This Week in Explainers: Who will be Pope Francis' successor?

The world went into mourning after the “People’s Pope”, Francis, passed away at the age of 88. Tributes poured from all corners as the news of his demise came to light.

Tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan after the terror attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people, including a foreigner. After New Delhi put a halt to the Indus Waters Treaty, Islamabad retaliated by suspending the 1972 Simla Agreement with India. As ties between the neighbours further take a plunge, it is not good news for Pakistan’s economy.

United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s job could be at risk. After he was left red-faced over Yemen chat leaks, there are now reports that Hegseth shared sensitive military information with his family members via the Signal messaging group.

Here’s all this and more in our weekly roundup of stories from around the world.

1. Pope Francis has been laid to rest outside the Vatican, as per his wishes. The head of the Roman Catholic Church died on Easter Monday after a stroke. His last public appearance was a day before, when he blessed thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square from his open-air popemobile on Easter. One of the last foreign leaders to meet him was US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday in the Vatican. People queued to pay their last respects to the pope while he was lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica.

With Francis’ funeral complete, there are high speculations about who will be his successor. The College of Cardinals will hold a conclave – a secret meeting to elect a new pope – in early May. Several names are doing the rounds about who could be the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church. We take a look at the contenders here.

2. Pakistan has responded to India’s actions against it in the wake of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The Shehbaz Sharif government announced various steps to retaliate, including putting the 1972 Simla Agreement with India in ‘abeyance’.

The pact was signed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on July 2, 1972, in Himachal Pradesh’s Simla (now Shimla) to formally mark an end to hostilities after the 1971 war between the two nations that led to the creation of Bangladesh. Under the accord, India and Pakistan decided to resolve disputes peacefully and bilaterally. Read here why the Simla Agreement is significant.

3. Pakistan, which has announced tit-for-tat measures against India, has said that it will consider any attempt to divert the flow of water that belongs to it under the Indus Water Treaty as an “act of war”. “Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty, and the usurpation of the rights of lower riparian will be considered as an Act of War and responded with full force across the complete spectrum of national power.”

Its statement comes as the South Asian country faces a crippling economy and billions in debt. As tensions escalate between the two sides, does Pakistan, struggling with an economic crisis, afford to fight a war with India? We explain in this report.

4. The Pahalgam terror attack in south Kashmir has sent shockwaves across India. At least 26 people, mostly tourists, who were enjoying the beauty of the Baisaran meadow in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam were killed by a group of terrorists.

Reports say the gunmen, dressed in army fatigues, surrounded the valley and started killing the tourists after asking their identities in an attack that lasted for more than 15 minutes. The cruelty of the attack has led some people, including former US Pentagon official Michael Rubin, to compare it to Hamas’ assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. But why are they drawing parallels and why is the Palestinian outfit being linked to Pakistan? We explain in this report.

5. Terrorists, including Pakistani nationals, emerged from the dense forest and opened fire on a group of unsuspecting tourists in the picturesque Baisaran meadow in one of the worst terror attacks in India in recent years. Preliminary probe suggests the Pahalgam attackers had body cameras on them and were armed with AK-47s and America-made M4 carbines.

According to security experts, Pakistan-based terrorists have used US-made arms in previous attacks in the Valley as well. But how are they getting their hands on America-made firearms? The answer is the Taliban in Afghanistan. We explain in this report.

6. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth remains in the headlines for the wrong reasons. Amid calls for his resignation, reports have come to light that the Pentagon chief shared the details on American airstrikes on Houthi rebel targets in Yemen in March with his family members over unsecure Signal group chats.

This comes after a US journalist was added to a group chat on Signal created by top members of the Trump administration to discuss plans for military strikes on Yemen. As pressure builds on Hegseth to step down, will he lose his job? Read our story to find out.

7. Is Pakistan scared of India? The Pahalgam attack has put the spotlight on the fragile security in South Asia. As India and Pakistan’s relations deteriorate further, a recently declassified 1993 report by America’s CIA reveals Pakistan’s fear of India’s military superiority.

The report also points out that Islamabad views its nuclear arsenal as a deterrent against India. This stems from Pakistan’s perception of military inferiority, which comes from its previous defeats and belief that another conventional war would threaten the country’s very existence. Read our story here.

8. Remote work seems to be becoming a thing of the past. Post-COVID, several companies are making it mandatory for their employees to return to the office. However, some continue to back a hybrid model – where employees are called to the office a few days a week.

9. Google is the latest company to ask its employees to turn up at the office for work. Many Google units, including remote employees in Google Technical Services and People Operations, have been informed. But will those who refuse to return to office be sacked? Read our report to find out.

P.S: If you want to catch the most heartbreaking images from the Pope’s funeral, you can see them here.

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