International
Pope Francis does not read the homily at Palm Sunday Mass
Pope Francis did not read today the homily he had prepared for the Palm Sunday Mass, the Eucharistic celebration that opens the rites of Holy Week and that had gathered more than 60,000 faithful who crowded St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
At the opening of the ceremony, the 87-year-old pontiff had shown a tired voice and at the end of the reading of the Gospel, when the homily was expected, a prolonged silence followed after which he passed directly to the Creed.
The decision of the pope, who preferred not to read the homily to leave a time of personal reflection, was totally unexpected, since it was not planned for him to do so in such a prominent ceremony as Palm Sunday and surprised everyone by not doing so.
More than three weeks ago, Pope Francis had the flu and since then, although he has continued with his agenda, he has not been able to read on many occasions since he gets tired of reading long speeches.
Last Wednesday, during the general hearing, Francisco did not read the prepared catechesis and instead a collaborator did it because, he said: “I still can’t,” in reference to the respiratory problems he carries.
On this occasion no collaborator read the text and the Vatican did not give any immediate explanation about the cause for which Francis skipped the homily, something very unusual in a ceremony as important as Palm Sunday.
After the Mass, Francis did carry out the weekly Sunday prayer of the Angelus and his subsequent calls and messages
The square was decorated with the branches of olive trees and palms that the faithful, religious and members of the Curia had carried in procession before the mass, remembering the triumphal entry into Jerusalem of Jesus of Nazareth.
Before the mass, the procession took place in the central obelisk of St. Peter’s Square, where the branches were blessed.
Then they moved to the interior of the basilica in one of the oldest rites of Catholicism, which dates from the third century and in which today 30 cardinals, 25 bishops and 350 priests participated.
Pope Francis today condemned the “vile terrorist attack” last Friday in Moscow, which caused at least 133 deaths and which he described as “an inhuman act that offends God” during the Angelus prayer after the Palm Sunday Mass.
“I assure you of my prayers for the victims of the vile terrorist attack perpetrated the other night in Moscow. May the Lord receive them in his peace and comfort their families,” the pontiff said to the more than 25,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
Francis also showed his hope that he will “convert the hearts of those who protect, who organize and perform these inhuman acts that offend God, who ordered ‘You shall not kill’.”
International
Study finds COVID-19 vaccines prevented 2.5 million deaths worldwide
COVID-19 vaccines prevented an estimated 2,533,000 deaths worldwide between 2020 and 2024, according to an international study led by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Italy and Stanford University in the United States, published in the journal JAMA Health Forum. Researchers calculated that one death was prevented for every 5,400 doses administered.
The analysis also found that the vaccines saved 14.8 million years of life, equivalent to one year of life gained for every 900 doses given.
The study, coordinated by Professor Stefania Boccia, revealed that 82% of the lives saved were people vaccinated before becoming infected with the virus, and 57% of deaths avoided occurred during the Omicron wave. In addition, 90% of the beneficiaries were adults over 60 years old.
“This is the most comprehensive analysis to date, based on global data and fewer assumptions about the evolution of the pandemic,” explained Boccia and researcher Angelo Maria Pezzullo.
International
Trump administration blasts judge’s ruling reinstating TPS for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump criticized a federal judge’s ruling on Friday that reinstated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua, stressing that the immigration program was never intended to serve as a “de facto asylum system.”
On Thursday, Judge Trina Thompson extended protections for about 7,000 Nepalese immigrants, whose TPS was set to expire on August 5. The ruling also impacts roughly 51,000 Hondurans and nearly 3,000 Nicaraguans, whose TPS protections were scheduled to end on September 8.
Immigrants covered by TPS had sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), alleging that the program’s termination was driven by “racial animus” and stripped them of protection from deportation.
DHS Deputy Undersecretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement saying the decision to end TPS was part of a mandate to “restore the integrity” of the immigration system and return the program to its original purpose.
“TPS was never conceived as a de facto asylum system; however, that is how previous administrations have used it for decades,” McLaughlin emphasized.
She also criticized Judge Thompson, calling the ruling “another example” of judges “stirring up claims of racism to distract from the facts.”
McLaughlin added that DHS would appeal the decision and take the legal battle to higher courts.
The Trump administration has also terminated TPS protections for approximately 160,000 Ukrainians, 350,000 Venezuelans, and at least half a million Haitians, among other immigrant groups.
International
Trump to build $200M ballroom at the White House by 2028
The U.S. government under President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that it will begin construction in September on a new 8,000-square-meter ballroom at the White House.
The announcement was made by Karoline Leavitt, the administration’s press secretary, during a briefing in which she explained that the expansion responds to the need for a larger venue to host “major events.”
“Other presidents have long wished for a space capable of accommodating large gatherings within the White House complex… President Trump has committed to solving this issue,” Leavitt told reporters.
The project is estimated to cost $200 million, fully funded through donations from Trump himself and other “patriots,” according to a government statement. Construction is scheduled to begin in September and is expected to be completed before Trump’s term ends in 2028.
The Clark Construction Group, a Virginia-based company known for projects such as the Capital One Arena and L’Enfant Plaza in Washington, D.C., has been selected to lead the project.
The new ballroom will be built on the East Wing of the White House, expanding the iconic residence with a space designed for state dinners, official ceremonies, and large-scale events.
Study finds COVID-19 vaccines prevented 2.5 million deaths worldwide
Trump administration blasts judge’s ruling reinstating TPS for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua
Costa Rica faces historic vote on lifting presidential immunity for Rodrigo Chaves
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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