Latest news with #Venetian-born
Irish Daily Star
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Star
What is a conclave? Inside the secretive process to replace Pope Francis
The Catholic community is in a state of grief following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88 , with the process of selecting a new Pope set to begin. The pontiff had been hospitalized for weeks but appeared to have significantly improved when he met with Vice President JD Vance and greeted thousands in St. Peter's Square yesterday. However, Vatican officials confirmed that he sadly passed away at around 7.35am this morning, after his battles with illness. Following the news, speculation is already growing about who will succeed Francis as the new Pope. But how does the process of selecting a new head of the Catholic Church work in practice? Read More Related Articles Pope Francis dies aged 88 after battle with double pneumonia Read More Related Articles JD Vance breaks silence after being one of last to hold audience with Pope Francis after brutal 'snub' Cardinals exit St Peter's Basilica after they attended the Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass (Image: Getty Images) Upon the demise or abdication of a Pope, like that of Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican calls together a papal conclave where the College of Cardinals assembles to vote for a new leader of the Church. There are currently 138 cardinal electors out of the 252 who are qualified to cast their ballot according to the regulations effective January 22, 2025. The secret election is conducted within the iconic Sistine Chapel walls, with eligibility confined to cardinals younger than 80 years old. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' site, selecting a new pope typically unfolds over a 15 to 20-day timeline, with four voting sessions per day until a candidate secures a decisive two-thirds majority. Several cardinals are already front-runners to become the next Pope. Cardinal Pietro Parolin Parolin most recently discussed a variety of geopolitical topics (Image: Getty Images) At the age of 70, Venetian-born Cardinal Pietro Parolin has been serving as the Secretary of State of the Vatican since 2013, making him the highest-ranking cardinal in the conclave responsible for electing the pope. Parolin is widely respected within the church community as a voice of moderation who avoids taking sides with "left" or "right" political ideologies. In a recent interview with Italian weekly L'Eco di Bergamo, he weighed in on global political issues, asserting, "Everyone can contribute to peace, but solutions must never be pursued through unilateral impositions that risk trampling on the rights of entire peoples, otherwise, there will never be a just and lasting peace." Cardinal Peter Erdo The 72-year-old Hungarian has been a well-known conservative voice in the church (Image: Getty Images) Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, aged 72, is known for his devout adoration of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and is considered a steadfast Marian. As the head of the Council of Bishops Conferences of Europe, he is a conservative force within the church, particularly noted for his opposition to divorced or remarried Catholics receiving Holy Communion. He has also drawn links between the acceptance of refugees and human trafficking. In 2003, Erdo was elevated to the rank of cardinal by Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle Tangle has generally displayed more left-leaning politics, much like Pope Francis (Image: AFP/Getty Images) Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, from the Philippines, could etch his name in the records as the first-ever Asian Pope. Anointed by Pope Benedict XVI, the 67-year-old is currently the pro-prefect for the Dicastery for Evangelization's section of first evangelization. Tagle has been vocal with his modern views, taking issue with the church's historically strict speech towards LGBTQ folks, single mothers and Catholics either divorced or remarried, much in sync with Pope Francis' more open mindset. Reflecting on this shift in rhetoric, he said in a 2015 statement: "The harsh words that were used in the past to refer to gays and divorced and separated people, the unwed mothers etc, in the past they were quite severe. Many people who belonged to those groups were branded and that led to their isolation from the wider society."
Irish Daily Star
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Star
Pope Francis dead: Potential successors emerge as Vatican prepares for Conclave
The Catholic world is in mourning after the passing of Pope Francis , sparking questions about who will take on the role as the head of the Vatican. Following the death or resignation of a pope , such as Pope Benedict XVI's departure, the Vatican convenes a papal conclave where the College of Cardinals comes together to elect the new Church leader. Pope Francis was previously in critical condition with blood tests indicating early signs of kidney failure. Despite serious health issues, the 88-year-old pontiff remained alert and "well oriented," as per Vatican medical updates - he even participated in an Easter Sunday meeting with US VP JD Vance. Read More Related Articles JD Vance and Pope Francis put drama to one side as they finally meet Read More Related Articles Donald Trump's surprising reaction after Dr. Oz's granddaughter collapses in Oval Office His health was under close observation, yet the Pope's maintained consciousness and awareness brought a ray of hope. Since Saturday evening, there had been no further respiratory complications, according to officials. The Vatican confirmed that despite some concerning blood test results showing "an initial, mild, renal failure, which is currently under control." On Monday, the Vatican announced: "At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father." As for the upcoming conclave, there are 138 electors among the 252 cardinals eligible to vote, based on the rules set as of January 22, 2025. The confidential voting process takes place in the Sistine Chapel and is limited to those under 80 years old. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' website, electing a new pope typically involves a 15 to 20-day process with four rounds of voting each day until a candidate secures a significant two-thirds majority. Parolin most recently discussed a variety of geopolitical topics (Image: Getty Images) Cardinal Pietro Parolin At 70 years old, Venetian-born Cardinal Pietro Parolin has been serving as the Vatican's secretary of state since 2013, positioning him as the top-ranking cardinal in the electing conclave. Parolin is widely regarded within the church as a reasonable moderate who steers clear of aligning with "left" or "right" political ideologies. In a recent interview with Italian weekly L'Eco di Bergamo, he discussed various geopolitical issues, stating: "Everyone can contribute to peace, but solutions must never be pursued through unilateral impositions that risk trampling on the rights of entire peoples, otherwise, there will never be a just and lasting peace." The 72-year-old Hungarian has been a well-known conservative voice in the church (Image: Getty Images) Cardinal Peter Erdo Known for his deep devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus, Cardinal Peter Erdo has made a name for himself as a staunch Marian. The 72 year old Hungarian, who also serves as the head of the Council of Bishops Conferences of Europe, is recognized as a conservative voice in the church, particularly for his stance against allowing divorced or remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion. He has also drawn parallels between accepting refugees and human trafficking. In 2003, Pope John Paul II appointed Erdo as a cardinal. Tangle has generally displayed more left-leaning politics, much like Pope Francis (Image: AFP/Getty Images) Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the eighth Filipino to be elevated to cardinal status, could make history as the first Asian pope. Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, the 67 year old currently serves as the pro-prefect for the Dicastery for Evangelization's section of first evangelization. Known for his progressive stance, Tagle has openly criticized the church's previous harsh rhetoric towards LGBTQ individuals, unwed mothers, and divorced or remarried Catholics, aligning with the more liberal views of Pope Francis. In a statement from 2015, he remarked: "The harsh words that were used in the past to refer to gays and divorced and separated people, the unwed mothers etc, in the past they were quite severe. Many people who belonged to those groups were branded and that led to their isolation from the wider society." Francis anointed the 69-year-old a cardinal in 2019 (Image: AFP via Getty Images) Cardinal Matteo Zuppi Meanwhile, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the current president of the Episcopal Conference of Italy since May 2022, is often seen as a favorite of Pope Francis. The 69 year old was made a cardinal by Francis in 2019 and has been entrusted with several key international assignments. His diplomatic endeavors include a visit to the US to meet then-President Joe Biden and a peace mission to Ukraine, where he engaged with President Volodymyr Zelensky but notably did not meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Before being elevated to cardinal, Zuppi penned his views on the LGBTQ community in James Martin's 2018 book "Building a Bridge, Un ponte da costruire." He highlighted it as "useful for encouraging dialogue, as well as reciprocal knowledge and understanding" and pushed for a redefined pastoral approach towards "our LGBT brothers and sisters." Burke has openly disagreed with Pope Francis's more liberal views (Image: Getty Images) Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke stands out for his strong traditionalist stances, having been appointed a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI back in 2010. The Wisconsin native is often seen as a conservative force within the church. He's at odds with Pope Francis over modernising viewpoints, particularly opposing the idea of granting Eucharistic communion to those who are divorced and remarried. Cardinal Burke also finds fault with the church's updated language concerning gay people, civil marriages, and artificial contraception, deeming them "objectionable." He's even asserted that Catholic politicians like Biden who support legal abortion should not be allowed to partake in the Eucharist. For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Popular European citybreak destination reinstates ‘€10' day trip fee on Good Friday
Venice is relaunching its tourist tax fee tomorrow, on Good Friday, impacting anyone heading to the popular citybreak destination over the bank holiday weekend. The city first launched the tourist tax last year. It applies to day trippers visiting the city on 29 peak tourist dates across the spring and summer. Initially the Venice Access Fee was €5, but it has since been raised to €10. However, if you register at least four days in advance then you only have to pay half. READ MORE: UK tourists warned as hotel strikes to go ahead in Tenerife this Easter READ MORE: Hotels forced to close in Lanzarote following floods The fee is in force on selected days from 8.30am to 4pm. There are exemptions to the tax, including residents, Venetian-born visitors, students and workers, those aged under 14, as well as tourists who have hotel or other lodging reservations. Good Friday marks the start of a 16-day period to which the fee applies, up to and including Sunday May 4, the Independent reports. It will then apply to 12 subsequent weekends, Friday-Sunday, up to and including Sunday July 29. From August the charge will be lifted. Visitors can register online in advance at which will then provide you with a QR code which you will need to present upon arrival or you can register via the WhatsApp number +39 339 995 8668. You can pay on the day in cash at a kiosk, located at Santa Lucia station. If you're caught without a permit you could risk a €150 fine. Overnight guests must still apply online for a permit but are exempt from the fee, although an accommodation tax will still apply to hotel bills. Each year around 30 million tourists visit Venice, but the majority only stay for the day. The day fee is designed to counteract the effects of overtourism. For more of today's top stories, click here. Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it. That's why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable, highlighting the best of what we do - bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don't miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News. And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street. If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it. And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@ or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.
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The Independent
13-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Venice to double tourist tax for last-minute visitors
Venice has confirmed that its daytripper tax will continue in 2025 – with double the fee for last-minute visitors. The Italian canal city has long been overwhelmed by tourism in its historic centre, with around 30 million tourists visiting Venice in a typical year. Simone Venturini, the city's tourism councillor, confirmed that the 29-day pilot tax scheme in 2024 had 'worked' at the BIT tourism fair in Milan on Monday. According to Venice officials, at the end of the first test phase last July, the tax had netted €2.4 million (£2 million), accounting for about 1,000 entrances on each of the test days. Mr Venturini said: 'The aim remains the same: create a new system to manage tourist flow and disincentivize day tripper tourism in several periods, in line with the delicate and unique nature of the city, to guarantee the respect that it merits.' Last-minute tourists who make reservations less than four days in advance will pay €10 (£8.35) instead of the usual €5 (£4.20). The new pilot system will start on 18 April and run until 4 May before continuing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the end of July for a total of 54 days. Daytrippers visiting during peak hours – 8.30am to 4pm – will have to pay the daily fee, while overnight tourists with hotel reservations are exempt from the charge. Exemptions are also granted to residents, Venetian-born visitors, students and workers. The access fee is not applied to the minor islands of the Venetian Lagoon or passengers passing through Piazzale Roma, Tronchetto or Stazione Marittima without access to the city's historic centre. Reservations can be pre-paid online or through ticket counters, and visitors will need a QR code on their smartphone or printed out to be allowed inside the ancient city. Those caught without a ticket at entry checkpoints face fines ranging from €50 (£41.70) to €300 (£250).
