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Wall Street Journal
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Pope Leo Calls for a United Church at His Inauguration Mass
VATICAN CITY—Pope Leo XIV, in his inaugural Mass as pontiff, called for a united and open Catholic Church before an audience that included political and religious leaders looking for smoother relations with the Vatican. 'Brothers and sisters, I would like this to be our first great wish: a united church, a sign of unity and communion,' said Leo, speaking in Italian. 'Let us build a church founded on God's love, a sign of unity, a missionary church that opens its arms to the world.'
South China Morning Post
16-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Malaysia records fewest births ever, fuelling population decline concerns
Fewer Malaysians are having children than ever before, as rising living costs and career pressures eclipse the desire to start a family in a nation that is already ageing at an alarming rate. The child-free trend has ignited fierce public debate, with religious leaders and government authorities alike worrying about the plummeting birth rate. Only 93,500 births were recorded in the first quarter of this year, according to official data released this week – an 11.5 per cent drop from the same period in 2023. The figure marks a 28 per cent decline from the 130,000 births recorded at the turn of the millennium in 2000. The statistics show a stark divide between urban and rural Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur and the industrial hub of Penang reported the lowest birth rates, while rural states such as Terengganu, Kelantan, and Pahang continue to record fertility rates above the replacement threshold. 'Only Terengganu, Kelantan, and Pahang are recording a [total fertility rate] above the replacement level,' Chief Statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said on Thursday. The replacement level of 2.1 births per woman is required for a population to sustain itself. Falling below this threshold signals long-term demographic decline.
CBS News
11-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Reflections on the rise of a new, American pope and the passing of a local, influential rabbi
Reflections on the rise of a new, American pope and the passing of a local, influential rabbi Reflections on the rise of a new, American pope and the passing of a local, influential rabbi Reflections on the rise of a new, American pope and the passing of a local, influential rabbi Last words Jim takes a moment to share his personal and professional connections to the new American Pope Leo XIV and the late Rabbi Sholom Dovber Lipskar. About Pope Leo XIV Pope Leo XIV was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago in 1955. He is the first U.S. pope in the church's history, and is also a citizen of Peru, where he worked for many years. CBS News Chicago reports he grew up in south suburban Dolton and has two brothers. A woman who knew him in childhood says the Prevost family was very active in their church. "His family was very, very devout Catholics. I will say that. The mom and dad both were," Linda Jorsch told the station. "They never missed church, and they were very active within our parish. His mom was like a member of the Altar & Rosary Society. They were lectors in their church — very active, very devout family." But the pontiff also has deep roots in Louisiana, and has Haitian and Creole ancestry. About Rabbi Sholom Dovber Lipskar Lipskar, one of Florida's most influential Orthodox leaders and a powerhouse rabbi who helped transform Surfside and Bal Harbour into thriving Jewish communities, died last weekend. He was 78. (CBS4)
CBC
08-05-2025
- General
- CBC
What do Montrealers think of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV?
Cardinal Robert Prevost of the U.S. was elected on the second day of the conclave. Outside Montreal's Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, people welcomed the news.
