Conclave 2025 LIVE: Cardinals begin conclave to elect new pope in majesty of Sistine Chapel
Catholic cardinals who will choose the next pope are now locked behind the heavy wood doors of the Sistine Chapel, sequestered from the world to elect the man they hope can unite a diverse but divided global Church. In a ritual dating back to medieval times, 133 cardinal electors walked slowly into the chapel before taking an oath of perpetual secrecy under the gaze of the stern Christ depicted in Michelangelo's Last Judgement fresco, which adorns the chapel.
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Mint
3 days ago
- Mint
Africa needs American generosity
President Trump has made clear that he will put the needs of his country and its citizens first before attending to the needs of the world. No leader of a nation as great as the U.S. could do otherwise. It would be a mistake, however, for Mr. Trump to forget about Africa. In purely material terms, Africa is important to the U.S. because of its natural resources and its bright, entrepreneurial and eager young people. But global leadership involves more than strategic utility—it has a vital humanitarian dimension. What happens in Africa affects the American people. Many parts of the continent are burdened with severe political and economic instability. Africa is now a magnet for conflicts and proxy fights over the natural resources so important to modern technology. Famine and poverty are also pervasive at levels unimaginable in the U.S. For decades, crises in Africa have been averted and lives saved because of the American people's generosity, delivered through the U.S. Agency for International Development. That aid has enhanced African society and, in the process, strengthened American economic influence in the region. We remain grateful for this. Africa is a culturally rich continent with deep economic and human ties to the U.S., and a great admiration for American freedoms. Our culture is imbued with love and respect for the family, the goodness of life and the hope for a better future, which our fertility rates reflect. We are a religious people, convicted in our love for and dependence on God; rich in history as well as natural resources; and sincere in our gratitude to our global friends, who support us in becoming more self-reliant. In short, the U.S. has transformed millions of lives for the better on my continent. Without U.S. support, even more internal conflicts would now be crippling Africa, leading to greater political instability and threatening the continent's economic development. The end of USAID support will have untold consequences for generations. The American people are right to be concerned about the proper use of their limited resources. Their critics are foolish and unjust when they ignore that fact. But targeted humanitarian aid for Africa is urgently needed, morally good and of great strategic value to the U.S. International politics won't tolerate a vacuum. Should the U.S. abandon Africa, its place will be taken by its adversaries: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea. This is already occurring in too many places, but it isn't too late to turn the tide, creating a situation in which Africa and the U.S. both win. It's unhelpful to tie aid to ideology—to abortion or 'population control"—that defies the values of many African cultures. I believe that respect for African culture can coexist with humanitarian aid. Cultural colonization needn't be the price exacted for a moral, strategic and humanitarian partnership. As a Catholic cardinal, I spend time with bishops, priests and ordinary families across Africa. I see their needs. I hear their hopes. On behalf of those people, I ask President Trump and his administration to reconsider aid to his friends in Africa, who have been and will continue to be important partners of the U.S. We are eager to work closely with Washington to ensure that all such aid is used well, free of the fraud and mismanagement that has occurred in the past. There is too much at stake—for Africans, for Americans and for the world. Cardinal Ambongo is Roman Catholic archbishop of Kinshasa, Congo, and president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar.
NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
Viral Video Shows New Pope Apologising For Being "Little Late"
Pope Leo XIV may be less than a month into his papacy, but he is already making an impression. Addressing a gathering of Christian leaders at a landmark conference marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, the Pope skipped the usual formalities and began with an apology. "Before I continue the formal remarks, I would just like to apologise for being a little late and also to ask for your patience with me," he told the crowd. "I'm not yet one month into the new job, so we have a lot of learning experiences, but I'm very happy to be with you this morning." His words immediately incited laughter in a room filled with high-level clergy and theologians from Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant backgrounds. The moment, captured on video and later shared by the Vatican on Instagram, quickly went viral. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vatican News (@vaticannews) A user commented, "He is so friendly and polite. Love that he apologises for being little late. So respectful to the people and at least again his great sense of humour." Another wrote, "Our joyful Pope Leo IV has a wonderful sense of humor. Laughter is a blessing." "I love that he still seems awestruck by the fact that HE is The Pope. It shows such humility," a comment read. Someone said, "Every time I think I can't love him any more than I already do." The 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea marks a key milestone in Christian history. Convened in 325 AD by Emperor Constantine, the council affirmed that Christ is fully divine and of the same substance as God the Father, countering the Arian claim that He was created. This led to the Nicene Creed, a core statement of faith still recited by Christians today. Pope Leo XIV was elected on May 8, during the second day of the papal conclave, winning on the fourth ballot. Formerly known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, he is the first US-born pope and also holds dual citizenship with Peru, where he served as a missionary and bishop. Pope Leo's formal inauguration Mass took place on May 18, in St. Peter's Square, officially beginning his ministry as the Bishop of Rome.
News18
4 days ago
- News18
Republican Congresswoman Miller Criticizes Sikh Prayer, Mistakenly Identifies Cleric As Muslim
Giani Singh, a Sikh religious leader from New Jersey, was misidentified by GOP's Mary Miller in a now-deleted social media post. US Republican lawmaker Mary Miller has drawn sharp criticism from both Democrats and members of her own party after she wrongly identified a Sikh religious leader as Muslim and said he should not have been allowed to lead the daily prayer in the US House of Representatives. Giani Singh, a Sikh granthi from southern New Jersey, delivered the House's morning prayer on Thursday after being invited by Congressman Jeff Van Drew. Following this, Miller posted on X (formerly Twitter) saying it was 'deeply troubling a Muslim was allowed to lead prayer in the House." She added, 'This should have never been allowed to happen," and claimed that the United States was 'founded as a Christian nation" and that its government should reflect that. Miller later edited the post to refer to Singh as Sikh and then deleted it altogether. Her comments triggered widespread bipartisan outrage despite the deletion of the tweet. Rep. Mary Miller says in a since-edited post it was "deeply disturbing" that a "Muslim" led morning prayer in the House (it was actually a Sikh man, Giani Singh, who'd been welcomed by Rep. Jeff Van Drew) — Nicholas Wu (@nicholaswu12) June 6, 2025 'She looks darn ignorant," one Republican House member told Axios, the US news agency that first reported the development. Another Republican, Nick LaLota, said, 'A Sikh prayer on the House floor doesn't violate the Constitution, offend my Catholic faith, or throttle my support for Israel. Live and let live". Congressman Van Drew, who invited Singh, said in a statement that respecting all faiths is central to American values. 'As a Catholic, I take my faith seriously and I also believe part of being American is respecting other people's faiths too," he said. 'The Sikh community is peaceful, generous, and deeply rooted in family and service, values we should all appreciate". Miller, a right-wing conservative with a record of controversial remarks, has faced backlash before. In 2021, she said 'Hitler was right on one thing" while speaking about youth, a statement she later apologised for. In 2022, she referred to the overturning of Roe v. Wade as a 'victory for white life," which her office later claimed was a misreading of prepared remarks. First Published: June 07, 2025, 19:34 IST
