NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-21-2025 6AM EDT

Episode Date: April 21, 2025

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The Vatican says that Pope Francis has died. He was 88 years old. Francis had struggled with health issues recently, had been hospitalized for five weeks to treat bronchitis initially, and later became severe pneumonia. Just yesterday, the Pope had greeted worshippers in St. Peter's Square celebrating Easter.

NPR's Jason DeRose reports, Pope Francis was the leader of the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics. Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose,

NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's Jason DeRose, NPR's and the first Pope from outside Europe since the medieval period. He was born in Argentina and before his election served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. Francis's nearly 12-year-long papacy focused on a number of issues, including the environment, with a particular emphasis on how ecological degradation affects the poorest people on the planet, and the plight of refugees and immigrants, especially migration caused by war.

Pope Francis is being remembered for his personal humility and his emphasis on God's mercy toward humanity. Jason DeRose, NPR News. Four members of Congress landed in El Salvador this morning demanding the release of Quilmar Obrego Garcia. He is the immigrant illegally deported from Maryland to El Salvador last month. The lawmakers trip comes just days after US Senator Chris Van Hollen

unsuccessfully tried to bring Abrego Garcia back to the United States and Piers Luke Garrett has more. Representatives Robert Garcia of California, Maxwell Frost of Florida, Yasamin Ansari of Arizona, and Maxine Dexter of Oregon all flew to El Salvador Monday. The group of Democrats said they hope to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. by pressuring the White House to quote abide by a Supreme Court order. The Trump administration continues to fight the Supreme Court order to facilitate the man's return. Earlier, the White House admitted it deported Abrego Garcia due to a quote administrative error. Representative Dexter of Oregon called the

man's case a quote constitutional crisis. Last week, Representatives Garcia and Frost asked for congressional funding for trip security and travel. The Kentucky Republican representative James Comer rejected the request. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. The U S and Iran have wrapped up a second round of talks about Iran's nuclear program. The talks were held in Rome, mediated by Oman. Both U S and Iranian representatives say they plan to meet for

a third round of talks next weekend. NPR's Jackie Northam says Iran seems clear on what it is trying to achieve. Iran has been firm that it will not give up what it insists is its right to enrich uranium for civilian use. Other than that, Iran may be looking for sanctions relief. You know, during his first term in office, Trump pulled out of the previous nuclear accord, which had been negotiated by President Obama, and he placed crippling sanctions on Iran, which has just hobbled its economy. NPR's Jackie Northam reporting. This is NPR. China is warning other countries against making trade deals

with the Trump administration, especially deals that harm Chinese interests. Several countries have launched talks with President Trump and his trade team, including Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. Some of Trump's tariffs have been paused, but others remain in place, such as the worldwide 10 percent tariffs and others targeting steel and aluminum. South Korean Air Force planes remain grounded after a warplane accidentally jettisoned gun pods and empty fuel tanks. No casualties or damage have been reported, and Piers Anthony Kuhn has more from Seoul.

A light attack plane was on a night flying exercise Friday over Pyeongchang County, about 78 miles east of Seoul. The Air Force says one of two pilots aboard was trying to adjust the heat, but accidentally pressed a button jettisoning fuel tanks and gun pods with 500 rounds of live ammunition. All Air Force aircraft have been grounded, except for those on reconnaissance or emergency standby duty. The incident has forced a pause in U.S. South Korean Joint Air

Force drills currently in progress. It comes a month after a South Korean unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into a parked helicopter destroying both vehicles. Two weeks before that, fighter planes accidentally bombed a South Korean village, injuring 52 people. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul. Repeating our top story, the Vatican says that Pope Francis has died today in his papal residence. He had just been seen yesterday greeting well-wishers celebrating Easter in St. Peter's Square. Pope Francis was 88 years old.

This is NPR.