As the conclave to select the next Roman Catholic pontiff begins, many Vatican-watchers are wondering: Where will Francis’ successor fit in the panorama of end-time prophecy? For centuries, each new pope has been eyed against a document known as the “Prophecy of St.

Haiti’s government continues to struggle as gangs expand their territory and terrorize the country’s communities. Currently, gangs control at least 85 percent of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital city. In the central region of the country, a coalition of armed gangs burned a police station, took over a prison, and then released over 500 inmates. As law and order seem to have collapsed in the central region, critics claim that the provisional government has no plans for the future. Gang violence in Haiti has displaced over a million people, while some 1,500 have been killed.

While the world focuses on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, Sudan’s ongoing civil war continues to wreak destruction. Resistance forces have now attacked refugee camps in Sudan’s western Darfur region. “The consequences for Sudan’s 51 million people have been devastating. Tens of thousands are reportedly dead. Hundreds of thousands face famine.

Pope Francis, formerly Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina before being elected to the papal office, died this Monday morning. He had appeared at St. Peter’s Basilica the day before, too weak to deliver the traditional Easter message but able to pronounce a blessing on the assembled crowd of thousands and to meet with United States Vice President JD Vance.

In 1999, Destiny’s Child wrote and performed the popular 1999 song “Independent Woman,” which included repetition of the words “I depend on me.” In 2008, singer-songwriter Ne-Yo released “Miss Independent,” in which he described an independent woman he holds in high regard, noting that she is the “kind of woman that can do for herself.” More recently, Miley Cyrus’ 2023 song “Flowers,” released after her divorce, contained the lyrics “I can buy myself flowers /  Write my name in the sand /  Talk to myself for hours /  Say things you don’t understand /  I can take myself dancing / An