The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/04/21 at 08:00 EDT

Episode Date: April 21, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/04/21 at 08:00 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 Gina Louise Phillips. Mourners are gathering at the Vatican this morning. Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, is dead at the age of 88. In a statement, 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. CBC's Megan Williams describes his legacy.

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. Megan Williams, CBC News, The Vatican. Reaction to the Pope's death is pouring in from around the world. King Charles says he

and the Queen are deeply saddened to learn of France's death. But he says their heavy hearts have been somewhat eased knowing the Pope was able to share an Easter greeting with the Church. Yesterday, Pope Francis made his final public appearance before a packed St. Peter's Square. Anna Cunningham has that detail. He was wheeled onto the balcony at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, wishing everyone a happy Easter. But his traditional Easter address and blessing was read by an aide. His death today, despite his age and illness, will still come as a shock to many Catholics. Tributes have come from around the world. French President Emmanuel Macron calling Pope

Francis a man of humility, on the side of the most vulnerable and most fragile. Polish President Andrzej Duda says the Pope was a great apostle of mercy. Germany's Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz says Pope Francis will be remembered for his tireless commitment to the Society's weakest members. The Pontiff's death comes on a jubilee year for the Catholic Church. He was its first Latin American leader. After a period of mourning and his funeral, cardinals from around the world will gather in the Vatican to choose the next pope.

Anna Cunningham, CBC News, London. As Canadians grapple with soaring living costs, private clinics are charging up to $8,000 a year for access to a family doctor. And some patients are paying $150 for 15-minute appointments. Christine Birak has more. She was a terrific doctor. Anisa Karisgal lost her family doctor of 10 years, then found her again working in a private health clinic in Toronto,

offering same-day appointments. The clinic's fee? $4,245 a year. Hell no! I already pay the services through my taxes. The latest federal data shows in a year Canadians paid over 62 million dollars out of pocket for medically necessary services that were covered. Some experts say companies are using loopholes while provinces look away. These clinics are charging between three and eight thousand dollars a year. Dr. Rita McCracken is a family doctor in BC. A private clinic offered her a job.

What it does is it takes a family doctor and puts me behind a paywall. By the recruiter's estimates, she could drop 800 patients, make more money, and pay no overhead. She didn't go for it, but it's an attractive offer. Christine Birak, CBC News, Toronto. And that is your World This Hour.

You can listen to us anytime on voice-activated devices like Google Home. For CBC News, I'm Gina Louise Phillips.