Houthi rebels raid UN facility in Sanaa
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels raided a United Nations facility in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, but all 15 international staff present were re...
As Catholic cardinals prepare to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, a key question arises: will the papacy return to an Italian after nearly 50 years of foreign leadership?
For centuries, Italians dominated the papacy, holding the position unbroken for 455 years until 1978, when Polish-born John Paul II was elected. Since then, the role has passed to German Pope Benedict and Argentine Pope Francis. Now, with the conclave set to begin on May 7, speculation is growing around several Italian candidates, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State; Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna; and Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, based in Jerusalem.
Despite Italy’s strong historical ties to the papacy, its influence has declined in recent decades. Italians now make up only 14% of the cardinal electors, compared to 24% in 2013. The Italian vote could be split among multiple candidates, reducing the chance of a united front.
Historian Alberto Melloni pointed out that Italy's failure to back a single candidate in past conclaves contributed to the election of non-Italians. Internal divisions and unwillingness to compromise have often made Italian contenders seem less viable.
Though Italian cardinals avoid openly campaigning, many emphasize that the pope’s origin should matter less than spiritual wisdom. Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco stated that faith and leadership are more important than nationality.
However, a past financial scandal could damage Italy's chances. Cardinal Angelo Becciu, a former top official under Parolin, was dismissed in 2020 and later convicted for financial misconduct involving a London property deal. Although Parolin wasn’t implicated, the scandal has resurfaced, casting a shadow over the Italian bloc. Becciu announced he would not attend the conclave to avoid controversy.
Experts note that the leading Italian candidates have significant international experience, a shift from past traditions. Whether this makes them more acceptable to global cardinals or whether internal tensions will again work against them, remains to be seen in the coming days.
Video from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) showed on Friday (19 September) the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupting and spewing lava.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Türkiye is ready to assume a de facto guarantor role if a two-state solution in Palestine is implemented, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday.
President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces have destroyed a “drug-carrying” submarine travelling toward the United States on what he described as a “well-known narcotrafficking route.”
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels raided a United Nations facility in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, but all 15 international staff present were reported safe, a UN official said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his intention to run in the upcoming general elections, expressing confidence that he will be re-elected as prime minister.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced that repair crews have commenced restoring external power lines to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in southeastern Ukraine.
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