Pope Francis was laid to rest today in Rome, with Catholics all over the world paying their respects and paying homage. “Sunday Morning” takes a look back at his legacy of humility and his advocacy for social justice.
New information has come to light regarding staffers at the Department of Energy who were granted broad access to sensitive data systems, and NPR caught up with student loan experts.
Pope Francis’s funeral
Dozens of world leaders attended Francis’ funeral, including President Trump – whom the pope frequently clashed with over immigration and climate change issues – as well as several dignitaries such as Argentina President Javier Milei; Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva; Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prince William who is next-in-line to the British throne.
The ceremony for such a global figure was subdued and straightforward – something which Francis himself would likely appreciate, living by the belief that greatness comes not in grand gestures but through small acts of love and compassion.
Over 250,000 people participated in the service led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of Rome’s College of Cardinals who will choose the next Pope. Applause could be heard whenever Re spoke about Pope John Paul’s concern for immigrants and peacemaking initiatives; and his push to address climate change. Following the service, his coffin was carried through Rome – even passing the Colosseum!
The Vatican’s Sistine Chapel
The Vatican’s restoration of Michelangelo’s frescoes on the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling and lunettes by Michelangelo is now complete, and looks breathtakingly beautiful according to New York Times art critic Christopher Gray.
On Sunday morning, 16 babies will be baptized at the Vatican as part of an annual tradition. These christenings will honor employees at Holy See and Roman Curia offices who work for both institutions – reminding visitors that it’s more than an ivory tower but a family; workers’ children can join their ceremony.
Mr Paolucci stated it would be “unthinkable” to restrict access to the chapel, which serves as an iconic tourist spot and financial boon for the Vatican. However, depending on weather and visitor numbers, measures might need to be taken in order to improve ventilation. He mentioned capping numbers as another measure that may cause outrage from some but perhaps indicates just a sign of our times.
The economy and immigration
After several years of rapid expansion, immigration to the US has begun to ease off. New workers joining the labor force is essential in maintaining economic output and prices stability – without them, companies would pass along higher costs to customers leading to inflationary trends.
Immigrants contribute to our labor force and productivity by filling labor shortages with cheaper workers from outside our borders, paying billions in taxes, and driving consumer spending. Deporting these individuals could have disastrous repercussions for industry by exacerbating worker shortages further and driving up prices further.
Farmers wouldn’t be able to grow food without field workers; builders wouldn’t be able to construct houses; restaurants, hotels and other businesses wouldn’t meet demand without field workers; restaurants wouldn’t open, and services wouldn’t operate effectively without field workers either. According to Peterson Institute estimates that deporting these workers could cost the United States an estimated loss of GDP between $1.1-1.7 trillion by 2028 due to lost contributions made by undocumented immigrants such as Social Security and Medicare programs.
The search for a missing dachshund
Valerie, a miniature dachshund that had gone missing on Kangaroo Island since November 2023 is back home after nearly one year away. Valerie managed to escape her pen on Kangaroo Island and explore its farms, nature reserves, and rugged cliffs before being finally found by Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock camping there in November.
Wildlife rescuers tracked Valerie through camera surveillance and traps, but she proved difficult to capture; Kangala Wildlife Rescue noted last month in its online update “She just seems impossible to trap”.
Kangala announced Friday evening that Valerie had been found. According to nonprofit directors Jared and Lisa Karran, Valerie was seen sniffing around a trap set with a crate, blankets, food and the scent from a torn-up strip from Ms. Gardner’s shirt; once inside she began “decompressing” before being returned shortly to her pet parents.
