Latest news with #GeorgeWhite
CTV News
06-08-2025
- CTV News
Man accused of killing grandparents said ‘God told him to,' affidavit says
Jeremyah Campbell, 22, was arrested and charged with the murder of his grandparents — the Rev. George White, 83, and Mary White, 81. (WESH via CNN Newsource) WEST MELBOURNE, Florida (WESH) -- A recently filed arrest affidavit provides more details about a triple shooting in West Melbourne, Fla. that left an elderly couple dead. Jeremyah Campbell, 22, was arrested and charged with the murder of his grandparents — the Rev. George White, 83, and Mary White, 81. He is also accused of shooting and injuring a neighbour. When deputies found Campbell after the shooting, he was 'sobbing uncontrollably and shouting a stream of incoherent words,' according to the affidavit. Campbell was detained and later told a deputy that 'God told him to send his grandparents to him,' the report said. A search warrant obtained by WESH 2 said deputies observed Campbell 'to be sweating, to have dilated pupils and [to be] making incoherent statements such as claiming to see cyclops and claiming Satan was in his head.' The report said a family member told investigators that Campbell had argued with the victims earlier in the evening. She said the fight stemmed from a belief that Campbell was under the influence of an unknown drug. Campbell is being held at the Brevard County Jail without bond. By Meghan Moriarty, WESH
Sky News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Conclave live: Conclave begins today; 11 cardinals who could be next pope; 4,000 police officers descend on Vatican
12:55:01 Trans man on 'surreal' moment Pope Francis blessed him - and hopes for next pontiff By Claire Gilbody Dickerson, news reporter A British trans man has described the "surreal" moment he shook hands with Pope Francis and received a blessing. George White, 31, a religious education teacher at a Catholic secondary school in Leicester, which he attended as a child, told Sky News he met the Pope in October. He and other trans men he met at an LGBT Catholic conference in the US were invited to Rome for a papal audience. Sharing footage of the moment the Pope shook his hand and blessed him, White said: "It was quite surreal, I was quite lost in the moment." He added: "It felt amazing to be affirmed and seen by the Pope and in particular blessed by him, it gave a real kind of affirmation of my dignity of the trans man that I am." While he feels "some difficulty" with Francis's approach to the queer community as "he didn't change church teaching per se", White said the Pope nonetheless "changed the conversation and made it much easier for us to be pastorally welcomed, which no pope has done before that". 'Act with mercy and compassion' Speaking of his hopes for Francis's successor, who will be elected in the conclave that starts today, White said: "My hopes are that we have a pope who continues to encounter and listen to the lives of all people, including the LGBT+ community. "Pope Francis recognised the way in which our community speaks of itself and adopted respectful language when communicating with us. "I hope the Holy Spirit guides the cardinals in the conclave to choose someone who remains open to dialogue, extends welcome to those who don't always feel it and guides the Church to act with mercy and compassion." 12:22:01 Analysis: Trump could be the elephant in the chapel as cardinals enter the conclave By Barbara Serra, presenter The cardinals entering the conclave believe they will be guided by the Holy Spirit in deciding who to choose as the next leader of the Catholic Church. But even the most pious among them know that while celestial intervention plays a part, so too does the much more earthly realities of the current shifts in international politics. There are always geographical and ideological considerations in the choice of a new pope, with tensions between progressive and traditional factions in deciding the future direction of the Church. Of the 133 cardinals eligible to vote, 108 were appointed by Pope Francis. The late pope tried to make the College of Cardinals more inclusive by choosing many from the Global South, especially as Africa and Asia are the areas of biggest growth for Catholicism. Despite this, the European cardinals remain the biggest voting block, with more than double the number from each of the other continents. A more inclusive conclave is ironically also a more divided one. Many of Francis's progressive stances, like approving the blessing of gay couples or allowing divorcees to receive communion, were met with resistance by some African cardinals, who tend to be more conservative and fear such moves could undermine the teachings of the Church. The late pope had often allowed local bishops the final say on many of these issues to accommodate regional differences, but critics worry this decentralisation could lead to inconsistencies. The conclave may prioritise choosing someone who they feel can preserve the unity of the Church. Age matters too, with many cardinals considered too young for the job. Resignations from the papacy remain vanishingly rare, so the conclave may refrain from electing a man who could stay in the role for several decades in a fast-changing world. All popes are reflective of their time. Pope John Paul II came from then-communist Poland during the Cold War. Pope Francis was the first pope from the Global South at a time when immigration became a key international issue. Considering the impact he's having on global politics, Donald Trump may end up being the elephant in the chapel. He had openly clashed with Pope Francis on issues like climate change and the treatment of migrants. The US matters not just diplomatically but financially too. Roughly a third of all donations to the Church from around the world come from the United States, by far the single largest donor country. At the last election, Trump increased his vote among US Catholics, with 56% voting for him. Whoever the new pope is, he will lead the church in a world increasingly shaped by Trump. As they make their decision, the Cardinals will bear that in mind. 11:55:01 Security ramped up as 4,000 police officers deployed Our team on the ground at the Vatican have shared this picture showing a police sign removing cars from all around the area due to security concerns. The sign, which came into effect at 8pm last night, states that the order will be in place "until is needed". Around 4,000 police officers have been deployed since this morning, with security gates and checks in place for those travelling to the Vatican. There's also expected to be 1,000 volunteers helping with the flow of pilgrims. 11:27:22 Where do the 133 cardinals come from? The 133 cardinals who will decide the new pope from among their number have been in Rome since Monday. They have gathered from around the world - here is where they are from: 52 from Europe 23 from Asia 20 from North America 17 from Africa 17 from South America Four from Oceania Italy has the most cardinals who can vote, with 17, while the US has 10 and Brazil has seven. The UK has three. The cardinals, collectively known as the College of Cardinals, will make their way to the Sistine Chapel at around 3pm UK time and take an oath of secrecy before the conclave begins. It's worth noting that 108 of the 133 cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis, meaning we could see the majority looking to continue his legacy through their choice of candidate. 11:00:01 Who could be the next pope? A look at 11 contenders With the process to elect a new pope getting under way behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel today, much of the focus has been on the frontrunners. "The great thing about the conclave is we have absolutely no idea what the result will be," our commentator Alastair Bruce says. But despite the unpredictability of the conclave, there are some candidates emerging as favourites. Take a look at 11 of the main contenders here: 10:37:32 The key timings to look out for today The first of a series of key events to look out for today has just wrapped up at St Peter's Basilica. While the mass may be over, there's a few other key timings to be aware of: 2.45pm UK time - Cardinals will start leaving their rooms ahead of procession to Sistine Chapel 3.10pm UK time - Cardinals gather to pray and will then head to the Sistine Chapel singing Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit) 4.45pm UK time - Oath of secrecy to be taken by cardinals as they gather inside the Sistine Chapel 6pm UK time - Smoke expected after the first voting session has taken place 10:11:39 Excitement building as crowds name their favourites for next pope By Siobhan Robbins, Europe correspondent Father Eduardo, Reverend Elizabeth and Bishop George jumped on a flight from Texas so they could be in Rome for the conclave. We met them in front of St Peter's Basilica where they were soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the building excitement. Reverend Elizabeth already had a favourite candidate in mind: "I want Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle," she said explaining that she felt the Filipino prelate offered the progressive touch the church needed. Born in Argentina, her companion Bishop George knew Pope Francis well. Francis was his teacher while he was at school at Buenos Aires. The Bishop described him as a serious presence in the classroom noting it was a stark contrast to the "smiling pope" he would become. He said he wanted a moderate pontiff who could unite the different sides of the Catholic church and bring unity going forward. 09:54:04 What are Catholics looking for in a new pope? Catholics are keen on a pope that speaks out "calling for peace, tackling the issues of today", the chief executive of a Catholic aid agency has said. "It's historic, isn't it?" Christine Allen told our chief presenter Mark Austin. "The leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, we're really excited, really excited." Allen is then asked whether she's looking for a new pope in the mould of Pope Francis, who openly supported those in areas of conflict and violence. "That's our gospel tradition," she said. "That's our scriptural imperative as Christians, as Catholics, to respond to those in need, to bring love and peace to the world, so we would be looking for that." Watch the full interview in the video below. 09:41:01 Cardinal coy on frontrunner as speculation mounts in Rome By Siobhan Robbins, Europe correspondent In Rome, cardinals are mobbed like rock stars, surrounded by press hoping to get a hint of what's on the minds of the men who will choose the next pope. "Do you think it will be a quick election?" I ask Indonesia's Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo. "Hopefully, yes," he replies. "Do you think you know who the frontrunner is?" I continue. "No, no, no, not yet," he says, smiling. Vatican City is preparing for an election like no other. Today, the papal conclave begins and many visitors to St Peter's Square already have a clear view on what they would like the outcome to be. "I want a liberal pope," says Joyce, who has travelled to Rome from the US. "My number one is Pierbattista Pizzaballa," says blogger Teodorita Giovannella, referring to the 60-year-old Italian cardinal. Rome resident Michele Rapinesi thinks the next pope will be the Vatican's secretary of state, Pietro Parolin, who was Pope Francis's number two.
