SOFREP Evening Brief: Pope Refers to Current Global Situation as ‘Third World War’, Transportation Secretary Announces Fewer Flights To and From Newark, Trump to Use Gifted Qatari Jet as Air Force One

In his first Sunday blessing as pope on May 11, 2025, Pope Leo XIV wasted no time making his stance on global conflict crystal clear. Standing in the middle of St. Peter’s Square before a crowd of 100,000, the first U.S.-born pope called for an end to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, urging world leaders to act now in the interest of peace. It was a powerful debut that not only continued Pope Francis’s legacy of peace advocacy but added a personal and urgent tone to the message.

Of course, the Pope wanting peace is like a fat guy wanting a second order of fries…it’s expected.

Addressing the war in Ukraine, Pope Leo asked for a “genuine, just, and lasting peace.” He expressed deep concern for the suffering of civilians, especially families torn apart by war. He made a point to call for the release of prisoners and the reunification of children with their families—showing that he’s not just speaking in broad terms, but paying attention to real, human consequences of the conflict.

On the situation in Gaza, Pope Leo didn’t mince words. He demanded an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians who are, as he put it, “exhausted.” He singled out the plight of hostages held by Hamas and made it clear that resolving the humanitarian crisis there should be a global priority.

Intel on the remaining hostages held by Hamas is murky. At last count, they were holding 59 hostages in the Gaza Strip. Israeli intelligence assesses that at least 34 of the remaining hostages are believed to be dead.

The pope also looked beyond these two conflicts. Quoting the phrase “never again war,” he echoed Pope Francis in describing today’s global violence as a “third world war being fought in pieces.” He welcomed the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan and offered prayers for peace across the globe. It was a message that spoke to his broader mission: promoting reconciliation, not just regionally, but everywhere.

What stood out was the emotional tone of his message. Pope Leo acknowledged the suffering of ordinary people caught in these wars and even recognized Mother’s Day, sending blessings to all mothers, including those who have passed. That human touch, combined with his calls for action, gave his message a depth that resonated strongly with those in attendance—and with many watching around the world.

Ukrainian Catholic leaders praised him as a “pope who pays attention to the vulnerable,” and many saw his words as a sign of hope. In just one appearance, Pope Leo XIV laid down a marker: his papacy will be defined by compassion, bold appeals for peace, and a willingness to speak directly to the world’s pain.

Secretary Duffy Announces Fewer Flights to and From Newark Airport

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced that the number of flights going in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport will be cut back temporarily. This isn’t just a random trimming—there’s a plan behind it. Over the coming weeks, Duffy will meet with all the airlines that operate at Newark to sort out exactly how these reductions will be rolled out.

Most of the cuts are expected to hit during the afternoons, which is the busiest time of day due to international arrivals flooding in. United Airlines, which handles more than two-thirds of Newark’s traffic, has already jumped ahead by slashing 35 flights—roughly 10% of its daily schedule—to help ease the pressure.

These cuts aren’t meant to last forever. Some will stick around until mid-June, when a major runway construction project is expected to wrap up. Still, a few of them may linger into the summer, depending on how things go. The goal here is to reduce chaos now so that flying out of Newark doesn’t become a nightmare later.

There are several reasons for this move, and they all point to serious issues behind the scenes. First off, Newark has been hit by repeated radar failures at the nearby Philadelphia facility that handles its air traffic. One outage lasted 90 seconds—not a long time unless you’re responsible for directing dozens of planes—and it caused the kind of disruptions no one wants to deal with. Add to that a shortage of air traffic controllers, and you’ve got a recipe for flight delays and cancellations that get worse as the day goes on.

Since mid-April, Newark has averaged 34 cancellations a day, with delays creeping from just five in the morning to 16 by evening. These delays aren’t short either; they typically stretch from an hour and a half to well over two hours.
Pile all of this on top of ongoing runway construction, and it’s clear the system is under serious strain. Duffy and airline executives are calling for long-term fixes, including major investments in modernizing our aging air traffic control systems and hiring more staff. But in the meantime, they’re trying to give travelers a more reliable experience.

As Duffy put it, the goal is simple: if you book a flight, you should be able to trust it’ll take off on time. These cuts are a short-term fix to prevent passengers from being stuck in terminals with hours of waiting and no clear answers. Until the radar works without fail, the runways are finished, and there are enough qualified people in control towers, scaling back flights is the most realistic way to keep things from spiraling further out of control.

Trump To Use Gifted Qatari 747 as Air Force One

President Donald Trump is in the headlines today for his decision to use a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet, gifted by the Qatari royal family, as Air Force One during his second term. The aircraft, often described as a “flying palace,” is worth around $400 million and is among the most extravagant private jets in the world. This kind of arrangement has never happened before in U.S. history, and naturally, it’s raising legal and ethical eyebrows.

The official announcement is expected to come during Trump’s upcoming visit to Qatar, his first major overseas trip since returning to office. He actually toured the jet back in February at West Palm Beach International Airport, so this plan has been in the works for some time. The plane will be outfitted with the necessary security and communications upgrades by the Department of Defense to meet presidential standards—a process that could take up to two years. Until then, the current Air Force One will remain in service.

Trump’s decision comes as frustration builds over Boeing’s delays in delivering the next generation of Air Force One aircraft, which aren’t expected to be ready until 2029. Rather than wait, Trump is taking matters into his own hands—with help from the Qataris.

What’s raised the most questions is the legality of accepting such a massive gift from a foreign government. Under the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, federal officials aren’t supposed to accept gifts from foreign states. But the Trump administration says they’ve got it covered. Lawyers from the White House counsel’s office and the Department of Justice have already prepared a legal analysis saying it’s fine because the gift is technically being made to the U.S. government—not to Trump personally. Later, after his presidency ends, the plane will be handed over to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation.

Administration officials are stressing that this is a government-to-government transfer, not some under-the-table deal. Still, it’s hard to ignore how unusual and controversial the whole thing is. Critics are pointing to the scale of the gift and the involvement of a foreign monarchy as reasons to question the optics—even if the legal boxes have been checked. For the record, I remember when I was on active duty and not allowed to take a pen from any company doing business with the government.

In short, Trump’s plan to use a Qatari “flying palace” as Air Force One is bold, highly unusual, and legally vetted—but not without controversy. It’s another example of Trump doing things his own way, regardless of how it’s been done in the past.