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Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Eurovision boss shares major update over one country taking part
Eurovision Song Contest bosses have spoken out about one country taking part and revealed that Vatican City is now eligible to enter the competition Eurovision bosses have shared a major update on one country taking part. Top dogs behind the song contest are beckoning new Pope Leo XIV to grace the stage of their famed song contest. They're eager for Vatican City to throw its hat into the ring for next year's musical showdown. They reckon the Pontiff's involvement would be a smash with Eurovision fans. On The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, Eurovision's Brand Director Martin Green spilt the beans: "You can participate in Eurovision if you are a member of the EBU - the European Broadcasting Union. My understanding is that it's Vatican Radio that is a member of the EBU. So technically, they might be able to enter an act. Frankly, a line-up of dancing cardinals... I'm all for it." Further stirring excitement, Eurovision's Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl jumped in with: "Me too. I think that could do really well." To which Martin Green chimed: "Let's cross our fingers. It would be a moment.", reports the Daily Star. If Vatican City joins the Eurovision fold, it will echo the unforgettable scene from Father Ted where Ted entered with 'My Lovely Horse'. The Vatican might be the smallest nation around, but Eurovision has never shied away from small – remember San Marino? Though San Marino has yet to clinch the win at Eurovision, Vatican City entering would surely turn heads. And if it seems odd, well, it might be less perplexing than why non-European nations like Israel and Australia are hitting up the Eurostage. Australia got its ticket to the contest as a guest during the 60th anniversary bash in 2015. Their latest entry, Go-Jo, bowed out in this year's semi-finals – probably for the best since they're not on the cards to host, even if they snag first place. Israel is eligible to participate in the competition as they are a member of the European Broadcasting Union, which is the requisite membership for entry. Since their debut in 1973, Israel has been in the contest 49 times and triumphed on four occasions. In addition to Eurovision updates, Saturday night's Grand Final was surrounded by an ironclad security presence. The contest's head has ramped up security measures at the St Jakobshalle arena in Basel, Switzerland, amid concerns of a potential terrorist threat. Armed guards patrolled the venue for the duration of the event. Furthermore, stringent airport-style security checks were implemented at all entry points, with spectators being informed that bags would not be allowed inside. A source commented: "Organisers are taking no chances. They are making sure everyone is safe." Bosses later issued a statement following Israel's controversial participation in the competition. They explained that a Eurovision Song Contest crew member had been hit with paint after two people tried to storm the stage during Yuval Raphael's performance. A spokesman for SRG SSR said: "At the end of the Israeli performance, a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier onto the stage. They were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit. The crew member is fine and nobody was injured. The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police."
Time of India
21-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
For Fr William Nellikkal, Pope was a man who preached mercy and inclusion
Kochi: For Fr William Nellikkal , who spent 12 years at Vatican Radio and worked under two Popes, the papacy of Pope Francis was marked by a desire to communicate the mercy of Christ to the world. "I knew him from when he was a Cardinal as we stayed in the Domus Internationalis Paulus VI. He always lived in room No.205 while I was in No.2011. He was very simple in his habits and throughout his papacy, it was evident that he wanted the Church to adopt a stance of mercy towards people," he said. "I recall that he never came down for breakfast. When I asked him, he said he preferred a cup of tea and kept a kettle in his room. He invited me for tea, which was an enlightening time. I would always see him spending long hours in prayer in the chapel, and he preferred to stay on the sidelines during the mass." In keeping with his belief that the Church should be inclusive, Pope Francis announced the extraordinary jubilee of Mercy. He abolished the ritual of washing the feet of 12 men and instead included 12 persons of different identities, including men, women, the elderly, the young, children and the handicapped. "It sent out a message that the Church should be all-inclusive and supported women being appointed to various top positions." Fr Nellikkal said the Pope never celebrated his birthday but invited people living on the streets to the Vatican, spending the whole day with them. "He ensured setting up of special toilets and bath facilities for street dwellers of the Vatican and also provided them an area for laundry to wash and dry their own clothes, which is still live and active even now," he added. Kochi: For Fr William Nellikkal, who spent 12 years at Vatican Radio and worked under two Popes, the papacy of Pope Francis was marked by a desire to communicate the mercy of Christ to the world. "I knew him from when he was a Cardinal as we stayed in the Domus Internationalis Paulus VI. He always lived in room No.205 while I was in No.2011. He was very simple in his habits and throughout his papacy, it was evident that he wanted the Church to adopt a stance of mercy towards people," he said. "I recall that he never came down for breakfast. When I asked him, he said he preferred a cup of tea and kept a kettle in his room. He invited me for tea, which was an enlightening time. I would always see him spending long hours in prayer in the chapel, and he preferred to stay on the sidelines during the mass." In keeping with his belief that the Church should be inclusive, Pope Francis announced the extraordinary jubilee of Mercy. He abolished the ritual of washing the feet of 12 men and instead included 12 persons of different identities, including men, women, the elderly, the young, children and the handicapped. "It sent out a message that the Church should be all-inclusive and supported women being appointed to various top positions." Fr Nellikkal said the Pope never celebrated his birthday but invited people living on the streets to the Vatican, spending the whole day with them. "He ensured setting up of special toilets and bath facilities for street dwellers of the Vatican and also provided them an area for laundry to wash and dry their own clothes, which is still live and active even now," he added.
Daily Mail
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Now for the world's most secretive vote with 120 cardinals locked away for the legendary Conclave
The world is about to witness the process of choosing a new Pope. Or rather not witness it, because as the Oscar-winning film Conclave makes clear, the election of a new Pope is the most secretive democratic process in the world, conducted by 120 cardinals behind closed doors. In fact, the film shows it as being more open than it really is, in that the President of the College of Cardinals briefs the world's media while the process is underway. In real life, he would face excommunication for that offence, as would anyone breaking the rules, which also include not making pacts with other voters. Nor would a dead Pope be allowed to be swarmed over by priests, nuns and officials, nor laid out in his pyjamas. In the real world, the Camerlengo (or Chamberlain) of the Holy Roman Church declares a Pope to be dead in the presence of the Papal Master of Ceremonies and a handful of other members of the Papal household. Nine days of mourning are then declared, in which the body of the late Pope will lie in state in St Peter's Basilica. It will be at least 15 days before the Conclave – literally 'cum clave', which is Latin for 'with key' – to choose his successor begins, allowing for cardinals to reach Rome from all over the world. Cardinals, though, are no longer physically locked in a building until they have made their decision. They will stay at a guest house within the Vatican's walls known as St Martha's House, where they will have the services of cooks and housekeepers plus two doctors, one of whom is a surgeon. Given the age profile of cardinals, that may seem inadequate – although those over 80 are not allowed to vote. From St Martha's House, the cardinals will walk daily in their blue cassocks and red sashes to the Papal Palace or the Sistine Chapel where the voting will actually take place. They will be forbidden from reading newspapers, accessing radio, television or the internet and from sending or receiving any kind of message from the outside world. They may be there for some time. The longest conclave in history lasted 34 months, from the death of Clement IV in November 1268 until the election of Gregory X on 1 September 1271. In modern times, however, none has lasted longer than the five days – and 14 votes – it took to elect Pius XI in 1922. The conclave to elect Pope Francis in 2013 lasted just two days. There is no firm procedure for the multiple ballots which are likely to be held – the conclave will determine its own procedure. If a candidate receives a two-thirds majority of votes that should be it. Otherwise, multiple rounds of voting may whittle candidates down to a final two, with a simple majority deciding the winner. The latest set of rules, drawn up in 1996 by Pope John Paul II, do not specify that the conclave should announce that it has made a decision by blowing white smoke up the chimney (while black smoke indicates that no decision has been made). This tradition caused embarrassment in 1958 when Vatican Radio misinterpreted the smoke signals and announced the news a day early. One thing the film does get right is the breadth of candidates from around the world. While the Cardinals are not limited to choosing from among their number it is almost certain that they will do so. But that still leaves quite a selection. So who is likely to emerge as the victor when the cardinals have made their decision?
See - Sada Elbalad
24-03-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Pope Francis expresses sadness over situation in Gaza
Basant Ahmed Pope Francis made his first public appearance since being hospitalized on February 14 due to respiratory complications. He stepped onto a balcony at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome to greet dozens of people gathered there. The Pope expressed his sadness over the situation in Gaza. "I am saddened by the resumption of the intense Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which is causing many deaths and injuries. I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities." He also called for resuming dialogue, until all hostages are released and a definitive ceasefire is achieved," Pope Francis said, according to Vatican Radio. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) News Ireland Replaces Former Israeli Embassy with Palestinian Museum News Israeli PM Diagnosed with Stage 3 Prostate Cancer Lifestyle Maguy Farah Reveals 2025 Expectations for Pisces News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
