Latest news with #Missionary
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
The World Now Has a Word(le)-Loving Pope
In 2016, I was working with a team in the Vatican to put Pope Francis on Instagram. I made the case that simplicity was key and that we should therefore provide captions in just three languages: Italian, English and Spanish. I lost the argument, and @franciscus debuted in nine languages. But English, Spanish and Italian led the list. With the election of Pope Leo — someone who not only speaks those three languages fluently but knows well the cultures behind them — I feel like I've won. They're the three most important languages in the Roman Catholic Church today. Because language reflects culture, Leo's linguistic gifts could help him make a mark on the governance of the church both globally and in the Vatican. Leo was born in the middle of America and attended school on the South Side of Chicago, but his two decades as a missionary and bishop in Peru and a church official in Rome allowed him to embrace both Italian and Hispanic cultures as well. You can view the new pope as either not very American, or the very best that America has to offer — someone who made a sacrifice as a missionary to serve in a country much poorer than his own, embracing the culture and loving his new neighbors. Leo is the first native English speaker to ascend the throne of Peter in nearly 900 years, after Adrian IV in the 12th century. Unlike during the Middle Ages, he does it at a time when Anglophone culture dominates global communications, finance, technology and the arts. English is the new Latin, the language of the Empire of the Internet. Italian to my ears is the most beautiful of the new pope's languages, and knowing it helps so much in understanding — and loving — Italy. But it can also be confusing. Leave it to Italian politicians to give us the concept of 'convergenze parallele,' or 'parallel convergences,' to describe how opposing political parties can accommodate each other's position. Though only a tiny percentage of Catholics speak Italian, it's the language of the Vatican and necessary for the pontiff to communicate with his collaborators. Italian is also essential in understanding how things work (and often don't) in the Roman Curia, or Vatican bureaucracy. With family roots in Italy, Pope Francis spoke Italian well, and it helped him from the start of his pontificate. Francis, an Argentine who became bishop of Rome, won over the faithful both in the Eternal City, and all of Italy, by greeting them with the very simple 'buona sera!' the evening he was elected. Most Sundays he would end his noonday prayer in St. Peter's Square with, 'buon pranzo,' or 'have a good lunch.' Spanish, albeit with an Argentine accent, gave Francis direct access to more than a third of the Catholic world, as it will to Leo. There's nothing like being able to speak as a native to people in their own language, and this showed in the trips Francis took to Latin America, where he was greeted as one of their own. Francis had to confront huge problems in Latin America as well, most notably a sex abuse crisis in Chile, but at least he could do it in his mother tongue. The sex abuse crisis in the church was a perfect example of the cultural gaps among senior Vatican officials. While the crisis emerged in the United States and soon became a global issue, one Colombian cardinal suggested in 2002 that since there were so many English-speaking journalists asking questions about it, abuse must be an Anglo-American problem. An influential Italian cardinal dismissed the Vatican's handling of abuse accusations as 'petty gossip' as late as 2010. Like anyone, and any pope, Leo will have his shortcomings, but being weak on abuse is not likely to be one of them. As an American, he surely understands that it has been the greatest crisis to hit the church in the New World. Pope Leo likes Wordle. People who play it like words, and they probably try to be precise when they're speaking. That will serve a pope well. But language is a lot bigger than word choice. It's also about how you think. While Leo's language skills and the mentality that comes with them will have its advantages, being an American may prompt some resistance in a Roman Curia in which Italians always have the home court advantage. There may not have been an Italian pope in nearly 50 years, but the Vatican is surrounded by Italy, Italians still run it at most levels and many believe it should stay that way. A can-do Anglo mind-set could help Pope Leo confront the problems he'll have to face, starting in Rome. Francis tried hard to clean up Vatican finances, but the outspoken Australian cardinal he brought in to do the job, George Pell, didn't do diplomacy well, and clashed with other powerful cardinals, limiting his impact. Leo's multicultural experiences might help him avoid the same pitfalls. Pope Francis also tried to reform a sprawling Vatican communications department, but he was unwilling to fire people, and it remains a huge drain on the budget. Pope Leo may not want to fire anyone, either. But I suspect he might ask why, in the age of the internet, the Vatican spends millions of dollars every year publishing an afternoon newspaper in Italian — the 164-year-old Osservatore Romano — whose readers could fit comfortably in a slice of St. Peter's Square. Alleged mismanagement of properties, a budget deficit and an imbalance in the pension fund are among the matters Pope Leo will have to deal with in the Vatican. Being comfortable in English and Spanish and Italian won't solve those problems, but it will allow Leo to have some frank conversations with the people who need to fix them, with nothing lost in translation.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Snoop Dogg Announces New Album ‘Iz It a Crime?' Featuring Wiz Khalifa, Sexyy Red & Pharrell
Just five months after delivering his Missionary album with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg has announced plans for his Iz It a Crime? album, which will arrive on Thursday (May 15). The project boasts 21 tracks in total, with features sprinkled across the effort from Pharrell Williams, Sexyy Red, Wiz Khalifa, Charlie Bereal, Jane Handcock, October London and more. The title track also fittingly heavily samples Sade's 'Is It a Crime.' More from Billboard Snoop Dogg Joins the Cast of 'PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie' Styles P Says He & Jim Jones 'Ain't in the Same League' When Asked About Verzuz Battle Gerardo Coronel Breaks Through to No. 1 on Latin Airplay Chart With 'No Se Dice' 'Just some of the things that I do, that I've done, that have been speculation, and I just want to ask the question, 'Is it a crime? Is it a crime for me to do the things that I do,' Snoop told Access Hollywood of the project on Tuesday (May 13). 'Is it a crime for me to take care of people, to love people, to be there for people? Is it a crime for me to be me?' With Snoop back at the helm of Death Row Records, he stopped by The Breakfast Club Wednesday (May 14) to open up about feeling inspired to continue rapping even as an elder statesman in hip-hop. 'I'm an MC and I love to rap and I love to make music, and people love my voice and they love when I make great records,' he said. 'When I don't make great records, people let me know that as well.' Snoop continued: 'I hear all of that and it makes me say to myself, 'I should treat myself like a musician and not like a rapper.' If you a musician, you can make music until you die, but when you're a rapper they try to put a cap on you.' An accompanying Iz It a Crime? short film is also set to serve as a visual companion to the music project. The flick was previewed during a private screening in NYC on Tuesday night. Iz It a Crime? is set to be Snoop Dogg's 21st studio album. He's been busy in 2025, as Snoop contributed to Death Row's Altar Call compilation gospel album in April, which is a tribute to the Long Beach legend's late mother. Find the Iz It a Crime? cover art and tracklist below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Snoop Dogg Drops ‘Iz It a Crime' Album Featuring Sexyy Red, Wiz Khalifa & Pharrell: Stream It Now
Snoop Dogg's longevity, work ethic and versatility can't be matched by many — if any — in the hip-hop realm. The Death Row legend returned on Thursday (May 14) with his 21st studio album, Iz It a Crime? The project boasts 21 tracks with features from stars like Pharrell Williams, Sexyy Red, Wiz Khalifa, Charlie Bereal, Jane Handcock, October London and more. The title track from the LP fittingly samples Sade's 'Is It a Crime.' More from Billboard Styles P Says He & Jim Jones 'Ain't in the Same League' When Asked About Verzuz Battle Gerardo Coronel Breaks Through to No. 1 on Latin Airplay Chart With 'No Se Dice' Bruce Springsteen Slams 'Incompetent & Treasonous' Trump Administration at Tour Kickoff Snoop stopped by The Breakfast Club on Wednesday (May 14) where he detailed how he's still feeling inspired to drop music at a high level even over 30 years into his Hall-of-Fame career. 'I'm an MC and I love to rap and I love to make music, and people love my voice and they love when I make great records,' Snoop said. 'When I don't make great records, people let me know that as well.' The Long Beach native continued: 'I hear all of that and it makes me say to myself, 'I should treat myself like a musician and not like a rapper.' If you a musician, you can make music until you die, but when you're a rapper they try to put a cap on you.' Snoop Dogg also previewed an accompanying movie for Iz It a Crime? during a private screening in NYC on Tuesday (May 13), but it's unclear when exactly the film will arrive. It's been a busy six months for the 53-year-old mogul. He reunited with Dr. Dre for Missionary in December, as the joint album debuted at No. 20 on the Billboard 200. The Death Row gospel label compilation, Altar Call, which arrived in April and was dedicated to Snoop's late mother, also saw contributions from The Doggfather. Stream Iz It a Crime? below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Snoop Dogg has words for his critics following Trump Crypto Ball backlash
Snoop Dogg is setting the record straight after facing heavy criticism for his DJ performance at the Crypto Ball during Donald Trump's inauguration weekend. In a new sit-down with 'The Breakfast Club' on Wednesday (May 14), the rap icon made it clear that he's not here to justify that appearance — especially when he's spent so much of his life giving back. Trending Black Lives Matter: Social media hits back at talks of Derek Chauvin pardon Georgia family fights for control after brain-dead mom kept alive to carry pregnancy JAY-Z deep cuts that deserve a spot in every real fan's rotation 'I DJed at the Crypto Ball for what, 30 minutes… Made a whole bunch of money, made a lot of relationships to help the inner city and teach financial literacy,' Snoop said. 'That's 30 minutes. I've been doing great things for the community for 30 years. So which one is it? 30 for 30?' He insisted the event wasn't politically motivated. 'I don't represent the Republican Party. I don't represent the Democratic Party. I represent the gangster party. Period.' The booking, he explained, came through longtime business partner David Sacks and was part of a broader crypto initiative meant to bring resources 'back to the hood.' 'Cool, I'm with you! You're helping the hood out! How does [the hate] work when I'm tryna help y'all, but y'all talking [trash]?' When online backlash followed, Snoop didn't hesitate to confront some of his critics. 'I would jump right in their DMs with a video like, 'You b**ch a** n**ga... What you wanna do?' And they'd be like, 'Oh man, I'm just a fan,'' he shared. 'Don't come for me if you don't know me.' Snoop continued, 'My work should speak for me. Don't take my personal or my business [decisions] and try to involve it in my life or who I am as a person. The things that I do in real life should matter to you more.' In the same interview, Snoop previewed his new album, Iz It A Crime (somewhat inspired by the aforementioned critiques), which will arrive on Friday (May 16) with an accompanying film. The LP will include features from Sexyy Red, Wiz Khalifa and others. He described his chemistry with Sexyy Red, revealing that their studio time turned into a week-long creative exchange. '[She] is the home girl. I love her to death,' he said. 'She came back to the studio like a week straight and we just bonding like uncle and niece… She just reminds me of me. She just don't give a f**k.' The album will arrive after Altar Call, Snoop's recent gospel compilation, and Missionary, his joint release with Dr. Dre. You Might Also Like Roc-A-Fella posse cuts that prove crew love was real Inmate serving life for murder named as suspect in Tory Lanez prison stabbing
News.com.au
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Pope Leo VIX sings Feliz Navidad in resurfaced footage
Old footage from 2014 has resurfaced showing Pope Leo XIV singing at a Christmas party in Peru. The Pontiff spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru before serving as a senior Vatican official. Pope Leo XIV is seen on stage with a youth ministry band performing the Christmas song Feliz Navidad in Spanish.
