We look at some of the most prominent global leaders whose lives passed on in 2022:
1. Shinzo Abe
September 21, 1954- July 8, 2022
The country’s longest-serving prime minister, who resigned in 2020, was fatally shot from close range during a campaign rally on July 8, just two days before Japan’s parliamentary election. The assailant, who was identified as as Tetsuya Yamagami, shot Abe, 67, who he was standing at an intersection outside a train station in the western city of Nara. This came as a shock because under Japan’s firearms laws, the only guns permitted for sale are shotguns and air rifles – handguns are outlawed. But getting a gun is a long and complicated. process.
The international community viewed Abe as a polarizing figure. It could be recalled that in 2018, Mr. Abe tried to usher in a warmer era, making the first visit to Beijing by a Japanese prime minister. He was known to cultivate diplomatic and trade relations around the world, but prioritized of his nationalist agenda at home too. Domestically, his terms faced both praise and criticism for his conservative views and way of governance, but Abe has also been regarded as raising Japan’s stature on the world stage.
2. Fidel V. Ramos
March 18, 1928-July 31, 2022
The Philippines’ “Steady Eddie” was known for his unshaken demeanor during the political crises of the 90s. Also known by his initials, FVR, he was considered as a ruthless Marcos henchman- being a second cousin. But he was later hailed as a national hero for breaking with the dictator, and went on to preside over an economic boom. He was frequently pictured chewing unlit cigars during his service as the 12th President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Ramos Ramos graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1950. He was a member of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea and saw combat during the Korean War with the Army’s 20th Battalion Combat Team.He was also a civil engineer by profession and earned a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1951.It was during his time that the Philippines was recognized as an emerging “tiger economy.” He was also known for leading the agreement on general cessation of hostilities with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a revolutionary group that broke away from the MNLF in the late 1970s. The agreement marked the start of formal peace negotiations with the MILF.
Ex-president FVR died due to complications with COVID-19 at the age of 94.
3. Mikhail Gorbachev
March 2, 1931-August 30, 2022
Considered to some as a “traitor”, Mikhail Gorbachev was the Soviet leader who helped end the Cold War which brought peace to the world. He was a former Soviet president- Russia’s last leader of its then Soviet Union. In 1990, the Nobel Committee gave President Gorbachev the main credit for bringing a halt to the Cold War between East and West by awarding him the Peace Prize.
He remains to be one of the most influential political figures of the 20th Century. He died at the age of 91.
4. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
April 21, 1926-Sept. 8, 2022
Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died surrounded by her children at her home in Balmoral UK at the age of 96. “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” the royal family tweeted. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
She celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in February 2022, which marked the seven decades of her service to the Commonwealth. Queen Elizabeth surpassed the record of 63 years and 216 days on the throne set by Queen Victoria (her great-great-grandmother) to become the longest-reigning British monarch in history.
It’s hard to explain how much the queen meant to Britain. As a monarch of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) and numerous other realms and territories, as well as head of the Commonwealth, she led the group of 53 sovereign nations that includes many former British territories. One of the most common words floated was “duty” and numerous events upholding her sense of obligation. Of course debates also sparked regarding leaving a bloody legacy of the imperial monarchy.
5. Pope Benedict XVI
April 16, 1927-December 31, 2022
Amidst the new year celebrations, the world was shocked by the Pope Emeritus. Pope Benedict died in the Vatican monastery. Pope Benedict was the first pope to resign since 1415 instead of serving a lifetime position. He was also the first German pope in 1000 years. Pope Benedict XVI was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger in Germany in 1927 and died at the age of 95.
He was a prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith during the papacy of Pope St. John Paul II for 20 years. The then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger succeeded John Paul as pope following the Polish pontiff’s death in 2005. Cardinal Ratzinger became the 16th pope to take the name Benedict. He reigned as the successor of St. Peter until his resignation on Feb. 28, 2013.
