The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/04/21 at 09:00 EDT

Episode Date: April 21, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/04/21 at 09:00 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 is sour. I'm Gina Louise Phillips. We begin this morning at the Vatican. That is Cardinal Kevin Farrell announcing Pope Francis has died. He suffered chronic lung disease and was admitted to hospital earlier this year for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. Francis was 88 years old. Megan Williams reports on

his legacy as mourners gather. Well, I'm standing now in St. Peter's Square and just crowds of people are flooding in. I've spoken to some of them. They're not all Catholic. There are people carrying large crosses, clearly parish groups, but also a lot of people who are here to pay their respects, not because they're Christians, but just because this pope had so much importance, I think, to many people. He was a Pope from right after his election 12 years ago, who

made it clear he wasn't interested in enforcing doctrine. He was interested in reaching out to the world's forgotten and overlooked. And part of that was his deep understanding of the importance of apologizing for colonial crimes and injustices and his trip to Canada his penitential tour was I think a reflection of his deep understanding of how that was such an important issue in our time as understanding of how that was such an important issue in our time. As Megan mentions, it was just three years ago Pope Francis was in Canada. He expressed deep sorrow for harm suffered at residential schools.

CBC's Juanita Taylor has more on this. Well, leaders in Iqaluit called this visit historic, where Pope Francis spent only a few hours in the Nineveh capital. Thousands of people stood outside to see and hear the Pope speak, more specifically say sorry, and he said sorry in Inuktitut. Again, that time some felt the apology felt short because Pope Francis didn't apologize for the church's role in abusing children at residential schools. But before the event outside, over 100 people got to meet

privately with Francis inside a school in Iqaluit. And that historic visit wasn't the pope's only effort at reconciliation. He also invited a delegation of Indigenous leaders to the Vatican in 2022. Residents around Los Angeles are rebuilding after the devastating fires in January. 30 people were killed and more than 11,000 homes were destroyed. Steve Futterman reports from Los Angeles. More than 100 days since fires ravaged LA, there are finally some concrete signs of rebuilding. Robert Lund has actually begun after getting one of the first permits to start construction. It would be a great feeling to just return to this spot.

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass says progress, albeit sometimes slow, is taking place. Disaster recovery is on track to be the fastest in modern California history. Insurance is another issue. There have been more than 37,000 claims, but up to two-thirds of homeowners may have been underinsured. Yesterday, on Easter Sunday, in one of the hardest hit areas, Altadena, Reverend Andre Wilson spoke to his congregation. This is Easter, resurrection.

And he talked about their own personal resurrection. Even out of the ashes, something good can happen, and that really needs to move from a conception to a reality. Today, we should get a progress report. L.A. Mayor Bass is set to deliver her State of the City address. Steve Futterman for CBC News, Los Angeles. On Canadian soil now, Election Day is exactly one week away and today is the last day advance polls are open. These voters cast their ballots this weekend at Ottawa City Hall. It's our right and our responsibility to participate in this process.

It's a long weekend, so it's beautiful weather, it's nice to just wander down here and take that off the list. Well, I think we're not the only ones who feel that this is a monumental election. There's been high turnout across the country. Elections Canada is saying 2 million people have already voted on Friday alone. And that is The World This Hour. Listen to us anytime on voice-activated devices like Google Home. For CBC News, I'm Gina Luis-Galantz.