Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff who alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, died Monday. He was 88. Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy. But he emerged on Easter Sunday — his last public appearance, a day before his death — to greet ythousands of people in St. Peter’s Square and treat them to a surprise popemobile romp through the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause. Beforehand, he met briefly with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

_*]:min-w-0″> The passing of Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years, marks a significant moment in Catholic leadership and interfaith relations.

Family getting up: Friday (4/25/25)PM Rabbi Gershon EichornFather Mrs. Reva EichornMother Mrs.

Family getting up: Shacharis: 8:00 am Mincha: 7:00 pm Maariv: 9:15 pm Mrs.

Hamas has signaled to Arab mediators its willingness to enter into a long-term truce with Israel — one that would halt military operations, including the development of weapons and construction of tunnels — as part of a comprehensive ceasefire agreement, according to reports. The proposal, conveyed last week, marks the most far-reaching position publicly attributed to Hamas since the start of the war in Gaza. The terms, as relayed to The Times of Israel by a senior Palestinian official and an Arab diplomat involved in the mediation, include a multi-year truce lasting five, 10, or even 15 years, contingent upon a broader deal to end the war.

Opponents of President Donald Trump’s administration took to the streets of communities large and small across the U.S. on Saturday, decrying what they see as threats to the nation’s democratic ideals. The disparate events ranged from a march through midtown Manhattan and a rally in front of the White House to a demonstration at a Massachusetts commemoration of “the shot heard ’round the world” on April 19, 1775, marking the start of the Revolutionary War 250 years ago. Thomas Bassford was among the demonstrators at the reenactment of the Battles of Lexington and Concord outside Boston. The 80-year-old retired mason from Maine said he believes Americans are under attack from their own government and need to stand up against it.

Iran and the United States plan to meet over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program again next week, after both sides said they made progress in their talks Saturday in Rome. A U.S. official confirmed that at a point during the negotiations in Rome, President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke face to face. Before they meet again in Oman on April 26, Araghchi said technical-level talks would be held in the coming days. That experts would be discussing details of a possible deal suggests movement in the talks and comes as Trump has pushed for a rapid agreement while threatening military action against Iran.

Lakewood Alerts regrets to inform you of the petirah of Mrs. Esther Frankel a”h, a woman of sterling middos and unwavering emunah, who was niftar at the age of 91. Mrs. Frankel a”h was the beloved mother of R’ Menashe Frankel yb”l, one of Lakewood’s most respected askanim, known for his tireless efforts on behalf of the tzibbur and his many quiet acts of chessed. She was also the mother of R’ Dovid Frankel, a yerei Shamayim and baal chessed in his own right. Read the full story and levaya details on Lakewood Alerts.