Latest news with #Stefania
Euronews
24-04-2025
- Euronews
In silence and prayer, thousands say farewell to Pope Francis at St Peter's Basilica
ADVERTISEMENT By midday on Thursday, more than 60,000 people had already passed through St Peter's Basilica to bid farewell to Pope Francis, as the public viewing entered its second day. The basilica had remained open continuously from Wednesday morning until 5:30 am on Thursday. Just half an hour later, at 6 am, the queue resumed as crowds once again began gathering in the cool Roman dawn, hoping to pay their last respects to the late pontiff. Among the early arrivals were Maria Luisa and Stefania, a mother and daughter from Sicily. Stefania now lives in Rome, and her mother had come to the capital for her granddaughter's baptism this Saturday. But when they heard the news of Pope Francis' death, their plans changed instantly. 'We didn't even think twice,' they said. 'We knew we had to try and see him one last time.' They had been there before — when Pope John Paul II died, they joined a group of pilgrims from Sicily. Back then, it took them 16 hours to see his body. People queue inside St Peter's Basilica to see the Pope Francis as he lies in state, 24 April 2025 Euronews Nearby, Anthony, a Canadian on his honeymoon, stood quietly in line with his wife. Born into a Catholic family of Italian immigrants who moved to Canada in the 1950s, Anthony didn't hesitate when he heard the news. 'We're only in Rome from Wednesday to Friday. But we knew this was something we couldn't miss,' he told Euronews. For Anastasius, a Trappist monk from Hong Kong now studying in Rome, the moment was deeply spiritual. 'First of all, I want to thank him for all his pastoral services to the Church over the past 12 years. I'm sure he has done a wonderful job for the people of God. And I hope the direction he has given to the Church will continue,' Anastasius said. Workers set up chairs at St Peter's Square, 24 April 2025 Euronews By 8:15 am, an hour and 45 minutes after the new queue had started, those waiting had reached the security checks under the iconic colonnade of Square. Journalists were not allowed to enter with cameras, but mobile phones were permitted. As the line advanced, workers were already placing rows of chairs in the square, preparing for Saturday's funeral at 10 am. Crossing the Holy Door to see Pope Francis's body Crossing the Holy Door in this context felt like a sacred passage for many. Most were silent. Those who spoke whispered reflections about Pope Francis — or quietly speculated about who might succeed him. Inside, the crowd moved slowly. Each person stopped for a few moments before the Pope's body, lying in repose, then exited in silence through a side aisle. Adora and Erma, two women from the Philippines who now work in Rome, woke up at 4 am to be among the first in line. 'We work today and we're tired,' they said, 'but we're happy and sad at the same time.' ADVERTISEMENT People queue at the entrance to St Peter's Basilica to see the Pope Francis as he lies in state, 24 April 2025 Euronews Father Joseph described the moment with emotion. 'I came to Rome in 2015, and since then, Pope Francis is the only pope I've known," he told Euronews. "Obviously, Pope Benedict was already retired. He accompanied my formation." "When I heard of his death, it was shocking — nobody expected it. Seeing his body was surreal. He looked so different. But I'm grateful to have come.' Related When is the Sistine Chapel closed? What to know about visiting Rome following Pope Francis' death 'It's so beautiful here but I miss the pope': Faithful and tourists in Rome mourn Pope Francis As the day goes on, thousands continue to arrive. The line shows no signs of shrinking. And inside the Basilica, the silence speaks volumes of love, respect, and the deep impression Pope Francis has left on the Catholic faithful.
Local France
27-03-2025
- Business
- Local France
France sells seized superyacht for €10 million
The 41-metre boat, Stefania, went under the hammer at the shipyards of La Ciotat, a town located to the east of the southern port city of Marseille. The vessel, built in 2021, was estimated at between €10 and €12 million but in the end fetched only the starting price of €10 million. The Stefania, which features an Art Deco interior, can accommodate a maximum of 10 guests and up to six crew. It has a pool, a jacuzzi and a wood-burning fireplace. "Many of the details, such as glass inlaid railings and a transparent flagpole, have never been seen on a yacht before," according to De Baecque, the firm conducting the auction. The superyacht had been seized in 2023 during a stopover near Genoa in northwestern Italy at the request of French authorities. French police had been investigating "criminal activities" of Belarusian and Ukrainian nationals, according to the Marseille public prosecutor's office. A probe had been launched into "arms trafficking, drug trafficking and money laundering by an organised gang", it added. Belarusian national Chaslau Koniukh has been identified by French authorities as the owner of the yacht as well as of a villa on the French Riviera. Advertisement An analysis of "front companies and suspicious movements of funds from tax havens confirmed a desire to conceal the fraudulent origin of the funds used to purchase a sumptuous villa" in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, and the superyacht, according to prosecutors. In May 2023, the villa east of Nice, worth an estimated €10 million, was placed under judicial control. In October that year, the yacht, which flew the flag of the Cayman Islands and with a market value of €16.5 million at the time, was spotted in Italy before being seized. Another superyacht was seized at the shipyard at La Ciotat in 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The French government says the 86-metre vessel, Amore Vero, is linked to Igor Sechin, chief executive of Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft and close ally of President Vladimir Putin. An investigation is still ongoing.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
France to auction superyacht seized in money-laundering case
French authorities will put up for sale Thursday a superyacht seized in a money laundering case involving a Belarusian national, according to the state agency for handling confiscated assets. The 41-meter (135-foot)-long boat, Stefania, will be auctioned at the shipyards of La Ciotat, a town located to the east of the southern port city of Marseille. The vessel, built in 2021, is estimated at between 10 and 12 million euros ($10.8-$13 million), and the starting price has been set at 10 million euros. The Stefania, which features an Art Deco interior, can accommodate up to 10 guests and up to six crew. It has a pool, a jacuzzi and a wood-burning fireplace. "Many of the details, such as glass inlaid railings and a transparent flagpole, have never been seen on a yacht before," according to De Baecque, a firm conducting the auction. The superyacht had been seized in 2023 during a stopover near Genoa in northwestern Italy at the request of French authorities. French police had been investigating "criminal activities" of Belarusian and Ukrainian nationals, according to the Marseille public prosecutor's office. A probe had been launched into "arms trafficking, drug trafficking and money laundering by an organised gang," according to the public prosecutor's office. Belarusian national Chaslau Koniukh has been identified by French authorities as the owner of the yacht as well as a villa on the French Riviera. An analysis of "front companies and suspicious movements of funds from tax havens confirmed a desire to conceal the fraudulent origin of the funds used to purchase a sumptuous villa" in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, and the superyacht, according to the Marseille public prosecutor's office. In May 2023, the villa, estimated at 10 million euros, was placed under judicial control. In October that year, the yacht, which flew the flag of the Cayman Islands and with a market value of 16.5 million euros at the time, was spotted in Italy before being seized. Another superyacht was seized at the shipyard at La Ciotat in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The French government says the 86-metre vessel, Amore Vero, is linked to Igor Sechin, chief executive of Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft and close ally of President Vladimir Putin. An investigation is still ongoing. san-alv-as/jh/lth
