Pope Francis Passes Away, Macron in Mayotte, and the "Signalgate 2" Scandal - Highlights from the Easter Weekend
Every weekend, the editorial team of Libe handpicks the top stories from France and around the world that are essential for your awareness.
Pope Francis's Last Breath: A Decade of Progressive Leadership
Alas, on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, the renowned Argentine Jesuit breathed his last at the age of 88 in Vatican's Casa Santa Marta after enduring a lengthy illness, including a stroke, heart failure, and double pneumonia [1][2].
Elected on March 13, 2013, following his predecessor's resignation, Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the first Latin American and Jesuit pope [2]. Over a decade, he was celebrated for his humility and simplicity, choosing to reside in communal living rather than the traditional papal apartments [2]. Despite constant health challenges, such as recurring respiratory problems and a recent severe bout of bronchitis and pneumonia, he remained steadfast in his pastoral duties until the end and made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday 2025 [2].
Macron Speeds Up Reconstruction in Mayotte
Emmanuel Macron visited Mayotte island on Monday, April 24, 2025, where the reconstruction efforts have been sluggish, four months after devastating Cyclone Chido. Immigration pressures persist as a significant challenge, marking the first stop of his five-day tour of the Southwest Indian Ocean (Mayotte, Réunion, Madagascar, and Mauritius) [3]. Upon scrutinizing the cyclone damage shortly after its occurrence on December 14, 2024, which led to 40 deaths and €3.5 billion in damages, Macron pledged to return to "launch the reconstruction period" [3].
Tensions Escalate as Ukraine and Russia Break Ceasefire
The shaky 30-hour Easter truce declared by Moscow expired on Monday, April 21, 2025. Both Ukraine and Russia went on to accuse each other of violating it, even after Donald Trump expressed hope for a peace agreement between the two nations this week [4]. This renewed conflict occurred merely a day after the journalistic community unveiled another security breach implicating Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth [5].
A New Signalgate Scandal Involves Pete Hegseth
Controversy continues to brew around Pete Hegseth, who was previously embroiled in a significant security breach incident. The latest scandal unfolded mid-March 2025, as The Atlantic journalist was inadvertently added to a confidential group conversation discussing Yemen strikes. Shortly thereafter, reports from the New York Times and CNN emerged, insinuating that Hegseth may have shared sensitive Yemen strike information in another Signal group chat with his wife, brother, lawyer, and numerous personal and professional contacts [5].
Clean Up or Let the Past Lie? A Forgotten Oil Deposit in Brittany
Finistère and Côtes-d'Armor regions are home to approximately 200 sites stockpiling waste from old oil spills at the end of the 20th century, primarily in and near the Pointe du Raz. The question of cleaning these sites has stirred debate among the local population, with some advocating for each site's cleanup, while others urge that the remaining remnants be allowed to remain [6].
Protestors rallied in central London on April 19, 2025, demanding protections for the rights of transgender individuals in response to the British Supreme Court's decision to define the female gender biologically [7].
For more in-depth coverage on these topics and more, explore Libération.fr.
Additional Insights:
- Prior to his papacy, Pope Francis served as archbishop of Buenos Aires (1998-2013).
- France aims to complete the reconstruction of Mayotte by the end of 2027 [3].
- Pope Francis's funeral will take place on April 24, 2025, in St. Peter's Basilica, followed by an open-air mass in St. Peter's Square.
- The European Union,playing a mediating role, is negotiating a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia [4].
- Hegseth has maintained that his intention was never to compromise sensitive information, and he insists the conversations in question were conducted "entirely within the chain of command" [5].
- Following Pope Francis's resignation in 2013, he was elected as the first Latin American and Jesuit pope.
- After the reconstruction efforts in Mayotte proved slow following Cyclone Chido, President Emmanuel Macron announced a speed-up in the reconstruction process.
- Despite a truce between Ukraine and Russia over Easter, tensions escalated once again as both parties accused each other of breaking the ceasefire.
- In light of a new scandal involving Pete Hegseth, questions have been raised about his handling of sensitive Yemen strike information.
