The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/04/21 at 05:00 EDT

Episode Date: April 21, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/04/21 at 05:00 EDT

When they predict we'll fall, we rise to the challenge. When they say we're not a country, we stand on guard. This land taught us to be brave and caring, to protect our values, to leave no one behind. Canada is on the line and it's time to vote as though our country depends on it. Because like never before, it does. I'm Jonathan Pedneau, co-leader of the Green Party of Canada. This election, each vote makes a difference. Authorized by the Registeredleader of the Green Party of Canada. This election, each vote, makes a difference. Authorized by the Registered Agent of the Green Party of Canada.

From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Neil Herland. We begin with breaking news from the Vatican. Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, is dead at the age of 88. In a statement this morning, the Church says Francis died at 7.35 a.m. Vatican City time on Easter Monday. Francis had been suffering from health problems in recent months, including double pneumonia. Megan Williams reports. Pope Francis was the progressive pope.

He was less concerned about church doctrine and more about advocating for migrants, prisoners and the poor. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires in 1936, he was elected in 2013 under remarkable circumstances. After Benedict XVI became the first pope in centuries to step down. A series of firsts went on to mark Bergoglio's papacy. The first pope from the Western Hemisphere, Latin America. The first from the Jesuit order.

And the first to take the name Francis. Upon election, he shunned the opulence of the apostolic palace, choosing instead to live in the small guest house inside Vatican City. Francis made history when he traveled to Canada in 2022 on what he called a penitential tour, apologizing to Indigenous peoples for the deplorable conduct of some members of the Catholic Church in the residential school system. It was an important step towards reconciliation, but he stopped short of saying the Church itself was responsible. Megan Williams, CBC News, The Vatican.

And reaction is pouring in this morning to the death of Pope Francis. French President Emmanuel Macron says Pope Francis always sided with the most vulnerable and the most fragile, and he did this with a lot of humility. Israeli President Isaac Herzog says Pope Francis was a man of deep faith, peace and compassion. Canada votes in one week from now. Today is the last day advance polls are open. And as Julia Wong reports, there's been high turnout across the country. It's our right and our responsibility to participate in this process.

Bill Dubois feels it's his civic duty to cast his ballot. And this long weekend, at Ottawa City Hall, he did just that. Joining throngs of Canadians at the advance polls. Elections Canada says on Friday alone, a record 2 million Canadians voted. It is an exciting time. It's good to see that many people engaged after in the past when you see some poor voter turnout so it's encouraging.

As party leaders crisscross the country to lock down votes, many Canadians are opting to vote early, such as Chelsea Fluke. It's a long weekend, so it's beautiful weather. It's nice to just wander down here and take that off the list. Fluke says more options to vote is a good thing. You can schedule it and figure out when it's going to work for you. Julia Wong, CBC News, Ottawa. Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet appeared on the most popular French talk show

in the country last night. Monsieur Carnier va être Premier ministre, ça c'est clair. Blanchet says he thinks Liberal leader Mark Carney will become the next Prime Minister. He made that declaration during an interview on the Radio-Canada TV show Tout le Monde en Parle. Polls have shown the Liberals leading during the campaign, although the latest numbers show the Conservatives are gaining ground, and the Bloc Québécois is on track to lose seats in Quebec, although Blanchette says he plans to stay on after the election,

and he won't resign. The U.S. Defense Secretary is under scrutiny again for using the private messaging app Signal. The New York Times broke a story last night that Pete Hegseth shared details with his family of a U.S. attack on Houthi rebels. The military plans were shared with his wife, his brother, and his personal lawyer. In a statement last night, the Pentagon said, there was no classified information in any SignalChat.

And that is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Neil Herland. © 2013 CBC News, Inc.