What is the traditional Sunday blessing that popes deliver in St. Peter's Square?
FILE -- Pope John Paul II appears at a window of his rooms of the 10th floor of Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital, Sunday, March 13, 2005, where he was hospitalized, for the traditional blessing at the end of the Sunday's Angelus prayer. (AP Photo/Rudi Blaha, File)
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CTV News
5 days ago
- CTV News
A falling tree in Venice injures a dozen people, including foreign tourists
Firefighters work at the scene where a 50-year-old tree fell, injuring foreign tourists and others who were standing in its shade, next to a bus stop in Venice, Italy, Monday, June 2, 2025. (Filippo Attili/Vigili Del Fuoco via AP) MILAN — Foreign tourists were among a dozen people injured when a 50-year-old tree fell next to a bus stop in the Italian lagoon city of Venice on Monday, authorities said. The oak tree fell on a group of people waiting in a shaded area at Piazzale Roma, the last stop for buses and taxis ferrying visitors to and from the lagoon city from the mainland, city officials said. It wasn't immediately clear why the tree fell. The most seriously injured was a 30-year-old Italian woman, who was sitting on a wall near the tree with her two small children when the tree fell, Italian media reported. The woman was in critical condition with abdominal injuries, while her children weren't seriously injured and placed under psychological care, according to hospital officials. Another Italian woman in her 50s also was in critical condition after suffering chest injuries. A video from the scene showed the tree had snapped at the trunk, just above the roots. 'The tree was apparently healthy,' Francesca Zaccariotto, the city's top public works official, told the news agency ANSA. She added that the tree was monitored along with others in the city, and there had been no signs indicating a possible collapse. A 60-year-old American was under observation for a head injury, a 70-year-old American suffered facial injuries, and two tourists from Eastern Europe suffered multiple bruises. Four other Italians were slightly injured. The Associated Press
CTV News
6 days ago
- CTV News
Climate activist Greta Thunberg joins aid ship sailing to Gaza aimed at breaking Israel's blockade
Climate activist Greta Thunberg with other activists from a human rights organization meets with journalists in Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025, ahead of their departure for the Mideast. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli) ROME — Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and other 11 activists set sail on Sunday afternoon for Gaza on a ship aimed at 'breaking Israel's siege' of the devastated territory, organizers said. The sailing boat Madleen -- operated by activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition -- departed from the Sicilian port of Catania, in southern Italy. It will try to reach the shores of the Gaza Strip in an effort to bring in some aid and raise 'international awareness' over the ongoing humanitarian crisis, the activists said at a press conference on Sunday, ahead of departure. 'We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying,' Thunberg said, bursting into tears during her speech. 'Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And no matter how dangerous this mission is, it's not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the live-streamed genocide,' she added. Israel, which was founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust, has adamantly rejected genocide allegations against it as an antisemitic 'blood libel.' In mid-May, Israel slightly eased its blockade of Gaza after nearly three months, allowing a limited amount of humanitarian aid into the territory. Experts have warned that Gaza is at risk of famine if more aid is not brought in. U.N. agencies and major aid groups say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gaza's roughly 2 million Palestinians. Among those joining the crew of the Madleen are 'Game of Thrones' actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent. She has been barred from entering Israel due to her active opposition to the Israeli assault on Gaza. The activists expect to take seven days to get to their destination, if they are not stopped. Thunberg, who became an internationally famous climate activist after organizing massive teen protests in her native Sweden, had been due to board a previous Freedom Flotilla ship last month. That attempt to reach Gaza by sea, in early May, failed after another of the group's vessels, the 'Conscience', was attacked by two alleged drones while sailing in international waters off the coast of Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship, in the latest confrontation over efforts to send assistance to the Palestinian territory devastated by nearly 19 months of war. The Israeli government says the blockade is an attempt to pressure Hamas to release hostages it took during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the conflict. Hamas-led militants assaulted southern Israel that day, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 58 hostages, 23 of whom are believed to be alive. In response, Israel launched an offensive that has killed over 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. Israel's bombardment and ground operations have destroyed vast areas of the territory and left most of its population homeless. The Flotilla group was only the latest among a growing number of critics to accuse Israel of genocidal acts in its war in Gaza. Israel vehemently denies the allegations, saying its war is directed at Hamas militants, not Gaza's civilians. 'We are breaking the siege of Gaza by sea, but that's part of a broader strategy of mobilizations that will also attempt to break the siege by land,' said activist Thiago Avila. Avila cited the upcoming Global March to Gaza -- an international initiative also open to doctors, lawyers and media -- which is set to leave Egypt and reach the Rafah crossing in mid-June to stage a protest there, asking Israel to stop the Gaza offensive and reopen the border. Giada Zampano, The Associated Press
National Post
28-05-2025
- National Post
Italian cyclist hospitalized at Giro d'Italia after crashing off 50-foot hill
Mexican rider Isaac Del Toro just barely maintained his Giro d'Italia lead during the grueling 16th stage Tuesday, which was marred by an accident that sent Italian rider Alessio Martinelli crashing down into a ravine. Article content Article content When 2019 champion Richard Carapaz of Ecuador, who also won gold at the 2020 Olympics, attacked on the finishing climb in the Dolomites, Del Toro had no response. Article content Del Toro's lead was reduced to 26 seconds ahead of British rider Simon Yates and 31 seconds ahead of Carapaz. Article content 'In end I didn't have the best legs. They weren't bad but they weren't sufficient. I was happy to make it to the finish,' Del Toro said. 'I hope it goes better the next few days.' Article content Del Toro, who was wearing pink for the seventh consecutive stage, lost nearly two minutes to Carapaz, who soloed to victory at the end of the 11th stage when Del Toro became the first Mexican leader in Giro history. Article content It was a rough day for Del Toro's UAE Team Emirates squad, since Juan Ayuso — who was third overall — was dropped on the third of four climbs. Article content Pre-race favorite Primoz Roglic, the 2023 champion, abandoned after crashing on a slippery road midway through the stage. He stood 10th overall after dropping five places on Sunday. Article content Christian Scaroni became the first Italian rider to win a stage in this year's race after getting into an early breakaway. He crossed the line holding hands with another Italian, Astana teammate Lorenzo Fortunato, but was slightly ahead. Article content The 203-kilometer (126-mile) leg from Piazzola Sul Brenta to San Valentino was made more treacherous by rain early on. Article content The finishing climb lasted 18.2 kilometers (11.3 miles) and featured a section with a 12% gradient in the finale. Article content Italian rider Alessio Martinelli was hospitalized after sliding into a ravine. The VG Group Bardiani-CSF Faizane team said Martinelli was 'conscious and in stable condition.' He was carried up from the ravine on a stretcher attached to a rope by an Alpine rescue team. Article content
