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Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Straits Times
Severe floods hit Argentina farm region, thousands evacuate
A man carries a dog as he walks amid flooding caused by heavy rains, in Capilla del Senor, in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 17, 2025. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto People carry their belongings as they walk amid flooding caused by heavy rains, in Capilla del Senor, in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 17, 2025. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto A firefighter carries a girl as he walks amid flooding caused by heavy rains, in Capilla del Senor, in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 17, 2025. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto Firefighters carry a kayak amid flooding caused by heavy rains, in Capilla del Senor, in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 17, 2025. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto Firefighters work amid flooding caused by heavy rains, in Capilla del Senor, in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 17, 2025. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto Firefighters evacuate people amid flooding caused by heavy rains, in Capilla del Senor, in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 17, 2025. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto BUENOS AIRES - Thousands of residents evacuated on Saturday as rains lashed the north of Argentina's Buenos Aires province, a vital agricultural hub, and caused severe flooding. The National Meteorological Service, which issued a red alert for the region on Friday evening, reported rainfall between 150 and 250mm (6-10 inches) between the cities of Zarate and Arrecifes. It warned that storms were "constantly regenerating," with more rain expected. Television images showed residents in Zarate, 100 km (62 miles) from the capital, navigating submerged streets in boats loaded with belongings. A long-distance bus with 44 passengers was trapped by floodwaters on Route 9 near Zarate. "Water started coming in and covered everything," the driver told the local C5N television channel. In San Antonio de Areco, more than 260mm fell in 24 hours – an amount local mayor Francisco Ratto called "rarely surpassed." The heavy precipitation in the key food-exporting region is anticipated to cause further delays to the ongoing soybean harvest. Argentina is the top global exporter of soybean meal and oil, as well as the third-largest exporter of corn and a major wheat exporter. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
24-04-2025
- General
- The Star
Buenos Aires' poor neighborhoods mourn 'slum pope' Francis
FILE PHOTO: People attend Mass at the Virgen de Caacupe chapel, following the death of Pope Francis, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto/File Photo BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - In the poor Zabaleta district of Buenos Aires, amidst precarious houses and narrow alleys, María Ayala walks the same streets Pope Francis walked during his years as a priest to reach the local parish, which is now opening its doors to remember him. "He was with us for a long time; we worked here inside the church. He cooked food with me," said Ayala, a 76-year-old retiree, with tears in her eyes as she held a statue of Francis at the entrance to the parish in Zabaleta, also known as 'Villa 21-24', in the Argentine capital city. Francis, the first Latin American head of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday after suffering a stroke at the age of 88, leaving a legacy of defending the poor, trying to modernize and open up the Church, and leading a humble lifestyle. "I started crying when I heard that Pope Francis had died. A lot of pain, a lot of sadness, but at the same time, a lot of peace. It's clear he needed to rest," said Lorenzo Vedia, priest of the Parish of Our Lady of Miracles of Caacupé in the Zabaleta neighborhood, neatly painted in blue and white. "From heaven, he will guide us, he will accompany us. So we lost him on earth, but we gained him in heaven," Vedia told Reuters. Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires in 1936 to Italian immigrant parents. Ahead of his funeral on Saturday, many in Buenos Aires have spoken fondly about the soccer-loving former local archbishop who used to travel by bus to reach the poor shanty town areas of the city and share food and drink with locals. 'SLUM POPE' That later led to his affectionate moniker as the "slum pope", even if some people regret that he never returned to his home country during his papacy. The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva, called Francis "the Pope of the Poor" in a Mass held in his honour, and that's how residents recall him. They live in humble houses with tin roofs, unplastered walls and bare cement floors. "He would wander into the alleyways, even if it was raining, he would stroll through, roll up his trousers, and walk with the people through the neighborhood," said Leonardo Pereyra, a local resident who works in a church soup kitchen. "So he was a priest, a simple, humble cardinal, because it's not just that there are few priests who choose the shantytown, as he did, but that he felt at ease with everyone, just as the people felt with him." (Reporting by Miguel Lo Bianco; Writing by Eliana Raszewski; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Gareth Jones)
Straits Times
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Buenos Aires' poor neighborhoods mourn 'slum pope' Francis
FILE PHOTO: A person holds a picture of Pope Francis as faithful attend a mass to rebuff attacks on Pope Francis by presidential candidate Javier Milei, of La Libertad Avanza coalition, in the villa 21-24 neighborhood, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 5, 2023. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo FILE PHOTO: A person holds a candle in front of an image of Pope Francis at the Virgen de Caacupe chapel, following the death of the pontiff, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto/File Photo FILE PHOTO: A person looks down from a balcony, on the day faithful attend a mass to rebuff attacks on Pope Francis by presidential candidate Javier Milei, of La Libertad Avanza coalition, in the villa 21-24 neighborhood, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 5, 2023. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo FILE PHOTO: People attend Mass at the Virgen de Caacupe chapel, following the death of Pope Francis, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto/File Photo FILE PHOTO: People attend Mass at the Virgen de Caacupe chapel, following the death of Pope Francis, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto/File Photo BUENOS AIRES - In the poor Zabaleta district of Buenos Aires, amidst precarious houses and narrow alleys, María Ayala walks the same streets Pope Francis walked during his years as a priest to reach the local parish, which is now opening its doors to remember him. "He was with us for a long time; we worked here inside the church. He cooked food with me," said Ayala, a 76-year-old retiree, with tears in her eyes as she held a statue of Francis at the entrance to the parish in Zabaleta, also known as 'Villa 21-24', in the Argentine capital city. Francis, the first Latin American head of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday after suffering a stroke at the age of 88, leaving a legacy of defending the poor, trying to modernize and open up the Church, and leading a humble lifestyle. "I started crying when I heard that Pope Francis had died. A lot of pain, a lot of sadness, but at the same time, a lot of peace. It's clear he needed to rest," said Lorenzo Vedia, priest of the Parish of Our Lady of Miracles of Caacupé in the Zabaleta neighborhood, neatly painted in blue and white. "From heaven, he will guide us, he will accompany us. So we lost him on earth, but we gained him in heaven," Vedia told Reuters. Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires in 1936 to Italian immigrant parents. Ahead of his funeral on Saturday, many in Buenos Aires have spoken fondly about the soccer-loving former local archbishop who used to travel by bus to reach the poor shanty town areas of the city and share food and drink with locals. 'SLUM POPE' That later led to his affectionate moniker as the "slum pope", even if some people regret that he never returned to his home country during his papacy. The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva, called Francis "the Pope of the Poor" in a Mass held in his honour, and that's how residents recall him. They live in humble houses with tin roofs, unplastered walls and bare cement floors. "He would wander into the alleyways, even if it was raining, he would stroll through, roll up his trousers, and walk with the people through the neighborhood," said Leonardo Pereyra, a local resident who works in a church soup kitchen. "So he was a priest, a simple, humble cardinal, because it's not just that there are few priests who choose the shantytown, as he did, but that he felt at ease with everyone, just as the people felt with him." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
ABC News
22-04-2025
- General
- ABC News
In pictures: Pope Francis mourners gather in large vigils around the world
A large crowd of mourners gathered in St Peter's Square at the Vatican to attend a rosary for Pope Francis, who died of a stroke and irreversible heart failure. Nuns attend a rosary for Pope Francis, following the death of the pontiff, in St. Peter's square, at the Vatican. ( Reuters: Guglielmo Mangiapane ) Faithful attend a rosary for Pope Francis, following the death of the pontiff, in St. Peter's square, at the Vatican. ( Reuters: Susana Vera ) A nun attends a rosary for Pope Francis, following the death of the pontiff, in St. Peter's square, at the Vatican. ( Reuters: Susana Vera ) From Italy to Mexico, similar scenes were seen around the world, as devotees gathered to pray tribute to the pope. Faithful gathered in prayer in churches across Italy, prayers were held at Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major. At noon in Rome, bells tolled at St Peter's Basilica and a silence descended on the crowd. "We saw him here, he was just driven by in the car," said Letizia Bartocci, who works in a jewellery shop near the square. "It was shocking news this morning." Pope Francis confirmed in his final testament that he wished to be buried in Saint Mary Major and not at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, unlike many previous pontiffs. Spanish reverend Salvador Aguilera, who is an official of the Holy See, leads a mass for the eternal rest of Pope Francis, at the Virgen de La Paz church in Ronda. ( Reuters: Jon Nazca ) Catholics attend a Requiem Mass for Pope Francis at Westminster Cathedral in London, after the death of Pope Francis was announced. ( Reuters: Chris J Ratcliffe ) A man holds an image of Pope Francis during a mass, following the death of Pope Francis, at the Metropolitan Cathedral at Zocalo Square in Mexico City. ( Reuters: Henry Romero ) Nuns attend a mass for Pope Francis at Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, after the pontiff died, in Rome, Italy. ( Reuters: Vincenzo Livieri ) In Francis's homeland Argentina, where he once served as archbishop of Buenos Aries, people woke up to the news. Argentines held a special mass at the Virgen de Caacupe chapel in Buenos Aires, mourning their compatriot, who was the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The building was adorned with a portrait of the pontiff where people laid their candles and flower tributes. The government said there would be seven days of mourning. A person kneels in front of an image of Pope Francis at the Virgen de Caacupe chapel, following the death of the pontiff, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. ( Reuters: Matias Baglietto ) People attend mass at the Virgen de Caacupe chapel, following the death of Pope Francis, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. ( Reuters: Matias Baglietto ) People attend mass at the Virgen de Caacupe chapel, following the death of Pope Francis, in Buenos Aires, Argentina ( Reuters: Matias Baglietto ) Hundreds of Filipinos gathered at mass held for Pope Francis on Tuesday. In one of the world's largest Catholic strongholds, the grief was palpable as worshippers filled churches to honour the pontiff, known in the Philippines as "Lolo Kiko", or Grandpa Kiko. One of the chapels inside the Manila Cathedral displayed a framed photo of the Argentine pope surrounded by flowers and candles, as solemn hymns sung by the choir echoed through the church. "Lolo Kiko was a true father to us," said Cardinal Jose Advincula, the archbishop of Manila, during the morning mass he led at the cathedral. The Philippines, home to more than 80 million Catholics, has long had a special connection with Francis, who visited the country in 2015, drawing a record crowd of up to 7 million people at a historic mass in the capital. Filipino devotee, Ina Delo Reyes, 32, said they were saddened by the pope's death after seeing him last Palm Sunday in St Peter's Square. "I cried, I cried a lot." A nun prays during mass after the death of Pope Francis, in Caloocan City, Philippines. ( Reuters: Eloisa Lopez ) Filipino Catholics stand near lit candles in front of the image of Pope Francis in Manila, Philippines. ( Reuters: Lisa Marie David ) Filipino Catholics attend the requiem mass for Pope Francis at the Manila Cathedral. ( Reuters: Lisa Marie David ) Pope Francis's funeral will be held on Saturday, 10am local time, at St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican said in a statement. Posted 21m ago 21 minutes ago Tue 22 Apr 2025 at 9:36am
