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This Happened

This Happened - March 13: Pope Francis Is Elected

Pope Francis was elected on this day in 2013, becoming the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church, after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.


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What is Pope Francis known for?

He is known for his progressive views on social and economic issues, as well as his efforts to promote interfaith dialogue and environmental stewardship. He has also been vocal in his criticism of corruption and inequality. Pope Francis' real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio and was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936.

How has Pope Francis impacted the Catholic Church?

Pope Francis has made a number of significant changes to the Catholic Church since his election, including efforts to reform the Vatican bureaucracy, promote greater transparency, and encourage more inclusivity and diversity within the church. He has also made significant efforts to address issues of sexual abuse within the church.

What are some of Pope Francis' most notable achievements?

Some of Pope Francis' most notable achievements include the publication of his encyclical on environmental stewardship, Laudato Si', and his efforts to promote interfaith dialogue, including his historic meeting with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in 2019.

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Green

Environmental Degradation, The  Dirty Secret Ahead Of Turkey’s Election

Election day is approaching in Turkey. Unemployment, runaway inflation and eroding rule of law are top of mind for many. But one subject isn't getting the attention it deserves: the environment.

Photo of a man in a burnt forest in Turkey.

Post-fire rehabilitation of the forests in the Icmeler region of Marmaris, Mugla in Turkey, which burned down in the big wildfire in 2021.

Tolga Ildun/Zuma
İrfan Donat

ISTANBUL — A recent report from the Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion (TEMA) paints a grim picture of the country's environmental situation, which is getting worse across the board.

Soil is extremely fragile in Turkey, with 78.7% of the country at risk of severe to moderate desertification, mostly due to erosion, which costs Turkey 642 million tons of fertile soil annually. Erosion effects 39% of agricultural land and 54% of pasture land. Erosion of the most fertile top layers pushes farmers to use more fertilizer, TEMA says, which can in turn threaten food safety.

Nearly all of Turkey's food is grown in the country, but agricultural areas have shrunk to 23.1 million hectares in 2022, down from 27.5 in 1992 — a loss of almost 20%.

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