Latest news with #Mabille
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Pope hardens tone, denounces Israel's 'barbarity' after Gaza parish strike - War on Gaza
An Israeli army strike on the only Catholic church in Gaza last week has pushed the Vatican to change its tone on Israel and blame it more directly in the dragging war -- a break from its traditional diplomacy strategy. The strike killed three people in the Holy Family Church in the centre of Gaza City -- prompting condemnation by politicians and by religious leaders of various denominations. Pope Leo XIV on Sunday slammed the "barbarity" of the war and the blind "use of force", denouncing "the attack by the Israeli army". It was a change of language after two years of tireless, repetitive calls for peace by the Vatican under former Pope Francis, who died in April. Francois Mabille, an analyst at France's Geopolitical Observatory of Religion, said the statements represent an increasingly critical view of Israel in the Catholic world. Beyond growing anger worldwide at the human cost of the Gaza war, he cited "the fact that it's happening on holy ground." It is leading to "at least a temporary shift in Catholic opinion in general," he told AFP. On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Pope Leo -- who became pontiff in May -- and said his country "deeply regrets" the strike, blaming a "stray missile" and vowing an investigation. But on the same day, in an interview with Italian broadcaster Rai 2, the Vatican's second-in-command -- Cardinal Pietro Parolin -- implied the strike may have been intentional. He called on Israel to publicise the findings of its investigation to find out "if it really was an error, which we can legitimately doubt, or if there was a will to directly attack a Christian church." The Vatican also sent the cardinal of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, on a rare visit to Gaza Friday, where he visited the wounded and conducted a mass at the Holy Family Church. The visit was meant to show that Catholic authorities were determined to stay in Gaza. "We are not a target. They say it was a mistake, even if everyone here does not believe that is the case," the cardinal told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. 'Tyrant' Mabille, the analyst, said the Holy See is now also using "more precise vocabulary based on legal categories." On Sunday, the American-born pope called for the international community to "observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations." Mabille said that constituted four fundamental rights under humanitarian law that are being violated by Netanyahu's government. Some Catholic officials are going much further. In an interview to Italy's La Stampa newspaper, Cardinal Augusto Paolo Lojudice -- who also serves as a judge at a Vatican tribunal -- said Netanyahu is "not stopping because he is a tyrant pursuing a dark and bloodthirsty plan for power". Lojudice -- who worked with Leo for several years before was made pope -- accused Israel of "evil without logic" in Gaza. The Vatican, which since 2015 has recognised the state of Palestine, supports a two-state solution in Israel. It has also called for a special international status for occupied Jerusalem, with free and safe access to religious sites there. Already strained ties with Israel degraded further after Israel launched its war on Gaza. Diverging from the Vatican's official line, Pope Francis questioned whether Israel's heavy handed military response amounted to "genocide" in Gaza. The current tense diplomatic exchanges also come after a small Christian village in the central occupied West Bank was burnt down in early July and during heightened criticism of Israeli settler attacks. * This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Int'l Business Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Vatican Hardens Tone On Israel After Gaza Parish Strike
An Israeli army strike on the only Catholic church in Gaza last week has pushed the Vatican to change its tone on Israel and blame it more directly in the dragging war -- a break from its traditional diplomacy strategy. The strike killed three people in the Holy Family Church in the centre of Gaza City -- prompting condemnation by politicians and by religious leaders of various denominations. Pope Leo XIV on Sunday slammed the "barbarity" of the war and the blind "use of force", denouncing "the attack by the Israeli army". It was a change of language after two years of tireless, repetitive calls for peace by the Vatican under former Pope Francis, who died in April. Francois Mabille, an analyst at France's Geopolitical Observatory of Religion, said the statements represent an increasingly critical view of Israel in the Catholic world. Beyond growing anger worldwide at the human cost of the Gaza war, he cited "the fact that it's happening on holy ground." It is leading to "at least a temporary shift in Catholic opinion in general," he told AFP. On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Pope Leo -- who became pontiff in May -- and said his country "deeply regrets" the strike, blaming a "stray missile" and vowing an investigation. Netanyahu's spokesman said the conversation was "friendly" and that the two men agreed to meet soon. But on the same day, in an interview with Italian broadcaster Rai 2, the Vatican's second-in-command -- Cardinal Pietro Parolin -- implied the strike may have been intentional. He called on Israel to publicise the findings of its investigation to find out "if it really was an error, which we can legitimately doubt, or if there was a will to directly attack a Christian church." The Vatican also sent the cardinal of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, on a rare visit to Gaza Friday, where he visited the wounded and conducted a mass at the Holy Family Church. The visit was meant to show that Catholic authorities were determined to stay in Gaza. "We are not a target. They say it was a mistake, even if everyone here does not believe that is the case," the cardinal told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. Mabille, the analyst, said the Holy See is now also using "more precise vocabulary based on legal categories." On Sunday, the American-born pope called for the international community to "observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations." Mabille said that constituted four fundamental rights under humanitarian law that are being violated by Netanyahu's government. Some Catholic officials are going much further. In an interview to Italy's La Stampa newspaper, Cardinal Augusto Paolo Lojudice -- who also serves as a judge at a Vatican tribunal -- said Netanyahu is "not stopping because he is a tyrant pursuing a dark and bloodthirsty plan for power". Lojudice -- who worked with Leo for several years before was made pope -- accused Israel of "evil without logic" in Gaza. The Vatican, which since 2015 has recognised the state of Palestine, supports a two-state solution in Israel. It has also called for a special international status for Jerusalem, with free and safe access to religious sites there. Already strained ties with Israel degraded further after Israel launched its assault following Hamas's deadly October 7, 2023 attack. Diverging from the Vatican's official line, Pope Francis questioned whether Israel's heavy handed military response amounted to "genocide" in Gaza. The current tense diplomatic exchanges also come after a small Christian village in the central occupied West Bank was burnt down in early July and during heightened criticism of Israeli settler attacks. The Cardinal of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, speaks to a victim of Israeli strikes during a visit to Gaza AFP The damaged facade of the Holy Family Church in Gaza after it was hit by an Israeli strike AFP
Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Continuity or rupture: What direction for the next pope?
Cardinals will meet within days for a conclave to elect a new pontiff, sparking fevered speculation about how the next pope will guide the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. PHOTO: AFP Continuity or rupture: What direction for the next pope? Paris - For years, traditionalists raged at Pope Francis's liberal approach. The question now is whether his successor will walk the same path, or take the Catholic Church in a new direction. Cardinals will meet within days for a conclave to elect a new pontiff, sparking fevered speculation about how the next pope will guide the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. But experts say that despite his reforms, Francis did not change fundamental doctrine – suggesting the next leader could bring a fresh style and different priorities, but is unlikely to upend 2,000 years of belief. 'Whether on the issues of abortion, the end of life, marriage for priests, the ordination of women, or homosexuality, which were points of traditional conservative doctrine, Francis has changed nothing,' said Mr Francois Mabille, director of the Geopolitical Observatory of Religion. The Argentinian certainly took some radical steps. He made institutional changes, lifted the veil of papal secrecy over child sex abuse, limited the use of the Latin mass, and opened the door to blessings of same-sex couples. He emphasised humility, wasted no opportunity to speak out for the voiceless and lambast the powerful, while promising to open the Church to all, epitomised by his remark on gay believers: 'Who am I to judge?'. All these statements 'made an impression on public opinion', Mr Mabille said. With his successor, 'it is not certain that the issue of migrants, which he hammered home for 12 years, will be taken up in the same way and with such frequency', the analyst said. Another shift could be on world conflicts, in which Francis has intervened in a way 'unmatched by almost all the sovereign pontiffs of the 20th century', Mr Mabille said. But Francis' demands for peace in Gaza and Ukraine failed to produce any tangible results, beyond riling Israel and sparking bitterness among many in Kyiv for suggesting it raise the 'white flag' to Russia. Whether on Ukraine or the Middle East, Francis' successor 'will undoubtedly take a back seat', Mr Mabille said. 'Flexibility' The future pope will, however, have to manage a number of key challenges facing the Catholic Church, from the role of women to the continued revelations about clerical child sex abuse. The European church is also facing a crisis in vocations and falling church attendance, even if the numbers of believers are growing in Africa and Asia. Mr Martin Dumont, secretary general of the Research Institute for the Study of Religions, agreed it was too simplistic to speak of continuity or rupture. The head of the Church 'must be a point of unity for all Catholics', he told AFP. Personality will play a role. Mr Dumont said 'there will undoubtedly be a need for someone who speaks less' and in a 'more controlled' approach, after Francis 'spoke all the time, on all subjects'. But he predicted no major changes in the way the Church spreads the Catholic faith. 'Surprises' In previous conclaves, the cardinals have formed distinct groups. Mr Dumont noted that in 2005, after the death of John Paul II, 'two different axes' emerged, split between the strong figures of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini and that of Joseph Ratzinger – who became Pope Benedict XVI. This year, 'there is no particular camp'. Francis appointed almost 80 percent of cardinals who will be eligible to vote for his successor – but past experience warns against assuming they will choose the next pope in his mould. Mr Dumont points to Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa, who was made a cardinal by Francis – only to lead the protests by African episcopates against the blessing of same-sex couples. In addition, 'there are those who are disappointed with Francis', Mr Mabille said. Many found him authoritarian, someone who 'abandon(ed) collaborators who were totally devoted to him, overnight', the analyst added. In this conclave, as a result, 'we could be in for some surprises'. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Int'l Business Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Continuity Or Rupture: What Direction For The Next Pope?
For years, traditionalists raged at Pope Francis's liberal approach. The question now is whether his successor will walk the same path, or take the Catholic Church in a new direction. Cardinals will meet within days for a conclave to elect a new pontiff, sparking fevered speculation about how the next pope will guide the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. But experts say that despite his reforms, Francis did not change fundamental doctrine -- suggesting the next leader could bring a fresh style and different priorities, but is unlikely to upend 2,000-years of belief. "Whether on the issues of abortion, the end of life, marriage for priests, the ordination of women, or homosexuality, which were points of traditional conservative doctrine, Francis has changed nothing," said Francois Mabille, director of the Geopolitical Observatory of Religion. The Argentine certainly took some radical steps. He made institutional changes, lifted the veil of papal secrecy over child sex abuse, limited the use of the Latin mass, and opened the door to blessings of same-sex couples. He emphasised humility, wasted no opportunity to speak out for the voiceless and lambast the powerful, while promising to open the Church to all, epitomised by his remark on gay believers: "Who am I to judge?". All these statements "made an impression on public opinion", Mabille said. With his successor, "it is not certain that the issue of migrants, which he hammered home for 12 years, will be taken up in the same way and with such frequency", the analyst said. Another shift could be on world conflicts, in which Francis has intervened in a way "unmatched by almost all the sovereign pontiffs of the 20th century", Mabille said. But Francis's demands for peace in Gaza and Ukraine failed to produce any tangible results, beyond riling Israel and sparking bitterness among many in Kyiv for suggesting it raise the "white flag" to Russia. Whether on Ukraine or the Middle East, Francis's successor "will undoubtedly take a back seat", Mabille said. The future pope will, however, have to manage a number of key challenges facing the Catholic Church, from the role of women to the continued revelations about clerical child sex abuse. The European church is also facing a crisis in vocations and falling church attendance, even if the numbers of believers are growing in Africa and Asia. Martin Dumont, secretary general of the Research Institute for the Study of Religions, agreed it was too simplistic to speak of continuity or rupture. The head of the Church "must be a point of unity for all Catholics", he told AFP. Personality will play a role. Dumont said "there will undoubtedly be a need for someone who speaks less" and in a "more controlled" approach, after Francis "spoke all the time, on all subjects". But he predicted no major changes in the way the Church spreads the Catholic faith. In previous conclaves, the cardinals have formed distinct groups. Dumont noted that in 2005, after the death of John Paul II, "two different axes" emerged, split between the strong figures of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini and that of Joseph Ratzinger -- who became Pope Benedict XVI. This year, "there is no particular camp". Francis appointed almost 80 percent of cardinals who will be eligible to vote for his successor -- but past experience warns against assuming they will choose the next pope in his mould. Dumont points to Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa, who was made a cardinal by Francis -- only to lead the protests by African episcopates against the blessing of same-sex couples. In addition, "there are those who are disappointed with Francis", Mabille said. Many found him authoritarian, someone who "abandon(ed) collaborators who were totally devoted to him, overnight", the analyst added. In this conclave, as a result, "we could be in for some surprises". Infographic showing the 135 cardinals who will take part in the election of the next pope, their distribution by continent and the pontiff that named them AFP Pope Francis (L), Pope Benedict XVI (C) and Pope Jean-Paul II AFP The statue of St Peter in front of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican AFP
France 24
27-04-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Continuity or rupture: what direction for the next pope?
Cardinals will meet within days for a conclave to elect a new pontiff, sparking fevered speculation about how the next pope will guide the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. But experts say that despite his reforms, Francis did not change fundamental doctrine -- suggesting the next leader could bring a fresh style and different priorities, but is unlikely to upend 2,000-years of belief. "Whether on the issues of abortion, the end of life, marriage for priests, the ordination of women, or homosexuality, which were points of traditional conservative doctrine, Francis has changed nothing," said Francois Mabille, director of the Geopolitical Observatory of Religion. The Argentine certainly took some radical steps. He made institutional changes, lifted the veil of papal secrecy over child sex abuse, limited the use of the Latin mass, and opened the door to blessings of same-sex couples. He emphasised humility, wasted no opportunity to speak out for the voiceless and lambast the powerful, while promising to open the Church to all, epitomised by his remark on gay believers: "Who am I to judge?". All these statements "made an impression on public opinion", Mabille said. With his successor, "it is not certain that the issue of migrants, which he hammered home for 12 years, will be taken up in the same way and with such frequency", the analyst said. Another shift could be on world conflicts, in which Francis has intervened in a way "unmatched by almost all the sovereign pontiffs of the 20th century", Mabille said. But Francis's demands for peace in Gaza and Ukraine failed to produce any tangible results, beyond riling Israel and sparking bitterness among many in Kyiv for suggesting it raise the "white flag" to Russia. Whether on Ukraine or the Middle East, Francis's successor "will undoubtedly take a back seat", Mabille said. - 'Flexibility' - The future pope will, however, have to manage a number of key challenges facing the Catholic Church, from the role of women to the continued revelations about clerical child sex abuse. The European church is also facing a crisis in vocations and falling church attendance, even if the numbers of believers are growing in Africa and Asia. Martin Dumont, secretary general of the Research Institute for the Study of Religions, agreed it was too simplistic to speak of continuity or rupture. The head of the Church "must be a point of unity for all Catholics", he told AFP. Personality will play a role. Dumont said "there will undoubtedly be a need for someone who speaks less" and in a "more controlled" approach, after Francis "spoke all the time, on all subjects". But he predicted no major changes in the way the Church spreads the Catholic faith. - 'Surprises' - In previous conclaves, the cardinals have formed distinct groups. Dumont noted that in 2005, after the death of John Paul II, "two different axes" emerged, split between the strong figures of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini and that of Joseph Ratzinger -- who became Pope Benedict XVI. This year, "there is no particular camp". Francis appointed almost 80 percent of cardinals who will be eligible to vote for his successor -- but past experience warns against assuming they will choose the next pope in his mould. Dumont points to Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa, who was made a cardinal by Francis -- only to lead the protests by African episcopates against the blessing of same-sex couples. In addition, "there are those who are disappointed with Francis", Mabille said. Many found him authoritarian, someone who "abandon(ed) collaborators who were totally devoted to him, overnight", the analyst added.
