A man of the people: Pope Francis has died

As attention has focused on war in Iran, Israel sees an opportunity to crush a weakened Hizbullah in Lebanon. Our correspondent says it would be far better for the Lebanese state to do so. As south-east Asia is modernising, Islam is counterintuitively gaining greater primacy in c ...  Show more

A rash entry into a war of choice exposes President Donald Trump in a number of ways—and he may prove more dangerous as he becomes weaker. Turkey’s foreign entanglements mask the democratic backsliding at home; that is bad news for an opposition figure whose trial just began. And ...  Show more

He shunned fancy vestments and paid surprise visits to prisons and hospitals: our obituaries editor reflects on the life of a <a href="https://www.economist.com/obituary/2025/04/21/pope-francis-changed-the-catholic-church-but-not-as-much-as-he-hoped?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_mediu ...

As Syrians awoke to a new era, thousands rushed to fling open the <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/12/09/inside-bashar-al-assads-dungeons?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonym ...

As the cardinals of the coming conclave prepare, our correspondent considers what will guide them. <a href="https://www.economist.com/international/2025/04/21/the-coming-struggle-to-choose-the-next-pope?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&u ...

America’s most prominent young conservative was assassinated while conducting one of his signature campus events. His death might only widen political divides. In Asia a broad trend of deflation points to lower prices but unhealthy economies. And what happens when spiritual leade ...  Show more