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Straits Times
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Pope's Argentine nephew sponsored to travel to funeral
A donation box featuring photos of Pope Francis at the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, on April 24. PHOTO: AFP BUENOS AIRES - An Argentine nephew of Pope Francis said on April 24 a private donor had paid for him to travel to his uncle's funeral after the government failed to invite him to join officials travelling to Rome. Mr Mauro Bergoglio, son of Francis' late brother Oscar Bergoglio, was offered tickets for him and his partner by a businesswoman who had heard him tell an Argentina TV programme he could not afford the trip. 'I never asked for a favour; it was offered to me, and the truth is that I accepted because it was the only chance I had to say goodbye,' Mr Bergoglio, a nurse by profession, told Radio Mitre from Rome on April 24. President Javier Milei is set to travel to Rome later on April 24 with six members of his government, but no family member of the Pope, who was born Jorge Bergoglio in Buenos Aires. The seeming oversight elicited criticism from the political opposition and social media users. Argentina's secretary of religion, Mr Nahuel Sotelo, replied on X he had spoken to the Pope's nephew, who had ruled out travelling to Rome. It turned out he was referring to a different nephew – the son of the pontiff's last surviving sibling, Ms Maria Elena Bergoglio. Mr Mauro Bergoglio's sister, Vanesa, reportedly wrote on X that her brother had 'truly wanted to be there' for the funeral of 'our last uncle.' 'We are not media personalities, we are workers, and like most people, we barely make it to the end of the month,' Vanesa said in the message quoted by local media before she restricted access to her account. 'I am grateful to the media for allowing him to make that trip,' she added, referring to the TV programme that drew attention to his quest. The Pope's other siblings were Alberto Horacio and Marta Regina. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
RTÉ News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Pope's Argentine nephew sponsored to travel to funeral
A nephew of Pope Francis in Argentina has said that a private donor paid for him to travel to his uncle's funeral after the government failed to invite him to join officials travelling to the Vatican. Mauro Bergoglio, son of the pontiff's late brother Oscar Bergoglio, said that he was offered tickets for him and his partner by a businesswoman who had heard him tell Argentinian television that he could not afford the trip. "I never asked for a favour; it was offered to me, and the truth is that I accepted because it was the only chance I had to say goodbye," Mr Bergoglio, a nurse by profession, told Radio Mitre from Rome. Argentine President Javier Milei is to travel to Rome with six members of his government, but no family member of the pope, who was born as Jorge Bergoglio in Buenos Aires. The seeming oversight elicited criticism from the political opposition and social media users. Argentina's secretary of religion, Nahuel Sotelo, replied on X that he had spoken to the Pope's nephew, who ruled out traveling to Rome. It turned out that he was referring to a different nephew - the son of the pontiff's last surviving sibling, Maria Elena Bergoglio. Mauro's sister, Vanesa, reportedly wrote on X that her brother had "truly wanted to be there" for the funeral of "our last uncle". "We are not media personalities, we are workers, and like most people, we barely make it to the end of the month," she said in the message quoted by local media before she restricted access to her account. "I am grateful to the media for allowing him to make that trip," she added, referring to the TV programme that drew attention to his plight.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
Milei pledges funds for deluge-stricken Argentine city
Argentine President Javier Milei promised some $185 million Wednesday for the reconstruction of the city of Bahia Blanca as the search continued for two little girls and others missing after flash floods last week killed at least 16 people. Budget-slashing Milei visited the city Wednesday, five days after the floods that mayor Federico Susbielles said have caused severe damage affecting most people in the city. Susbielles, who has estimated at least $400 million would be needed for reconstruction, said the president had assured him that "he won't abandon Bahia Blanca." In a statement on X, the president's office said the government money allocated for rehabilitation would be disbursed "without intermediaries." The city of 350,000 people was hit Friday by torrential rains that in just a few hours doubled the annual average. Rescuers are still searching for two sisters, aged one and five, swept away by the current along with their mother and a man who had tried to save them. The girls' mother survived, but the man's body was found on Sunday. "There are likely to be more deaths," Bahia Blanca's chief prosecutor, Juan Pablo Fernandez, told Radio Mitre on Tuesday. He said police had received dozens of reports of thefts, looting of businesses, and burglaries of vacant homes, and 17 people have been arrested. Tons of donated food, clothing and hygiene products arrived in the city by train Wednesday, with contributions collected at different stops along the 600 kilometers (370 miles) it had travelled from Buenos Aires. Some 4,000 volunteers were helping distribute aid and taking part in clean up efforts. Schools remained closed, with many reporting flood damage. The deluge also flooded the main hospital, tore down bridges, damaged roads and houses and swept away pretty much everything in its path. Thousands of people were evacuated, of whom about 370 remained in shelters Wednesday, according to authorities. The government had ordered three days of national mourning over Bahia Blanca's worst disaster in decades. sa/mry/lm/mlr/dw
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Argentina declares three-day mourning as flood death toll rises to 16
Argentina declared three days of national mourning following flash floods that claimed 16 lives in Bahia Blanca, where a year's rain fell within hours, inundating neighborhoods. Two young girls, aged one and five, were tragically swept away in the disaster. Argentina announced three days of national mourning late Sunday after authorities raised the death toll from recent flash flooding to 16, with more still missing. The deadly floods struck Friday when a year's worth of rain fell in a matter of hours in and around Bahia Blanca, a major port city located in the south of Buenos Aires province, with entire neighborhoods inundated by the fast-rising waters. The Latin American nation has been particularly shaken by tragic reports of two girls, aged one and five, being swept away in the torrent. Provincial security minister Javier Alonso confirmed their disappearance Sunday, saying the sisters had climbed onto the roof of a van with their mother to escape the rising waters when a surge ripped them away. Their mother was rescued. Divers were continuing to search the area, where more than a meter of water remained, Alonso told the Radio Mitre outlet. Bahia Blanca Mayor Federico Susbielles, meanwhile, told a press conference that the flooding had caused $400 million in infrastructure damage. Later, in a post on X, he said "there are 16 confirmed deaths, but there are likely to be more" as search efforts continue. The storm left much of the surrounding coastal area without power. At one point, city officials in Bahia Blanco suspended electricity due to the huge amount of water in the streets. Read more on FRANCE 24 EnglishRead also:Several killed as Cyclone Garance slams into France's Reunion IslandJanuary sets 'surprising' heat record, defying La Nina cooling expectations
Arab News
10-03-2025
- Climate
- Arab News
Argentina declares national mourning as flood death toll hits 16
BAHIA BLANCA, Argentina: Argentina announced three days of national mourning late Sunday after authorities raised the death toll from recent flash flooding to 16, with more still deadly floods struck Friday when a year's worth of rain fell in a matter of hours in and around Bahia Blanca, a major port city located in the south of Buenos Aires province, with entire neighborhoods inundated by the fast-rising Latin American nation has been particularly shaken by tragic reports of two girls, aged one and five, being swept away in the security minister Javier Alonso confirmed their disappearance Sunday, saying the sisters had climbed onto the roof of a van with their mother to escape the rising waters when a surge ripped them away. Their mother was were continuing to search the area, where more than a meter of water remained, Alonso told the Radio Mitre Blanca Mayor Federico Susbielles, meanwhile, told a press conference that the flooding had caused $400 million in infrastructure in a post on X, he said 'there are 16 confirmed deaths, but there are likely to be more' as search efforts storm left much of the surrounding coastal area without power. At one point, city officials in Bahia Blanco suspended electricity due to the huge amount of water in the President Javier Milei 'will declare three days of national mourning' for the deaths, his office said late Sunday, without specifying when the period would begin.'All areas of the national government will remain dedicated... to assisting the victims in this moment of sorrow for all Argentines,' the presidency said in a government has authorized emergency reconstruction aid of 10 billion pesos ($9.2 million at the official exchange rate).Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi offered his condolences on Instagram to the victims' families'Much strength to all those who are having a rough time in this difficult moment,' he official Andrea Dufourg said this weekend that the extreme weather event 'is a clear example of climate change.''Unfortunately this will continue to take place... we have no other option than to prepare cities, educate citizens, establish effective early warning systems,' said Dufourg, who is director of environmental policy for the city of Ituzaingo outside Buenos Blanca has suffered past weather-related disasters, including a storm in December 2023 that claimed 13 lives. It caused houses to collapse and provoked widespread infrastructure damage.
