Pope puts Sagrada Familia architect Gaudi on path to sainthood
Pope Francis has approved the first step towards sainthood for Antoni Gaudi, the modernist architect behind Barcelona's "Sagrada Familia" basilica, the Vatican said on Monday.
After spending 38 days in hospital battling double pneumonia, Pope Francis made his first public appearance on Sunday since February 14 and returned to the Vatican.
However, doctors have advised the 88-year-old pontiff to rest for another two months to fully recover, raising questions about how frequently he will be seen in public over the coming weeks.
The pope left Rome's Gemelli hospital and returned to his residence at the Casa Santa Marta (St. Martha's House) within the Vatican, a facility that has served as his home since his election in 2013. While the building, primarily a residence for Vatican priests, remains generally closed to the public, the pope resides on the second floor in a series of rooms.
During his recovery, the pope will be supported by a 24-hour nurse and will continue to receive supplemental oxygen if necessary. A new adjustable bed with electronic controls has been added to assist him, especially as he has used a wheelchair in recent years. Despite these adjustments, no special care arrangements have been made to accommodate him in Santa Marta.
While it is unclear how strictly the pope will adhere to his doctors' orders for rest, he has a history of pushing through illness, even continuing his duties from the hospital. In the past, he has maintained public appearances through video links when particularly unwell. However, with two months of recovery ahead, it is uncertain whether he will keep upcoming appointments, including a meeting with Britain’s King Charles on April 8 and leading the Vatican’s annual Easter celebrations on April 20.
Pope Francis, the first pope from the Americas, has made his residence at Casa Santa Marta a matter of personal preference, stating that he enjoys being around people. "I'm happy at Santa Marta because I have people around me," he has written, adding that he will stay there "so long as God wishes."
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Tehran and Washington have wrapped up their second round of nuclear talks, aiming to revive stalled diplomacy and explore the path to a potential agreement.
Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a phone conversation on Saturday to discuss ongoing efforts to end the Israeli war on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.
President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine has drawn strong criticism from Kyiv, as Ukrainian leaders question the sincerity behind Moscow’s gesture amid continued hostilities and deep mistrust.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denounced a Russian drone strike that occurred just hours after the start of a declared Easter truce, calling it proof of Vladimir Putin’s blatant disregard for both the holiday and human life.
Elon Musk announced on Saturday that he plans to visit India later this year, following a discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about potential collaboration in technology and innovation.
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