International
The protocol for the funeral of Pope Francis, a delicate diplomatic work
The rigid protocol for the funeral of Francis this Saturday, in which more than 130 international delegations, 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs are expected, is a delicate diplomatic work to avoid conflicting situations that will follow the alphabetical order in French when assigning the posts.
The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, confirmed the presence of 130 delegations, but they could be increased during the day and some media speak of up to 170, which will arrive throughout the afternoon.
The delegations will enter through the Vatican walls through the Puerta del Perugino, where they will park the cars to go to St. Peter’s Square and enter through a side access, where they will be received by the prefect of the Pontifical House Leonardo Sapienza, before the staff of the pontifical ceremonial accompanies them to their position.
The international delegations will be placed on the right side of the square while on the left side the cardinals will be.
The Vatican protocol, which has had harsh evidence during the funeral of Benedict XVI or the massive farewell to John Paul II – which had 80 Heads of State or Government – indicates that the front rows are reserved for the heads of State, but with priority for the Italian delegations, the most massive with the presence of the president, Sergio Mattarella, and the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni; and the Argentine, Francisco’s native country, headed by Javier Milei.
The first rows are also dedicated to the Catholic royal houses, so the kings of Spain will be placed in that position along with the rest of the monarchs who have announced their presence: Philip and Matilda of Belgium, Grand Duke Henry and Grand Duchess Maria Theresa of Luxembourg, Princes Albert and Charlène of Monaco, and the co-prince of Andorra, Joan Enric Vives, current bishop of Seu de Urgell. Next to them will sit the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, frey John T. Dunlap
Then the non-Catholic kings such as Charles Gustav of Sweden and Queen Silvia, and Prince William of England.
And then there is the complicated diplomatic game of the presidents that follows the French alphabetical order. Donald Trump, along with his wife Melania, will be in the same row as the Frenchman Emmanuel Macron, but very far from the Ukrainian Volodimir Zelensky, who has sponsored a meeting with the US president, but which will be difficult since he intends to return to his country just after the mass.
Among the first positions are also the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, the representatives of the European Union – with the Presidents of the Council, the Commission and the Parliament, Antonio Costa, Ursula von der Leyen and Roberta Metsola.
Among the heads of state closest to the altar, always in the front row, will be the Germans and Austrians, Frank Walter Steinmeier and Alexander van der Bellen, with their Albanian counterparts Bajram Begaj and the Angolan João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenç.
Also the Brazilian president, Lula da Silva, along with the governor general of Canada, Mary Simon, and the heads of state of Cape Verde and Cyprus, José Maria Pereira Neves and Nikos Christodoulides, as well as the president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa.
An enigma will be to know if former US President Joe Biden, who confirmed his presence in Rome yesterday due to his close relationship with Pope Francis, will be included in the delegation, but what is certain is that he will be in the back rows with respect to Trump.
In the third row there will be ministers, other members of the delegations and ambassadors, as will be the case of Israel’s representative to the Holy See, Yaron Sideman.
International
Venezuela Earthquakes Spark Diplomatic Thaw With Former Critics
The devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela have triggered an unprecedented diplomatic thaw between Caracas and several governments that had maintained strained relations with the country, raising hopes that the humanitarian response could pave the way for broader international engagement under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The United States, Chile, Argentina, El Salvador and Israel were among the first countries to announce humanitarian assistance, deploy search-and-rescue teams or establish direct contact with acting President Delcy Rodríguez to coordinate relief efforts in the hardest-hit areas.
Canada also joined the international response by announcing humanitarian aid while opening a domestic debate over the importance of maintaining diplomatic representation in countries such as Venezuela to better respond to emergencies and assist its citizens abroad.
The wave of international cooperation marks a sharp contrast to the diplomatic tensions that followed Venezuela’s disputed presidential election on July 28, 2024, in which Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner.
In the aftermath of that vote, the governments of Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay publicly questioned the official election results, triggering one of the region’s most significant diplomatic crises in recent years.
The Venezuelan government responded by withdrawing its diplomatic personnel from several of those countries and demanding the departure of their representatives, further deepening the country’s international isolation.
The humanitarian emergency created by the twin earthquakes has now prompted renewed communication between Caracas and governments that had previously suspended or significantly reduced diplomatic engagement, underscoring how major natural disasters can temporarily reshape international relations despite longstanding political disagreements.
International
Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 1,700 as Search for Survivors Continues
Venezuelan authorities have raised the death toll from last week’s twin earthquakes to more than 1,700, as rescue teams continue searching for survivors in the country’s hardest-hit coastal region.
According to the latest official report released on Sunday, the powerful earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, have claimed at least 1,719 lives. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez also reported that 5,034 people were injured, while 15,866 have been displaced and another 22,619 are receiving medical care.
The United Nations has expressed growing concern over the scale of the disaster, estimating that as many as 68,000 people could still be missing.
La Guaira bears the brunt of the disaster
The coastal state of La Guaira has suffered the greatest loss of life and the most extensive damage. The Venezuelan government has declared the area a disaster zone and placed it under military control as emergency operations continue.
Five days after the earthquakes struck, search-and-rescue teams remain on the ground, supported by additional heavy equipment and international rescue crews. However, hopes of finding more survivors beneath the rubble continue to diminish with each passing day.
One of the most dramatic rescue operations unfolded Monday in Catia La Mar, where emergency teams from El Salvador, Mexico, and Venezuela worked together to reach a 21-year-old man who has remained trapped inside a collapsed building since the earthquakes struck.
The twin earthquakes hit Venezuela on June 24, with the epicenter located between San Felipe and Yumare in the country’s northern region. The first quake, measuring magnitude 7.2, struck at 6:04 p.m. local time. Just 39 seconds later, a second and stronger magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred farther to the southeast. Combined, the seismic activity lasted nearly three minutes, causing widespread devastation across several regions of the country.
International
Looting Spreads in Venezuela’s Hardest-Hit Areas After Deadly Earthquakes
Not even the wires were left behind at a small grocery store. Before the ground had even stopped shaking, looting and theft began in the areas hardest hit by the double earthquake that struck Venezuela.
Reports of robberies have multiplied in the coastal state of La Guaira, located near Caracas and now transformed into a landscape of collapsed buildings and debris.
Videos circulating on social media show groups of people removing boxes of household appliances from a damaged store. Other images show similar boxes being carried on top of vehicles and motorcycles.
Social media platforms have also been filled with accusations against police officers and military personnel who allegedly stole from homes and even from victims who died during the disaster.
A branch of a major pharmacy chain was looted, along with supermarkets and other businesses. Some residents have described the situation as “disaster tourism,” while others say the looting reflects hunger and desperation among people who lost everything in a country already facing a prolonged economic crisis.
“Is it fair that our own people turn against our own people?” said María Esther Bernal, 71, who rented commercial spaces to Chinese merchants, all of which were looted. “They left nothing behind, not even the wallpaper. They even took the cables,” she said.
“Next door, a man died. He was Chinese. People walked over his body while they looted the place. It was a supermarket,” she added.
An AFP journalist witnessed looting in La Guaira since Thursday, following the earthquakes.
Jenifer Mayora, 34, defended some of the actions, saying that “the things people took were because the owners of the stores allowed us to take them.”
However, she criticized the limited response from authorities. “I have been waiting for a mattress so my children can sleep,” she said.
Residents have expressed anger over what they describe as a slow and insufficient response from authorities after the double earthquake, which has left around 1,450 people dead and tens of thousands missing.
Communities are demanding not only faster rescue operations in La Guaira, but also stronger security measures and urgent assistance with food, water, and medicine.
Venezuela Earthquakes Spark Diplomatic Thaw With Former Critics
Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 1,700 as Search for Survivors Continues
Looting Spreads in Venezuela’s Hardest-Hit Areas After Deadly Earthquakes
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