Prayers Pour In for Pope Francis
So, the news broke about Pope Francis's health, and honestly, it's been pretty somber. People everywhere are sending up prayers – from Rome to the White House, it’s a global outpouring of concern. I saw pictures from outside the Roman hospital where he's being treated; it was incredibly moving. People from all walks of life – Catholics of every stripe, nuns, priests – were there, saying the rosary in, like, a million different languages. Italian, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese… you name it. Even some patients in the hospital were joining in from their windows! It really showed you just how much he means to so many people around the world.
Millot's Million-Dollar Decision
Switching gears completely, the football world is buzzing about Enzo Millot. This 22-year-old midfielder for VfB Stuttgart has a release clause of almost €20 million, and he’s been dropping hints about wanting to move on. He says he’s grateful for Stuttgart, and leaving wouldn’t be a failure, but… you know how it is. His words sure sound like he’s ready for a new challenge. Premier League teams like Arsenal and Tottenham are sniffing around, and even some Saudi Arabian clubs, including Ronaldo’s team, Al-Nassr, are interested. His form’s been really good lately, though, so Stuttgart’s hoping to make it into European competition – and they’d love to keep him around, at least until the end of the season.
Remembering Weihbischof Andreas Laun
Sadly, the Catholic world is mourning the loss of Weihbischof Andreas Laun. He was a huge figure in the German Catholic Church and a really important part of EWTN. He passed away on New Year's Eve. He’ll be remembered for his unwavering dedication to protecting the unborn, and for his incredible work on Catholic television programming in Germany. He did everything from creating basic introductions to Catholic teachings to offering deeply personal reflections on death and the afterlife. A true loss.
Questions Linger Around Cardinal Pell's Death
The Australian newspaper is reporting that Libero Milone, a former Vatican auditor, thinks Cardinal George Pell's death is “shrouded in mystery.” Milone's saying he's going to get to the bottom of it, and he’s hinting at a possible connection to that huge Vatican real estate scandal. There are some pretty unusual things surrounding Pell’s death, like reports of security cameras being deactivated at the hospital and no doctor present during his cardiac arrest. He also had his hip surgery at a private hospital instead of the usual Gemelli clinic. It all just… feels odd, you know? The whole thing raises so many questions.
