Death is a new beginning, Pope Francis wrote in preface to book
Death should not be seen as the end of life but as the beginning of eternity,
Pope Francis
said in words he wrote only days before his final hospitalisation in the preface to a book due to be published this week.
The 88-year old pontiff died on Monday after suffering a stroke and
cardiac arrest
, ending an often turbulent reign in which he repeatedly clashed with traditionalists and championed the poor and marginalised.
The pontiff spent five weeks in hospital earlier this year for double pneumonia. But he returned to his
Vatican
home almost a month ago and had appeared to be recovering.
5
5
Next
Stay
Playback speed
1x Normal
Back
0.25x
0.5x
1x Normal
1.5x
2x
5
5
/
Skip
Ads by
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Interior design experts love these homes! Sneak a peek!
HomeLane
Get Quote
Undo
"Death is not the end of everything, but the beginning of something. It is a new beginning... because eternal life, which those who love already begin to experience on earth, is the beginning of something that will never end," Francis wrote in the book on old age by Italian cardinal Angelo Scola.
"For this reason, that (death) is a 'new' beginning, because we will live something we have never fully lived before: eternity," he added.
Live Events
Francis, the first Latin American head of the
Roman Catholic Church
, had repeatedly said during his pontificate that death was not a topic that should be avoided.
In a message to young people gathering in Mexico City in 2019, he said "the question of death is the question of life", emphasising that facing the topic helped people to truly appreciate the value of life.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
UnitedHealth eyes $1 billion deal to exit Latin America as insurer refocuses on US, sources say
New York: UnitedHealth Group is weighing multiple bids for its Latin American operations, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter, as the insurer buckles down after a series of unprecedented missteps that include the ouster of its CEO and a reported criminal accounting probe. The largest U.S. health insurer has been trying to exit Latin America since 2022, but the sale of Banmedica has taken on increasing urgency in recent months as the insurer took hits on multiple fronts, according to one of the people. New CEO Steve Hemsley told shareholders last week that he was determined to earn back their trust after an earnings miss and a Wall Street Journal report that the company was under criminal investigation for alleged Medicare fraud. UnitedHealth has said it was not notified by the Department of Justice and that it stands by the integrity of its operations. Hemsley replaced Andrew Witty just a few months after the murder of the executive Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, in New York in December while on his way to a meeting with investors. Witty had been UnitedHealth Group CEO since 2021. The company has four non-binding bids for its Banmedica subsidiary, which operates in Colombia and Chile, for about $1 billion, according to both people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. UnitedHealth's shares tumbled 25.5% in May alone and year-to-date are down 40%. UnitedHealth left Brazil in 2023 and Peru in March. It's aiming to get around $1 billion for Banmedica's operations in Colombia and Chile, the people said. The two people said the company expects to set a deadline for binding proposals as soon as July. UnitedHealth received bids from Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm Acon Investments; Sao Paulo-based private equity firm Patria Investments; Texas non-profit health firm Christus Health; and Lima-based healthcare and insurance provider Auna, the people said. Auna is in talks with a financial partner, one of the sources added. Banmedica's annual earnings before income taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, are more than $200 million a year. Patria, UnitedHealth Group and Christus Health declined to comment. Acon and Auna did not respond to requests for comment. FAILED EXPANSION PLANS UnitedHealth bought Banmedica in 2018, with CEO David Wichmann saying he was "establishing a foundation for growth in South America for the next decades." At the time, UnitedHealth paid around 12 times Banmedica's EBITDA, according to one of the people. Three years later, the insurer decided to leave Latin America as it grappled with losses in its largest operation in the region, Brazil's Amil, which had been acquired a decade earlier. It divested from its Brazilian operations in late 2023. Banmedica is currently profitable, but is considered too small by UnitedHealth. It serves over 2.1 million consumers through its health insurance programs and has around 4 million patient visits annually across its network of 13 hospitals and 143 medical centers. UnitedHealth booked an $8.3 billion loss last year related to the sale of its South American operations - $7.1 billion stemming from the Brazil exit and $1.2 billion from Banmedica. "These losses relate to our strategic exit of South American markets and include significant losses related to foreign currency translation effects," the company said in a February filing. Brazilian investment bank BTG Pactual is advising UnitedHealth on the sale.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business Standard
UnitedHealth may sell Latin America arm for $1bn to refocus on US: Report
UnitedHealth Group is weighing multiple bids for its Latin American operations, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter, as the insurer buckles down after a series of unprecedented missteps that include the ouster of its CEO and a reported criminal accounting probe. The largest US health insurer has been trying to exit Latin America since 2022, but the sale of Banmedica has taken on increasing urgency in recent months as the insurer took hits on multiple fronts, according to one of the people. New CEO Steve Hemsley told shareholders last week that he was determined to earn back their trust after an earnings miss and a Wall Street Journal report that the company was under criminal investigation for alleged Medicare fraud. UnitedHealth has said it was not notified by the Department of Justice and that it stands by the integrity of its operations. Hemsley replaced Andrew Witty just a few months after the murder of the executive Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, in New York in December while on his way to a meeting with investors. Witty had been UnitedHealth Group CEO since 2021. The company has four non-binding bids for its Banmedica subsidiary, which operates in Colombia and Chile, for about $1 billion, according to both people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. UnitedHealth's shares tumbled 25.5 per cent in May alone, and year-to-date are down 40 per cent. UnitedHealth left Brazil in 2023 and Peru in March. It's aiming to get around $1 billion for Banmedica's operations in Colombia and Chile, the people said. The two people said the company expects to set a deadline for binding proposals as soon as July. UnitedHealth received bids from: Acon Investments (Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm) Patria Investments (São Paulo-based private equity firm) Christus Health (Texas non-profit health firm) Auna (Lima-based healthcare and insurance provider, in talks with a financial partner) Banmedica's annual earnings before income taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) is more than $200 million a year. Patria and Christus Health declined to comment. UnitedHealth, Acon, and Auna did not respond to requests for comment. UnitedHealth bought Banmedica in 2018, with then-CEO David Wichmann saying he was 'establishing a foundation for growth in South America for the next decades.' At the time, UnitedHealth paid around 12 times Banmedica's EBITDA, according to one of the people. Three years later, the insurer decided to leave Latin America as it grappled with losses in its largest operation in the region, Brazil's Amil, which had been acquired a decade earlier. It divested from its Brazilian operations in late 2023. Banmedica is currently profitable but is considered too small by UnitedHealth. It serves over 2.1 million consumers through its health insurance programs and handles around 4 million patient visits annually across its network of 13 hospitals and 143 medical centres. UnitedHealth booked an $8.3 billion loss last year related to the sale of its South American operations — $7.1 billion stemming from the Brazil exit and $1.2 billion from Banmedica. 'These losses relate to our strategic exit of South American markets and include significant losses related to foreign currency translation effects,' the company said in a February filing. Brazilian investment bank BTG Pactual is advising UnitedHealth on the sale.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Can your pasta's cooking time indicate how healthy it is?
Pasta might be a carbohydrate-rich food, made primarily of flour, butter and cheese — but this delicious Italian dish has found lovers and fanatics worldwide. A popular myth circulating online recently suggests that pasta requiring a longer cooking time is inherently healthier. asked experts and found out the truth. Meenu Balaji, Chief Nutritionist at Pragmatic Nutrition, Chennai told that the concept that 'longer the pasta takes to cook, the less processed it is' is not true. 'If that's the case, then fresh pasta cooks the fastest. Also, when you cook at higher altitudes, it takes longer to cook pasta, since water boils at a lower temperature,' she pointed out. According to Balaji, there are various reasons as to why some pasta takes longer to cook: 1. Thickness: Certain types of pasta like rigatoni or farfelle take longer to cook than others. It also is affected by the protein content. 2. Shapes: Some pasta shapes are uneven like shell-shaped and therefore need more time to cook. 3. Pasta to water ratio: Using a smaller pot or lesser water can also increase the cooking time. Madhavi Savani, Clinical Dietician, Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad added that while considering pasta, it is important to check what are they made up of. 'Pasta made from refined wheat flour and pasta made in white puree are not recommended for regular consumption. Regular intake of such refined products may contribute to unhealthy weight gain and poor digestion over time,' she said, adding that if you wish to include pasta in your diet, opt for versions made with semolina (sooji) instead. According to her, these are comparatively nutritious and can be further improved by adding vegetables during preparation. This helps in making the meal more balanced. However, healthier versions of pasta should be eaten in moderation. 'Having pasta once a month is a reasonable approach if you are aiming to maintain a balanced and health-conscious diet,' said Savani, adding that when purchasing pasta, it is important to read the ingredient labels carefully. She also encouraged avoiding instant pasta varieties that cook within 4 to 8 minutes, as they are typically highly processed and often contain added preservatives, artificial flavors, or unhealthy fats that are not beneficial to your health. Balaji shared a few quick tips to help you make sure you are eating the best of the lot: 1. Colour: Good quality pasta made from durum wheat is usually pale yellow in colour. Of course, if you go for a gluten-free option the colour would vary depending on the ingredients. 2. Texture: A uniform texture which cooks al dente. Some pasta may have a slight rough texture. This shows it was bronze-cut and can absorb sauces better. 'If you are eating pasta regularly, fresh home-made ones are perfect. If you are choosing processed pasta, look for something with fewer ingredients without fillers like lecithin, gum or starch,' said Balaji, while encouraging people to add a lot of fresh vegetables and a lean source of protein like a chicken pasta salad, instead of having a plain white sauce pasta. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
