logo
ENع
#

Latest news with #MichaelCzerny

Cardinals urge unity, patience as conclave nears
Cardinals urge unity, patience as conclave nears

Herald Malaysia

time06-05-2025

  • Politics
  • Herald Malaysia

Cardinals urge unity, patience as conclave nears

Some cardinals believe more time is needed before entering the Sistine Chapel on May 7 May 06, 2025 Czechoslovakian-born Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny walks after paying his respects during a ceremony inside St Peter's Basilica following the procession of the late Pope's coffin from the chapel of Santa Marta to St Peter's Basilica, in the Vatican on April 23, 2025. (Photo: AFP) By Ines San Martin, OSV News As cardinals from around the world gathered the morning of May 5 for another day of general congregations ahead of the May 7 conclave, their comments to the media offered a window into both the diversity of the college and the unity of purpose guiding their discernment. Cardinal Fernando Chomalí of Santiago, Chile, reflected on the beauty of the church's universality. "You see cardinals from Mongolia, from the Roman Curia, others working among the poorest in Latin America or Africa. It's a beautiful sight," he told reporters. "It does us all good. It's part of our 2,000-year heritage -- and also the legacy of Pope Francis." For Cardinal Chomalí, the days since the pope's funeral on April 26, have been more than just logistical preparations, but truly about getting to know one another. Asked whether the internal mood is tense, he declined to speak on behalf of the congregation but emphasized, "This is a moment of hope -- not only for us, but for the world." Some cardinals believe more time is needed before entering the Sistine Chapel on May 7 afternoon, when they will cast the first vote. Cardinal Luis José Rueda of Bogotá, Colombia, acknowledged that while the week of meetings has been "important to get to know one another," more time would be welcome. "We will have two more sessions tomorrow," he noted, underlining the ongoing conversations. An additional afternoon session takes place in Rome May 5. In the afternoon on May 6, the cardinals are expected to move to the Casa Santa Marta residence, the hotel within Vatican grounds where they will live during the duration of the conclave, completely shut off from the world, with no access to any electronic devices nor a landline. Others, like Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako of Baghdad, Iraq, suggested the college is ready. "We've been together for a week -- I think we know each other well enough to elect the next pope," he said. He called for a pontiff who is "a father, a pastor, who preserves the unity of the church and the integrity of the faith." Talking exclusively with OSV News April 30, he had emphasized the need for the next pope to be able to dialogue with other religions, "particularly with Islam," a pressing need in his country where Christians are still recovering from genocide at the hands of ISIS. The question of continuity with Pope Francis was met with nuance. "Yes, there should be continuity," Cardinal Sako said, "but the world continues to develop. The pope must read the signs of the times and not retreat into his palace." Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta, Indonesia, who arrived in Rome on May 4 in the evening, missing most of the general congregations, offered a simple response to that same question: "It will depend on the Holy Spirit." He said he would enter the Sistine Chapel "with an open heart." Some moments were more lighthearted. English Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe paused to autograph a baseball for a visiting American -- a collector who hopes that among the dozens he has collected these days, one carries the signature of the future pope. Meanwhile, Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco of Algiers, urged patience. "There's no rush for the white smoke," he told reporters. When asked if he hoped for a French pope, he smiled and replied, "An Algerian one would be fine too." "But we need a good pope," he said, all laughter aside. When pressed about what that would mean, he answered: "Someone who can carry the message of the Gospel. Who can share the beatitudes with the world. You know what I mean. Someone who can do what Pope Francis did," he said. "We are not discussing names in the congregations, but describing the personality we are looking for in the next pope, who must be a man with a strong personality, but who is also a good person for whom sharing the Gospel is a priority," he

Why Trump's Economic Disruption Will Be Hard to Reverse
Why Trump's Economic Disruption Will Be Hard to Reverse

New York Times

time28-04-2025

  • Business
  • New York Times

Why Trump's Economic Disruption Will Be Hard to Reverse

President Trump has made clear his intent to smash the reigning global economic order. And in 100 days, he has made remarkable progress in accomplishing that goal. Mr. Trump has provoked a trade war, scrapped treaties and suggested that Washington might not defend Europe. He is also dismantling the governmental infrastructure that has provided the know-how and experience. The changes have been deep. But the world is still churning. Midterm elections in two years could erode the Republican majority in Congress. And Mr. Trump's reign is constitutionally mandated to end in four years. Could the next president come in and undo what the Trump administration has done? As Cardinal Michael Czerny, a close aide to Pope Francis, said of the Catholic Church: 'There is nothing that we have done over 2,000 years that couldn't be rolled back.' The same could be said of global geopolitics. Yet even at this early stage, historians and political scientists agree that on some crucial counts, the changes wrought by Mr. Trump may be hard to reverse. Like the erosion of trust in the United States, a resource that took generations to build. 'The MAGA base and JD Vance will still be around long after Trump's gone,' said Ian Goldin, professor of globalization and development at the University of Oxford. No matter who next occupies the White House, the conditions that propelled the 'Make America Great Again' movement — widening inequality and economic insecurity — remain. For the rest of the world, there is still a worry, he said, that there could be 'another Trump in the future.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

Catholics mark Pope's 12th anniversary with prayers for his recovery
Catholics mark Pope's 12th anniversary with prayers for his recovery

Yahoo

time13-03-2025

  • Health
  • Yahoo

Catholics mark Pope's 12th anniversary with prayers for his recovery

Catholics around the world are marking the 12th anniversary of Pope Francis's election as pontiff by praying for his recovery. Francis, who was elected on 13 March 2013, has been in Rome's Gemelli hospital for almost a month. He is being treated for double pneumonia and other infections, and has suffered several respiratory crises, which raised concerns about his survival. Latest bulletins from the Vatican have said the 88-year-old is stable after a chest X-ray confirmed "improvements" in his condition in recent days. But they said his condition was still complex and that he required further hospital treatment. It is not clear when he will be allowed to leave. "The clinical condition of the Holy Father has remained stable in the context of an overall complex medical picture," according to a statement published by Vatican News. "The chest X-ray performed [on Tuesday] has radiologically confirmed the improvements observed in the previous days," it said. The Pope has not been seen in public since his admission to hospital and no photographs have been released. But earlier this month, an audio recording of him speaking in his native Spanish was played in St Peter's Square in Vatican City. His voice, as he thanked the faithful for their rosary prayers for his health, was breathless and weak. In recent days, the Pope has joined spiritual exercises of prayers and meditation held at the Vatican via video link, without being seen. In a break with tradition, the Holy See has provided daily updates at Francis's own request. He has been receiving non-invasive oxygen therapy, administered by nasal tubes during the day and via a mask at night. His illness has changed the tenor of the way Catholics are celebrating his anniversary. Cardinal Michael Czerny, a senior Vatican official known to be close to Francis, called the occasion "a reason for gratitude". "This year, his illness makes us especially grateful to God,… redoubling our prayers for his full recovery," the Cardinal said. Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is the first pope from the Americas. In his native Argentina, churches across the country will hold masses of thanksgiving to mark the anniversary. The services will also include prayers for his health. Father Claudio, who was visiting St Peter's Square from Angola, said: "The situation that we find the Holy Father in, that he is so ill, truly it is a very great worry at this moment." He added: "We're praying for the Holy Father that he is returned to full health." Arianna, a student from Piacenza in Italy, said she was "really happy" that the Pope was getting better. "I was really upset when I heard he was ill, because he's a very important figure for everyone. I was really concerned about him." The Pope, who has been known to work himself to exhaustion, is likely to face a long road to recovery. There has been speculation that he could choose to follow his predecessor Benedict XVI and resign the papacy. But his friends and biographers have insisted he has no plans to step down. 2025 is a Catholic Holy Year, with 32 million pilgrims expected to come to Rome. Francis has also been planning at least one foreign trip to Turkey for the celebration of the 1,700th anniversary of a major Christian council of bishops in ancient Nicaea. Despite his fragile health, he has continued his work from hospital. "Happy anniversary, Pope Francis," the Italian Catholic writer Andrea Tornielli wrote on Vatican News. "We look with affection and hope at the windows of the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital," he said. He thanked Pope Francis for "that still feeble voice of his that has joined the Rosary in St Peter's Square in recent days - a fragile voice that continues to implore peace and not war, dialogue and not oppression, compassion and not indifference." "We still need your voice so much," he said. Pope Francis thanks medical staff for 'tender' care Pope to be admitted to hospital for bronchitis The Roman hospital caring for Pope Francis

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store