logo
Conclave to elect new pope to start on May 7: Report

Conclave to elect new pope to start on May 7: Report

India Today28-04-2025

Roman Catholic cardinals will meet in a secret conclave to elect the new leader of the global Church starting from May 7, a senior Vatican source said on Monday.The date was decided during a closed-door meeting of cardinals at the Vatican, the first since the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, the source said, speaking at the end of the gathering. An official announcement is due shortly.advertisementSome 135 cardinals, all under the age of 80 and from across the world, are eligible to take part in the conclave and decide who should be the next leader of the 1.4-billion-member Church.
The previous two conclaves, held in 2005 and 2013, lasted just two days.The 16th-century Sistine Chapel, where conclaves are held, was closed to tourists on Monday to allow for preparations for the vote.The past two conclaves, in 2005 and 2013, lasted just two days. But Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius said on Monday he expects this conclave may take longer, as many of the cardinals appointed by Pope Francis have never met each other before.Francis made a priority of appointing cardinals from places that had never had them, such as Myanmar, Haiti, and Rwanda."We don't know each other," Arborelius, one of about 135 cardinals under the age of 80 who will enter the conclave, said.advertisementThe earliest the conclave could have begun was May 6. Starting it a day later means cardinals will have slightly more time for their general discussions ahead of the momentous ballot.Francis, pope since 2013, died aged 88 on April 21. His funeral on Saturday and a procession through Rome to his burial place at the Basilica of St. Mary Major attracted crowds estimated at more than 400,000.German Cardinal Walter Kasper told La Repubblica newspaper that the outpouring of mourners for Francis indicated that Catholics wanted the next pope to continue with his reforming style of papacy.Francis, the first pope from Latin America, largely tried to open up the often staid Church to new conversations. He allowed debate on issues such as ordaining women as clergy and outreach to LGBTQ Catholics."The People of God voted with their feet," said Kasper, who is 92 and will not take part in the conclave. "I am convinced that we must go ahead in the footsteps of Francis."However, a bloc of conservative cardinals are certain to push back against this and seek a pope who reasserts traditions and restricts Francis' vision of a more inclusive Church.Must Watch

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'There were acts of mistreatment': French doctor claims that Greta Thunberg was mistreated by Israeli forces during Gaza aid mission
'There were acts of mistreatment': French doctor claims that Greta Thunberg was mistreated by Israeli forces during Gaza aid mission

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

'There were acts of mistreatment': French doctor claims that Greta Thunberg was mistreated by Israeli forces during Gaza aid mission

Greta Thunberg (Image credits: X/@benonwine) A French doctor who was aboard a humanitarian aid boat bound for Gaza has accused Israeli authorities of mistreating passengers, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, after the vessel was intercepted at sea. Dr Baptiste André, one of the 12 people on the Madleen, said passengers were mocked, deprived of sleep, and given limited access to food and water while in Israeli custody. 'I don't have the legal qualifications to specify what happened, but there were acts of mistreatment,' he told reporters upon arriving in France. The Madleen, organised by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departed from Italy on June 1 to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza amid a worsening blockade. It was intercepted by Israeli naval forces roughly 200 kilometres from the Gaza coast. Four passengers, including Thunberg, signed deportation documents and were sent back home, while eight others remain in Israeli custody awaiting a court hearing. Thunberg, 22, accused Israel of forcibly detaining the activists in international waters. 'This is yet another intentional violation of rights that is added to the list of countless other violations that Israel is committing,' she said upon arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. Israel's government dismissed the voyage as a publicity stunt, labelling the vessel a 'selfie yacht' and accusing it of breaching its naval blockade on Gaza. Thunberg described the voyage as a peaceful protest against Israel's blockade, which she said is worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

India-EU FTA will be a great enabler, says Goyal; pitches for stronger economic ties with Sweden
India-EU FTA will be a great enabler, says Goyal; pitches for stronger economic ties with Sweden

India Gazette

time3 hours ago

  • India Gazette

India-EU FTA will be a great enabler, says Goyal; pitches for stronger economic ties with Sweden

Stockholm [Sweden], June 11 (ANI): The proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will be a great enabler, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said, adding that India will be able to offer greater opportunities for Sweden. Attending India-Sweden Business Delegation meetings in Stockholm, Union Minister Goyal said, India and Sweden complement each other. 'The India-EU Free Trade Agreement is clearly going to be a great enabler... We do hope to be able to offer you a better pathway and greater opportunities in the future... I can assure you that we are making good progress and are deeply committed to strengthening this partnership, working together.' The Minister also highlighted India's growth prospects. 'Today, amongst all the investment opportunities available anywhere in the world, I dare say the market of 1.4 billion aspirational Indians can beat any other opportunity. When 1.4 billion Indians take one step forward, our country takes 1.4 billion steps forward. That is the spirit in which the Indian growth story is powering on,' said Goyal. Inviting the business community to invest in India, Goyal further added, 'We would like to invite all the distinguished business leaders of Sweden to come to India to experience our country. I am sure this tested partnership can really grow beyond the frontiers of what we have achieved so far.' With over 280 Swedish companies in India and 80+ Indian companies in Sweden, the potential for collaboration is immense. H said the proposed India-EU FTA has huge potential. 'There's huge potential awaiting all of us. We complement each other. Sweden and India, working as friends, as trusted partners, can transform the Indian economy; the Indian growth story can support the Swedish plans for the future.' Goyal said India is not only the largest and fastest-growing economy but it will continue to grow for the next 20-30 years. He highlighted that India has one of the lowest inflation rates and strong forex reserves. Citing the favourable business ecosystem, he appealed to the investor community to make investments in India. Goyal reached Sweden after finishing his two-day official visit to Switzerland. Apart from other engagements, he will engage with the Indian diaspora and address media interactions, further strengthening the people-to-people connections and communicating the vision for the India-Sweden partnership. (ANI)

India-EU FTA must address tariff, non-tariff barriers: Swedish Minister
India-EU FTA must address tariff, non-tariff barriers: Swedish Minister

India Gazette

time3 hours ago

  • India Gazette

India-EU FTA must address tariff, non-tariff barriers: Swedish Minister

By Shailesh Yadav Stockholm [Sweden], June 12 (ANI): A comprehensive free trade agreement between India and the European Union should tackle both tariff and non-tariff barriers to maximise benefits for both regions, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa said Wednesday. Speaking to business leaders from India and Sweden, Dousa emphasised that both the EU and India are 'just a bit over-regulated' and would benefit significantly from reducing regulatory barriers alongside traditional tariffs. 'The best outcome for both the EU and India will be an FTA that goes beyond tariffs to include non-tariff barriers,' Dousa said. 'Both regions are somewhat over-regulated at present, and addressing this will enable smoother cross-border trade.'The minister highlighted the strong existing partnership between Sweden and India, noting that 75 Indian companies operate in Sweden, employing approximately 7,000 people. Major Swedish companies, including ABB, IKEA, and Ericsson, have made substantial investments in India over many years. 'Our countries are very well positioned to grow together,' Dousa said. 'We have been close partners for a very long time, and Swedish companies have invested heavily in India.' The FTA negotiations between the two sides are expected to conclude in 2025. India last month said the two sides engaged in a forward-looking and substantive dialogue to address global trade challenges and reaffirm their shared resolve to conclude the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of 2025. Dousa expressed confidence that India could become a trusted global manufacturing hub by continuing to attract foreign direct investment. He noted that Sweden is well-positioned to help India increase manufacturing's share of its GDP, particularly as India has set ambitious goals to grow its manufacturing sector. The minister pointed to India's status as the world's fastest-growing economy and emphasized the country's increasingly prominent role on the global stage. He also highlighted cooperation between the two nations in space technology and noted that Indian investment in Sweden continues to grow. According to Dousa, a comprehensive trade agreement would not only increase ease of doing business but also create opportunities for building more robust supply chains between the regions. The proposed FTA represents a significant opportunity for both India and the EU to reduce regulatory barriers that currently impede trade flows, while strengthening economic ties that could benefit both regions' long-term growth prospects. Speaking on behalf of Swedish industry, Jacob Wallenberg, Chairman of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, issued a clear call to action: 'Swedish industry captains call for urgent India-EU FTA [and] urge political leaders of India and EU to conclude FTA at the earliest.' (ANI)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store