Latest news with #Lydon
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Punk legend Johnny Rotten says McGregor 'a bit on the violent side' for politics
Sex Pistols icon John Lydon says Conor McGregor is "a little on the violent side" as he opened up about the MMA fighter's political beliefs. The singer - also known as Johnny Rotten - opens up in a wide-ranging interview on The Michael Anthony Show where he discusses his political views, his drug use, grieving after the loss of his beloved wife Nora and his unstable childhood. John was speaking about the issue around illegal immigrants living in the UK, speculating that Ireland is having the same problem. "Come on, Conor," he joked, referring to McGregor's rants on social media about Ireland's immigration laws. But host Michael Anthony remarked: "Are you serious about the McGregor sh*t?," to which Lydon replied: "I believe what he's saying when he says, 'the time for politicians has ended.' This is a nice slogan, but I'm not quite sure I'd like to follow him into the next situation, because he's a little on the violent side." Lydon also discussed his Irish roots and his summers spent in east Cork with his Irish grandfather, who never spoke to him because he viewed him as English. But he said he would often take him out fishing in rough seas when he was "drunk as a skunk". "We'd basically run around with no shoes on and be Irish, I suppose." "Did you like it?," asked Michael, to which Lydon replied: "Not at the time. The farmhouse, which my granddad built himself, was bigger than what we lived in in London, so that was fantastic. "It was amazing, their pet donkey and horse liked me. "My granddad, who never spoke to me at all because he viewed us as English. But he would take me fishing. He made his own rowboat, and he took me out with a net catching mackerel. "I was thrilled at that. It's only in later years, when you look back on it, I suppose, in a romantic way too, just how fabulous that was, the gift he was giving me, and not a word said, you know, and in ferocious seas, these are all words and lyrics I use in songs ever since. They're all directly related to those moments, because it was a focus on nature, life and the danger of it, and him being oblivious to that rocky, f***ing Cork Harbour, huge waves, and he's standing up there drunk as a skunk." He also revealed his late mother and father asked a priest in Ireland if he should go into the priesthood. "I was furious," he said, laughing. "What on earth were mum and dad thinking I was? "It was viewed as like the nut house, where the stragglers went and just got shooed into the corner and everyone could go 'Holy Jesus'." Lydon also spoke about his friendship with the late Pogues star Shane MacGowan, adding: "I loved him. I knew him when he had a f***ing thick English accent." Lydon also opened up about the final moments of his late wife Nora Forster, who passed away in April 2023 at the age of 80 – five years after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. He said Nora had a painful death and admits his regrets when he couldn't agree with medics about a DNR. "She died so painfully. Gasping. They call it the death whistle. Hour after hour and trying to adjust her and make her more comfortable. "She died when they took her off the bed and put her on the floor essentially." He said he couldn't agree to a DNR but he admitted now looking back, it might have been "tortuous" for her over the two hours between getting an ambulance and getting her to a hospital. "I couldn't say bye," he admitted, as he became visibly emotional during the interview. Lydon admitted he stopped drinking for six months but can be seen enjoying a beer during the podcast. "I didn't want to get into the habit. I was using alcohol, particularly after the death of Nora, to use it as an escape trying to put the pain away," he added.
Irish Examiner
30-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
A period of life we need to talk about — the stigma that still surrounds menstruation
Unlike menopause, which in 2021 shifted from a taboo topic to a mainstream one, the conversation around menstruation in Ireland has been lacking, even though the average woman will spend a combined total of 10 years menstruating. Period poverty — the inability to afford menstrual products or access facilties — remains a fundamental issue. A 2022 Healthy Ireland survey found that almost 25% of women had experienced at least one indicator of period poverty. Despite that sobering statistic, positive change is happening. In 2022, the HSE launched its Period Dignity project, which, in addition to providing free period products to vulnerable women and girls, has focused on education and wellness, and addressed period stigma. In 'tampon tax' terms, Ireland is a trailblazer, as the only EU country to apply a zero rate of Vat to all menstrual products, with newer products, such as menstrual cups, period pants, and menstrual sponges finally being zero-rated in 2023. Period stigma is still a huge problem, with a 2023 menstrual health workplace survey by the Financial Services Union finding that 50% of the 1,064 respondents felt uncomfortable discussing menstrual health at work, with 20% commenting that periods were subject to 'workplace jokes'. Latterly, women and girls in sport have been at the forefront of breaking the stigma around menstruation. In March of 2023, the Irish women's rugby team made history as the first female Six Nations team to permanently switch from white to navy shorts to mitigate period anxiety among players. Similarly, many inter-county ladies' Gaelic football teams have opted for black shorts. 'Our younger generations, coming up, are questioning things and questioning traditions,' says Dr Katie Lydon, who has previously served as team doctor for the Dublin senior ladies' football team. Troublesome periods can lead to girls prematurely dropping out of sport, she says, an opinion that's backed up by Sport Ireland research, which, in 2021, found that discomfort, lack of access to appropriate facilities, and poor understanding or support around menstrual health were all contributing factors. Atlantic Technological University (ATU) launched its Period Promise campaign, their first campus-wide Healthy Campus initiative dedicated to menstrual health, dignity, and equity. Lydon, who favours 'open dialogue and discussion' around periods, says that girls with problematic periods often end up being put on the contraceptive pill. 'If it keeps a girl in sport longer, it's done its job,' she says. 'But are there other ways we could keep the girl in sport? Are there other ways we can help?' Lydon isn't 'anti-pill', but points out that it is a medication that comes with side-effects and can, in some instances, serve as a 'band-aid' to mask problematic symptoms, when uncovering their root cause might prove more beneficial. '[With their menstrual cycle] women have that natural feedback mechanism, and we're so lucky in that regard,' she says. 'We can see the effect of what we're doing to our bodies on a monthly basis.' Periods can give an insight into health, with the absence of them pointing to over-training or poor nutrition, while severe pain or abnormally heavy flow can indicate a possible underlying health condition. Dr Katie Lydon, who favours 'open dialogue and discussion' around periods, says that girls with problematic periods often end up being put on the contraceptive pill. The biofeedback provided by period trackers can help female athletes understand how factors such as sleep, diet, overtraining, and stress affect their cycle and how adjusting these factors can have a positive impact over a measurable timeframe. Sport Ireland, through its Her Moves initiative, supports period tracking and offers an invaluable Female Athlete Toolkit handbook, available for download on which looks at menstruation and menstrual health through a sporting lens. Education is key Education around periods is key. A 'spot survey' conducted on the student population by Yvonne Kennedy, wellbeing officer and healthy campus co-ordinator at Atlantic Technological University Sligo, found that 65% of girls 'did not really understand their cycle'. Kennedy spearheaded ATU's groundbreaking Period Promise campaign, with a personal experience proving the catalyst. A mother to two teenage daughters, Kennedy's elder daughter was 11, and in fourth class in primary school, when her periods started. According to the HSE, the average age for girls to have their first period is 11, but any time between the ages of eight and 13 is normal. There was no sanitary bin in the toilet adjacent to her daughter's classroom; only the sixth-class toilet had one. Kennedy contacted the school, who were, she says, 'taken by surprise' at her request that they install a sanitary bin in the mixed-sex, fourth-class toilet. The school hadn't come across the situation previously, and it was felt that a sanitary bin might prompt 'questions' from the boys. A sanitary bin was duly installed in the toilet, with the situation a learning experience for the school, heightening awareness of its responsibility to cater for pupils' menstrual needs, regardless of age, and the value of age-appropriate education. Kennedy, who 'had made a lot of assumptions that a lot of things had changed in the time since I had got my period', realised they hadn't. She was pursuing a master's degree in workplace health and wellbeing, and found there was a dearth of research on women's health generally, and none in to 'how periods affect girls from as young as nine years of age'. The divergence between her academic work and experience as a mother of girls led to her pioneering the campus-wide Period Promise initiative, which has four pillars: Ethical and sustainable period care, menstrual dignity and awareness, menstrual health education, and menstrual health policy advocacy. Period Promise sparked a student-led social media campaign, #NailTheStigma, to foster 'period positivity,' to educate and to raise awareness of the topic of periods, and break any associated stigma. Kennedy says it has had 'massive reach'. Period Promise has proven highly impactful, and its achievements include the installation of 160 free period-product dispensers campus-wide, a collaboration with Sligo Rovers that has supplied the team with ethical, eco-friendly period products, and an ongoing goal of breaking period stigma. 'It really is just about ramping up the conversations and it's about ramping up the education and awareness,' Kennedy says. Workplace policies While menstruation policies remain rare, workplace menopause policies are now the norm, featuring accommodations and support for employees, as well as education and training for all staff. Private-sector organisations now routinely provide paid leave for their employees as part of such policies (the Bank of Ireland offers up to 10 days), while much of the public sector is also on board, with the HSE, An Garda Síochána, and the civil service all having menopause policies or guidance documents in place. Cork-based GP Dr Monica Oikeh points out that in 2023, Spain became the first country in the EU to legislate for paid menstrual leave. 'It's something the Government should take more seriously,' she says. In terms of the workplace, she favours catch-all wellbeing policies over specific menstruation policies, as 'some people really don't want to talk about their period'. She would like employees to have the right to work from home or take a day's leave, if they are experiencing debilitating period symptoms. Trade union Fórsa, which in 2022 found that only 1% of surveyed employees had the protection of a menstrual health policy in their workplace, launched its #StopTheStigma campaign in 2023 to change the workplace conversation. Dr Monica Oikeh favours catch-all wellbeing policies over specific menstruation policies, as 'some people really don't want to talk about their period'. At Solvotrin Therapeutics, the makers of Active Iron, a wellbeing policy on menstruation evolved from surveys conducted for its Better Days Period campaign. Of those surveyed, the top three symptoms were 'cramps, fatigue, and mood swings', says head of marketing Claire Lynch. 'Over 80% said they just put up with [disruptive period symptoms]. When asked about work specifically, 18% said [menstrual symptoms] had stopped them from attending work at least once, and 41% of women suffering period symptoms were told not to worry and 'just get on with it'.' The results prompted 'a focus internally to support the women in our business as well' and a wellbeing policy was adopted. 'If employees have pain or discomfort from their period or menopause, and it prevents them from performing their work duties, they can take leave, or if they feel like they don't want to come in that day, they can work remotely,' Lynch says. Claire Lynch of Solvotrin Therapeutics: 'If employees have pain or discomfort from their period or menopause, and it prevents them from performing their work duties, they can take leave, or if they feel like they don't want to come in that day, they can work remotely." A GP note isn't required, and discretion is in-built; employees can simply say, 'I want to use the policy today.' The leave isn't capped. 'We felt capping it would put a barrier there,' she says. 'The whole purpose of this [policy] is to avoid that period stigma and to break it down.' The company also provides its employees with free, ethical, and eco-friendly period products, access to a period tracker app, and plans to introduce free webinar workshops, in addition to promoting workplace awareness around menstruation and menopause for all employees. 'The feedback has been really positive,' says Lynch. ATU Sligo's Yvonne Kennedy is optimistic, too. 'I'm hoping we can start a movement. 'That was always my aim behind Period Promise. It's not just products, it's a movement for change.' Read More What your step count says about your fitness levels
American Military News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- American Military News
Pope Leo XIV calls for humanitarian aid in war-torn Gaza in first general audience
VATICAN CITY — Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into war-torn Gaza, decrying the violence and suffering in the Middle East during his first general audience as pope Wednesday in St. Peter's Square. 'I renew my appeal to allow the entry of dignified humanitarian aid and to put an end to the hostilities, whose heartbreaking price is paid by the children, elderly and the sick,' the first American pope declared. At the start of the weekly event, the Holy Father criss-crossed the cobblestone square in the iconic popemobile, a white Mercedes-Benz specially constructed so the pontiff can be visible for public appearances while still protected. A video camera captured his every facial expression, magnified on four large display screens, as he made the sign of the cross in the air and paused to bless the occasional baby. He later read a list of countries represented in the square in English, ending with 'the United States' and smiling as a roar rose up from the crowd. Pope Leo XIV will hold similar general audiences almost every week for the rest of his papacy. Friends and family members have noted the stark contrast between the 69-year-old longtime Augustinian missionary's lifestyle up until this point compared to the new life he's begun as the leader of some 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. The fortnight since his May 8 election has been a whirlwind of public appearances and meetings with dignitaries, including Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. During Vance's audience, he presented the pontiff with a Chicago Bears jersey with No. XIV on the back and 'Pope Leo' across his shoulders. 'Good choice,' the pope said, looking at the gift. The grandeur and pageantry of the position belies the simple existence the pope has led for much of his life. Born Robert Francis Prevost and raised in south suburban Dolton, Illinois, he has been described by loved ones as a humble and down-to-earth man who's not too prone to pomp and circumstance. The Rev. John Lydon, his fellow Augustinian missionary and roommate from 1990 to 1999 in Trujillo, Peru, recalled that they lived in austere conditions in South America. Tumult and violence plagued Peru at the time, spurred by the brutal Shining Path insurgency and the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement. 'They were difficult years in terms of human rights. Life was difficult for the people,' said Lydon, who lives in Chicago. 'It was years of complete poverty. The decade was a lost decade for Peru.' The southern part of the parish they led was particularly precarious because so many people there had migrated from the mountains to escape terrorism. The missionaries protested human rights violations and started soup kitchens, he said. 'That's where he gave a lot of his attention, to the people who were marginalized,' Lydon said. 'He gave them respect.' There weren't a lot of luxuries or comforts back then compared to living in the United States, but the missionaries took great joy in the work, he said. Parishioners loved 'Father Bob,' as they called him, so much so that an entire week had to be blocked off annually for his birthday festivities because everyone wanted to throw him parties and celebrations. 'They all remember him because he encouraged lay participation in the service and life of the church,' Lydon said. 'The faith dimension of the people.' When he needed to relax or decompress while in Peru, Prevost would often go for long drives on the highway, his old roommate recalled. Now, as the Vatican's head of state, he won't ever be able to just get behind the wheel of a car and just go somewhere, Lydon said. Prevost also would make frequent trips back to the Chicago area to see family and friends; these will become far less frequent and easy, his fellow former missionary said. 'He can't just pop in,' said Lyndon, who traveled to the Vatican for Sunday's inaugural Mass and returned to Chicago on Monday. 'Everything has changed.' Scrutiny, transformation The gospel reading at the general audience told the parable of the sower, in which a farmer scatters seeds on different types of soil to symbolize varying responses to the Word of God. The Bible passage was recited in multiple languages, predominantly by women readers of diverse backgrounds. The Holy Father's reflection on the passage captured themes of painful transformation for the broader benefit of humanity. 'The parable of the sower can also make us think about Jesus himself, who in his death and resurrection became the seed that fell to the ground and died in order to bear rich fruit,' the new pope said. The pope has always had a gift for diplomacy and working peacefully with all kinds of people, said his oldest brother, 73-year-old Louis Prevost of Florida, during an interview with the Chicago Tribune earlier this month. 'There's just something about how he does things and how he sees and says things. He's not going to lie to anybody. He's going to tell it like it is,' he said. 'He's not going to veer from church doctrine or teachings. But just be the man that he is and explain things in the manner that he does. I take it as people kind of go, 'huh, maybe he's right. I should look at it like that instead.'' Louis Prevost — who has come under fire recently for controversial social media posts — attended Sunday's papal installation as a guest of Vance and sat next to second lady Usha Vance. After the Mass, while meeting with dignitaries and world faith leaders, the pope broke protocol to hug his brother. On Tuesday, Louis Prevost and his wife, Deborah, met President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, according to the White House. Trump has publicly praised the pope's older brother for supporting his presidency and the MAGA movement. In his earlier conversation with the Tribune, Louis Prevost recalled visiting brother years ago in Peru, where the Augustinian priest warned him they might encounter Shining Path militants. Once they were driving together and came across a group of men with machine guns blocking the road, Louis Prevost said. When the men looked in the driver seat window and saw his brother, they pulled back, he recalled. 'They said 'Oh, Padre Roberto. Vaya con Dios. Go ahead. We don't want to bother you,'' the older brother said. Louis Prevost was nervous for his youngest brother and told him, 'They could just take you out not knowing who you are.' But the priest responded, 'It's my job. It's my duty as a missionary,' according to the older brother's recollection. 'He's done all kinds of things and interfaced with all different kinds of people,' Louis Prevost said. 'On all levels.' Understanding the human condition The new pope's first general audience culminated with the entire piazza singing the Lord's Prayer in Latin. The sky above St. Peter's Basilica was overcast but stayed dry. Flags from more than three dozen countries dotted the crowd. Newly wed couples came in their wedding attire — including an array of bridal gowns — awaiting a 'sposi novelli' blessing for a happy wedded life from the Holy Father. Just northeast of the basilica is the Apostolic Palace, where Pope Leo XIV is expected to live in the papal apartments on the top floor overlooking St. Peter's Square. Also known as the papal palace, it's considered the official residence of the pontiff, though his predecessor Pope Francis broke with tradition and instead resided at a Vatican guesthouse. 'The papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace is not luxurious. It is old, tastefully decorated and large, but not luxurious,' Pope Francis said during a 2013 interview posted on the Holy See's website. 'But in the end it is like an inverted funnel. It is big and spacious, but the entrance is really tight. People can come only in dribs and drabs, and I cannot live without people. I need to live my life with others.' The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor of America Magazine, called it 'perfectly understandable' that Pope Leo XIV would want to live in the Apostolic Palace. 'As much as I loved and admired Pope Francis, I myself wouldn't want to live in Casa Santa Marta, a guest house, for years on end,' Martin said in a post earlier this month on the social media site X. 'It was quite busy with people coming and going, not to mention eating in a crowded cafeteria, etc. And I would imagine that Leo would appreciate the privacy of the papal apartments.' Father Homero Sanchez of St. Rita's Church on the Southwest Side of Chicago noted that Prevost 'never had a driver in his life until now.' 'He has lived with the poor. He had gone on a donkey to go all the way on top of the mountains,' said Sanchez, who has considered Prevost a friend, mentor and Augustinian brother for roughly 15 years. 'He has suffered hunger as well. He knows what starvation is about.' Out of habit, Sanchez repeatedly referred to the pontiff as 'Roberto,' but then quickly caught and corrected himself saying, 'I mean the pope.' Even though Prevost's life in Peru was strikingly different from the world of the papacy, Sanchez believes his years as a missionary helped prepare him to be the pope. 'He can relate to the human condition of everyone,' added Sanchez, who traveled to the Vatican for Prevost's installation. 'He knows as well how to relate to the wealthy as he does to the poor. I think that makes him a little bit closer to everyone.' The Rev. Joe Roccasalva, who was born and raised in Chicago, recalled that Prevost would often return to the Chicago area to visit his brother John Prevost in New Lenox. When in town, Prevost would often visit with him and other Augustinian brothers at the friary at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, where Roccasalva used to live and work. Prevost served as head of Augustinians worldwide from 2001 to 2013, based in Rome, and before that led the Chicago province of the order. At the friary, everyone would pray and eat together. 'He would also help do the dishes.' Roccasalva recalled. 'He felt called to the brotherhood and to do the work that we all do. … Anytime that he came in.' When Roccasalva heard Prevost's name declared pope earlier this month, he cried tears of joy. 'But also a little sadness for him,' Roccasalva said. Because he knew Prevost's life would be completely altered once he said 'accepto' in Latin, officially taking on the role of pontiff. 'And also a little sad for us, because he was a great spiritual leader for us,' added Roccasalva, who was at the Vatican for the Prevost's installation. 'It's lucky for the world. It's sad that we now lose that one connection that was very close.' The Rev. Bernie Scianna, who grew up in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and has known Prevost since 1984, said he was thrilled that his friend and Augustinian brother became the Holy Father. 'However, now this comes with a downside too, because now he can't just walk across the street for pizza and gelato, right? Those days are over,' Scianna said. 'He'll have to be very guarded and secured.' Scianna noted that Prevost has in many ways sacrificed his life by taking on the role of pontiff. 'We know this is a heavy cross to bear,' he said. 'But we hope he knows that we are with him in prayer and community and love.' 'It's good for the church,' Lydon added. 'It's good for the world.' ____ ©2025 Chicago Tribune. Visit at Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Pope Leo XIV calls for humanitarian aid in war-torn Gaza in first general audience
VATICAN CITY - Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into war-torn Gaza, decrying the violence and suffering in the Middle East during his first general audience as pope Wednesday in St. Peter's Square. "I renew my appeal to allow the entry of dignified humanitarian aid and to put an end to the hostilities, whose heartbreaking price is paid by the children, elderly, and the sick," the first American pope declared. Less than an hour later, his words were repeated online by roughly a dozen news outlets, some including photos of him giving the address. At the start of the weekly event, the Holy Father criss-crossed the cobblestone square in the iconic popemobile, a white Mercedes-Benz specially constructed so the pontiff can be visible for public appearances while still protected. A video camera captured his every facial expression, magnified on four large display screens, as he made the sign of the cross in the air and paused to bless the occasional baby. He later read a list of countries represented in the square, ending with "the United States" and smiling as a roar rose up from the crowd. Pope Leo XIV will hold similar general audiences almost every week for the rest of his papacy. Friends and family members have noted the stark contrast between the 69-year-old longtime Augustinian missionary's lifestyle up until this point compared to the new life he's begun as the leader of some 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. The fortnight since his May 8 election has been a whirlwind of public appearances and meetings with dignitaries, including Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. During his visit, Vance presented the pontiff with a Chicago Bears jersey with No. XIV on the back and "Pope Leo" across his shoulders. "Good choice," the pope said, looking at the gift. The grandeur and pageantry of the position belies the simple existence the pope has led for much of his life. Born Robert Francis Prevost and raised in south suburban Dolton, he has been described by loved ones as a humble and down-to-earth man who's not too prone to pomp and circumstance. The Rev. John Lydon, his fellow Augustinian missionary and roommate from 1990 to 1999 in Trujillo, Peru, recalled that they lived in austere conditions at the time. Tumult and violence plagued Peru, spurred by the brutal Shining Path insurgency and the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement. "They were difficult years in terms of human rights. Life was difficult for the people," recalled Lydon, who lives in Chicago. "It was years of complete poverty. The decade was a lost decade for Peru." The southern part of the parish they led was particularly precarious because so many people there had migrated from the mountains to escape terrorism. The missionaries protested human rights violations and started soup kitchens, he recalled "That's where he gave a lot of his attention, to the people who were marginalized," Lydon said."He gave them respect." There weren't a lot of luxuries or comforts back then compared to living in the United States, but the missionaries took great joy in the work, he said. Parishioners loved "Father Bob," as they called him, so much so that an entire week had to be blocked off annually for his birthday festivities because everyone wanted to throw him parties and celebrations. "They all remember him because he encouraged lay participation in the service and life of the church," Lydon said. "The faith dimension of the people." When he needed to relax or decompress while in Peru, Prevost would often go on long drives on the highway, his old roommate recalled. Now, as a head of state of Vatican City, he won't ever be able to just get behind the wheel of a car and go somewhere, Lydon noted. Prevost would often make trips back to the Chicago area to see family and friends; these will become far less frequent and easy, his fellow former missionary said. "He can't just pop in," said Lyndon, who traveled to the Vatican for Sunday's inaugural Mass and returned to Chicago Monday. "Everything has changed." Scrutiny, transformation The gospel reading at the general audience told the parable of the sower, which tells of a farmer scattering seeds on different landscapes to symbolize varying responses to scripture. The bible passage was recited in multiple languages, predominantly by women readers of diverse backgrounds. The Holy Father's reflection on the passage captured themes of painful transformation for the broader benefit of humanity. "The parable of the sower can also make us think about Jesus himself, who in his death and resurrection became the seed that fell to the ground and died in order to bear rich fruit," the new pope said. The pope has always had a gift for diplomacy and working peacefully with all kinds of people, recalled his oldest brother, 73-year-old Louis Prevost of Florida, during an interview with the Tribune earlier this month. "There's just something about how he does things and how he sees and says things. He's not going to lie to anybody. He's going to tell it like it is," he said. "He's not going to veer from church doctrine or teachings. But just be the man that he is and explain things in the manner that he does. I take it as people kind of go, 'huh, maybe he's right. I should look at it like that instead.'" Louis Prevost – who has come under fire recently for controversial social media posts - attended Sunday's papal installation as a guest of Vice President J.D. Vance, sitting next to Second Lady Usha Vance. After the Mass, while meeting with dignitaries and world faith leaders, the pope broke protocol to hug his brother. On Tuesday, Louis Prevost and his wife, Deborah, met President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, according to the White House. Trump praised the pope's older brother on Tuesday for supporting his presidency and the MAGA movement. In his earlier conversation with the Tribune, Louis Prevost recalled visiting brother years ago in Peru, where the Augustinian priest warned him they might encounter Shining Path militants. Once they were driving together and came across a group of men with machine guns blocking the road, Louis Prevost said. When the men looked in the driver seat window and saw his brother, they pulled back, he recalled. "They said 'Oh, Padre Roberto. Vaya con Dios. Go ahead. We don't want to bother you,'" the older brother said. Louis Prevost was nervous for his youngest brother and told him, "They could just take you out not knowing who you are." But the priest responded, 'It's my job. It's my duty as a missionary," according to the older brother's recollection. "He's done all kinds of things and interfaced with all different kinds of people," Louis Prevost said. "On all levels." Understanding the human condition The new pope's first general audience culminated with the entire piazza singing the Lord's Prayer in Latin. The sky above St. Peter's Basilica was overcast but stayed dry. Flags from more than three dozen countries dotted the crowd. Newly wed couples came in their wedding attire – including an array of bridal gowns – awaiting a "sposi novelli" blessing for a happy wedded life from the Holy Father. Just northeast of the basilica is the Apostolic Palace, where Pope Leo XIV is expected to live in the papal apartments on the top floor overlooking St. Peter's Square. Also known as the papal palace, it's considered the official residence of the pontiff, though his predecessor Pope Francis broke with tradition and instead resided at a Vatican guesthouse. "The papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace is not luxurious. It is old, tastefully decorated and large, but not luxurious," Pope Francis said during a 2013 interview posted on the Holy See's website. "But in the end it is like an inverted funnel. It is big and spacious, but the entrance is really tight. People can come only in dribs and drabs, and I cannot live without people. I need to live my life with others." The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor of America Magazine, called it "perfectly understandable" that Pope Leo XIV would want to live in the Apostolic Palace. "As much as I loved and admired Pope Francis, I myself wouldn't want to live in Casa Santa Marta, a guest house, for years on end," Martin said in a post earlier this month on the social media site X. "It was quite busy with people coming and going, not to mention eating in a crowded cafeteria, etc. And I would imagine that Leo would appreciate the privacy of the papal apartments." Fr. Homero Sanchez of St. Rita's Church on the Southwest Side of Chicago noted that Prevost "never had a driver in his life until now." "He has lived with the poor. He had gone on a donkey to go all the way on top of the mountains," said Sanchez, who has considered Prevost a friend, mentor and Augustinian brother for roughly 15 years. "He has suffered hunger as well. He knows what starvation is about." Out of habit, Sanchez keeps referring to the pontiff as "Roberto,"but then quickly catches and corrects himself saying, "I mean the pope." Even though Prevost's life in Peru was strikingly different from the world of the papacy, Sanchez believes his years as a missionary helped prepare him to be the pope. "He can relate to the human condition of everyone," added Sanchez, who traveled to the Vatican for Prevost's installation. "He knows as well how to relate to the wealthy as he does to the poor. I think that makes him a little bit closer to everyone." The Rev. Joe Roccasalva, who was born and raised in Beverly, recalled that Prevost would often return to the Chicago area to visit his brother John Prevost in New Lenox. When in town, Prevost would often visit with him and other Augustinian brothers at the friary at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, where Roccasalva used to live and work. Prevost served as head of Augustinians worldwide from 2001 to 2013, based in Rome, and before that led the Chicago province of the order. At the friary, everyone would pray and eat together. "He would also help do the dishes." Roccasalva recalled. "He felt called to the brotherhood and to do the work that we all do…. Anytime that he came in." When Roccasalva heard Prevost's name declared pope earlier this month, he cried tears of joy. "But also a little sadness for him," Roccasalva said. Because he knew Prevost's life would be completely altered once he said "accepto" in Latin, officially taking on the role of pontiff. "And also a little sad for us, because he was a great spiritual leader for us," added Roccasalva, who was at the Vatican for the Prevost's installation. "It's lucky for the world. It's sad that we now lose that one connection that was very close." The Rev. Bernie Scianna, who grew up in the Pilsen neighborhood and has known Prevost since 1984, said he was thrilled that his friend and Augustinian brother became the Holy Father. "However, now this comes with a downside too, because now he can't just walk across the street for pizza and gelato, right? Those days are over," Scianna said. "He'll have to be very guarded and secured." Scianna noted that Prevost has in many ways sacrificed his life by taking on the role of pontiff. "We know this is a heavy cross to bear," he said. "But we hope he knows that we are with him in prayer and community and love." "It's good for the church," Lydon added. "It's good for the world." ____ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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Chicago Tribune
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Pope Leo XIV calls for humanitarian aid in war-torn Gaza in first general audience
VATICAN CITY — Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into war-torn Gaza, decrying the violence and suffering in the Middle East during his first general audience as pope Wednesday in St. Peter's Square. 'I renew my appeal to allow the entry of dignified humanitarian aid and to put an end to the hostilities, whose heartbreaking price is paid by the children, elderly, and the sick,' the first American pope declared. Less than an hour later, his words were repeated online by roughly a dozen news outlets, some including photos of him giving the address. At the start of the weekly event, the Holy Father criss-crossed the cobblestone square in the iconic popemobile, a white Mercedes-Benz specially constructed so the pontiff can be visible for public appearances while still protected. A video camera captured his every facial expression, magnified on four large display screens, as he made the sign of the cross in the air and paused to bless the occasional baby. He later read a list of countries represented in the square, ending with 'the United States' and smiling as a roar rose up from the crowd. Pope Leo XIV will hold similar general audiences almost every week for the rest of his papacy. Friends and family members have noted the stark contrast between the 69-year-old longtime Augustinian missionary's lifestyle up until this point compared to the new life he's begun as the leader of some 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. The fortnight since his May 8 election has been a whirlwind of public appearances and meetings with dignitaries, including Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. During his visit, Vance presented the pontiff with a Chicago Bears jersey with No. XIV on the back and 'Pope Leo' across his shoulders. 'Good choice,' the pope said, looking at the gift. The grandeur and pageantry of the position belies the simple existence the pope has led for much of his life. Born Robert Francis Prevost and raised in south suburban Dolton, he has been described by loved ones as a humble and down-to-earth man who's not too prone to pomp and circumstance. The Rev. John Lydon, his fellow Augustinian missionary and roommate from 1990 to 1999 in Trujillo, Peru, recalled that they lived in austere conditions at the time. Tumult and violence plagued Peru, spurred by the brutal Shining Path insurgency and the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement. 'They were difficult years in terms of human rights. Life was difficult for the people,' recalled Lydon, who lives in Chicago. 'It was years of complete poverty. The decade was a lost decade for Peru.' The southern part of the parish they led was particularly precarious because so many people there had migrated from the mountains to escape terrorism. The missionaries protested human rights violations and started soup kitchens, he recalled 'That's where he gave a lot of his attention, to the people who were marginalized,' Lydon said.'He gave them respect.' There weren't a lot of luxuries or comforts back then compared to living in the United States, but the missionaries took great joy in the work, he said. Parishioners loved 'Father Bob,' as they called him, so much so that an entire week had to be blocked off annually for his birthday festivities because everyone wanted to throw him parties and celebrations. 'They all remember him because he encouraged lay participation in the service and life of the church,' Lydon said. 'The faith dimension of the people.' When he needed to relax or decompress while in Peru, Prevost would often go on long drives on the highway, his old roommate recalled. Now, as a head of state of Vatican City, he won't ever be able to just get behind the wheel of a car and go somewhere, Lydon noted. Prevost would often make trips back to the Chicago area to see family and friends; these will become far less frequent and easy, his fellow former missionary said. 'He can't just pop in,' said Lyndon, who traveled to the Vatican for Sunday's inaugural Mass and returned to Chicago Monday. 'Everything has changed.' The gospel reading at the general audience told the parable of the sower, which tells of a farmer scattering seeds on different landscapes to symbolize varying responses to scripture. The bible passage was recited in multiple languages, predominantly by women readers of diverse backgrounds. The Holy Father's reflection on the passage captured themes of painful transformation for the broader benefit of humanity. 'The parable of the sower can also make us think about Jesus himself, who in his death and resurrection became the seed that fell to the ground and died in order to bear rich fruit,' the new pope said. The pope has always had a gift for diplomacy and working peacefully with all kinds of people, recalled his oldest brother, 73-year-old Louis Prevost of Florida, during an interview with the Tribune earlier this month. 'There's just something about how he does things and how he sees and says things. He's not going to lie to anybody. He's going to tell it like it is,' he said. 'He's not going to veer from church doctrine or teachings. But just be the man that he is and explain things in the manner that he does. I take it as people kind of go, 'huh, maybe he's right. I should look at it like that instead.'' Louis Prevost – who has come under fire recently for controversial social media posts — attended Sunday's papal installation as a guest of Vice President J.D. Vance, sitting next to Second Lady Usha Vance. After the Mass, while meeting with dignitaries and world faith leaders, the pope broke protocol to hug his brother. On Tuesday, Louis Prevost and his wife, Deborah, met President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, according to the White House. Trump praised the pope's older brother on Tuesday for supporting his presidency and the MAGA movement. In his earlier conversation with the Tribune, Louis Prevost recalled visiting brother years ago in Peru, where the Augustinian priest warned him they might encounter Shining Path militants. Once they were driving together and came across a group of men with machine guns blocking the road, Louis Prevost said. When the men looked in the driver seat window and saw his brother, they pulled back, he recalled. 'They said 'Oh, Padre Roberto. Vaya con Dios. Go ahead. We don't want to bother you,'' the older brother said. Louis Prevost was nervous for his youngest brother and told him, 'They could just take you out not knowing who you are.' But the priest responded, 'It's my job. It's my duty as a missionary,' according to the older brother's recollection. 'He's done all kinds of things and interfaced with all different kinds of people,' Louis Prevost said. 'On all levels.' The new pope's first general audience culminated with the entire piazza singing the Lord's Prayer in Latin. The sky above St. Peter's Basilica was overcast but stayed dry. Flags from more than three dozen countries dotted the crowd. Newly wed couples came in their wedding attire – including an array of bridal gowns – awaiting a 'sposi novelli' blessing for a happy wedded life from the Holy Father. Just northeast of the basilica is the Apostolic Palace, where Pope Leo XIV is expected to live in the papal apartments on the top floor overlooking St. Peter's Square. Also known as the papal palace, it's considered the official residence of the pontiff, though his predecessor Pope Francis broke with tradition and instead resided at a Vatican guesthouse. 'The papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace is not luxurious. It is old, tastefully decorated and large, but not luxurious,' Pope Francis said during a 2013 interview posted on the Holy See's website. 'But in the end it is like an inverted funnel. It is big and spacious, but the entrance is really tight. People can come only in dribs and drabs, and I cannot live without people. I need to live my life with others.' The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor of America Magazine, called it 'perfectly understandable' that Pope Leo XIV would want to live in the Apostolic Palace. 'As much as I loved and admired Pope Francis, I myself wouldn't want to live in Casa Santa Marta, a guest house, for years on end,' Martin said in a post earlier this month on the social media site X. 'It was quite busy with people coming and going, not to mention eating in a crowded cafeteria, etc. And I would imagine that Leo would appreciate the privacy of the papal apartments.' Fr. Homero Sanchez of St. Rita's Church on the Southwest Side of Chicago noted that Prevost 'never had a driver in his life until now.' 'He has lived with the poor. He had gone on a donkey to go all the way on top of the mountains,' said Sanchez, who has considered Prevost a friend, mentor and Augustinian brother for roughly 15 years. 'He has suffered hunger as well. He knows what starvation is about.' Out of habit, Sanchez keeps referring to the pontiff as 'Roberto,'but then quickly catches and corrects himself saying, 'I mean the pope.' Even though Prevost's life in Peru was strikingly different from the world of the papacy, Sanchez believes his years as a missionary helped prepare him to be the pope. 'He can relate to the human condition of everyone,' added Sanchez, who traveled to the Vatican for Prevost's installation. 'He knows as well how to relate to the wealthy as he does to the poor. I think that makes him a little bit closer to everyone.' The Rev. Joe Roccasalva, who was born and raised in Beverly, recalled that Prevost would often return to the Chicago area to visit his brother John Prevost in New Lenox. When in town, Prevost would often visit with him and other Augustinian brothers at the friary at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, where Roccasalva used to live and work. Prevost served as head of Augustinians worldwide from 2001 to 2013, based in Rome, and before that led the Chicago province of the order. At the friary, everyone would pray and eat together. 'He would also help do the dishes.' Roccasalva recalled. 'He felt called to the brotherhood and to do the work that we all do…. Anytime that he came in.' When Roccasalva heard Prevost's name declared pope earlier this month, he cried tears of joy. 'But also a little sadness for him,' Roccasalva said. Because he knew Prevost's life would be completely altered once he said 'accepto' in Latin, officially taking on the role of pontiff. 'And also a little sad for us, because he was a great spiritual leader for us,' added Roccasalva, who was at the Vatican for the Prevost's installation. 'It's lucky for the world. It's sad that we now lose that one connection that was very close.' The Rev. Bernie Scianna, who grew up in the Pilsen neighborhood and has known Prevost since 1984, said he was thrilled that his friend and Augustinian brother became the Holy Father. 'However, now this comes with a downside too, because now he can't just walk across the street for pizza and gelato, right? Those days are over,' Scianna said. 'He'll have to be very guarded and secured.' Scianna noted that Prevost has in many ways sacrificed his life by taking on the role of pontiff. 'We know this is a heavy cross to bear,' he said. 'But we hope he knows that we are with him in prayer and community and love.' 'It's good for the church,' Lydon added. 'It's good for the world.'
