International

Pope Leo XIV declares himself roman in ceremony at St. John Lateran

Pope Leo XIV declared himself Roman on Sunday after completing the final ceremonial steps that solidify his role as Bishop of Rome.

The first American pope formally took possession of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran—the cathedral of Rome and seat of the diocese—with an evening Mass attended by Roman priests and faithful.

He then rode the popemobile to visit the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where he prayed before the tomb of Pope Francis and before a beloved icon of the Virgin Mary venerated by many Roman Catholics.

In his homily, Leo XIV expressed his desire to listen to the people “in order to learn, understand, and make decisions together.” One of the many titles Leo XIV assumed upon his election on May 8 was that of Bishop of Rome. Given the vast responsibilities of leading the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church, popes typically delegate the day-to-day tasks of the Diocese of Rome to a vicar.

Last week, the pope visited the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. That basilica, along with the two he visited on Sunday and St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, make up the four major papal basilicas of the Western Church.

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Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, welcomed Leo XIV on the steps of City Hall, noting that his election on May 8 took place during a Holy Year—a celebration held every 25 years to invite pilgrims to Rome. The city has undergone two years of public works, causing traffic disruptions, in preparation for what is expected to be more than 30 million visitors in 2025.

Leo XIV said he felt a “serious yet passionate responsibility” to serve all Romans during the Holy Year and beyond.

International

U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute

The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.

All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.

The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.

The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.

“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

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International

Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.

“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.

Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.

According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.

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International

Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power

Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.

The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.

Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.

Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.

The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.

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Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.

Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.

In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.