US President Donald Trump on Monday, ordered that American flags be flown at half-mast to honour Pope Francis.

This comes after Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis! May God bless him and all who loved him!”

Trump said he signed an executive order putting the flags of the country, all of them, all federal flags and state flags at half mast in honor of Pope Francis.

The US President described the pontiff as a good man, who worked so hard and loved the world.

“As a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on the day of interment.

“I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations,” Trump stated.

As the world grieves the passing of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church finds itself at a defining crossroads with the selection of its next spiritual leader.

The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at his residence in the Casa Santa Marta, marking the beginning of the process to elect his successor.

While preparations for his funeral are underway, attention has swiftly shifted to the list of possible successors, with two African Cardinals—Peter Turkson of Ghana and Robert Sarah of Guinea—emerging as prominent contenders.

Cardinal Peter Turkson

Cardinal Peter Turkson, 76, is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential Catholic figures. Born in Ghana, Turkson became the Archbishop of Cape Coast in 1992 under Pope John Paul II and was elevated to cardinal in 2003, becoming the first Ghanaian to hold the title.

Over the years, Turkson has been at the forefront of Vatican conversations on social justice, climate change, and human rights. He has served as President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and later became the first Prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, a role created by Pope Francis.

Turkson is known for championing a more inclusive and compassionate Church, addressing global issues like poverty and environmental degradation while holding moderately progressive views on matters such as homosexuality. His election would mark a historic moment, as he would become the first Black African pope.

Cardinal Robert Sarah

At 79, Cardinal Robert Sarah stands as a strong voice for Catholic orthodoxy. Born in Guinea, Sarah has had a distinguished career within the Vatican, serving as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments from 2014 until his retirement in 2021.

Throughout his tenure, Sarah became known for his unwavering defence of traditional Catholic liturgy and doctrine, including his opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion, and modern gender ideologies. He has also publicly criticised Islamic extremism, positioning himself as a defender of both Catholic identity and global stability.

In 2016, he sparked debate by advocating for priests to celebrate Mass facing the altar, a practice largely abandoned after the Second Vatican Council. His conservative theology and commitment to preserving the Church’s ancient traditions have earned him both respect and criticism within the Catholic world.

Pastor Tunde Bakare, Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, on Sunday charged President Bola Tinubu to stop “playing God”.

Bakare said Tinubu’s administration is veering Nigeria off its course.

In his state of the nation address at his church in Lagos, Bakare suggested that Tinubu should adopt a more humble approach to governance.

Stressing that he does not want Tinubu to fail, Bakare said the president must “stop playing God”.

“The current administration is steering the polity adrift, it is time for this government to embrace humility,” he added.

Bakare also accused the current Nigerian leadership of attempting to turn the country into a Mafia state.

He said, “It is clear that our so-called leaders are determined to turn Nigeria into a Mafia state. The two main contenders in the ongoing institutional immorality are the executive and the legislature.

“It’s often said that these two arms of government suffered the worst forms of arrest and development because they were the direct victims of the era.

“But after 26 years of uninterrupted democracy, one must ask how much longer before our institutions finally mature.

“While it is not in dispute that our institutions and constitution are inadequate, it has become obvious that our biggest problems in this nation are the occupiers of these institutions and executors of the constitution.

“The quality of leadership in Nigeria has become so repugnant that citizens must declare a state of emergency on governance, demanding that every aspiring public office holder undergo rigorous psychiatric evaluation before seeking election.”