International

Leo XIV, an American pope who challenges Trump’s immigration policy?

The election of Pope Leon XIV has been received with hope by the defenders of immigrants on the border between the United States and Mexico, who see him as a follower of Francis’ legacy and a possible moral counterweight to Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies.

This is the widespread feeling in the border town of El Paso (Texas), one of the most Catholic municipalities in the United States and where the church has been leading the defense of migrants for decades.

“He is a pope with a heart for migrants, workers, the poor and the disadvantaged,” Rubén García, director of the Annunciation House hostel network, told EFE.

García, whose organization has received a legal onslaught from the Texas authorities to close it, stressed the importance of the years in which the new pope lived in Peru and assured confidently that he will be a “continuist” of the defense of migrants exercised by the late Francis during his pontificate.

Although Robert Prevost, born in Chicago in 1955, is the first American pope in history, there is no special harmony with the Trump Administration, as happened with his predecessor.

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Francis was critical of the Republican president: he said that building walls is not Christian, declared that not welcoming migrants is a sin and, shortly before his death, he openly opposed Trump’s plan of mass deportations.

The Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, a Catholic and the last high-ranking foreign official to meet with Francis, admitted that the late pope had “some disagreements” with the US Executive.

Leo XIV seems to follow the same line. This is indicated by the activity of Cardinal Prevost on social networks until now, because in his last message in X he shared a publication of another account that criticized the agreement of the United States with El Salvador to deport migrants to the maximum security prison of the Central American country.

The publications shared by the new pope also reflect criticism of Vance and a commitment to the poor and migrants, especially Venezuelan refugees in Peru, where he spent much of his life.

After making a mass dedicated to the new Holy Father official this Friday, the rector of the Cathedral of St. Patrick in El Paso, James Marcus McFadin, explained to EFE that Leo XIV has been “very clear” when speaking “in favor of migrants, workers, the poor and the most disadvantaged by society.”

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“What I have heard since his election is that immigration is an important issue for him and that he will continue with the message and mission of Francis with immigrants,” emphasized McFadin, who declared himself surprised that an American pope has been elected, something he never imagined he would see.

“It is a unique opportunity and a very intelligent decision on the part of the cardinals to connect the Latin world with the United States,” Antonio Fernández, director of Catholic Charities in San Antonio (Texas), told EFE, who hopes that the American nationality of the new pope can serve as an interlocutor with the White House.

“He will have the ability to work to find good solutions for humanity and for migrants,” he said.

For the time being, Trump, a regular of the confrontation and who caused controversy before the conclave for publishing a recreation of himself dressed as a pope, has been restrained and institutional when celebrating the election of the new pontiff and his American roots.

“It is a great honor to know that he is the first American pope. What a thrill and what a great honor for our country! I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very significant moment!” he said.

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International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”