The Vatican confirms the death of Pope Francis due to a stroke

The world says goodbye to the spiritual leader who marked an era with humility and reforms, leaving a legacy of simplicity even in his last resting place.

Farewell to the Pontiff who defied protocols (and to some cardinals)

In an ironic twist of fate, Pope Francis, the man who survived criticism, Vatican conspiracies and even a pandemic, succumbed to a cerebral stroke. Yes, the same one who used to joke about his longevity (“God calls me, but he doesn’t answer the phone”) left this Monday at 7:35 AM, according to the official bulletin. The culprit? A coma and heart failure, because until death he wanted to do things big.

A testament so humble that it made the marble workers cry

The Vatican revealed that the Pontiff requested a tomb that was simpler than a seminary menu: no decorations, just a plaque with his name. “Franciscus”, period. No “Here lies the one who tried to cleanse the Curia and only succeeded in angering it.” Of course, he left millimeter instructions about its location in Santa María la Mayor, because even in eternity he wanted to control the decoration. The benefactor who will pay the expenses? Surely another poor mortal whom he convinced with his smile.

RelatedCelebrities say goodbye to Pope Francis with emotional messages

In case anyone doubted his death (perhaps some cardinal praying for a reverse miracle), the Vatican attached a flat electrocardiogram. “The causes are indicated,” declared the doctor, avoiding adding “and no, it was not the stress of dealing with you.”

Did you know that… Francisco spent his last months fighting respiratory problems? Ironic for someone who dedicated his life to giving fresh air to an institution suffocated by scandals. After 38 days at the Gemelli—a record for a Pope—he returned to Casa Santa Marta, where he was finally overcome by a stroke. Maybe heaven needed a reformer.

Don’t miss: Share this tribute to the leader who humanized the papacy (and follow our specials on his legacy). #GoodbyeFrancisco

Charges against 11 for migrant smuggling with 7 dead in Texas

Eleven people face charges in the US for migrant smuggling. Seven died in a container in Texas.

The United States Federal Prosecutor’s Office filed charges against 11 people for their alleged participation in a migrant smuggling network. The case is linked to the death of seven people who were traveling hidden in a railway container in Texas.

The victims, originally from Honduras and Mexico, died in May due to high temperatures while being transported to the interior of the country.

Details of the tragedy

According to authorities, the group boarded a train in the border city of Del Río bound for San Antonio. The smugglers abandoned the container after one of the migrants fell while opening the door.

The next day, a Union Pacific employee discovered the bodies of six people inside the container at a Laredo rail yard. A seventh victim had been left next to the tracks.

The investigation determined that the container remained completely sealed, with no ventilation or cooling system. This caused the migrants to suffer heat stroke. Among the deceased was a 14-year-old teenager.

The prosecution detailed that one of the victims managed to communicate with his relatives while he was dying inside the container.

Actions of the authority

The 11 defendants face charges of conspiracy to transport foreigners and facilitating their transfer resulting in death. Crimes that could lead to life in prison.

Nine of the alleged perpetrators have already been arrested in different operations carried out in Texas. Two remain at large. Authorities reported that those involved include US citizens and permanent residents.

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Spain declares national emergency due to forest fires

Spain declares national emergency due to fires. 20 thousand evacuated in the country and 60 thousand in France.

National emergency in Spain due to forest fires

This Friday, the government of Spain activated the declaration of national emergency due to the magnitude of the forest fires. The flames have forced the evacuation of approximately 20 thousand people, mainly in towns near Madrid.

The crisis also reaches the south of France. More than 60 thousand inhabitants have had to leave their homes due to the advance of the fire.

Pedro Sánchez, president of the Spanish government, described the situation as “dramatic” and expressed his solidarity with the affected families.

The declaration of emergency allows the Ministry of the Interior to coordinate response efforts in different autonomous communities. It is expected that in the next few hours air and ground resources will be reinforced to contain the fires.

The authorities recommend that the population stay informed and follow evacuation instructions. So far no deaths have been reported, although the material damage is significant.

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Ukrainian drone attacks leave nine dead in Russia

Ukraine attacks logistics centers of the largest Russian retailer, leaving at least nine dead and dozens injured.

Drone attacks against logistics centers

Drone attacks launched by Ukraine against several fulfillment centers of Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, caused large fires. At least nine people died and dozens were injured. The fires affected a significant part of the country’s commercial infrastructure.

Wildberries, founded in 2004 by entrepreneur Tatyana Kim, is Russia’s leading e-commerce platform. It has more than 200 logistics centers and concentrates more than 50% of the country’s online orders. The company also operates in Belarus, Kazakhstan and Crimea, a territory annexed by Russia in 2014, and works with hundreds of thousands of sellers.

These offensives are part of kyiv’s strategy to weaken the Russian economy and hinder the Kremlin’s war effort. The damage is still being assessed, but is expected to have repercussions on the local economy. The magnitude of the impact on Russian commercial infrastructure is significant.

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