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
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
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