsor Castle in 1992, the death of Princess Diana in 1997 and the deaths of her mother and sister in 2002.

In 2017 she became the first British monarch to reach her Sapphire Jubilee.

World Curlew Day

World Curlew Day is a global awareness day that celebrates the curlew, a large wading bird that is found in many parts of the world. The day is held on April 21st, which is the feast day of Saint Beuno, the patron saint of curlews.

Curlews are beautiful and iconic birds. They are known for their long, downcurved bills, mottled brown plumage, and haunting calls. Curlews are also long-lived birds, with some individuals known to live for up to 30 years.

However, curlews are facing a number of threats, including habitat loss, hunting, and climate change. As a result, curlew populations have declined by as much as 80% in some parts of the world.

World Curlew Day is a chance to raise awareness of the plight of curlews and to encourage people to get involved in conservation efforts. There are many things that can be done to help curlews, such as:

·      Protecting their habitats: Curlews need open, wet habitats to breed and raise their young. We can help to protect curlew habitat by supporting sustainable agriculture practices, reducing our use of pesticides, and planting native plants.

·     Reducing hunting: Curlews are still hunted in some parts of the world. We can help to reduce hunting by supporting legislation that protects curlews and by educating hunters about the importance of curlews.

·      Mitigating climate change: Climate change is a major threat to curlews. We can help to mitigate climate change by reducing our carbon emissions, supporting renewable energy, and planting trees.

By taking these steps, we can help to ensure that curlews continue to thrive for generations to come.

 

 

Foundation Day of Rome in 753 BC

 

The foundation day of Rome is traditionally celebrated on April 21st,  commemorating the city's mythical founding by Romulus on April 21, 753 BC. This date is the basis for the Roman chronology "Ab urbe condita", meaning "from the founding of the City".

·        Mythical Foundation:

The Roman foundation myth centres around Romulus and Remus, twin brothers raised by a she-wolf, who are said to have founded Rome on the Palatine Hill.

·        Date’s Significance:

April 21^st, 753 BC, is the date when the Roman civilization is said to have begun. This date was the basis for the Roman civilization is said to have begun. This date was the basis for the Roman system of chronology, which counted years from the presumed foundation, says Wikipedia.

·        Celebrations:

Natale di Roma is an annual festival held in Rome on April 21^st to celebrate the city’s birthday.