Russia’s FSB security service announced on Friday that it had foiled a plot, allegedly ordered by Ukraine, to assassinate Tikhon Shevkunov, a senior bishop in the Russian Orthodox Church known for his close ties to President Vladimir Putin.

Often referred to as “Putin’s confessor” in media reports, Metropolitan Tikhon serves on Putin’s advisory council for culture and the arts and has maintained an acquaintance with the Russian leader since the 1990s.

The 66-year-old cleric was appointed Metropolitan of Crimea after Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, a role that signifies a senior bishop. Frequently seen in public with Putin, he has been speculated as a possible successor to Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

According to the FSB, a Ukrainian and a Russian national were arrested in Moscow on suspicion of planning the attack. The agency claimed the suspects had been “recruited by Ukraine’s GUR intelligence service through Telegram.”

Russia’s TASS news agency identified the individuals as Shevkunov’s assistant, Denis Popovich, and fellow cleric Nikita Ivankovich. It reported that in December, the suspects were given an improvised explosive device with instructions to assassinate Metropolitan Tikhon before fleeing Moscow using false passports.

Their alleged plan involved planting explosives in the “living quarters” of Moscow’s Sretensky Monastery while Shevkunov was present, TASS stated. Videos released by Russia’s Zvezda news outlet showed security forces detaining one of the suspects and transporting him in a van, while another clip depicted a suspect handcuffed and lying face-down in an apartment. The outlet also shared footage that purportedly showed the suspects confessing.

Ukraine has not issued any public response to the allegations. Since launching its military offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has witnessed several attacks targeting Russian or pro-Russian figures. Many of these incidents have been attributed to Kyiv or claimed by Ukraine’s secret services, with the most recent being the assassination of General Igor Kirillov in Moscow last December.

Pope Francis has shown slight further improvement as he continues to battle double pneumonia, though doctors emphasized Wednesday that his prognosis remains cautious.

According to a statement, Francis is undergoing respiratory physiotherapy to help clear fluid from his lungs—the first time the Vatican has confirmed he is receiving such treatment.

The 88-year-old pope has been hospitalized in critical condition since February 14 due to a severe lung infection. Already dealing with chronic lung disease, he was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital after his bronchitis worsened. While doctors did not reiterate that he remains in critical condition in their latest update, they maintained that his prognosis is still uncertain.

Despite his condition, Francis resumed work from his hospital room in the afternoon after receiving the Eucharist in the morning. The Vatican also announced his approval of four new bishops and the establishment of a new fundraising initiative to address the Holy See’s ongoing financial challenges. Though the bishop appointments and fundraising plans were likely finalized before his hospitalization, their official announcement highlights that Francis remains actively involved in governance.

Pilgrims Gather at the Hospital

If Francis were to glance out his 10th-floor hospital window, he would see a growing number of well-wishers lighting candles and leaving messages near the statue of St. John Paul II at the hospital entrance. This impromptu pilgrimage site has drawn many, especially church groups in Rome for the Vatican’s Holy Year.

On Wednesday, Bishop Gerardo Villalonga from Menorca, Spain, led a group of 50 pilgrims to the site, expressing their desire to be close to the pope.

“When a family member is ill, it is important to surround them with support. The entire people of God are near the pope,” he said.

As night fell, trumpeter Felice Carella and singer Davide Capuano performed Schubert’s Ave Maria outside his window.

“For me, this is more than just a song; it’s a heartfelt prayer for the pope’s recovery,” Capuano said. “These are difficult days, and I hope the world prays with us.”

Cardinal Re to Lead Prayer Vigil

Meanwhile, the Vatican appointed Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old dean of the College of Cardinals, to lead a prayer vigil in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday night. This decision places a key figure in any potential future conclave in the spotlight.

As depicted in the Oscar-nominated film Conclave, the dean plays a crucial role in papal successions, overseeing the funeral of a pope and organizing the conclave to elect a successor. Re, who served as prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops from 2000 to 2010, was appointed dean in 2020 and recently had his term extended by Francis despite its expiration.

Prayers from Argentina

Back in Rome, members of the Argentine community gathered for a special Mass led by Cardinal Baldassarre Reina, the pope’s vicar for Rome. Reina also celebrated a Mass at Gemelli hospital on Wednesday to pray for Francis’ recovery.

Sister Nilda Trejo, an Argentine nun, noted that Francis has long faced health challenges, particularly with breathing and speaking loudly, which is why she has always prayed for him.

“We knew he often struggled,” she said. “Even at Mass, they always have to turn up the microphone because he has difficulty speaking. But he always spoke to the people—to their hearts.”

The Trump administration announced on Sunday that over 1,600 employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are being dismissed, while several agency staff members stationed abroad have been placed on paid administrative leave.

“I regret to inform you that you are affected by a Reduction in Force action,” stated an email sent to one of the affected workers, as reviewed by Reuters. The message confirmed that those impacted would officially be removed from federal service on April 24. Only USAID’s core leadership and essential personnel remain on duty.

“As of 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 23, 2025, all USAID direct hire personnel—except for those designated as responsible for mission-critical functions, key leadership, or specially assigned programs—will be placed on administrative leave globally,” according to notices sent to USAID employees and obtained by The Associated Press.

Musk vs. USAID

This decision marks one of the most significant moves in President Donald Trump’s broader effort—supported by cost-cutting advocate Elon Musk—to drastically scale back the six-decade-old aid and development agency as part of an overarching plan to reduce the federal government’s size.

USAID serves as the primary channel for U.S. foreign aid and is a key component of America’s “soft power” strategy for global influence.

Shortly after taking office on January 20, Trump imposed a 90-day freeze on foreign aid, halting funding for programs addressing hunger, deadly diseases, and humanitarian relief for displaced populations worldwide.

While the administration has granted exemptions amounting to $5.3 billion—primarily for security and counter-narcotics initiatives—USAID programs received less than $100 million in exemptions, a stark contrast to the approximately $40 billion it managed annually before the freeze.

The decision to terminate 1,600 USAID employees follows a federal court ruling on Friday that allowed the administration to proceed with its plan to reduce USAID staffing both domestically and internationally. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols rejected a lawsuit from employees seeking to temporarily block the government’s directive.