Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from Chicago has been selected by the papal conclave to become the next pope.  Cardinal Prevost was created by Pope Francis in 2023.  As the new Bishop of Rome, Cardinal Prevost has selected the name Pope Leo XIV.

(VIA MSM) – Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has become the first-ever American elected as the leader of the Catholic Church — now known by his pontifical name of Pope Leo XIV.

The 69-year-old, born on the Southside of Chicago, is seen as a diplomat of the church and was an important adviser to his predecessor, Pope Francis.

He became a front-runner to the papacy in the days before the conclave began, said Rev. James Martin, a papal contributor to ABC News.

Leo emerged from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday evening to throngs of cheering crowds, following the signal of white smoke that emanated from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel.

(more…)

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be participating in a National Day of Prayer event at the White House. Anticipated Start Time 11:00am, with livestream links below:

.

(more…)

Vice-President JD Vance travels to India as part of a diplomatic tour that includes geopolitical relationships and trade deals.  With the Trump administration emphasizing an Indo-Pacific strategy to help thwart aggressive Chinese expansion, India plays a key role.  Indeed, the Trump plan in term #1 always included close economic ties with India; in term #2 that strategy remains.

Enhancing term #2 and the geopolitical strategy around the Indo-Pacific approach, JD Vance represents a close personal relationship with India that fits inside a natural synergy he has with Silicon Valley and the Indian tech community. The Tech Bros love India, and with JD and Usha Vance representing close ties to the nation, JD Vance fits the pro-India trade position like a glove. Usha Vance’s parents are Telugu-speaking teachers from Andhra Pradesh. They had moved to the US in the early 1970s.

For President Trump the relationship with India is ‘business strategic’, a hedge against Beijing.  For Vice President JD Vance the relationship with India is personal.

Vice President JD Vance praised India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, “Our kids just like him. And because children have such a good sense of character, I like Prime Minister Modi too. It’s a great foundation for the future of our relationship.” Vance highlights personal warmth alongside diplomatic ties because for him and the Tech Bros, this relationship with India is personal. WATCH:

.

(more…)

President Trump and First Lady Melania participate in an annual tradition at the White House, the Easter Egg Roll.

.

*Travel day tonight.  See you in the morning. :)) /SD

(more…)

It looks like meeting Vice-President JD Vance yesterday was the last public appearance before Pope Francis died early this morning.

The exact cause of death has not been shared: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in an announcement of the death. Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.

(Via AP) – Francis’ coffin will be moved from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel, where he lived, to St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing.

According to a new ritual Francis approved last year, the body of the pope will be placed in a wooden coffin, with a zinc coffin inside. The pope will be dressed in red liturgical vestments, his miter — the traditional headdress of bishops — and the pallium woolen stole, a kind of scarf.

(more…)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced an Easter ceasefire of all hostilities in order to celebrate the holiest of Christian holy days.  According to his announcement the ceasefire will last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday, to midnight (2100 GMT) Monday, following Easter Sunday.

“We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions,” Putin said at a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, in a video shared by the Kremlin’s Press Service.  WATCH:

Whether the CIA, NATO and European control agents will also stop hostilities is an unknown.  However, the move by Russia does appear to be an earnest show of good faith representative of the growing faith evident in the modern federation.

Russia has some of the most inspiring orthodox Christian churches in all of Eastern Europe, and they are being well attended and beautifully restored/maintained.

(more…)

The White House provides the following Easter message from President Donald Trump.

“As we approach this joyous Easter Sunday, I want to wish Christians everywhere a happy, and beautiful, and blessed holiday. America is a nation of believers. We need God. We want God. And with His help, we will make our nation stronger…” –President Donald J. Trump

.

(more…)

On this 250th Anniversary of the first Patriots Day, the battle of Lexington and Concord, the White House posts the following historical account for our consideration.  Thank You President Donald J Trump.

.

(more…)

President Trump hosted a group of faith leaders from the U.S. at the White House for an Easter prayer service and dinner event.  Franklin Graham delivered remarks and introduced President Trump. [Video Prompted]

.

(more…)

Timing his visit with a stock market “pump and dump”, executed by his friend Bill Ackman and intended to create domestic political turmoil, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits President Trump in the White House.

Smartly, the strategic team in the White House saw the Ackman ‘pump and dump’ as it was triggered and cancelled the formal bilateral press conference in favor of a sit-down open presser in the Oval Office. Recovering from the failure of the strategic headline narrative effort (irrelevant questions about the fake news 90-day tariff pause), Netanyahu was then forced to retreat and outline his remarks unscripted.

President Trump then sat back (semi-detached) and watched Netanyahu discuss tariffs, “the subject of great interest today.” Netanyahu proclaimed that Israel agrees with President Trump about the exploitative use of tariffs against American interests, and President Trump wondered if the viewing audience noticed that if one-way Israeli tariffs were so bad for the “good friend of Israel” then why were they in place? WATCH:

President Trump noted his administration was having direct talks with Iran about their nuclear ambitions.  Stating “we cannot be the stupid people anymore,” the coded messages of geopolitical gamesmanship were very visible from President Trump.

The media questions come at the 9:00 minute mark.  This is the Big Leagues folks.  This is where the major league geopolitical power moves and counter-moves take place, trillions are at stake and generational change is afoot.  As President Trump rightly says, “we have one shot at this folks,” and I believe he is the great American leader to do it.

Bring the thunder!

(more…)