International
The spiritual and social legacy in Peru of Pope Leo XIV
In addition to being simple and close, the new Pope Leo XIV stood out in his previous stage as bishop of Peru for his management capacity and being a social actor. Among his legacy, the oxygen plant he managed to install in the middle of the pandemic or his effort to declare a small town in the Diocese as a Eucharistic capital will be remembered.
It seems that in sunny Chiclayo, the Peruvian town where he was bishop for eight years, everyone met Robert Prevost. Neighbors show proud photos with him at a holiday, in church or in educational institutions, and all are good words towards him.
But beyond being known among citizens, and his taste for local food, León XIV led numerous initiatives and projects that last today in Peru.
From the headquarters of Cáritas Chiclayo, its general secretary, José Alejandro Castillo, reminds EFE of some milestones of the American’s passage through this diocese, which show how he knew how to move between public and private entities and even the Armed Forces to help the most needy.
“During the covid-19 pandemic, one of his concerns was the lack of oxygen and he made a very large campaign, in such a way that he not only got an oxygen plant, but two plants,” Castillo says next to said infrastructure.
He says that for months many people died in Peru due to the lack of oxygen in hospitals, which raised its price to the stars, something that disturbed Prevost and so he began a virtual fundraising campaign to get an oxygen plant and install it in Caritas for those who needed it.
He details that the lines were very long throughout the day due to the enormous demand, but his plan could save the lives of Chiclayanos desperate to get oxygen.
Castillo also remembers how León XIV knew how to get funds and help from the Armed Forces to build housing modules for people who had lost their homes due to the great floods caused by the El Niño Phenomenon in 2017.
In fact, a photo of Prevost with rubber boots in the middle of an infinite brown puddle formed by the floods that destroyed part of northern Peru has gone viral.
He also highlighted the line of work promoted by the then bishop to help Venezuelan migration that arrives from the northern border of the country, both to people who are passing through, and those who settle in the city.
“They are helped with the procedures so that they can regularize their situation here in this country, and above all, they can get work for their own support,” says the priest, adding that his concern for migrants was outstanding.
A few kilometers south of the city, a small and humble town called Eten could change its destiny thanks to the action of Leo XIV, because in 2019 he brought to Pope Francis the request to declare it as ‘Eucharistic capital’, for a miracle that occurred in 1649.
The Parish of Santa María Magdalena worships the Divine Child of the Miracle, where neighbors and visitors come with fervor and more than 20,000 handwritten testimonies of faith accumulate, which Prevost taught to the previous pope.
While a woman leaves next to the colorful image of the Child Jesus the photo of her sick son, Noemí Ñiquen, a member of the parish, tells EFE that Bishop Prevost visited this peculiar church and its community many times.
“I visited our town a lot, I knew the people and their problems. She knows that this town is full of faith, of religious tradition, that’s why we love him very much here and we are sure that his first visit to Peru will be to recognize Eten as a Eucharistic city,” she said enthusiastically.
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.
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.
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.
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.
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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