International

Long wait at the Vatican: experts defend lengthy papal election process

The media present to cover the event expressed concern about the delay.

However, experts explained that the wait was normal and called for patience.

“I expected it to take even longer—not only because of Father or Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa (who gave the meditation after the Sistine Chapel doors were closed), who tends to preach at length—but also because the oath-taking dragged on much more than the last time,” said Kurt Martens, a professor at the School of Canon Law at the Catholic University of America, speaking to CNN.

He explained that each cardinal must walk up to the altar to cast his vote, and while there, must pronounce the oath in Latin:
“I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will judge me, that I give my vote to the one who, before God, I think should be elected.”

Even if each cardinal took only one minute, with a record 133 voting cardinals, just casting the votes would take 133 minutes—over two hours.
“It’s not like you have twenty-somethings sprinting to the altar, so it takes time,” Martens added.

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In addition, time must be taken to select scrutineers or to assist any cardinal who is ill and unable to physically be in the Sistine Chapel.

Then comes the vote counting, which also takes time. “It’s a long process,” Martens said. His advice for the next days of voting, which will include four rounds per day:
“Be patient.”

Other experts recalled past conclaves, such as the one that elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, when a cardinal mistakenly cast two ballots (one of them blank), which forced the vote to be restarted.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there were no reports of any such issues.

If no pope is elected after the first three days, the fourth day (Sunday, as Wednesday’s vote does not count) will be a day of reflection, without voting. If the conclave continues, the cardinals may eventually vote between the top two candidates. A two-thirds majority is required to elect the new pope.

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Once a winner is chosen, white smoke will rise from the chimney, the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica will ring, and shortly after, the pope’s baptismal name and chosen papal name will be announced to the world.

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.