EDITORIAL
BY DHIREN SHAH
Hello Readers,
In the Catholic religion, the most revered person is the Pope. Pope Francis simplified the lifestyle and papal funeral rites with modesty. He was not only loved by Catholic followers, but from others all over the world, as he was modest and closer to the truth of life. Pope Francis was always closer to the middle class and poor class. He had a heart for people and supported people on the Gaza Strip.
Although Pope Francis simplified the papal funeral rites in a move of typical modesty, Saturday’s ceremony will still be full of pomp and pageantry, as the world’s Catholics will bid him farewell and cardinals in the Vatican ready themselves for the millennia-old process of picking a new pontiff.
Pope Francis, who died of a heart attack and stroke on Easter Monday, will have his funeral six days after his death on Saturday April 26, 2025 at 10 am. He made a strong statement about Gaza and the killings of thousands of people and hundreds of thousands who became homeless. Pope Francis’ many statements was for humanitarian purposes. He also criticized President Trump for his in-humanitarian behavior for deportation.
The new pope election process is very secretive. No one knows about the conclave system and everyone has to wait and watch the next pope’s selection by white smoke. The white smoke indicates that the selection is made and the new pope announcement will come shortly after. Black smoke means there is still another round of votes to go. The smoke system is a unique way to announce the process and let people gathered at St. Peter’s Square know.
According to AI report; several cardinals are being considered as potential successors to Pope Francis, including Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, Peter Turkson of Ghana, and Péter Erdő of Hungary.
For the first time, four cardinals from India will vote to elect a new pope. They are Filipe Neri Ferrao, the Archbishop of Goa and Damman; Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in Kerala; George Koovakkad, former head of the Journeys Office of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, and Anthony Poola, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad.
Cardinal Luis Tagle, 67, from the Philippines, is known as the “Asian Francis” for his missionary spirit as well as his emphasis on caring for the poor and welcoming of LGBTQ and divorced and remarried Catholics. He has the best odds to be named as the new Pope with the predictors 3 to 1.
Problems are spreading everywhere. In 1978 when I came to the USA, a Green Card was given to us in our hand at the airport and within less than a week, we received a social security card. The Green Card color was green as well. The service was phenomenal. People were making less money than today, but most of the people were happier. If two people in the household were close to the minimum wage ($106 per week) they would still be happier and could afford a used car. We used to pay for a large 1 bedroom apartment in Queens with a rent of $175 per month. Today, it’s different.
The worst part is that everyone is buttering up to the power and money. We are all human, and we all should have respect, whether making minimum wage or $200,000 per year. Except for the amount of color in the skin and some intelligence, everyone has the same red blood and humanity, family and friend relations. We are all equal, so please do not treat inhuman behavior for the color of the skin or person with a different background.
Have a wonderful week. I’ll talk to you next week.
