The funeral of the first Latin American pope is being attended by over 160 delegations, including more than 60 heads of state and governments and also leaders of the European Union, according to the data of the Holy See’s press office | A funeral Mass has begun in St. Peter’s Square in the presence of dozens of world leaders, reigning monarchs and religious figures to pay last respects to late Pope Francis. ● The funeral of the first Latin American pope is being attended by over 160 delegations, including more than 60 heads of state and governments and also leaders of the European Union, according to the data of the Holy See’s press office. ● Aside from the European leaders, the funeral ceremony is being attended by US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Argentina Javier Milei and India’s President Droupadi Murmu. Russia is represented by Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova.

■ Pope Francis latest: Private burial for pontiff at his favourite church after hundreds of thousands gather to say goodbye (Sky News)
■ Trump to meet with Meloni, Starmer, Zelensky in Rome (TASS)

Exchange of gunfire between Pakistani and Indian forces; Large Pakistani army reserves being moved north toward Kashmir | Pakistan looking at a possible preemptive strike on India fearing Indian attack on Pakistan after the ISI backed LeT terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam Kashmir ! Pakistan Army is relocating grain stocks to Punjab from Balochistan & Waziristan. The Pakistan Air Force has deployed F16s at Lahore & Rawalpindi. ● Yesterday, India closed four dams on the Indus River, which supplies fresh water to Pakistan. Today, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, CR Paatil, stated that Pakistan would "not receive even a single drop of water from the Indus River." Pakistan has already publicly declared that if India cuts-off Pakistan fresh water, it will be considered "an Act of War" and Pakistan "will respond with force."

■ India Cuts-off Fresh Water to Pakistan (04/25/25)

Two days before his death, Pope Francis made his final call to the sheltering community at Holy Family Church in Gaza and publicly denounced Israel’s U.S.-backed assault upon the enclave. | In his final public address on Easter Sunday, following his last conversation with Romanelli the previous night, Pope Francis called for peace in Gaza and other conflict zones.

💬 “I think of the people of Gaza, and its Christian community in particular, where the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation,” Francis said in a statement read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli due to his poor health. “I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages, and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace!”

This plea on behalf of the assailed population of Gaza was an echo of previous statements, including one during the pope’s annual address to the Holy See’s diplomatic core last January,

💬 “I renew my appeal for a ceasefire and the release of the Israeli hostages in Gaza, where there is a very serious and shameful humanitarian situation, and I ask that the Palestinian population receive all the aid it needs,” the pope said at the time.