By Jasmine Zahabi Pope Francis’ papacy was a portrait of paradoxes — celebrated and scorned, tender yet tenacious, deeply spiritual yet fiercely political. And while the world mourns the passing of the 88-year-old pontiff, we’re left not just with memories of a man who changed the tone of the Church, but with a roadmap of what it looks like to lead with courage in the face of relentless resistance. Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) Even before his death, Pope Francis had become one of the most controversial popes in modern history. In 2019, a symbolic moment played out in Rome that would become emblematic of the firestorm he often found himself in. During the Amazon synod, as bishops gathered to discuss pastoral care and environmental justice, a man stormed into a nearby church and stole three Indigenous statues. He hurled them into the Tiber River in protest, calling the artwork “pagan idolatry” and accusing Francis of betraying Catholic tradi...

By Jasmine Zahabi  In a landmark decision that highlights the often-overlooked human element of immigration law, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that when a voluntary deportation deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, it must extend to the next business day.  The U.S. Supreme Court Though the ruling may seem procedural, it reveals a much deeper issue—how rigid bureaucratic systems can upend the lives of immigrants who have lived, worked, and built families in the U.S. for years. The case , revolved around Hugo Monsalvo Velázquez, a man who came to the U.S. as a teenager and spent nearly 20 years building a life in Colorado. He became a student, husband, father, and small business owner—but all of that was threatened when he was told to self-deport by a deadline that landed on a Saturday. When he submitted his motion to stay on a Friday, it wasn’t officially recorded until Monday, and that technicality nearly led to his deportation. The consequences of missing a voluntary departu...