AnewZ Morning Brief - April 22nd, 2025

Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 22nd, covering the latest developments you need to know.

Cardinals to meet after death of Pope Francis, plan for funeral

Cardinals will gather at 9 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Tuesday to arrange Pope Francis’ funeral and begin the transition toward electing his successor after the pontiff’s sudden death on Monday.

Francis, 88, died of a stroke and cardiac arrest shortly after returning to the Vatican from treatment for double pneumonia. His decade‑long papacy was marked by reform drives, outspoken advocacy for the poor, and tension with traditionalists. Easter Sunday had seen him greet pilgrims in apparent good health.

The Vatican’s protocols are now in motion: the papal “Fisherman’s Ring” and seal have been destroyed to prevent misuse, and Cardinal Mauro Gambetti led prayers in St Peter’s Square, hailing Francis as “a pilgrim of hope.”

The funeral is expected between Friday and Sunday. World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump—often at odds with Francis over immigration—and Argentine President Javier Milei, will attend. In an unusual request, Francis asked to be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major rather than St Peter’s.

Meanwhile, the College of Cardinals assumes interim governance of the Church. A conclave to elect a new pope traditionally begins 15‑20 days after a pontiff’s death, so voting is unlikely before May 6. About 135 cardinals are eligible to join the secret ballot.

As Catholics worldwide mourn a transformative yet polarizing leader, attention shifts to who will next guide the Church’s 1.4 billion faithful.

Pope Francis: Tributes, mass and vigils held in towns and cities across the world

Italy – The bells of St Peter’s Basilica tolled and Vatican flags dropped to half‑mast as thousands filed into evening prayers in the square.
France – Paris’ Notre Dame rang its bells 88 times—one for each year of Francis’ life—before the Eiffel Tower went dark at 23:30.
Spain – Madrid declared three days of mourning; a packed Mass at Almudena Cathedral drew worshippers who hailed him as a pope “of love and inclusion.”
Croatia & Bulgaria – Crowds gathered outside Zagreb’s cathedral, while candles burned in Sofia’s St Joseph’s as clergy honoured Francis’ concern for the marginalised.
United Kingdom – A Requiem Mass at Westminster Cathedral led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols coincided with flags flying half‑mast across London.

Latin America

Argentina – President Javier Milei ordered seven days of national mourning; Buenos Aires Cathedral overflowed with candle‑bearing faithful paying homage to their “father of mercy.”
Brazil – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva decreed a week‑long mourning period, while Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue prepared a special illumination in Francis’ memory.
Mexico & Peru – Major shrines scheduled all‑night rosaries; Lima projected the pontiff’s image across the Magic Water Circuit fountains.

North America

United States – President Trump ordered federal flags to half‑staff; churches from New York to Los Angeles held memorial liturgies, with Catholic leaders calling Francis “the People’s Pope.”
Canada – Prime Minister Mark Carney praised the pope’s “moral clarity,” while Toronto’s cathedral drew crowds recalling his 2022 apology to residential‑school survivors.

Africa

Democratic Republic of Congo – Kinshasa’s Our Lady of the Congo Cathedral hosted a packed sunset Mass, echoing the million‑strong crowd Francis drew there in 2023.
Kenya – Nairobi believers linked his Easter‑Monday passing to the “resurrection promise,” holding street vigils and painting murals of the pontiff.
Nigeria – The Catholic Secretariat issued a national statement of grief, and Lagos archbishop Alfred Martins called Francis “a fresh breath of life” during a televised homily.

Middle East

Israel – Worshippers placed a portrait of the pope inside Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre and offered evening prayers.
Egypt – President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi and Al‑Azhar’s Grand Imam paid joint tribute, lauding Francis as “a voice for peace.”
Gulf & Levant – Cathedrals in Abu Dhabi and Beirut scheduled inter‑faith memorials, reflecting the pope’s landmark 2019 visit that opened new dialogue channels.

Asia

India – New Delhi declared three days of state mourning; Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Francis “a beacon of compassion and hope.”
Philippines – Thousands packed Manila’s Cubao Cathedral, some calling him a “true father to us.”
South Korea – Seoul’s Myeongdong Cathedral overflowed as the government weighed sending a condolence delegation to the Vatican.
East Timor – President José Ramos‑Horta ordered flags at half‑staff for a week and a nationwide Mass of thanksgiving.

Oceania

Australia – Sydneysiders laid flowers outside St Mary’s Cathedral at dawn, praising the pontiff’s push for Church transparency.
New Zealand – St Patrick’s Cathedral in Auckland held a special evening liturgy, with bishops urging faithful to “walk humbly, as he did.”

Ukraine to hold peace talks in UK, Russia shows positive stance on any peace initiative

Ukraine and Russia have signaled a renewed willingness to pursue peace, as Kyiv prepares for high-level talks in London and Moscow voices support for diplomatic solutions to the ongoing conflict.

Ukraine on Monday announced it will hold peace talks in London on Wednesday, with the United Kingdom, France, and the United States expected to participate. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared the update following what he described as a “good and detailed” phone conversation with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Writing on social media platform X, Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine's readiness to pursue a constructive path toward “an unconditional ceasefire and a lasting peace.”

On the same day, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Russia’s continued willingness to seek a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, though he did not provide a specific timeline. Peskov underlined the importance of conducting peace efforts discreetly, warning against public disclosures that could disrupt the process. He also welcomed recent comments from the United States, which indicated opposition to Ukraine joining NATO.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Truth Social that Russia and Ukraine might reach a deal this week.

In his nightly address, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s offer not to target civilian infrastructure and called for a clear response from Moscow. “The most reliable way to ensure this commitment is to halt missile and long-range drone strikes,” he said, adding that such a move would automatically protect civilian facilities.

A day earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled that the Kremlin views peace initiatives positively and hopes Kyiv will do the same. Addressing Ukraine’s proposal to avoid striking civilian infrastructure, Putin said the issue warrants careful review—possibly through bilateral discussions—before decisions are made going forward.

Overnight Russian drone strike sets homes ablaze in Odesa

A mass overnight drone attack by Russian forces struck residential areas of Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa, setting homes ablaze and damaging buildings in a densely populated neighbourhood, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday.

“The enemy targeted a residential area,” Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov said, posting images of flames engulfing a multi-storey apartment block and shattered window frames. The strike, he added, was aimed at “a densely populated district,” marking one of the most serious hits on Odesa’s civilian infrastructure in recent weeks.

Regional Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed that dwellings, an educational institution, civilian infrastructure, and vehicles had been damaged. Emergency services were deployed to the scene, and the number of casualties was still being determined, he said.

Odesa, located on the Black Sea and home to three major ports, has long been a key target in Russia’s campaign. The region’s strategic role in Ukraine’s grain exports and its connection to international shipping routes have made it a focal point since the start of the full-scale war in 2022.

Russian attacks have intensified in recent days, despite ongoing international efforts to de-escalate the conflict. Tuesday’s drone strike comes just hours after Ukrainian officials warned of renewed risks to urban centres amid shifting military activity along the front lines.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the number of injuries or fatalities, but residents reported multiple explosions and fires overnight, with firefighting teams still working at dawn.

As Odesa wakes to assess the damage, the attack serves as another reminder of the war’s cost far from the battlefield — in the homes, schools, and streets of Ukraine’s cities.

President of Azerbaijan: We are expanding our cooperation with China within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative

“We are expanding our cooperation with China within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative. Significant progress has already been made in this direction,” said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during his exclusive interview with China’s Xinhua News Agency.

“Leveraging its advantageous geographical location, Azerbaijan continues to extensively develop international transport corridors, create modern infrastructure and invest additional funds in increasing their capacity in response to the sharp increase in cargo traffic through our territory,” added the President.

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