Latest news with #Utopia
Newsweek
3 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Skull of Catholic Saint May Be Exhumed 500 Years Later Under Church Plan
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The skull of St. Thomas More, a prominent Catholic saint beheaded in 1535, may soon be exhumed from its centuries-old resting place at St. Dunstan's Church in Canterbury, England. Churchwarden Sue Palmer, speaking on behalf of St. Dunstan's Parochial Church Council (PCC), said the church is considering the exhumation as a unique opportunity for ecumenical outreach and cooperation with the Catholic Church, the Catholic News Agency reported. "It is unusual to have any relics in an Anglican church, especially those of a Catholic saint, and the PCC views this as an opportunity for ecumenical outreach and cooperation," Palmer said. Why It Matters The planned exhumation, which would coincide with the 500th anniversary of More's martyrdom, marks a significant moment for both Catholics and Anglicans, reflecting centuries of complex religious history in England. More, recognized as a martyr by the Catholic Church, became a symbol of conscience and steadfast faith. The proposal to exhume his skull five centuries after his execution is intended to honor his legacy and respond to growing calls for increased accessibility and preservation of the relic. File photo of a statue of Christ at St. Marienthal Abbey during an open day in Ostritz, Germany, taken in April 2018. File photo of a statue of Christ at St. Marienthal Abbey during an open day in Ostritz, Germany, taken in April 2018. AP What To Know After King Henry VIII ordered for More to be executed, his head was placed on London Bridge before being retrieved by his daughter, Margaret Roper, and eventually interred in the Roper family vault at St. Dunstan's Church. The church has received visitors and pilgrims for decades who venerate the saint's faith. On July 6, 2025—the 490th anniversary of More's death—St. Dunstan's Church announced that it was considering exhuming the remains "subject to all the right permissions being granted." The process would include conservation of the relic, consulting specialists in osteoarchaeology, and consideration of placing the skull in a secure reliquary or shrine above ground in the Roper chapel. The skull, last documented in 1997, is believed to remain in the vault, although its precise condition is not fully known. Who Was St. Thomas More? St. Thomas More (1478–1535) served as Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII. A renowned scholar and author of Utopia, he was executed for refusing to acknowledge Henry VIII as head of the Church of England, remaining steadfast in his Catholic faith. Canonized by the Vatican in 1935, More is revered as a martyr and the Patron Saint of Statesmen and Politicians. He is celebrated widely for his conscience, courage, and commitment to his principles, famously declaring before his execution: "I die the king's good servant, but God's first." Who People Are Saying The parish council said in a statement: "What the PCC has agreed, subject to all the right permissions being granted, is to exhume and conserve what remains of the relic, which will take several years to dry out and could just put it back in the vault, maybe in a reliquary of some kind, or we could place the reliquary in some sort of shrine or carved stone pillar above ground in the Roper chapel, which is what many of our visitors have requested." St. Dunstan's Church said in a statement: "The 500th anniversary of More's death is going to throw the spotlight on us and our church as a center of worship, pilgrimage, education, and hospitality because the head is the only remaining relic of Thomas More — his body is somewhere in St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London, but it is not possible to determine precisely where, so St. Dunstan's Church is really important and the focus in 10 years' time will very definitely be on us." "We won't be able to keep him to ourselves — ecumenically and globally we have a responsibility both to the relic and to Christians and scholars throughout the world, and judging by the comments in our visitors' book, having the relic deteriorating in a vault is not good enough for many who venerate Thomas More." What Happens Next St. Dunstan's Church intends to consult with specialists, including osteoarchaeologists, and submit a formal application to the appropriate diocesan and commissary authorities. Final approval is then required from the Commissary General, the equivalent of a diocesan judge. If granted, the conservation and enshrinement process could begin, with the goal to complete preparations in time for the 500th anniversary in 2035. The church continues to serve as a pilgrimage site, and officials plan to keep the process respectful and collaborative, welcoming input from Catholics, Anglicans, and the international community.
Top Gear
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Woah, check out the spec of this uniquely-liveried Pagani Utopia
Collector specs their third Pagani in a Martini livery, then adds some strange tears to expose bare carbon If you're speccing the third Pagani for your collection, you probably want to push the boat out a little bit. Perhaps you want something that'll stand out from the other two, and something that'll look different from all of your mates' Paganis. They're just everywhere, after all. Perhaps you'd choose a livery like the one you see above. Pagani itself took to Facebook to show off this recently finished £2m+ Utopia, and if the comments section is anything to go by, it's certainly caused a stir.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This ‘Race-Worn' Pagani Utopia Is the Pre-Ripped Jeans of Hypercars
People who can afford to drop seven figures on a bespoke hypercar often come up with wild color combinations, so you're not confusing anyone else's ride for theirs. This particular Pagani Utopia commissioned by one client, however, might be the most unique of any we've seen lately. Like the pre-ripped denim craze of the aughts, this Utopia trades on stolen valor to look like it's been through the ringer of endurance racing, and the effect isn't very persuasive. Pagani says it's called 'The Coyote' (whether the buyer dubbed it that or the automaker is unclear) and describes it as 'a fleeting glimpse of a livery shaped by endurance: untamed, imperfect, alive.' Its red and blue accents are reminiscent of a Martini-liveried Porsche, but what makes this Utopia special are the fake tears stretching from the wheel wells, the floors, and the bottom of the front bumper, revealing 'exposed' carbon fiber. In my view, there are two issues with this. First, it's ugly. From a distance, it looks like the abrasions were drawn on with marker. Second, if you've ever actually seen a car at the end of a full day of competition, they don't tend to look anything like this Pagani. Fortunately, the World Endurance Championship YouTube account posted a video after last year's 24 Hours of Le Mans that highlights the difference. Look at the field of finishers. We see plenty of caked-on dirt and tar, dust collected on the wheels themselves and the surrounding bodywork, and charred panels near exhaust pipes. What we don't see are strips of wraps and vinyls torn back like Wolverine has clawed through them. And the whole effect feels even flimsier because you just know that the owner will never abuse this car like those battle-scarred gladiators of the Mulsanne. Only one Pagani has ever actually taken on Le Mans, as it happens, and it was a Zonda way back in 2003. Of course, this guy can do whatever he wants with his money. It's his third Pagani, according to the company, and this 'collector…doesn't just configure a car but shapes a fragment of himself into every line and stitch, with patience, care, and almost meditative devotion.' No arguing with that—he's commissioned a Utopia that is distinctly his own. I'm just wondering if it's a bellwether for other trends. Some people will tell you cargo shorts are making a comeback; will the same soon be true of distressed denim? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pagani Automobili (@paganiautomobili) Got a tip? Email us at tips@
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This $2.5 Million Pagani Is Painted With Fake Damage Marks
Some people want their car to have battle scars—even when it's brand new. Pagani has just unveiled a new Utopia dubbed 'The Coyote.' While any example of this particular hypercar is special, this one has a feature you don't see very much: a racing-style livery with faux damage. More from Robb Report First Look: Inside the 'America the Possible' Influencer's $7 Million Hamptons Estate The Largest Piece of Mars in the World Just Sold for a Record $5.3 Million The 50 Best Bars in Asia for 2025, Ranked It's not often that a paint job is a vehicle's defining feature, especially a mechanical marvel like the Utopia. But it's impossible to look at The Coyote and see anything other than its head-turning livery, which was designed by its unnamed owner. Pagani describes the latest example of its third hypercar as having been: 'Painted as if it had just crossed the finish line after 24 hours at full heart.' The bulk of the unique design is similar to that of the iconic Martini Racing livery, with a primary coat of Bianco Benny topped by Rosso Monza, Blue, and Turquoise stripes. The details that sets this paint job apart from others, though, are the 'track scars' coming off the vehicle's front splitter, wheel arches, and bumper. The markings aren't painted. Instead, they are cutaways that reveal the exposed carbon-fiber body beneath the finish. The interior is equally as brash. The cabin may be free of any fake scuffs and scratches, but it features Pagani's trademark, steampunk-esque dashboard and center console. The seats and door panels are done up in Blue and Rossa Monza, with nearly every other surface finished in exposed carbon fiber or chrome. The Coyote's exterior and interior may be heavily customized, but its mechanical hardware has, wisely, been left alone. The car is powered by an AMG-sourced 6.0-liter V-12 connected to a seven-speed manual. The naturally aspirated mill delivers 852 hp and 811 ft lbs of torque, just like the new Huayra Codalunga Speedster. No performance numbers are mentioned, but Pagani said the hypercar could accelerate from zero to 62 mph 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 220 mph at the time of its debut. The Italian marque also hasn't said how much The Coyote costs, either. But considering all the custom details, it wouldn't be surprising if its owner spent well over the Utopia's $2.5 million starting of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article.
Motor 1
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
'No One Showed Interest:' Pagani Customers Don't Want An Electric Hypercar
Pagani doesn't have trouble selling its cars. With around 50 produced every year, buyers are content to wait for an extremely long time to get their very own hand-built Italian supercar. That is, unless it's electric. In an interview with CarBuzz , Pagani spokesperson Sebastian Berridi revealed past plans for an all-electric performance car from the brand. But when the company showed this idea to customers, there was absolutely zero demand. So the idea was scrapped. The Utopia's AMG-sourced twin-turbo V-12 engine. Photo by: Sevian Daupi / Motor1 "When we started the development of the Utopia eight years ago, we dedicated a team to a fully battery-electric model," Berridi told CarBuzz . "The idea was to launch an electric Utopia and [a] combustion version. We never thought of a hybrid because we believed it was very complex. The technology was not at its peak in that period." Pagani Had Plans for an EV, But No One Was Interested Despite investing what sounds like a significant sum into the electric Utopia's development, Pagani ultimately had to drop the car from its future lineup, simply because people didn't want one. "We showed the idea to our dealers and our customers, but no one showed interest," Berridi said. "We are a family-owned company, so we had to abandon the battery-electric vehicle. It's a shame because we invested a lot in research and development. We were very close to suppliers for Mercedes-AMG. They were at the peak of technology. We had to cancel it. We have to make a sustainable company, and we can't go against our economic interest." Right now, Pagani has no plans to move away from the V-12, at least for the near future. That's thanks to AMG, which has made the engine viable until the early 2030s in the US. "AMG homologated the engine until 2030 in Europe and 2032 in California, and we are confident that the homologation will be extended," Berridi told CarBuzz . "It's very confusing because the legislation changes a lot. The V-12 is a celebration; to be able to homologate a manual with a V-12. The mechanical engineering is a cerebral celebration that the customer needs. There are no plans to move away [from the V-12]." Other Supercar Manufacturers Face Similar Hurdles Pagani isn't alone in its struggle to sell EVs. Christian von Koenigsegg told Top Gear the appetite for electric hypercars is "extremely low" right now. Mate Rimac admitted his company still hasn't been able to sell out all 150 units of the Nevera, despite it holding numerous acceleration and braking records. Maserati recently canceled plans to build an all-electric version of the MC20. Lamborghini delayed the launch of its first EV, and also pushed back the reveal of an all-electric Urus. Even Ferrari has reportedly delayed its second upcoming electric car over "zero" demand. While these manufacturers offer superior design and exclusivity, similar performance can be found in vehicles for a fraction of the price. Just look at the numbers behind cars like the Tesla Model S Plaid and the Lucid Air Sapphire. The tech just isn't there to differentiate the exotics when it comes to performance, at least right now. More on EV Sports Cars Mercedes-AMG's New Super Sedan Revealed: Insane Power, V-8 Noises China's Latest Electric Super Sedan Looks Outlandish And Has 1,287 HP Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
