INTERNACIONAL
French President Macron arrives in India, where he’ll be chief guest at National Day celebrations
NEW DELHI (AP) — The French president arrived Thursday in India where he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was set to be the chief guest at the country’s national day celebrations.
Emmanuel Macron began his visit with some sightseeing in the western city of Jaipur, a popular tourist destination, where he visited a 17th-century fort and an 18th-century observatory.
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Modi greeted him at the observatory and the two stood in an open jeep as they were driven for about 1.5 kilometers (one mile). Large crowds lining the streets welcomed them with a showering of rose and marigold petals.
Large cutouts of their images with the inscription «India-France Friendship» dotted the route. Macron waved at the crowd.
French President Emmanuel Macron will be the guest of honor at India’s Republic Day parade.
«His presence not only strengthens the ties between our nations but also adds a significant chapter to our shared history of friendship and collaboration,» Modi said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Macron and Modi later held a meeting at a hotel in Jaipur before flying to New Delhi. There was no immediate official statement about the outcome of the meeting, but they were expected to discuss major global challenges including economic, defense, space and cyber security, as well as France’s role in the Indo-Pacific region.
France is looking to strengthen cooperation with India in areas ranging from climate to military sales, despite frictions over the two countries’ attitudes toward Russia’s war on Ukraine.
«Macron is committed to the pursuit of a closer dialogue with India, a key player on the international scene from a demographic point of view, as well as economic, scientific and diplomatic,» his office said in a statement on Wednesday.
France has reiterated its commitment to a defense relationship with India, including sharing technology. The two countries are working on co-development and co-production defense projects, the Indian External Affairs Ministry said.
The two leaders were expected to continue discussions on India’s plans to purchase 26 French Rafale fighter aircraft for its navy, approved by India’s Defense Acquisition Council last year. The council also approved a plan to purchase three Scorpene submarines, jointly developed by France and Spain.
France already has delivered 36 Rafale fighter aircraft ordered by the Indian Air Force.
Three ministers are traveling with the President: Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces; Stéphane Sejourne, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs; and Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture.
On Friday, Macron will be the guest of honor at India’s Republic Day parade in New Delhi celebrating the anniversary of the adoption of the country’s constitution in 1950, nearly three years after it won independence from British colonial rule.
Modi was a guest of honor at Bastille Day parade in Paris in July last year, where Macron called India a key player «in our future.»
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Macron visited India in November for the Group of 20 summit of industrialized and developing nations.
Indian exports to France totaled $3.06 billion and imports from France $2.36 billion in the past year, according to India’s External Affairs Ministry.
Pope Francis rested well after overcoming a setback in his recovery caused by a respiratory crisis, as he remains in the hospital recovering from double pneumonia.
«The pope rested well all night,» the Vatican said Monday morning.
Francis, 88, is in stable condition, is off mechanical ventilation and he shows no indication of new infection following a respiratory crisis that happened late last week.
The pontiff was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14 after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and subsequently the onset of pneumonia in both lungs.
POPE FRANCIS OFF MECHANICAL VENTILATOR, HAS NO FEVER OR SIGNS OF INFECTION: VATICAN
Pope Francis waves from his popemobile after the weekly Angelus prayers, at Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican on October 20, 2024. (Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty)
Doctors said the pope spent all day Sunday without using the noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask that pumps oxygen into his lungs that he used after a breathing crisis on Friday. Francis continued to receive high flow supplemental oxygen through a nasal tube.
The respiratory crisis on Friday led to concerns about a new lung infection since Francis inhaled some vomit. Doctors aspirated it and said they needed 24 to 48 hours to determine if there was any new infection.
On Sunday, the doctors said Francis remained stable, did not have a fever and showed no signs of an infection, which suggests he had overcome the respiratory crisis.
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Pope Francis attends a mass at the Esplanade of Tasitolu in Dili, East Timor, on September 10, 2024. (Tiziana Fabi/Pool/AFP/Getty)
But the pope’s prognosis remained guarded, meaning he was not out of danger.
Francis again missed his weekly noon blessing. The Vatican instead distributed a message the pope wrote, thanking his doctors for their care and well-wishers for their prayers.
In his message, he also prayed for peace in Ukraine and elsewhere.
«From here, war appears even more absurd,» Francis said.
Francis said he was living his hospitalization as an experience of profound solidarity with people who are sick and suffering around the world.
Pope Francis is helped by his aide Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, left, as he walks with a cane to his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican on June 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
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«I feel in my heart the ‘blessing’ that is hidden within frailty, because it is precisely in these moments that we learn even more to trust in the Lord,» Francis said in the text. «At the same time, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to share in body and spirit the condition of so many sick and suffering people.»
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski presided over the evening Rosary prayer in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday night at the Vatican.
«Let us pray together with the entire church for the health of the Holy Father Francis,» Krajewski said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Qué significa
Pope Francis suffered two acute respiratory crises Monday, a complex medical situation that was less dangerous than Friday’s bronchospasm, the Vatican announced.
The breathing crises were «caused by significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and consequent bronchospasm,» according to the Vatican. «Two bronchoscopies were therefore performed requiring aspiration of abundant secretions.»
«In the afternoon, non-invasive mechanical ventilation was resumed,» it added in a statement. «The Holy Father has always remained vigilant, oriented and collaborative. The prognosis remains guarded.»
Broncospasm is defined by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology as «a contraction of the muscular coat of the bronchial tubes» that «results in a narrowing and obstruction of the breathing airways.»
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Candles left outside the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome, on Monday, March 3, 2025 where Pope Francis has been hospitalized since Friday, Feb. 14. (AP/Mosa’ab Elshamy)
The development comes after the Vatican said earlier Monday that Francis «rested well all night.»
Francis, 88, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14 after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened.
Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and subsequently the onset of pneumonia in both lungs.
VP VANCE SHARES SPECIAL MESSAGE TO AILING POPE FRANCIS
Catholic faithful attend a nightly rosary prayer for the health of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday, March 2. (AP/Mosa’ab Elshamy)
Doctors said the pope spent all day Sunday without using the noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask that pumps oxygen into his lungs that he used after a breathing crisis on Friday.
«I would like to thank you for your prayers, which rise up to the Lord from the hearts of so many faithful from many parts of the world,» Pope Francis wrote on his X account on Sunday.
Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14. (Tiziana Fabi/Pool/AFP/Getty)
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«I feel all your affection and closeness and, at this particular time, I feel as if I am ‘carried’ and supported by all God’s people,» he added.
Fox News’ Melissa Chrise and Landon Mion contributed to this report.
Pope Francis rested well after overcoming setback from respiratory crisis
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