NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a round-up of today’s news.

POPE FRANCIS

An Indian Catholic nun touches a portrait of Pope Francis after a prayer meeting in Kochi, India, following the announcement of his death Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

• Pope Francis has died at the age of 88.
• You can follow along with our liveblog of updates and tributes here. 
• He made a surprise tour of St Peter’s Square yesterday in the popemobile in what was his final public appearance.
• Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell will now oversee the running of the Catholic Church until a new pope is elected – he also confirmed and announced Francis’s passing.
• In around two to three weeks time, the conclave to elect Francis’s successor will begin.
• Pope Francis spoke out on many occasions in support of refugees, something which brought him into conflict with Trump’s White House.
• He also had nightly Whatsapp calls with Catholics in Gaza since start of Israeli invasion and in his last public remarks, denounced the “deplorable humanitarian situation” in the region.
• Global leaders have been paying tribute throughout the day.
• “I loved that man and that Pope — I will miss him”: Writing for The Journal, Father Tony Flannery has paid tribute to Francis. 

OTHER NEWS

The charred remains of St Mary’s Church in Derrybeg, Co. Donegal after a fire broke out in the early hours of this morning. Joe Dunne Joe Dunne

• A man in his late teens died following a fatal road traffic collision in Dublin yesterday evening.
• A church in Donegal was destroyed following an early morning blaze. 
• The search for a man who is believed to have fallen overboard from a yacht on Saturday resumed.
• Certain Dublin Bus in Dublin city centre continue to be impacted in the wake of an alleged threat against a bus driver by a man “who appeared to be wielding a gun”, a union said.
• Ukrainian regional officials reported Russia resumed air attacks, after Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of breaking a brief Easter truce.
• US airstrikes targeting Yemen’s capital killed 12 people and wounded 30 others, the Houthi rebels said early today.
• The Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal and undocumented immigrants is creating ‘fear across the board’ for Irish migrants in the US, a leading lawyer said. 
• The estimated waiting time for a driving test in Tallaght in Dublin has hit 35 weeks – over eight months – making it the longest waiting list in the country.
• A Government Minster said Ireland will not cut aid budgets, unlike other countries, and he is advocating to have the allocation increased. 
• Newly qualified teachers will be able to get permanent contracts sooner under new changes by the Department of Education aimed at addressing the staff shortage.

PARTING SHOT

Indian sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik created a sculpture at beach in Puri, a coastal city in India, to pay tribute to Pope Francis.

#WATCH | Odisha | Passing away of Pope Francis | Sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik creates a sculpture at beach in Puri to pay tribute to Pope Francis pic.twitter.com/IXRACxgNyQ

— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2025