Luke Vargas

Pope Francis, the first South American pontiff, has died. Plus, Pete Hexeth comes under pressure amid revelations of a second signal chat and claims of chaos at the Pentagon. And China lobs a fresh salvo in the trade war, kicking off a jittery week for markets.

Pope Francis, the first South American pontiff, has died. Plus, Pete Hexeth comes under pressure amid revelations of a second signal chat and claims of chaos at the Pentagon. And China lobs a fresh salvo in the trade war, kicking off a jittery week for markets.

The dollar is really taking a beating again, and gold is surging to a record high again. Obviously, the trade tensions with China and the rest of the world is prime among them. But we shouldn't forget that last week ended with President Trump threatening to fire the head of the Federal Reserve. So there's lots out there concerning investors.

The dollar is really taking a beating again, and gold is surging to a record high again. Obviously, the trade tensions with China and the rest of the world is prime among them. But we shouldn't forget that last week ended with President Trump threatening to fire the head of the Federal Reserve. So there's lots out there concerning investors.

It's Monday, April 21st. I'm Luke Vargas for The Wall Street Journal, and here is the AM edition of What's News, the top headlines and business stories moving your world today. The Vatican says that Pope Francis has died at the age of 88. Born Jorge Murillo Bergoglio, Francis had battled a serious bout of pneumonia in recent months, and his health had remained fragile since.

It's Monday, April 21st. I'm Luke Vargas for The Wall Street Journal, and here is the AM edition of What's News, the top headlines and business stories moving your world today. The Vatican says that Pope Francis has died at the age of 88. Born Jorge Murillo Bergoglio, Francis had battled a serious bout of pneumonia in recent months, and his health had remained fragile since.

With more, I'm joined by journal correspondent Margarita Stancati. Margarita, tell us, what do we know about the Pope's passing at this early hour?

With more, I'm joined by journal correspondent Margarita Stancati. Margarita, tell us, what do we know about the Pope's passing at this early hour?

So Margarita, what comes next? What should we expect?

So Margarita, what comes next? What should we expect?

Processing this news, reflecting on his legacy as well. This was, among many other things, a pope not shy about weighing in on current events.

Processing this news, reflecting on his legacy as well. This was, among many other things, a pope not shy about weighing in on current events.

Finally, Margarita, as the church now faces a choice in who will lead it going forward, to what extent is Francis's legacy likely to prompt some debates about the role of the pontiff, the role they ought to have on matters like the ones we just discussed?

Finally, Margarita, as the church now faces a choice in who will lead it going forward, to what extent is Francis's legacy likely to prompt some debates about the role of the pontiff, the role they ought to have on matters like the ones we just discussed?

That was journal correspondent Margarita Stancati. Coming up, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is in hot water again after sharing detailed military plans in another Signal Chat. We've got that story and the rest of the day's news after the break.

That was journal correspondent Margarita Stancati. Coming up, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is in hot water again after sharing detailed military plans in another Signal Chat. We've got that story and the rest of the day's news after the break.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegsath is facing fresh scrutiny over his handling of sensitive military information amid revelations that he created a separate group chat on the messaging app Signal, which included his wife, personal lawyer and others. The emergence of the chat, created around the time of his confirmation hearing,

Defense Secretary Pete Hegsath is facing fresh scrutiny over his handling of sensitive military information amid revelations that he created a separate group chat on the messaging app Signal, which included his wife, personal lawyer and others. The emergence of the chat, created around the time of his confirmation hearing,

comes as Hegseth was already facing questions after sharing details about a military strike on rebels in Yemen, and we report that the new chat contained nearly the same information. Separately, a former top advisor to Hegseth, who resigned from the Pentagon last week, spoke out in Politico over the weekend, describing total chaos under Hegseth's leadership,

comes as Hegseth was already facing questions after sharing details about a military strike on rebels in Yemen, and we report that the new chat contained nearly the same information. Separately, a former top advisor to Hegseth, who resigned from the Pentagon last week, spoke out in Politico over the weekend, describing total chaos under Hegseth's leadership,