11
Death [Public] / Re: Pope Francis Dies
« Last post by nikos on April 23, 2025, 11:34:30 PM »Not en Large, only the information about the schism....
Tell.
Tell.
Recent Posts
12
Death [Public] / Re: Pope Francis Dies
« Last post by Michael on April 23, 2025, 06:49:08 PM »Something funny,
The media here in our orthodox country when some high priest dies they say he slept, for Francis they said died...
That's curious Nikos - do you have any idea why the difference with the pope?
13
Death [Public] / Re: Pope Francis Dies
« Last post by nikos on April 23, 2025, 06:23:46 PM »Something funny,
The media here in our orthodox country when some high priest dies they say he slept, for Francis they said died...
The media here in our orthodox country when some high priest dies they say he slept, for Francis they said died...
14
Action [Public] / Re: WE'RE STUFFED!!!
« Last post by Firestarter on April 23, 2025, 08:19:31 AM »It's been awhile since I have done one of my favs, Ron the Con! A little funneling of Medicare funds to his private non-profit, then a move here and there, and lo and behold, will he go to jail? Not sure but the scoop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlTYbH3KR80
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlTYbH3KR80
15
Action [Public] / Re: The Dune Worm, Junk Science, and Messing With The Meds
« Last post by Firestarter on April 23, 2025, 06:06:30 AM »The Human Garbage Disposal is at it again. He wants a database of those with Autism. But expect lawsuits galore, because HIPAA laws will supersede this as it is about privacy violations.
Maybe I need to stick The Dune Worm in sephulre. I mean I am over him in more ways than one.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-autism-study-medical-records/
HealthWatch
RFK Jr.'s autism study to amass medical records of many Americans
healthwatch
By Alexander Tin
Edited By Paula Cohen
Updated on: April 22, 2025 / 9:14 AM EDT / CBS News
HealthWatch
RFK Jr.'s autism study to amass medical records of many Americans
healthwatch
By Alexander Tin
Edited By Paula Cohen
Updated on: April 22, 2025 / 9:14 AM EDT / CBS News
The National Institutes of Health is amassing private medical records from a number of federal and commercial databases to give to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new effort to study autism, the NIH's top official said Monday.
The new data will allow external researchers picked for Kennedy's autism studies to study "comprehensive" patient data with "broad coverage" of the U.S. population for the first time, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said.
"The idea of the platform is that the existing data resources are often fragmented and difficult to obtain. The NIH itself will often pay multiple times for the same data resource. Even data resources that are within the federal government are difficult to obtain," he said in a presentation to the agency's advisers.
Medication records from pharmacy chains, lab testing and genomics data from patients treated by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Indian Health Service, claims from private insurers and data from smartwatches and fitness trackers will all be linked together, he said.
The NIH is also now in talks with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to broaden agreements governing access to their data, Bhattacharya said.
In addition, a new disease registry is being launched to track Americans with autism, which will be integrated into the data. Advocacy groups and experts have called out Kennedy for describing autism as a "preventable disease," which they say is stigmatizing and unfounded.
Between 10 and 20 outside groups of researchers will be given grant funding and access to the records to produce Kennedy's autism studies. Bhattacharya did not give details on how they would be chosen, but said their selection would be "run through normal NIH processes."
Bhattacharya said the research they will back using the data will be "the highest quality proposals" that will range "from basic science to epidemiological approaches, to other more applied approaches" to treat and manage autism. He also acknowledged autism's wide variation in how it affects people.
"I recognize, of course, that autism, there's a range of manifestations ranging from highly functioning children to children that are quite severely disabled. And of course the research will account very carefully for that," he said.
While the selected researchers will be able to access and study the private medical data, Bhattacharya said they will not be able to download it. He promised "state of the art protections" to protect confidentiality.
By bringing the data into one place, he said it could give health agencies a window into "real-time health monitoring" on Americans for studying other health problems too.
"What we're proposing is a transformative real- world data initiative, which aims to provide a robust and secure computational data platform for chronic disease and autism research," he said.
They are planning a "rapid timeline" to launch the autism research using this data, he said, but did not give specifics on when it would start or how long the studies would take. Kennedy last week appeared to walk back his earlier prediction that they would have all the answers to autism's causes by September.
"We will have some of the answers by September, but it's going to be an evolving process," he said, speaking with reporters.
Maybe I need to stick The Dune Worm in sephulre. I mean I am over him in more ways than one.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-autism-study-medical-records/
HealthWatch
RFK Jr.'s autism study to amass medical records of many Americans
healthwatch
By Alexander Tin
Edited By Paula Cohen
Updated on: April 22, 2025 / 9:14 AM EDT / CBS News
HealthWatch
RFK Jr.'s autism study to amass medical records of many Americans
healthwatch
By Alexander Tin
Edited By Paula Cohen
Updated on: April 22, 2025 / 9:14 AM EDT / CBS News
The National Institutes of Health is amassing private medical records from a number of federal and commercial databases to give to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new effort to study autism, the NIH's top official said Monday.
The new data will allow external researchers picked for Kennedy's autism studies to study "comprehensive" patient data with "broad coverage" of the U.S. population for the first time, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said.
"The idea of the platform is that the existing data resources are often fragmented and difficult to obtain. The NIH itself will often pay multiple times for the same data resource. Even data resources that are within the federal government are difficult to obtain," he said in a presentation to the agency's advisers.
Medication records from pharmacy chains, lab testing and genomics data from patients treated by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Indian Health Service, claims from private insurers and data from smartwatches and fitness trackers will all be linked together, he said.
The NIH is also now in talks with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to broaden agreements governing access to their data, Bhattacharya said.
In addition, a new disease registry is being launched to track Americans with autism, which will be integrated into the data. Advocacy groups and experts have called out Kennedy for describing autism as a "preventable disease," which they say is stigmatizing and unfounded.
Between 10 and 20 outside groups of researchers will be given grant funding and access to the records to produce Kennedy's autism studies. Bhattacharya did not give details on how they would be chosen, but said their selection would be "run through normal NIH processes."
Bhattacharya said the research they will back using the data will be "the highest quality proposals" that will range "from basic science to epidemiological approaches, to other more applied approaches" to treat and manage autism. He also acknowledged autism's wide variation in how it affects people.
"I recognize, of course, that autism, there's a range of manifestations ranging from highly functioning children to children that are quite severely disabled. And of course the research will account very carefully for that," he said.
While the selected researchers will be able to access and study the private medical data, Bhattacharya said they will not be able to download it. He promised "state of the art protections" to protect confidentiality.
By bringing the data into one place, he said it could give health agencies a window into "real-time health monitoring" on Americans for studying other health problems too.
"What we're proposing is a transformative real- world data initiative, which aims to provide a robust and secure computational data platform for chronic disease and autism research," he said.
They are planning a "rapid timeline" to launch the autism research using this data, he said, but did not give specifics on when it would start or how long the studies would take. Kennedy last week appeared to walk back his earlier prediction that they would have all the answers to autism's causes by September.
"We will have some of the answers by September, but it's going to be an evolving process," he said, speaking with reporters.
16
Action [Public] / Re: WE'RE STUFFED!!!
« Last post by Firestarter on April 23, 2025, 04:20:14 AM »Tragic news in India today:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/indian-police-say-gunmen-kill-at-least-20-tourists-at-a-kashmir-resort/ar-AA1DnPPw?ocid=BingNewsSerp
Indian police say gunmen kill at least 20 tourists at a Kashmir resort
Story by AIJAZ HUSSAIN • 7h • 3 min read
SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Gunmen shot dead at least 20 tourists at a resort in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Tuesday, in what appeared to be a major shift in the regional conflict in which tourists have largely been spared.
Police described the incident as a “terror attack” and blamed militants fighting against Indian rule. “This attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, wrote on social media.
Two senior police officers said at least four gunmen, whom they described as militants, fired at dozens of tourists from close range. The officers said at least three dozen others were injured, many in serious condition.
Most of the tourists killed were Indian, the officers said, speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with departmental policy. Officials collected at least 20 bodies in Baisaran meadow, some five kilometers (3 miles) from the disputed region’s resort town of Pahalgam.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Police and soldiers were searching for the attackers.
“We will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences,” India’s home minister, Amit Shah, wrote on social media. He arrived in Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, and convened a meeting with top security officials. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on an official visit in Saudi Arabia, has been briefed.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a key resistance politician and Kashmir’s top religious cleric, condemned what he described as a “cowardly attack on tourists," writing on social media that “such violence is unacceptable and against the ethos of Kashmir which welcomes visitors with love and warmth."
The gunfire coincided with the visit to India of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who called it a “devastating terrorist attack.” He added on social media: “Over the past few days, we have been overcome with the beauty of this country and its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific attack."
U.S. President Donald Trump on social media noted “deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against terrorism.”
The meadow in Pahalgam is a popular destination, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dotted with pine forests. It is visited by hundreds of tourists every day as Kashmir, known for Himalayan foothills and exquisitely decorated houseboats, has become a major domestic tourist destination.
It has drawn millions of visitors who enjoy a strange peace kept by ubiquitous security checkpoints, armored vehicles and patrolling soldiers.
Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety.
Kashmir has seen a spate of targeted killings of Hindus, including immigrant workers from Indian states, after New Delhi ended the region’s semi-autonomy in 2019 and drastically curbed dissent, civil liberties and media freedoms.
Tensions have been simmering as India has intensified its counterinsurgency operations. But despite tourists flocking to Kashmir in huge numbers, they have not been targeted.
Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhi’s rule since 1989. Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels’ goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.
India insists the Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and many Kashmiris consider it a legitimate freedom struggle. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.
Violence has ebbed in recent times in the Kashmir Valley, the heart of anti-India rebellion. Fighting between government forces and rebels has largely shifted to remote areas of Jammu region including Rajouri, Poonch and Kathua, where Indian troops have faced deadly attacks.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/indian-police-say-gunmen-kill-at-least-20-tourists-at-a-kashmir-resort/ar-AA1DnPPw?ocid=BingNewsSerp
Indian police say gunmen kill at least 20 tourists at a Kashmir resort
Story by AIJAZ HUSSAIN • 7h • 3 min read
SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Gunmen shot dead at least 20 tourists at a resort in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Tuesday, in what appeared to be a major shift in the regional conflict in which tourists have largely been spared.
Police described the incident as a “terror attack” and blamed militants fighting against Indian rule. “This attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, wrote on social media.
Two senior police officers said at least four gunmen, whom they described as militants, fired at dozens of tourists from close range. The officers said at least three dozen others were injured, many in serious condition.
Most of the tourists killed were Indian, the officers said, speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with departmental policy. Officials collected at least 20 bodies in Baisaran meadow, some five kilometers (3 miles) from the disputed region’s resort town of Pahalgam.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Police and soldiers were searching for the attackers.
“We will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences,” India’s home minister, Amit Shah, wrote on social media. He arrived in Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, and convened a meeting with top security officials. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on an official visit in Saudi Arabia, has been briefed.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a key resistance politician and Kashmir’s top religious cleric, condemned what he described as a “cowardly attack on tourists," writing on social media that “such violence is unacceptable and against the ethos of Kashmir which welcomes visitors with love and warmth."
The gunfire coincided with the visit to India of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who called it a “devastating terrorist attack.” He added on social media: “Over the past few days, we have been overcome with the beauty of this country and its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific attack."
U.S. President Donald Trump on social media noted “deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against terrorism.”
The meadow in Pahalgam is a popular destination, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dotted with pine forests. It is visited by hundreds of tourists every day as Kashmir, known for Himalayan foothills and exquisitely decorated houseboats, has become a major domestic tourist destination.
It has drawn millions of visitors who enjoy a strange peace kept by ubiquitous security checkpoints, armored vehicles and patrolling soldiers.
Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety.
Kashmir has seen a spate of targeted killings of Hindus, including immigrant workers from Indian states, after New Delhi ended the region’s semi-autonomy in 2019 and drastically curbed dissent, civil liberties and media freedoms.
Tensions have been simmering as India has intensified its counterinsurgency operations. But despite tourists flocking to Kashmir in huge numbers, they have not been targeted.
Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhi’s rule since 1989. Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels’ goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.
India insists the Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and many Kashmiris consider it a legitimate freedom struggle. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.
Violence has ebbed in recent times in the Kashmir Valley, the heart of anti-India rebellion. Fighting between government forces and rebels has largely shifted to remote areas of Jammu region including Rajouri, Poonch and Kathua, where Indian troops have faced deadly attacks.
17
Action [Public] / Re: WE'RE STUFFED!!!
« Last post by Firestarter on April 22, 2025, 11:20:49 AM »18
Action [Public] / Re: WE'RE STUFFED!!!
« Last post by Firestarter on April 22, 2025, 11:12:33 AM »19
Death [Public] / Pope Francis Dies
« Last post by Firestarter on April 22, 2025, 02:34:56 AM »OMG all! The day after Easter! And all the controversy with him meeting the VP! I just found out!
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/pope-francis-death-tony-aiello-reflects/
Local News
Tony Aiello reflects on his years covering Pope Francis after the leader's death
Local News
Tony Aiello reflects on his years covering Pope Francis after the leader's death
newyork
By Tony Aiello
April 21, 2025 / 12:18 PM EDT / CBS New York
As the world learned of Pope Francis' death early Monday, CBS News New York's Tony Aiello called it a sad morning, but perhaps one we anticipated facing after the pope spent more than 30 days in the hospital.
"As a Catholic, it's obviously very sad. We pray with and for the Holy Father Sundays at mass," Aiello said.
He also reflected on his past 12 years covering the pope, and where it all began.
"I was at St. Peter's Square in 2013 when he was elected, so I've taken a special interest in his papacy, because it was one of the highlights of my long reporting career to have been at St. Peter's Square when he came out to the balcony in March of 2013 and greeted people with those simple words of, 'Brothers and sisters, buona sera, good evening.' It was such a charming start to his papacy, and I've been honored to have covered many of the events of his papacy over the last 12 years," said Aiello.
Pope Francis' last days and legacy
Aiello said it was "tremendously significant" that Pope Francis came out to greet the faithful on his final day, Easter Sunday.
"This is a pope who, he literally talked about he wants his bishops to smell like the sheep, which is a very colorful way of saying be with the people," he said. "The bishops are the shepherds, that's why the mitre that they carry is hooked like a shepherd would carry. We see Cardinal Dolan processing with that hooked staff all the time. The cardinals and the bishops are the shepherds, and we the people of the church are the sheep. And Pope Francis said he wanted his bishops to smell like the sheep, meaning he wanted bishops who were out among the people, who were with the people, who were close to the people."
Pope Francis is remembered as the people's pope, who championed themes of compassion and humility while leading by example.
"We've all been working on stories about the pope, his legacy and his papacy, and I think there's no doubt that he set the tone from the very start by choosing that name, Francis. St. Francis of Assisi, a saint of the poor, a saint who was born a rich man and literally gave away everything he owned to spread the faith, to bring people to Jesus and Jesus to the people. And I think that Pope Francis truly modeled that over the course of his time as pope," Aiello said.
"We've had any number of humble popes over the years, but Francis certainly modeled it in a way that we haven't seen in some time. Pope Benedict, his predecessor, loved the elaborate pomp and circumstance of the church, which many people find very, very valuable and uplifting. This pope, wouldn't wear the red shoes that over popes wore.
Local News
Tony Aiello reflects on his years covering Pope Francis after the leader's death
newyork
By Tony Aiello
April 21, 2025 / 12:18 PM EDT / CBS New York
As the world learned of Pope Francis' death early Monday, CBS News New York's Tony Aiello called it a sad morning, but perhaps one we anticipated facing after the pope spent more than 30 days in the hospital.
"As a Catholic, it's obviously very sad. We pray with and for the Holy Father Sundays at mass," Aiello said.
He also reflected on his past 12 years covering the pope, and where it all began.
"I was at St. Peter's Square in 2013 when he was elected, so I've taken a special interest in his papacy, because it was one of the highlights of my long reporting career to have been at St. Peter's Square when he came out to the balcony in March of 2013 and greeted people with those simple words of, 'Brothers and sisters, buona sera, good evening.' It was such a charming start to his papacy, and I've been honored to have covered many of the events of his papacy over the last 12 years," said Aiello.
Pope Francis' last days and legacy
The Inauguration Mass For Pope Francis
Pope Francis drives through the crowds during the Inauguration Mass for the Pope in St Peter's Square on March 19, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
Aiello said it was "tremendously significant" that Pope Francis came out to greet the faithful on his final day, Easter Sunday.
00:10
02:00
See More
"This is a pope who, he literally talked about he wants his bishops to smell like the sheep, which is a very colorful way of saying be with the people," he said. "The bishops are the shepherds, that's why the mitre that they carry is hooked like a shepherd would carry. We see Cardinal Dolan processing with that hooked staff all the time. The cardinals and the bishops are the shepherds, and we the people of the church are the sheep. And Pope Francis said he wanted his bishops to smell like the sheep, meaning he wanted bishops who were out among the people, who were with the people, who were close to the people."
Pope Francis is remembered as the people's pope, who championed themes of compassion and humility while leading by example.
"We've all been working on stories about the pope, his legacy and his papacy, and I think there's no doubt that he set the tone from the very start by choosing that name, Francis. St. Francis of Assisi, a saint of the poor, a saint who was born a rich man and literally gave away everything he owned to spread the faith, to bring people to Jesus and Jesus to the people. And I think that Pope Francis truly modeled that over the course of his time as pope," Aiello said.
"We've had any number of humble popes over the years, but Francis certainly modeled it in a way that we haven't seen in some time. Pope Benedict, his predecessor, loved the elaborate pomp and circumstance of the church, which many people find very, very valuable and uplifting. This pope, wouldn't wear the red shoes that over popes wore.
"As a matter of fact, Sept. 25 of last year, my wife and I were with a group of friends in Rome and we were fortunate enough to get tickets for the papal audience that day, and we sat very close to where the pope led the general audience in St. Peter's Square, and then the pope in his wheelchair was brought around to meet people, and waited and we met him, we shook his hand, I said a few words and I looked down and I saw his shoes, and his shoes were at least 15 years old and part of it was held together with black electrical tape.
"I mean, this man just did not like to spend money on himself. Many of us will remember that from the very start he said he would not live in the papal apartment, he lived instead in Casa Santa Marta, which is basically the Vatican guest house, because he wanted to be with the people of the Vatican and the high-level visitors to the Vatican. So this is definitely something that he modeled over the course of his papacy."
What happens next with the conclave?
The church enters a period called the "Sede Vacante," meaning empty seat.
"They take this very seriously," Aiello explained. "The Vatican Post Office will actually publish new stamps that say 'Sede Vacante, April 2025' on the stamps."
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, an Irish cardinal, is what's called the camerlengo, basically the chamberlain who will temporarily administer the Vatican, run the administration and the finances.
The plan is for the pope's body to be placed in St. Peter's for public viewing.
"He will be inside of a coffin, instead of on the raised platform that we saw in 2023 when Pope Benedict was displayed prior to his funeral," said Aiello.
Pope Francis' funeral is scheduled to take place between four and six days after his death, so before the week is over. Then, there will be nine days of mourning and special masses and then, all the cardinals from around the world will gather in Rome for the conclave to elect the new pope.
In: Pope Francis Catholic Church
Tony Aiello
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Tony Aiello serves as a CBS News New York general assignment reporter with a focus on covering news and breaking stories in the Northern Suburbs.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/pope-francis-death-tony-aiello-reflects/
Local News
Tony Aiello reflects on his years covering Pope Francis after the leader's death
Local News
Tony Aiello reflects on his years covering Pope Francis after the leader's death
newyork
By Tony Aiello
April 21, 2025 / 12:18 PM EDT / CBS New York
As the world learned of Pope Francis' death early Monday, CBS News New York's Tony Aiello called it a sad morning, but perhaps one we anticipated facing after the pope spent more than 30 days in the hospital.
"As a Catholic, it's obviously very sad. We pray with and for the Holy Father Sundays at mass," Aiello said.
He also reflected on his past 12 years covering the pope, and where it all began.
"I was at St. Peter's Square in 2013 when he was elected, so I've taken a special interest in his papacy, because it was one of the highlights of my long reporting career to have been at St. Peter's Square when he came out to the balcony in March of 2013 and greeted people with those simple words of, 'Brothers and sisters, buona sera, good evening.' It was such a charming start to his papacy, and I've been honored to have covered many of the events of his papacy over the last 12 years," said Aiello.
Pope Francis' last days and legacy
Aiello said it was "tremendously significant" that Pope Francis came out to greet the faithful on his final day, Easter Sunday.
"This is a pope who, he literally talked about he wants his bishops to smell like the sheep, which is a very colorful way of saying be with the people," he said. "The bishops are the shepherds, that's why the mitre that they carry is hooked like a shepherd would carry. We see Cardinal Dolan processing with that hooked staff all the time. The cardinals and the bishops are the shepherds, and we the people of the church are the sheep. And Pope Francis said he wanted his bishops to smell like the sheep, meaning he wanted bishops who were out among the people, who were with the people, who were close to the people."
Pope Francis is remembered as the people's pope, who championed themes of compassion and humility while leading by example.
"We've all been working on stories about the pope, his legacy and his papacy, and I think there's no doubt that he set the tone from the very start by choosing that name, Francis. St. Francis of Assisi, a saint of the poor, a saint who was born a rich man and literally gave away everything he owned to spread the faith, to bring people to Jesus and Jesus to the people. And I think that Pope Francis truly modeled that over the course of his time as pope," Aiello said.
"We've had any number of humble popes over the years, but Francis certainly modeled it in a way that we haven't seen in some time. Pope Benedict, his predecessor, loved the elaborate pomp and circumstance of the church, which many people find very, very valuable and uplifting. This pope, wouldn't wear the red shoes that over popes wore.
Local News
Tony Aiello reflects on his years covering Pope Francis after the leader's death
newyork
By Tony Aiello
April 21, 2025 / 12:18 PM EDT / CBS New York
As the world learned of Pope Francis' death early Monday, CBS News New York's Tony Aiello called it a sad morning, but perhaps one we anticipated facing after the pope spent more than 30 days in the hospital.
"As a Catholic, it's obviously very sad. We pray with and for the Holy Father Sundays at mass," Aiello said.
He also reflected on his past 12 years covering the pope, and where it all began.
"I was at St. Peter's Square in 2013 when he was elected, so I've taken a special interest in his papacy, because it was one of the highlights of my long reporting career to have been at St. Peter's Square when he came out to the balcony in March of 2013 and greeted people with those simple words of, 'Brothers and sisters, buona sera, good evening.' It was such a charming start to his papacy, and I've been honored to have covered many of the events of his papacy over the last 12 years," said Aiello.
Pope Francis' last days and legacy
The Inauguration Mass For Pope Francis
Pope Francis drives through the crowds during the Inauguration Mass for the Pope in St Peter's Square on March 19, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
Aiello said it was "tremendously significant" that Pope Francis came out to greet the faithful on his final day, Easter Sunday.
00:10
02:00
See More
"This is a pope who, he literally talked about he wants his bishops to smell like the sheep, which is a very colorful way of saying be with the people," he said. "The bishops are the shepherds, that's why the mitre that they carry is hooked like a shepherd would carry. We see Cardinal Dolan processing with that hooked staff all the time. The cardinals and the bishops are the shepherds, and we the people of the church are the sheep. And Pope Francis said he wanted his bishops to smell like the sheep, meaning he wanted bishops who were out among the people, who were with the people, who were close to the people."
Pope Francis is remembered as the people's pope, who championed themes of compassion and humility while leading by example.
"We've all been working on stories about the pope, his legacy and his papacy, and I think there's no doubt that he set the tone from the very start by choosing that name, Francis. St. Francis of Assisi, a saint of the poor, a saint who was born a rich man and literally gave away everything he owned to spread the faith, to bring people to Jesus and Jesus to the people. And I think that Pope Francis truly modeled that over the course of his time as pope," Aiello said.
"We've had any number of humble popes over the years, but Francis certainly modeled it in a way that we haven't seen in some time. Pope Benedict, his predecessor, loved the elaborate pomp and circumstance of the church, which many people find very, very valuable and uplifting. This pope, wouldn't wear the red shoes that over popes wore.
"As a matter of fact, Sept. 25 of last year, my wife and I were with a group of friends in Rome and we were fortunate enough to get tickets for the papal audience that day, and we sat very close to where the pope led the general audience in St. Peter's Square, and then the pope in his wheelchair was brought around to meet people, and waited and we met him, we shook his hand, I said a few words and I looked down and I saw his shoes, and his shoes were at least 15 years old and part of it was held together with black electrical tape.
"I mean, this man just did not like to spend money on himself. Many of us will remember that from the very start he said he would not live in the papal apartment, he lived instead in Casa Santa Marta, which is basically the Vatican guest house, because he wanted to be with the people of the Vatican and the high-level visitors to the Vatican. So this is definitely something that he modeled over the course of his papacy."
What happens next with the conclave?
The church enters a period called the "Sede Vacante," meaning empty seat.
"They take this very seriously," Aiello explained. "The Vatican Post Office will actually publish new stamps that say 'Sede Vacante, April 2025' on the stamps."
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, an Irish cardinal, is what's called the camerlengo, basically the chamberlain who will temporarily administer the Vatican, run the administration and the finances.
The plan is for the pope's body to be placed in St. Peter's for public viewing.
"He will be inside of a coffin, instead of on the raised platform that we saw in 2023 when Pope Benedict was displayed prior to his funeral," said Aiello.
Pope Francis' funeral is scheduled to take place between four and six days after his death, so before the week is over. Then, there will be nine days of mourning and special masses and then, all the cardinals from around the world will gather in Rome for the conclave to elect the new pope.
In: Pope Francis Catholic Church
Tony Aiello
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Tony Aiello serves as a CBS News New York general assignment reporter with a focus on covering news and breaking stories in the Northern Suburbs.
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Action [Public] / Re: WE'RE STUFFED!!!
« Last post by Firestarter on April 20, 2025, 08:47:22 AM »Baby Eyeliner went to meet with the Pope. Before a meeting, Pope Francis sent second in charge to lecture him. He has made it no secret how he feels about this admin and what they are doing to immigrants. The scoop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sBu7qx3smI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sBu7qx3smI
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