logo
King extends condolences over passing of Pope Francis

King extends condolences over passing of Pope Francis

Jordan Times22-04-2025

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah has sent a letter to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals at the Vatican, expressing condolences on the passing of Pope Francis.
In the letter, His Majesty offered his condolences to the College of Cardinals, the Holy See, and the global Catholic community, according to a Royal Court statement.
The King paid tribute to Pope Francis's life, which was dedicated to justice and the pursuit of peace, working with humility and love for the benefit of all humanity.
In the letter, His Majesty said Pope Francis' legacy will remain etched in the hearts of millions across the world, the statement said.
After the Argentine pontiff's death on Monday, the King said in a post on X platform that Francis "brought people together, leading with kindness, humility, and compassion".
'Deepest condolences to our Christian brothers and sisters around the world. Pope Francis was admired by all as the Pope of the People. He brought people together, leading with kindness, humility, and compassion. His legacy will live on in his good deeds and teachings,' His Majesty wrote.
Pope Francis died on Monday aged 88. He spent 38 days being treated for double pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli hospital before leaving the facility on March 23.
"Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in the statement published by the Vatican on its Telegram channel.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Macron welcomes France's right to assisted dying bill vote
Macron welcomes France's right to assisted dying bill vote

Roya News

time27-05-2025

  • Roya News

Macron welcomes France's right to assisted dying bill vote

France's lower house on Tuesday approved a right-to-die bill in the first reading, the initial step in a lengthy process that could grant patients medical assistance to end their lives in clearly defined circumstances. "The National Assembly's vote on legislation concerning the development of palliative care and assisted dying is an important step," President Emmanuel Macron said on X after 305 lawmakers approved the legislation and 199 voted against. "With respect for sensitivities, doubts and hopes, the path of fraternity that I hoped for is gradually opening up." Macron has insisted that any authorisation to choose death should be limited to people with incurable illnesses and intense physical or psychological pain. The National Assembly vote was an initial stage for the draft law, which will now go between the lower house and the Senate for modifications acceptable to both houses. Some conservative groups oppose the law and Macron has said he could put the deeply divisive topic to a vote by referendum. If approved, France would join a small group of European countries that give the right to aid in dying, including Germany, Spain, Austria and Switzerland. Until now, French patients wishing to end their lives have had to travel abroad, including to neighbouring Belgium. A separate bill, submitted at the same time and concerned with end-of-life medical assistance including palliative care, passed on Tuesday without opposition. All parties in parliament have allowed their lawmakers a free vote on the issue. Leftist and centrist parties were expected to vote in favour of the right-to-die bill, with conservatives and far-right deputies seen broadly hostile. The bill is widely referred to as focusing on "end of life" or "aid in dying" in the French debate, rather than "assisted suicide" or "euthanasia". 'Expressed such a wish' The bill brought by Macron ally Olivier Falorni would allow medical staff to help "a person gain access to a lethal substance when they have expressed such a wish". The patient would use the substance without aid or have it administered by a medically qualified person "if they are in no condition physically to do so themselves". Health Minister Catherine Vautrin said at the weekend that the "French model" of assisted dying would be "strict and closely supervised". Macron said last year that France needed legislation because "there are situations you cannot humanely accept". The goal was "to reconcile the autonomy of the individual with the solidarity of the nation", he said. The bill faces stiff opposition from religious leaders in a country with a longstanding Catholic tradition, as well as many health workers. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, a devout Catholic, said Tuesday that he would abstain if he were a deputy because of lingering "questions". The draft law would allow assisted dying only in an "advanced" stage of illness, which it defines as "entering an irreversible process characterised by a worsening health condition of the sick person that affects the quality of their lives." Current French legislation allows passive euthanasia, such as withholding artificial life support, and since 2016 doctors have also been authorised to induce "deep and continuous sedation" for terminally ill patients in pain. But active euthanasia, where doctors administer lethal doses of drugs to patients, remains illegal. Vautrin said she hopes that the Senate will begin examining the issue this year and submit its suggested changes back to the National Assembly in early 2026. "I want this bill to get a final vote by 2027 which is still possible," said the minister.

Francis's popemobile converted into clinic for Gazan children
Francis's popemobile converted into clinic for Gazan children

Jordan Times

time05-05-2025

  • Jordan Times

Francis's popemobile converted into clinic for Gazan children

Pope Francis waves to the crowd, from his popemobile, as he arrives at the Manger Square before presiding over an open-air mass on May 25, 2014 outside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank Biblical town of Bethlehem (AFP photo) VATICAN CITY — Before his death, Pope Francis donated one of his popemobiles to be converted into a children's clinic in war-torn Gaza, Catholic charity Caritas said on Monday. The iconic open-sided vehicle, designed to allow the pontiff to greet crowds of well-wishers, has been transferred to Caritas Jerusalem and will head to Gaza if and when Israel opens a humanitarian corridor. The car, a converted Mitsubishi, was used by the pope during a 2014 visit to Bethlehem and had since been on display, gathering dust and rust. It has now been repaired and refurbished as a mobile clinic. "With the vehicle, we will be able to reach children who today have no access to healthcare — children who are injured and malnourished," said Peter Brune, secretary general of Caritas Sweden. Brune told AFP that Sweden's Cardinal Anders Arborelius had asked the late pope, who died on April 21 aged 88, that the spare vehicle be put to use providing essential frontline healthcare to Palestinian children. It will be fitted with medical equipment and a fridge for medicines and be assigned a driver and a team of doctors. "This vehicle represents the love, care and closeness shown by His Holiness for the most vulnerable, which he expressed throughout the crisis," said Anton Asfar, secretary general of Caritas Jerusalem. It was not clear, however, if or when the aid agency's hoped-for humanitarian corridor would open. Israel resumed major operations across Gaza on March 18 amid political deadlock over how to build on a two-month ceasefire in its war against Hamas, which was sparked by the militants' October 2023 attack. On Monday, Israel's security cabinet approved an expansion of military operations that would lead to what an official described as the "conquest" of the Palestinian territory. The health ministry in Gaza said Sunday that at least 2,436 people had been killed since Israel resumed its campaign on March 18, bringing the overall death toll from the war to 52,535.

Pope Francis' popemobile converted into clinic for Gaza children
Pope Francis' popemobile converted into clinic for Gaza children

Al Bawaba

time05-05-2025

  • Al Bawaba

Pope Francis' popemobile converted into clinic for Gaza children

ALBAWABA - To fulfill his final wishes before passing, Pope Francis' iconic popemobile will be converted into a mobile health clinic and sent to Gaza to aid children affected by the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Strip since Oct. 7, 2023. Vatican's official media outlet confirmed the news on Sunday, sparking widespread praise from pro-Palestine and human rights activists. The popemobile was used during Pope Francis' 2014 pilgrimage to the holy land. Francis requested that the vehicle be used to treat injured and malnourished children in Gaza. According to CNN, the popemobile will be renovated and supplied by Caritas with medical equipment for diagnosis, examination, and treatment, with doctors and medics on board. Pope Francis' popemobile converted into a clinic for Gaza children JUST IN: 🇵🇸 Pope Francis' Popemobile to be converted into mobile clinic for Gaza's children, fulfilling his final wish. — BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) May 5, 2025 Secretary General of Caritas Sweden, Peter Brune, issued a statement that read, "It's not just a vehicle, it's a message that the world has not forgotten about the children in Gaza." Before his passing, Pope Francis continuously called for a ceasefire in Gaza, urging Israel to stop its bombardments and attacks on innocent Palestinians. Alongside his ceasefire request, the late Pope condemned Israel's actions and made it his mission to frequently call Christian children in Gaza, who take shelter in a church. He said in December 2024, "This is cruelty. This is not war." The ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza has resulted in the killing of at least 52,000 Palestinians, with injuries rising to more than 118,000, including children and women, as reported by Gaza's Health Ministry.

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