The Pope Is Dead…
AFP and Barron’s wrote on April 21:
“Pope Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, aroused both fervour and fury within the Church… Here are the main disputes, which set ultra-conservatives within the Catholic Church against the pope.
“Francis in 2021 signed a decree limiting the use of the Latin Mass, reversing a more flexible edict from 2007 by his predecessor Benedict XVI. The decision provoked incomprehension and anger among part of the clergy and Catholics attached to the so-called ‘Tridentine’ Mass — which is conducted entirely in Latin with the priest facing the altar, like the congregation. Some went so far as to accuse him of preventing them from practicing their faith.
“Pope Francis attracted the wrath of several cardinals, the red-hatted prelates who are supposedly his closest collaborators, but also next in command in the hierarchy of the Church. In 2017, Francis spoke out against unnamed ‘traitors’ who were holding back his institutional reforms. The bad blood was aired in public in 2023, when an Italian journalist named then-recently deceased Australian Cardinal George Pell as the author of an anonymous note attacking Francis. In the note, Pell — previously a close advisor to Francis — described the papacy as a ‘disaster in many respects’ and slammed ‘serious failures’ of diplomacy, particularly regarding the Ukraine war.
“The same year, German Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, former prefect of the powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, published a book in which he railed against Francis’s governance.
He denounced an influential ‘coterie’ around Francis, and criticised the pope’s ‘doctrinal confusion’.
“Francis had a particularly conflictual relationship with Georg Gaenswein, private secretary to his predecessor Benedict XVI. After Benedict’s death in 2022, Gaenswein said Francis had ‘broken’ the retired pope’s heart by limiting the use of the Latin Mass. Francis hit back, saying he regretted that Benedict’s death had been ‘instrumentalized’ by ‘people without ethics, who act for partisan ends’.
“In a rare move in 2023, Francis ousted US Bishop Joseph Strickland, one of his fiercest enemies, who had accused the pope of being lax on abortion and too open towards homosexuals and divorcees. In 2024, it was the turn of ultra-conservative Italian bishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who accused Francis of ‘heresy’ and ‘tyrannical’ behaviour. Vigano, a former ambassador of the Holy See to the United States, was excommunicated — expelled outright — for rejecting the authority of Francis, head of the world’s nearly 1.4 billion Catholics.
“In 2023, the Vatican published a document which paved the way for blessings for same-sex couples, provoking an outcry in the conservative Catholic world, particularly in Africa and the United States. The wave of criticism forced the Vatican to make a ‘clarification’ to defend itself from any doctrinal error, while acknowledging it may be ‘imprudent’ to apply it in certain countries. ‘In their opposition to blessings for same-sex couples, the African bishops are criticising what they call European moral decadence or European Catholicism. They include the pope in that,’ Francois Mabille, director of the Geopolitical Observatory of Religion, told AFP in February 2025.
“The Argentine also irritated far-right Catholics with his calls for migrants to be given welcome in the Old Continent, with some warning Europe could lose its Christian identity.”
He also spoke against Trump’s immigration policy and especially the American-Mexican border, and he seemingly advocated open borders, while at the same time closed access for most immigrants to the Vatican State. He also locked down Vatican City during the coronavirus crisis. “His greatest test came in 2018 when he botched a notorious case of clergy sexual abuse in Chile, and the scandal that festered under his predecessors erupted anew” (The Associated Press, April 21).
He died on “Easter Monday,” apparently of a stroke. It will be interesting to see whether the liberals (referred to in the press as the “reform-oriented group”) or the conservatives (the “traditionalists”) win in electing the new pope by about 120 cardinals. The shenanigans behind the scenes were portrayed quite remarkably in the recent award-winning movie, “Conclave.” Of course, many critics have attacked and rejected the movie. However, the movie might even be harmless in comparison to what really might be going on behind closed doors. Ultimately, the candidate will emerge who is supposed to enhance the development of biblical prophecy.
Francis’ Anti-Israel Legacy
Israel 365 News wrote on April 21:
“[According to] Cardinal Kevin Farrell, ‘… we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God’… Francis was the first pope from the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order), the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope born or raised outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III. Following Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.
“The pope frequently omitted Judaism when discussing other religions. This was clearly expressed in 2021 when Francis became the first pope to visit Iraq. While there, he hosted an inter-religious prayer service at a ziggurat. The structure is an ancient Mesopotamian site built in the 21st century BCE, built on the purported site of the city of Ur, the birthplace of Biblical Abraham. The prayer event was named ‘Prayer for the sons and daughters of Abraham.’ No Jews were invited to the event…
“In 2019, Francis and Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, signed a statement about Jerusalem, referring to Israel’s capital as Al-Quds Acharif, the Arabic name for Jerusalem…
“Pope Francis’ anti-Israel/pro-Palestinian agenda has led him into bizarre theological territory that diverges from traditional Catholicism…
“Pope Francis called for an investigation into claims that Israel is carrying out a ‘genocide’ in Gaza… The Vatican supports a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians that would establish an unprecedented militarized Palestinian state inside Israel’s borders that has been ethnically cleansed of Jews, with its capital in an exclusively Muslim Jerusalem… In 2015, just a few days after the Vatican officially recognized the Palestinian state, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was granted an audience in the Apostolic Palace. After the meeting, Francis gave Abbas a special medallion, representing the angel of peace ‘destroying the bad spirit of war.’ The Pope explained to Abbas that the gift was appropriate since ‘you are an angel of peace.’”
It will be interesting to see whether Pope Francis’ distorted ideas will be adopted or rejected by the new pope.
The Prophecy of the Popes
Daily Mail wrote on April 21, 2025:
“The 12th-century ‘Prophecy of the Popes’ — reportedly uncovered in the Vatican’s secret archives — claims to predict the identity of Francis’ successor and even foretells the return of Christ.
“The document [starts] with Celestine II in 1143 and [ends] with ‘Peter the Roman’ in 2027… Fanning the flames is the eerie fact that there are currently nine frontrunners to succeed Pope Francis — and three of them are named Peter.
“The renewed interest has also reignited fears about one of the prophecy’s more chilling predictions: that Judgment Day is near… According to the final entry surrounding Peter the Roman, the ‘last pope’ will preside over the Church during a time of great turmoil, culminating in the destruction of Rome and the end of the papacy. ‘In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End,’ the last passage of the book reads…
“Although some scholars have claimed the text is a 16th century forgery, Malachy allegedly wrote Prophecy of the Popes in 1139 after receiving a vision during a visit to Rome…”
If the text is not a forgery, but legit, it would have been written under demonic influence, which can be seen, amongst other things, by the wording “dreadful Judge,” in appliance to Jesus. We know, of course, that Christ could not possibly come back in 2027; and we also know that demons, even though they may know future events, are lying spirits; so one never knows when they lie or when they tell the truth.
Europe Mainly Catholic
Breitbart wrote on April 21:
“Much of Europe has, historically, been Catholic and remains officially so… In Paris, the bells of the recently restored Notre Dame rung out 88 times for the Pope’s 88 years of age, and the Eiffel Tower will not be illuminated this evening. In churches throughout Catholic Austria, bells will ring simultaneously for ten minutes this afternoon and football matches planned for today across Italy are cancelled in mourning…
“In a statement Catholic-faith politician Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni said: ‘Pope Francis has returned to the Father’s house… We bid farewell to the Holy Father with hearts full of sorrow, but we know that he is now in the peace of the Lord.’…
“In the United Kingdom Buckingham Palace published a statement from King Charles III [stating] ‘our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased’ by knowing the Pope was able to celebrate Easter before his passing…’”
There is not much difference between the (unbiblical) faith and practices of the Catholic Church and of the Church of England.
Trump’s Fight With (German) Tourists Continues
Newsweek wrote on April 21:
“Two German teenage girls were detained and deported from the United States after arriving in Hawaii without a hotel reservation. The case highlights how minor oversights can trigger severe immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s aggressive border policies.
“International travelers face increased scrutiny under the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies. This case exemplifies how minor oversights can lead to severe consequences, raising concerns about the treatment of tourists and the potential detrimental effect on international travel to the U.S…
“Maria Lepère and Charlotte Pohl, both recent high school graduates from Rostock, Germany, embarked on a world tour, visiting countries like Thailand and New Zealand… Their journey took an unexpected turn when they arrived in Hawaii without pre-booked accommodations. Immigration officials, suspecting potential unauthorized work intentions due to the lack of hotel reservations, detained them. They arrived in Honolulu on March 18, planning to spend five weeks exploring the islands before continuing to California and then Costa Rica following their graduation. The duo spent several days in a detention facility before being deported, despite holding valid travel documents (through ESTA) and having no prior infractions…
“The teens said they were questioned for several hours at Honolulu Airport before allegedly being subjected to full-body scans and strip searches… They were then dressed in green prison uniforms and placed in a holding cell alongside long-term detainees, some reportedly facing serious criminal charges…
“This incident is not isolated, as reports indicate a rise in detentions of European tourists under the current U.S. administration, including the recent detention of three German nationals by border authorities under Trump’s watch. Meanwhile, Germany has issued travel advisories warning its citizens about the threat of deportation under Trump’s rule. The Foreign Ministry said that neither approval through the U.S. ESTA system nor a U.S. visa means people will be granted entry every time.
“The German Foreign Office is monitoring the situation and may engage in diplomatic discussions with U.S. counterparts to address the treatment of German nationals. Travelers are urged to meticulously plan their trips, including securing accommodations in advance, to mitigate the risk of detention or deportation.”
This is SO crazy and SO alarming!!!
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Rules Against Trump
The Hill wrote on April 17:
“The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday declined to lift a judge’s order that the Trump administration ‘facilitate’ the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia… The 4th Circuit declined to put Xinis’s ruling on hold just one day after the administration filed the appeal, a swift order that came without waiting for Abrego Garcia’s lawyers to file their response… ‘we shall not micromanage the efforts of a fine district judge attempting to implement the Supreme Court’s recent decision,’ U.S. Circuit Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson wrote for the unanimous three-judge panel…
“‘The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order,’ he continued. ‘Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done. This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear.’
“Wilkinson, an appointee of former President Reagan, was joined on the panel by U.S. Circuit Judge Robert King, who is an appointee of former President Clinton, and U.S. Circuit Judge Stephanie Thacker, who is an appointee of former President Obama.”
The Alien Enemies Act of 1798
npr wrote on April 19:
“The act has only been invoked three previous times in U.S. history, most recently during World War II to hold Japanese-American civilians in internment camps. The Trump administration contended it gave them power to swiftly remove immigrants they identified as members of the gang, regardless of their immigration status…”
What does the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 actually say? Here is the wording:
“Whenever there is a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion is perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States by any foreign nation or government, and the President makes public proclamation of the event, all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of the hostile nation or government, being of the age of fourteen years and upward, who shall be within the United States and not actually naturalized, shall be liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as alien enemies.
“The President is authorized in any such event, by his proclamation thereof, or other public act, to direct the conduct to be observed on the part of the United States, toward the aliens who become so liable; the manner and degree of the restraint to which they shall be subject and in what cases, and upon what security their residence shall be permitted, and to provide for the removal of those who, not being permitted to reside within the United States, refuse or neglect to depart therefrom; and to establish any other regulations which are found necessary in the premises and for the public safety.”
Clash Between Trump and the Courts
npr wrote on April 21:
“In the early hours of Saturday, the U.S. Supreme Court seemed to signal it is losing its patience with the Trump administration. On April 7, the high court clearly said that if the government intends to deport a foreign-born resident, it must notify the individual ‘within a reasonable period of time’ so that the individual has the ability to challenge the removal in court prior to deportation. In the nearly two weeks that followed, however, the Trump administration dragged its feet, avoiding meaningful compliance with the court’s order. Then late Friday afternoon, on Good Friday, the court had a new deportation case on its docket, one that suggested the Trump administration was violating the terms of the earlier order. Racing to the Supreme Court, lawyers for the ACLU told the court that dozens of Venezuelan detainees were about to be deported. They said that the men were notified, in papers written in English, which they didn’t understand, that they were eligible to be deported under the Alien Enemies Act. And, the ACLU said, the men were being loaded on to buses that presumably were going to take them to the airport for deportation.
“This time the high court acted swiftly, releasing a one-paragraph order so quickly that the court did not even wait for the two dissenters to file their opinion explaining their disagreement. That was not the only extraordinary feature of the court’s order. Although couched in legal terms, the order reeked of mistrust for the government. ‘The government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class [of detainees] from the United States until further order of this court,’ the justices said.
“The court went on to note that the detainees’ case is pending before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and that pending the outcome in that most conservative court, the solicitor general ‘is invited to file a response’ to the still pending application for review by this court ‘as soon as possible.’ In other words, the court was saying to the administration, whether you win in the Fifth Circuit or not, this isn’t over yet…
“Today, with many Republicans terrified of crossing Trump, it is not clear that Donald Trump could do anything to lose his GOP support in Congress. But in a clash with the Supreme Court, he could lose a lot. So too could the court, because it has few tools to actually make a president do something. And if a president succeeds in defying the court, the whole system of government, and of checks and balances, would be in peril. So, are we in a constitutional crisis?…
“But at some point in the not too distant future, the high court may have to confront the president head on… Chief Justice John Roberts, at his confirmation hearing 20 years ago, opined that ‘judges have to have the courage to make the unpopular decisions when they have to,’ including striking down as unconstitutional acts of the executive. ‘That is the judicial oath,’ he said. But he likely never imagined a president as insistently recalcitrant as Trump.”
Trump’s Attack Becomes More Desperate
Newsmax wrote on April 20:
“President Donald Trump called the opposition [to his immigration procedures, especially in regard to Garcia] ‘despicable,’ ‘un-American,’ and premised on a ‘blatant and dangerous lie.’… ‘Those lying to the American People on behalf of violent criminals have to be held responsible by the Agencies and the Courts.’…
“Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., criticized Trump and his administration Sunday for talking about sending American citizen criminals to foreign prisons. Kennedy was asked… if he thought the law allowed sending U.S. citizens who were criminals to foreign prisons. ‘No, Ma’am. Nor does it, nor should it, nor should it be considered appropriate or moral. We have our own laws,’ he said. ‘We shouldn’t send prisoners to foreign countries in my judgment.’
“Trump has said he wants to deport some violent criminals who are U.S. citizens to Salvadoran prisons, a move experts said would violate U.S. law.”
Trump’s lack of support for some of his actions seems to bother him very much.
Supreme Court to Weigh In on Trump’s Plans to Restrict Birthright Citizenship
USA Today wrote on April 17:
“The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would weigh in on the Trump administration’s request that it be allowed to broadly enforce its new restrictions on birthright citizenship while the policy is being litigated. The court said it will hear oral arguments on May 15.
“The [14th] amendment states that all ‘persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.’ The Trump administration maintains that right was intended to help formerly enslaved people after the Emancipation Proclamation and doesn’t cover children of people who entered the country without proper authorization…
“Twenty Republican attorneys general backed Trump’s Supreme Court appeal, as did gun rights groups. Attorneys for immigrant rights groups… said Trump’s order violates the plain text of the Constitution, common law history, Supreme Court precedent and more than a century of consistent practice.”
Losing Faith in the USA
npr wrote on April 21:
For decades, the U.S. financial system has been regarded as one of the most stable and powerful in the world. Now, there are fears that something unprecedented may be happening as a result of President Trump’s tariffs: Investors everywhere may be losing their faith in the United States…
“Stocks, U.S. government bonds, and the dollar are all taking a hit at the same time…”
US Weapons Left Behind in Afghanistan
BBC News wrote on April 17:
“Half a million weapons obtained by the Taliban in Afghanistan have been lost, sold or smuggled to militant groups… with the UN believing that some have fallen into the hands of al-Qaeda affiliates.
“The Taliban took control of around one million weapons and pieces of military equipment – which had mostly been funded by the US… As the Taliban advanced through Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghan soldiers surrendered or fled, abandoning their weapons and vehicles. Some equipment was simply left behind by US forces…
“This is very much a political issue, and US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he will reclaim weapons from Afghanistan. He said that $85bn (£66bn) of advanced weaponry was left there. ‘Afghanistan is one of the biggest sellers of military equipment in the world, you know why? They’re selling the equipment that we left,’ Trump said during his first cabinet meeting of the new administration. ‘I want to look into this. If we need to pay them, that’s fine, but we want our military equipment back.’…
“Whether Trump will take any action remains to be seen, but, in the meantime, concerns about the spread of weapons in the region and access by militant groups remain unresolved.”
Meloni in Washington
Die Welt wrote on April 18:
“Donald Trump… has alarmed the European Union. And prompted it to undertake previously unthinkable efforts. The EU is now supposed to become a serious global political force… Germany, France, Poland, and Great Britain as the driving forces of a post-Carolingian Europe – this quartet gives hope. But that’s not enough. Because at least one important state is missing from the new alliance: Italy. The country has been almost written off north of the Alps… But that’s unfair. And short-sighted.
“Unfair because it ignorantly disregards Italy’s historical significance for the formation of Europe. And because Italy was an important founding nation of the European unification process. The contemptuous treatment of Italy is short-sighted because the largest EU state on the Mediterranean coast plays a significant role in the EU’s migration policy.”
“Italy is needed. Like Donald Trump, Giorgia Meloni is also a nationalist. This is one of the reasons why they are close. Meloni, who wants to play a prominent European role, has been striving to mediate between the EU and the US since Trump’s election as US president…
“When she was received by the US president at the White House on Thursday evening as the first European head of government, she vigorously countered Trump’s disparaging remarks about President Volodymyr Zelensky with her conviction that Ukraine still deserves Western support. She did, however, agree with Trump in her disdain for all things woke and, like Trump, sees migration as a warning sign for the West.
“The meeting with Trump has not (yet) produced any tangible results. There was a lot of smiling and laughing. But Giorgia Meloni seems wise enough not to allow herself to be expelled from the EU community, even by a fiercely flattering Trump.”
Italy is indeed an indispensable part of Europe. Not so Great Britain.
Trump’s Peace Proposals
Bild Online published an analysis by Bild deputy editor Paul Ronzheimer on April 24:
“Above all, there is one feeling that characterizes political Kyiv these days: disbelief. The behavior of US President Trump, his threats and insults against the Ukrainian President Zelenskyy – we had almost become accustomed to all of this. But for a long time, no one wanted to believe that Trump really seemed willing to give Russian President Vladimir Putin everything he wanted. But after Trump’s peace plan was confirmed, everything changed…
“It has long been clear to Ukraine: They cannot rely on the US. The other question is: Can Ukraine rely on Europe?…
“Trump has repeatedly announced that he no longer wants to deliver. He wants the deal now. Come what may… It’s not just about the recognition of Crimea, but also about the regions Russia is fighting over in the east and south…
“In fact, that’s Zelensky’s problem: He not only has to negotiate with the US and Russia, but also achieve a result that would be acceptable to the Ukrainian people. Putin, on the other hand, is making maximum demands because he assumes that time is on his side. The calculation: The US will withdraw, stop delivering – and Europe cannot provide what Ukraine needs. The result would be a situation that is even worse for Ukraine than it already is. An absolute dilemma…”
Ultimately, Russia and Ukraine will unite.
Boris Johnson Explodes at Donald Trump
Express wrote on April 24:
“The former Prime Minister has raged against Washington over the treatment of Ukraine in peace proposals… claiming they reward Vladimir Putin in five key ways… Mr Johnson wrote: ‘Putin indiscriminately butchers more Ukrainian civilians, killing and injuring 100 in Kyiv including children. And what is his reward under the latest peace proposals?’
“The former Conservative leader then listed the five ‘rewards’ he believed President Putin was getting from the current US deal.
“He wrote: ‘1, The right to keep sovereign Ukrainian territory he has taken by violence and in breach of international law, 2, The right to control Ukraine’s destiny by forbidding Nato membership, 3, The lifting of sanctions against Russia, 4, An economic partnership with America, 5, The chance to rebuild his armed forces for the next attack in a few short years’ time.’
“Mr Johnson, 60, added: ‘As for Ukraine – what do they get after three years of heroic resistance against a brutal and unprovoked invasion? What is their reward for the appalling sacrifices they have made – for the sake, as they have endlessly been told, of freedom and democracy around the world? Apart from the right to share their natural resources with the United States they get nothing. What is there in this deal that can realistically stop a third Russian invasion? Nothing…’
“It comes as President Trump launched an extraordinary attack on the Ukrainian wartime leader after the latter said Ukraine was not prepared to recognise Russian control of the Crimea, a part of Ukraine annexed by the Kremlin in 2014…”Subsequently, in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine on Thursday, Trump wrote: “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!”
Turkey Greatest Danger to Israel
The Atlantic wrote on April 19:
“Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, its would-be sultan, dismantles the country’s secular democracy… While Erdoğan consolidates power at home and prepares to project it abroad, he has set the stage for a clash with Israel. Indeed, Turkey has quickly emerged as perhaps the greatest danger to the Jewish state in the Middle East, escalating the threat of a conflict he won’t be able to avoid…
“Erdoğan’s grand designs appear to include establishing himself as the Muslim world’s principal champion of anti-Zionism. The president has routinely hosted Hamas leaders for official visits and has referred to the architects of the October 7 attack as a ‘liberation group.’… In turning against Israel and in favor of Hamas, Erdoğan is riding a wave of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism that has been rising in Turkey since at least the 1980s, especially on the secular left…
“The Turkish president has intensified a long-held desire in his country to gain greater distance from the United States and NATO…”
Merz’s Coalition Deal: ‘Betrayal’ of Germany?
The Week (UK) wrote on April 20:
“When the incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, won the election in February, he promised to be bold and brave: to tighten our borders, unshackle our low-growth economy, bolster our defences, and wean us off our dependence on the United States. Last week… the CDU leader unveiled his coalition deal with the SPD – and it was full of the same tired old policies: no military conscription; no social and tax reform; no major migration measures… With war raging in Europe, the far-right on the rise, and the US intent on destroying the global economic order, we need our leaders to be courageous. Instead, we have a ‘coalition of the timid.’…
“It had barely begun, but the honeymoon is definitely over for Merz… His approval ratings have plunged ten points since the election. The world needs Germany’s new leader to succeed… The stakes are incredibly high… With liberalism, freedom and democracy under threat, it’s a time for ‘giants’ – yet sadly we have no Helmut Kohl, no Gerhard Schröder, no Merkel. All of them have experience of governing during international crises. Our incoming chancellor and his coalition partners do not…”
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg Suddenly in Favor of Conscription
ZDF Heute wrote on April 18:
“[Former Defense Minister] Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg… spoke out… in favor of reintroducing conscription: ‘I was a supporter of conscription and I still am today, if it is properly implemented. We can and should return to that point…’ As Defense Minister, he was responsible for the suspension of conscription in 2011… ‘We were faced with the decision: Can we still fulfill our alliance obligations (…) or can we afford a non-functional conscription?’
“We were dealing with a conscription period of ‘only six months’. In six months, you barely learn to distinguish a combine harvester from a tank. At that time, we only recruited 16 percent of young men. We had to fear that conscription would be completely abolished by the Federal Constitutional Court… At the same time, there is a… need to bring a Bundeswehr that has been run down for decades to a level (…) that allows it to act in some form both in the European context and in a tense NATO context…'”
Spahn on the Rise
Bild Online wrote on April 20:
“BILD reported that Merz wants to appoint former Health Minister Jens Spahn as parliamentary group leader. Only the final go-ahead from CSU leader Markus Söder (58) is still missing. According to BILD information, the appointment could officially be made as early as the end of April at the CDU party conference. Or shortly before Merz’s swearing-in as Chancellor on May 6th…
“The Spahn appointment is causing a stir in the party and parliamentary group – and it is also causing resentment among some… Critics cite the debate Spahn sparked about how to deal with the AfD as an example. He believes: It needs to become more normal… Added to this is the fear of many in the parliamentary group about Spahn’s past as Corona Health Minister, and long-simmering scandals surrounding mask deals…
“Conservative CSU MPs, who appreciate Spahn’s course on migration policy, for example, are not the only ones satisfied with Spahn’s solution at the parliamentary group’s leadership. According to BILD, a ‘young group’ in the parliamentary group supports Spahn… Merz has already decided on Spahn, as BILD reported. The SPD, but especially the Greens, are barraging criticism of the appointment. The soon-to-be opposition party is targeting Spahn…”
Die Welt wrote on April 15:
“Jens Spahn (CDU) has sharply criticized the charter flights planned by the outgoing federal government for people from Afghanistan to Germany. ‘I find this fundamentally wrong and presumptuous,’ said Spahn… The caretaker government ‘doesn’t even have a majority in parliament,’ complained the CDU politician. ‘Our coalition agreement states very clearly: The reception programs should end…’
“The CDU and SPD agree ‘that these flights must be stopped… We don’t want any more flights from Afghanistan to Germany, but rather fly criminals and threats back to Afghanistan,’ Spahn emphasized.”
Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:
These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.