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The Advertiser
12-05-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
'Pope Francis leaves a legacy in all of us': a message from First Nations leader
On the day a new Pope was selected to lead the Catholic church, Theresa Ardler has remembered the legacy left by her close friend, Pope Francis. The Wreck Bay resident and First Nations leader was one of the last people to visit Pope Francis at the Vatican before his death on April 21, 2025. And she said he "leaves a legacy in all of us". Their final meeting marked the end of a unique and deeply personal journey that began in 2022 and blossomed into a lasting spiritual bond. She shared their story. The founder of Gweagal Cultural Connections and a Vatican diplomat first met Pope Francis in May 2022 when she was invited to the Vatican to speak on behalf of Indigenous peoples from the Oceania region. Ms Ardler was touched by the Pope's advocacy for the poor and struggling areas in the world, not only through the people but also their environments. "His encyclical was to reach out and understand the stories of the people from the peripheries," she said. This message resonated deeply with her as she shared with him the devastating impact of PFAS contamination on her community in Wreck Bay. He became invested in her journey, and they formed a strong relationship and connection. The two stayed in touch over the years, and Ms Ardler not only grew close to Pope Francis, but came to see him as family. She received a phone call from the Vatican on April 21, 2025, which happened to be her birthday, saying Pope Francis wanted to see her. "It was just me and his dog Esteban, and he was in his wheelchair, he had oxygen because he couldn't speak much," she said. Ms Ardler received a special birthday present from Pope Francis before she left - a set of rosary beads, the third set he had gifted her. "[He said the rosary had] a special heart and so I opened it and it was beautiful and he blessed it for me," she said. "I will cherish that forever." The Pope died a few hours later. When the Pope's death was announced Ms Ardler was staying within walking distance of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major and was among the first to sign the condolence book. "It was just very sombre in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major," she said. Though she did not attend the funeral, she was present at the Pope's burial, sitting beside his nephew and beloved dog. She later celebrated mass with Swiss Guards, Vatican officials, and cardinals, where she met Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. "It was very beautiful and something I'll never forget in my lifetime," she said. Ms Ardler said she would always carry with her the message of Pope Francis' call to care for the poor and the marginalised. "I believe I really connect with that because I'm an Indigenous Australian and we are marginalised in this country as well," she said. "Our way of living and doing is very simple, but at the same time, we are struggling with climate change as it unfolds before our eyes." Ms Ardler admired the Pope's humility, which she said was reflected in the simplest of choices, like his refusal to wear the traditional red papal shoes. "He was buried with his black shoes that he borrowed from a friend in Argentina, Buenos Aires," she said. "Pope Francis decided to only wear black shoes because he represented the poor of society and the marginalised." Ms Ardler left Rome with a broken heart and was deeply shattered. However, she said felt joy in hearing the good news that Pope Leo XIV was selected as Pope this morning [May 9]. She said the recently ordained Pope had similar beliefs surrounding the poor and could continue the work the late Pope Francis started during his pontiff. She looks forward to visiting the Vatican in a few months to officially welcome Pope Leo XIV. On the day a new Pope was selected to lead the Catholic church, Theresa Ardler has remembered the legacy left by her close friend, Pope Francis. The Wreck Bay resident and First Nations leader was one of the last people to visit Pope Francis at the Vatican before his death on April 21, 2025. And she said he "leaves a legacy in all of us". Their final meeting marked the end of a unique and deeply personal journey that began in 2022 and blossomed into a lasting spiritual bond. She shared their story. The founder of Gweagal Cultural Connections and a Vatican diplomat first met Pope Francis in May 2022 when she was invited to the Vatican to speak on behalf of Indigenous peoples from the Oceania region. Ms Ardler was touched by the Pope's advocacy for the poor and struggling areas in the world, not only through the people but also their environments. "His encyclical was to reach out and understand the stories of the people from the peripheries," she said. This message resonated deeply with her as she shared with him the devastating impact of PFAS contamination on her community in Wreck Bay. He became invested in her journey, and they formed a strong relationship and connection. The two stayed in touch over the years, and Ms Ardler not only grew close to Pope Francis, but came to see him as family. She received a phone call from the Vatican on April 21, 2025, which happened to be her birthday, saying Pope Francis wanted to see her. "It was just me and his dog Esteban, and he was in his wheelchair, he had oxygen because he couldn't speak much," she said. Ms Ardler received a special birthday present from Pope Francis before she left - a set of rosary beads, the third set he had gifted her. "[He said the rosary had] a special heart and so I opened it and it was beautiful and he blessed it for me," she said. "I will cherish that forever." The Pope died a few hours later. When the Pope's death was announced Ms Ardler was staying within walking distance of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major and was among the first to sign the condolence book. "It was just very sombre in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major," she said. Though she did not attend the funeral, she was present at the Pope's burial, sitting beside his nephew and beloved dog. She later celebrated mass with Swiss Guards, Vatican officials, and cardinals, where she met Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. "It was very beautiful and something I'll never forget in my lifetime," she said. Ms Ardler said she would always carry with her the message of Pope Francis' call to care for the poor and the marginalised. "I believe I really connect with that because I'm an Indigenous Australian and we are marginalised in this country as well," she said. "Our way of living and doing is very simple, but at the same time, we are struggling with climate change as it unfolds before our eyes." Ms Ardler admired the Pope's humility, which she said was reflected in the simplest of choices, like his refusal to wear the traditional red papal shoes. "He was buried with his black shoes that he borrowed from a friend in Argentina, Buenos Aires," she said. "Pope Francis decided to only wear black shoes because he represented the poor of society and the marginalised." Ms Ardler left Rome with a broken heart and was deeply shattered. However, she said felt joy in hearing the good news that Pope Leo XIV was selected as Pope this morning [May 9]. She said the recently ordained Pope had similar beliefs surrounding the poor and could continue the work the late Pope Francis started during his pontiff. She looks forward to visiting the Vatican in a few months to officially welcome Pope Leo XIV. On the day a new Pope was selected to lead the Catholic church, Theresa Ardler has remembered the legacy left by her close friend, Pope Francis. The Wreck Bay resident and First Nations leader was one of the last people to visit Pope Francis at the Vatican before his death on April 21, 2025. And she said he "leaves a legacy in all of us". Their final meeting marked the end of a unique and deeply personal journey that began in 2022 and blossomed into a lasting spiritual bond. She shared their story. The founder of Gweagal Cultural Connections and a Vatican diplomat first met Pope Francis in May 2022 when she was invited to the Vatican to speak on behalf of Indigenous peoples from the Oceania region. Ms Ardler was touched by the Pope's advocacy for the poor and struggling areas in the world, not only through the people but also their environments. "His encyclical was to reach out and understand the stories of the people from the peripheries," she said. This message resonated deeply with her as she shared with him the devastating impact of PFAS contamination on her community in Wreck Bay. He became invested in her journey, and they formed a strong relationship and connection. The two stayed in touch over the years, and Ms Ardler not only grew close to Pope Francis, but came to see him as family. She received a phone call from the Vatican on April 21, 2025, which happened to be her birthday, saying Pope Francis wanted to see her. "It was just me and his dog Esteban, and he was in his wheelchair, he had oxygen because he couldn't speak much," she said. Ms Ardler received a special birthday present from Pope Francis before she left - a set of rosary beads, the third set he had gifted her. "[He said the rosary had] a special heart and so I opened it and it was beautiful and he blessed it for me," she said. "I will cherish that forever." The Pope died a few hours later. When the Pope's death was announced Ms Ardler was staying within walking distance of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major and was among the first to sign the condolence book. "It was just very sombre in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major," she said. Though she did not attend the funeral, she was present at the Pope's burial, sitting beside his nephew and beloved dog. She later celebrated mass with Swiss Guards, Vatican officials, and cardinals, where she met Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. "It was very beautiful and something I'll never forget in my lifetime," she said. Ms Ardler said she would always carry with her the message of Pope Francis' call to care for the poor and the marginalised. "I believe I really connect with that because I'm an Indigenous Australian and we are marginalised in this country as well," she said. "Our way of living and doing is very simple, but at the same time, we are struggling with climate change as it unfolds before our eyes." Ms Ardler admired the Pope's humility, which she said was reflected in the simplest of choices, like his refusal to wear the traditional red papal shoes. "He was buried with his black shoes that he borrowed from a friend in Argentina, Buenos Aires," she said. "Pope Francis decided to only wear black shoes because he represented the poor of society and the marginalised." Ms Ardler left Rome with a broken heart and was deeply shattered. However, she said felt joy in hearing the good news that Pope Leo XIV was selected as Pope this morning [May 9]. She said the recently ordained Pope had similar beliefs surrounding the poor and could continue the work the late Pope Francis started during his pontiff. She looks forward to visiting the Vatican in a few months to officially welcome Pope Leo XIV. On the day a new Pope was selected to lead the Catholic church, Theresa Ardler has remembered the legacy left by her close friend, Pope Francis. The Wreck Bay resident and First Nations leader was one of the last people to visit Pope Francis at the Vatican before his death on April 21, 2025. And she said he "leaves a legacy in all of us". Their final meeting marked the end of a unique and deeply personal journey that began in 2022 and blossomed into a lasting spiritual bond. She shared their story. The founder of Gweagal Cultural Connections and a Vatican diplomat first met Pope Francis in May 2022 when she was invited to the Vatican to speak on behalf of Indigenous peoples from the Oceania region. Ms Ardler was touched by the Pope's advocacy for the poor and struggling areas in the world, not only through the people but also their environments. "His encyclical was to reach out and understand the stories of the people from the peripheries," she said. This message resonated deeply with her as she shared with him the devastating impact of PFAS contamination on her community in Wreck Bay. He became invested in her journey, and they formed a strong relationship and connection. The two stayed in touch over the years, and Ms Ardler not only grew close to Pope Francis, but came to see him as family. She received a phone call from the Vatican on April 21, 2025, which happened to be her birthday, saying Pope Francis wanted to see her. "It was just me and his dog Esteban, and he was in his wheelchair, he had oxygen because he couldn't speak much," she said. Ms Ardler received a special birthday present from Pope Francis before she left - a set of rosary beads, the third set he had gifted her. "[He said the rosary had] a special heart and so I opened it and it was beautiful and he blessed it for me," she said. "I will cherish that forever." The Pope died a few hours later. When the Pope's death was announced Ms Ardler was staying within walking distance of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major and was among the first to sign the condolence book. "It was just very sombre in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major," she said. Though she did not attend the funeral, she was present at the Pope's burial, sitting beside his nephew and beloved dog. She later celebrated mass with Swiss Guards, Vatican officials, and cardinals, where she met Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. "It was very beautiful and something I'll never forget in my lifetime," she said. Ms Ardler said she would always carry with her the message of Pope Francis' call to care for the poor and the marginalised. "I believe I really connect with that because I'm an Indigenous Australian and we are marginalised in this country as well," she said. "Our way of living and doing is very simple, but at the same time, we are struggling with climate change as it unfolds before our eyes." Ms Ardler admired the Pope's humility, which she said was reflected in the simplest of choices, like his refusal to wear the traditional red papal shoes. "He was buried with his black shoes that he borrowed from a friend in Argentina, Buenos Aires," she said. "Pope Francis decided to only wear black shoes because he represented the poor of society and the marginalised." Ms Ardler left Rome with a broken heart and was deeply shattered. However, she said felt joy in hearing the good news that Pope Leo XIV was selected as Pope this morning [May 9]. She said the recently ordained Pope had similar beliefs surrounding the poor and could continue the work the late Pope Francis started during his pontiff. She looks forward to visiting the Vatican in a few months to officially welcome Pope Leo XIV.
Buzz Feed
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
13 Weird Facts About Popes Throughout History
The new Pope Leo XIV was elected this week, but the title of Pope has been bestowed 267 times over thousands of years, starting with Saint Peter around 30 AD. With a timeline that long, it's no wonder that the Catholic Church and the papacy have a long and storied past. From political intrigue to botched embalmings to corpses on trial, here are 13 of the weirdest facts about popes through history: Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis were both honorary members of the Harlem Globetrotters. They honored the popes for their "extraordinary character and achievement" and "humanitarian efforts," respectively. Both popes even got jerseys. Pope Pius XII requested an "alternative" embalming method, which resulted in him "exploding" while lying in state due to a buildup of gas in his body. The pope passed in October of 1958 and had requested that none of his internal organs be removed as part of the embalming process. He was preserved with resin and oils, but the heat of the papal summer estate caused him to decompose quicker than expected. His body slowly exploded; his nose and fingers fell off, and he reportedly smelled so badly that the Swiss Guards had to be changed out every 15 minutes. Pope Leo X received an elephant from King Manuel I of Portugal in 1513. The elephant's name was Hanno, and the pope liked him so much that he personally wrote a letter to Manuel thanking him. After Hanno died, Pope Leo X commissioned the artist Raphael to create a mural of him, which was unfortunately later destroyed during renovations. Hanno is buried underneath the Vatican courtyard minus his tusks, which were removed and stored elsewhere. After Pope Formosus died in 891, his successor and political enemy, Pope Stephen VI, dug up his corpse and put it on trial. During the event known as the "Cadaver Synod," Formosus was found guilty of being a bishop in two places at once and had the three fingers on his right hand that he used for blessings chopped off. His body was then thrown into the Tiber Stephen VI was overthrown less than a year later by a Roman mob angry about his treatment of Pope Formosus, and Pope Stephen VI's successor, Pope Theodore II, ended up recovering Pope Formosus's body. Pope Theodore II was only pope for 20 days before passing away unexpectedly, and eventually, Pope Formosus was buried in St. Peter's Cathedral under Pope Theodore II's successor, Pope John IX. Pope Benedict XII was elected by accident, during the first round of voting in 1334. The conclave voted for longshot and "throwaway" candidate Cardinal Jacques Fournier while attempting to get an idea of how others were voting, but a majority was inadvertently reached. Once there's a majority, no re-votes can be held — so he officially became Pope Benedict XII. As Pope Innocent VIII lay on his deathbed in 1492, he drank breastmilk from a wet nurse as it was believed that was the only thing he could digest. According to a witness at the time, he also allegedly tried drinking the blood of three young boys, who all died (the pope died as well). Saint Hormisdas and Saint Silverius are the only known legitimate father and son who have both been popes. Hormisdas was married prior to becoming pope, and his marriage produced a son who was later elevated to the position. Hormisdas was pope from 514 until his death in 523 A.D., and Silverius held the title from 536-537 A.D. Silverius was banished by his rival Vigilius, who succeeded him. Pope John Paul II was the victim of an attempted assassination in 1981. He was shot in his hand and abdomen. Two bystanders were also shot. Everyone injured survived the attempt, as did the attacker, Mehmet Ali Ağca. Pope John Paul II forgave Ağca, and later visited him in prison. He also asked that Ağca be pardoned by the Italian government, which happened in 2000 (he was extradited to Turkey to complete a sentence there). The assassination attempt also encouraged the addition of bulletproof glass to the popemobile. Pope Clement VI held the title during the Black Death (the bubonic plague), and in 1349, he consecrated (made sacred) the Rhône River in France so that people's remains could be thrown into it and washed away. Cemeteries had become so full that people needed another way to dispose of infected bodies, and this allowed them to use the river instead of burying the dead. Pope Pius XI was a scholar and avid mountaineer, and even wrote a book on mountain climbing, published in 1923. Prior to his death shortly before the start of WWII, he also wrote protests against Hitler's Third Reich. Pope John Paul I was the last pope to use the sedia gestatoria in 1978, which is a portable throne carried by 12 footmen. (Pope Paul VI, his predecessor, is pictured here using the throne.) The sedia gestatoria was eventually replaced by the popemobile as the Church moved away from a monarchical-style model. The longest-reigning documented pope was Pope Pius IX at 31 years, seven months (1846-1878), and the shortest was Pope Urban VII at only 13 days (September 15, 1590- September 27, 1590). The oldest pope elected was Pope Leo XIII at 81 (1878), and the youngest was Pope Benedict IX, who was elected around age 18 (1032). Pope Pius IX died naturally at the age of 85; Urban VII died of malaria at age 69. Pope Leo XIII (pictured here) remained pope until his death at the age of 93; Pope Benedict IX was actually named pope three times before being expelled from Rome. And finally, Pope Benedict XVI had an organ donor card. After questions arose in 2011, the Catholic Church was forced to issue a statement that becoming pope meant he could no longer donate his organs. Vatican officials said that "after a pope dies, his body belongs to the entire Church and must be buried intact." They also indicated concern that the organs would become relics inside other bodies if he were ever made a saint. Now I have to know: which one of these facts was your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The elite Swiss Guard watching over conclave have a dramatic role as papal bodyguards
Armor like a knight on horseback. A helmet with bright-colored plumes sticking out. Wide blue and gold-striped pants that can seem almost clown-like. The Swiss Guard, the pope's iconic bodyguards, look ceremonial but in the pageantry of the Renaissance-style uniform lies the answer to why they will be protecting the Sistine Chapel on May 7 as cardinals assemble to choose the successor to Pope Francis. Their uniform is an homage to the epic last stand the guards once made to defend the pope. It's a declaration that they are willing to do so again, according to Bry Jensen, a historian and host of a podcast about the papacy. 'The reason is the sack of Rome in 1527,' Jensen, host of the Pontifacts show, told USA TODAY. 'One hundred forty-seven of the 189 Swiss Guards, including their commander, died and were torn apart to give Pope Clement VII time enough to escape.' Renegade soldiers from the Holy Roman Empire decided to attack the city. They were indignant over not being paid and directed their anger against the church, which was seen as corrupt then, according to the Encyclopedia of European History. The attack came amid burgeoning anti-church sentiment in Europe. Questions about the museum-piece-looking guards and their capabilities come as the conclave begins within the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. The guards have no part in the process. But they are there to ensure it happens uninterrupted. The earliest conclaves in the 1400s predate the founding of the Swiss Guard, but since being established in 1506, they have been expected to protect the pope and, in turn, the college of cardinals during periods between church leaders. Swiss soldiers were originally picked for the position because of their fighting prowess, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. Fighters from the alpine nation were renowned throughout Europe dating back to Roman times, the encyclopedia says, and they proved themselves in 1527. Their level of readiness has risen and fallen over the centuries. At points, the guards were largely ceremonial. They even mutinied in 1913 when one commander of the troops tried to turn them back into a lethal force again, according to a history of the guards titled The Pope's Soldiers: A Military History of the Modern Vatican by David Alvarez. But today, they are a force fit to look after the head of the church with 1.4 billion followers worldwide. Their antique-looking uniforms belie the elite training in counterintelligence, close-quarters combat and bomb disposal that they receive. But for those who know the story, it's a clue to the lengths they are willing to go. 'I swear that I will faithfully, loyally and honorably serve the Supreme Pontiff and his legitimate successors,' the guards say when they are sworn in, 'and dedicate myself to them with all my strength, sacrificing, if necessary, my life to defend them.' Here's what else to know about the elite guards protecting the cardinals throughout the conclave: The last stand of the Swiss Guard happened in 1527 when soldiers from the Holy Roman Empire invaded Rome, looking to sack the city. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, they "embarked on an orgy of destruction and massacre, terrorizing the population and humiliating Pope Clement VII." "The mercenaries, many of them are protestant, so they're really keen to kill some church men, especially the pope," Jensen said. "They're eager to string him up." Pope Clement VII was saying mass at St. Peter's at that time and had to be whisked away along a special passage connecting the heart of the Vatican to the Castel Sant'Angelo, the longtime fortress of the papacy near St. Peter's, according to the Oxford University Press. Of 189 guards, 42 went with the pope, according to Jensen. The rest stayed protecting the entrance to the passage, the Passetto di Borgo. 'The rest literally know they are standing there to die, but they last long enough to let the pope get out of dodge,' Jensen said. Swiss soldiers had already been picked to guard the pope in 1506 by Pope Julius II, known as the 'Warrior Pope.' He chose them because the Swiss were renowned fighters throughout Europe then. They sealed their place as the pope's official guard for the ages just a few decades later. There will be 25 more Swiss Guards protecting the Sistine Chapel during the conclave than when Pope Francis was elected in 2013. At the time, there were 110 Swiss Guards. Today, there are 135. The change dates back to 2018. Vatican officials cited threats of terrorism during a particularly active year for the papacy. Unofficially, fans of Pope Francis say it's because the church leader who championed the poor had a habit of sneaking out of the Vatican to spend time with people on the streets of Rome, according to Jensen. Jules Repond, a Swiss Guard commander in the early 1900s, was the leader who aimed to turn his troops back into a fighting force after years of serving a more ceremonial role, according to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. In 1913, Swiss Guards mutinied for a week in response but eventually received military training as Repond wanted, Alvarez wrote in The Pope's Soldiers: A Military History of the Modern Vatican. Over 50 years later, their readiness was put to the test when Mehmet Ali Ağca shot and wounded Pope John Paul II in Saint Peter's Square in 1981. Swiss Guards failed to stop the Turkish national from hitting the Polish pope, though he survived. The event was a wake-up call for the papal bodyguards. Today, they are all still Swiss citizens. Other requirements are that candidates must be a man between the ages of 19 and 30 and a practicing Catholic, according to the official Swiss Guard website. They must also be single when joining the guard, although they can marry after serving for five years if they are at least 25 years old and commit to serving another three years, the official Swiss Guard website states. Training begins with two months of basic training. For the first month, recruits train with the Ticino Cantonal Police at the Swiss Police and Army Training Center in Isone, Switzerland. There, the recruits learn firefighting, first aid, shooting, personal safety, self-defense, tactical behavior and the notions of law, the official Swiss Guard website states. For the second month, recruits train at the Pontifical Swiss Guard Headquarters in Vatican City. They learn proper saluting, individual and group formations, guard changes and how to handle the halberd, a weapon used throughout the 13th to 16th centuries that combines an axe blade with a spike or hook. Recruits also learn Italian, if they aren't already fluent. Contributing: Greta Cross and Kim Hjelmgaard. (This story has been updated to correct a misspelling/typo.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How the Swiss Guard became the chosen force at the conclave
Euronews
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Will Pope Leo XIV continue the Vatican's legacy on climate change?
A puff of white smoke, a procession of Swiss Guards, and Habemus Papus: we have Pope Leo XIV. Most people knew little about Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost before he became head of the Catholic Church yesterday, but his views are now the subject of intense speculation and analysis. What does the first US-born Pope's appointment mean for climate change and environmental issues? Will he be a strong successor to Pope Francis, who was credited with being an 'unflinching global champion of climate action'? Time will tell, but there are reasons to be hopeful that the 69-year-old Pontiff will take up his predecessor's mantle on this vital global front. New Pope Leo "is outspoken about the need for urgent action on climate change", according to the College of Cardinals Report, an initiative from an international team of Catholic journalists and researchers which profiles would-be Popes to help the cardinals make an informed choice. Last November, during a seminar in Rome dedicated to discussing climate change, then-Cardinal Prevost stressed it is time to move 'from words to action.' He said the answer to this challenge must be based on the Social Doctrine of the Church. 'Dominion over nature' - the task which God gave humanity - should not become 'tyrannical,' he said. It must be a 'relationship of reciprocity' with the environment. Prevost - who was president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops - cautioned against the 'harmful' consequences of technological development. He reiterated the Holy See's commitment to protecting the environment, pointing to a simpler embrace of existing green technology, such as the Vatican installing solar panels and shifting to electric vehicles. According to the College of Cardinals Report, "He aligns closely with Pope Francis' environmental priorities." Prevost spent many years working as a missionary in Peru, where he also holds citizenship. Christine Allen, director and chief executive of Catholic aid agency CAFOD, says this means he 'brings with him the vital perspective of the Global South, elevating voices from the margins to centre stage.' Pope Leo takes the top job at a critical moment in human history. Atmospheric concentrations of CO2 are now 50 per cent higher than during pre-industrial times - largely due to burning fossil fuels. This has raised global temperatures by 1.3°c, unleashing a slew of increasing climate disasters - from heatwaves to droughts, floods and wildfires. These are realities that US President Donald Trump's administration is seeking to suppress and avoid. As just the latest example in a litany of climate action cutbacks, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will no longer track the cost of climate change-fueled weather disasters. The Cardinals will no doubt have considered Trump's outsized geopolitical influence when deciding to elect a Pope from the US. And Leo has already shown that he is not afraid to stand up to the self-styled US strongman, and call out the perceived moral failings of his administration. In February, his X account shared a post which was critical of the administration's deportation of a US resident to El Salvador, and then a critical comment piece written about a TV interview given by Vice-President JD Vance to Fox News. "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others," read the first post, repeating the headline from the commentary on the National Catholic Reporter website. As spiritual leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, the Pope has a significant potential role to play in getting people to prioritise climate action and rallying the conscience of other world leaders. During his pontificate, Pope Francis wrote two encyclicals - pastoral letters addressed to the whole world - on climate change. Published ahead of the UN climate conference in 2015, his first, Laudato si': On Care For Our Common Home 'provided a clear moral imperative for taking climate action, supporting the Paris Climate Change Agreement,' according to Christiana Figueres, an architect for that landmark deal to limit global heating to 1.5C. Pope Francis continually used his position to highlight issues of inequality in the consequences of climate change. 'Now more than ever, the world needs a strong and steadfast moral voice,' CAFOD chief Christine Allen wrote in a statement yesterday. 'Saint Pope John Paul II, and Popes Benedict and Francis, all spoke powerfully on climate change and the debt crisis as two of the most pressing issues of their time, and we look forward to working with the Vatican and Pope Leo XIV, to continue and strengthen this work in response to today's challenges.' The Pope, she adds, 'is an important player on the global stage. He is one of the few people who can bridge political divides and bring world leaders together for the common good.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'An American'? Amazement, elation as faithful meet new US pope
Many of the thousands who surged into St Peter's Square, their eyes fixed on the balcony of the famous basilica as they clutched rosaries or waved flags, were not expecting this: the first US pope. The Chicago-born Robert Prevost who appeared at the balcony as Leo XIV seemed shy, modest and conciliatory, a tone that appeared to quickly endear him to the crowd awaiting his words. Among them was Gabrielle Estrada from Texas, who admitted she was floored. "This is history, I have no words. When I heard he is from Chicago... No words," Estrada told AFP. The tone in the sprawling Baroque square was festive ahead of the new pontiff's entrance, after white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel riled up the crowd into a frenzy of waving flags and clapping. As the Vatican's band played the Italian national anthem, excited priests pressed against a barricade waved at television cameras as others stared, riveted, at the balcony, as if to summon forth the new leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. Then the Swiss Guards began a solemn march across the square ahead of the new pontiff's appearance, a sign that it was imminent. The crowd erupted in a loud cheer after a senior cardinal announced a pope had been elected with the Latin words "habmus papam". But when the name of the new pontiff was announced, the reaction was more restrained. Many in the crowd had never heard of the man. Some asked their friends who he was, or checked their mobile phones for information. "An American?" one asked, dubiously. When the bespeckled 69-year-old Augustinian appeared, a white skullcap on his head and a fuchsia silk cape covering his ivory cassock, a hush fell over the waiting masses. He spoke of building bridges, walking together, being part of a missionary Church, while citing God's work as a "disarming peace, humble and persevering". He spoke in Italian -- and also Spanish, the language he learned during his many years as a missionary in Peru, grinning shyly from the balcony while sniffing occasionally in what looked like an attempt to control his emotion. - 'We're in good hands' - Madeline Lambing from Kansas said she was "shocked" but was praying for the new pope. "He looked like he was very nervous about the job, right? It's a huge job. You should be nervous. I'd be nervous," said the woman in her 30s. As for Kathy Hewitt from Philadelphia, she could hardly contain her excitement. "That all these cardinals thought that much of someone from America, to represent the whole world... I have no words, it's just amazing," said the 58-year-old, waving a small American flag alongside her teenage son. "I'm thrilled that he is American. We did not expect that -- it's a complete surprise and a wonderful surprise." But the new pope's first words also encouraged others. "We are in good hands," said Filipino priest Michael Angelo Dacalos, 35, saying the name Leo XIV was a good sign given that Leo XIII was "very active when it comes to social justice". Dacalos praised the pontiff's first address thanking Pope Francis while reminding the faithful of his predecessor's focus on dialogue and inclusion. "I'm very happy. I'm very much at peace. The Holy Spirit has given us a beautiful gift," he said. Many faithful from Peru were overjoyed. "I'm blessed," said Tania Ore, 55. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing and I saw it. We are part of history." ams/ar/bc
