Latest news with #Pope
Kuwait Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
West demands end to Gaza war
Gaza martyrs top 59,000 • Belgian king slams abuses • Pope speaks with Abbas GAZA: More than two dozen Western countries called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza on Monday, saying that suffering there had 'reached new depths' as the Zionist military expanded its operations to the central city of Deir el-Balah. Zionist occupying forces killed 134 Palestinians and injured 1,155 others in the Gaza over the past 24 hours amid the nonstop aggression on the enclave, according to Gaza health authorities. The Zionist military offensive in Gaza has killed 59,029 Palestinians, mostly civilians. After more than 21 months of fighting that have triggered catastrophic humanitarian conditions for Gaza's more than two million people, Zionist allies Britain, France, Australia, Canada and 21 other countries, plus the EU, said in a joint statement that the war 'must end now'. 'The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths,' the signatories added, urging a negotiated ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants and the free flow of much-needed aid. The plea came as Deir el-Balah came under intense shelling on Monday, after the Zionist military a day earlier had ordered those in the central Gaza area to leave immediately as it was expanding operations, including 'in an area where it has not operated before'. Between 50,000 and 80,000 people were in the area when the evacuation order was issued, according to initial estimates from the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA. In their statement, the Western countries also denounced the Zionist aid delivery model in Gaza, saying it was 'dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity'. 'We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food,' the statement said. UNRWA, the UN refugee agency dedicated to Palestinians, said on X it was receiving desperate messages from Gaza warning of starvation, including from its own staff, as food prices have soared. 'Meanwhile, just outside Gaza, stockpiled in warehouses UNRWA has enough food for the entire population for over three months. Lift the siege and let aid in safely and at scale,' it said. Belgium's King Philippe described abuses in Gaza as a 'disgrace to humanity' in a speech on the eve of Monday's national day, unusually direct remarks on international affairs from a monarch who traditionally avoids public politics. 'I add my voice to all those who denounce the serious humanitarian abuses in Gaza, where innocent people are dying of hunger and being killed by bombs while trapped in their enclaves,' he said speaking at his palace in Brussels. 'The current situation has gone on for far too long. It is a disgrace to all of humanity. We support the call by the United Nations Secretary-General to immediately end this unbearable crisis.' It was the first time Philippe has spoken out so strongly and unambiguously about a conflict in public. Belgium's federal government has been more reserved in its criticism of the conflict in Gaza. Pope Leo spoke by phone on Monday to the president of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas about the conflict in Gaza and violence in the West Bank, the Vatican said. It was the first official conversation between the two men since Leo's papacy began. 'The Holy Father repeated his appeal for international humanitarian law to be fully respected, emphasizing in particular the obligation to protect civilians and sacred places, the prohibition of the indiscriminate use of force and of the forced transfer of the population,' the Vatican wrote. The pope emphasized 'the urgent need to provide assistance to those most vulnerable to the consequences of the conflict and to allow the adequate entry of humanitarian aid', it said. Since the start of the war, nearly all of Gaza's population has been displaced at least once by repeated Zionist evacuation orders. According to OCHA, the latest order means that 87.8 percent of the territory is now under evacuation orders or within Zionist militarized zones. Mai Elawawda, communications officer in Gaza for the UK-based charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, said the situation was 'extremely critical', describing shelling 'all around our office, and military vehicles are just 400 metres away from our colleagues and their families'. Deir el-Balah resident Abdullah Abu Saleem, 48, told AFP on Monday that 'during the night, we heard huge and powerful explosions shaking the area as if it were an earthquake'. He said this was 'due to artillery shelling in the south-central part of Deir el-Balah and the southeastern area'. 'We are extremely worried and fearful that the army is planning a ground operation in Deir el-Balah and the central camps where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering,' he added. In Deir el-Balah, AFP images showed plumes of dark smoke billowing into the sky. The spokesman for Gaza's civil defense agency, Mahmud Bassal, told AFP that 'we received calls from several families trapped in the Al-Baraka area of Deir el-Balah due to shelling by (Zionist) tanks'. Hamdi Abu Mughseeb, 50, told AFP that he and his family had fled northwards from their tent south of Deir el-Balah at dawn following a night of intense shelling. 'There is no safe place anywhere in the Gaza Strip,' he said. 'I don't know where we can go.' - Agencies
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
UK, France and other nations call for an immediate end to war in Gaza
LONDON: Britain and more than 20 other countries called on Monday for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and said the Israeli government's aid delivery model was 'dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity'. 'We, the signatories listed below, come together with a simple, urgent message: the war in Gaza must end now,' the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Australia, Canada, Denmark and other countries said in a joint statement. Pope speaks against forced mass displacement of Gaza civilians 'We are prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political pathway to security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the entire region.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Nerdy Pope' trends on social media after Pope Leo's Vatican observatory visit: All you need to know about his educational qualifications
Image credits: X On July 20, 1969, millions of eyes were on the screen watching a live broadcast of the moon landing of the Eagle lunar module from the Apollo 11 mission. Neil Armstrong, an American astronaut and aeronautical engineer, became the first person to set foot on the moon. Ever since the day that has had a permanent space in the history of humanity, it has been celebrated every year. In 2025, on July 20, Pope Leo XIV visited the Vatican Observatory located in one of the domes on the fifth floor of the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo. The 69-year-old pope commemorated the moon landing by observing the moon at the same location where the landing occurred, the Sea of Tranquility. The news of the same was shared by the Holy See Press Office via its Telegram channel. Pope Leo's Vatican observatory visit trends on social media Image credits: X Ever since, images of the pope curiously looking at the moon through the telescope have gone viral on the internet, prompting people to point out that they have a 'nerdy Pope.' Netizens on social media have been making various comments about the Pope being locked in and excited for the viewing. "he is locked in 😭 we have a nerdy Pope and I love him for that 😭" wrote a person in a post on X that has received 155.8K views and 7.8K likes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo "The Vatican Astronomy Club has a new member, it seems..." added another. "Even covering his other eye still doing aura-farming 😩" quipped another. Many pointed out how Pope Leo was a mathematician, already making him a nerdy Pope. "Him being a mathematician makes everything more beautiful. I can't look at an image like this and not remember Galileo, who in the famous "Il Saggiatori" writes that mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe :)" and "The dude is a mathematician. How more nerdy can my pope be lol" Pope Leo's interest in the science of the universe and his being a mathematician have many of his followers falling more in love with him and respecting his knowledge. What other educational qualifications does he have? Let's find out! What are Pope Leo's educational qualifications? Image credits: X Pope Leo is the first Augustinian and second American pope in history. Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago to Louis Marius Prevost and Mildred Martinez, he is one of three siblings and spent his childhood studying at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers. He graduated from Villanova University in Pennsylvania in 1977 with a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics and also studied philosophy. He received his theological education at the Catholic Theological Union at Chicago. At 27, he was sent to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Along with this, Pope Leo is also fluent in numerous languages such as English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese and is able to read Latin and German. For a person who has not only studied the word of god but also the science of the universe, it's no wonder the moon landing held an exciting and inquisitive wealth of knowledge.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Chicago family goes viral giving Pope Leo XIV "Da Pope" T-shirt at mass in Italy
A Chicago family on vacation in Italy had the encounter of a lifetime with Pope Leo XIV after mass on Sunday. Marcel and Ann Muñoz were decked out with their three kids in shirts reading, "Da Pope" — like, "Da Bears" from the old "Superfans" sketches on "Saturday Night Live." The shirts were what other color but Chicago Bears navy blue, with white text and orange lines. After mass Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Pancras in Albano outside Rome, the family was able to meet Pope Francis and give him an extra shirt as a gift. The viral moment even made it onto a post from Pope Leo XIV's official Instagram. The Muñoz family said they are Bears season ticketholders, and hope this was the blessing Chicago needs to kickstart a Super Bowl dynasty. "He turned left, and he just kind of beelined towards us, so whatever it is, it's like everyone else is, you know, very nicely dressed for a summer mass except us — so we did kind of stick out," said Marcel Muñoz, "but you know, it's one of those things where it's like: 'Hey, you're going to be here once. Hopefully, you can catch his attention.'" "How many people get this opportunity to be in front of the pope, to have his attention, to hold his hand? I kissed his ring, and you know, it's such — you feel blessed," said Ann Muñoz. The Muñoz family had to drive 45 minutes outside Rome to Albano where Pope Leo XIV was saying mass. They positioned themselves at a spot after services where they thought their big, bold shirt would get his attention — when it happened.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Science
- CTV News
Pope Leo XIV marks 56th anniversary of moon landing with observatory visit, call to Buzz Aldrin
A gust of wind blows Pope Leo XIV's mantel at the end of the noon Angelus prayer in the square in front of the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Sunday, July 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) ROME — Pope Leo XIV marked the 56th anniversary of man's arrival on the moon Sunday with a visit to the Vatican astronomical observatory in Castel Gandolfo and a call to astronaut Buzz Aldrin. After praying the Sunday Angelus at his summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, Leo headed to the astronomical observatory located in the Pontifical Villas, where he took a close look at the telescopes that have supported celestial exploration from a faith-based perspective for decades. The pontiff was accompanied by astronomers and students participating in the traditional summer school organized by the observatory. This was Pope Leo's first visit to the observatory, founded in 1891 by Leo XIII. The first vision of it, however, can be traced back to the establishment by Pope Gregory XIII of a commission aimed at studying the scientific data and implications of the calendar reform that took place in 1582. The Vatican Observatory has generated top-notch research from its scientist-clerics, drawing academics to its meteorite collection, which includes bits of Mars and is considered among the world's best. Later Sunday, the pope called astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who shared with Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins the historic 1969 moonwalk. 'This evening, 56 years after the Apollo 11 moon landing, I spoke with the astronaut Buzz Aldrin,' Pope Leo wrote on his X account. 'Together we shared the memory of a historic feat, a testimony to human ingenuity, and we reflected on the mystery and greatness of Creation.' Pope Leo then blessed the astronaut, his family and his collaborators. There are a few precedents of papal calls to 'space.' In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI rang the space station and asked about the future of the planet and the environmental risks it faced. Before Benedict, Pope Paul VI sent a radio message to astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins after their moonwalk, calling them 'conquerors of the Moon.'
