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Who could be the next pope?
Pope Francis, 88, the oldest pope in over a century, died Monday morning, though quiet discussions on who could succeed him have reportedly already begun.
While any male Catholic could in theory be chosen to sit in the papal seat, historically, succeeding popes have been selected from the Sacred College of Cardinals since 1378, according to Religion News Service.
Currently, there are 252 cardinals in the body who have been selected by the Holy Father to serve as his advisors and assistants.
Here is a look at some of the most likely forerunners to serve as the 267th pope, according to public reporting.
Pope Francis is seen delivering a homily during Mass with newly appointed cardinals. (Stefano Costantino/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, Italy
Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, is the highest-ranking diplomat in the Holy See – which is the governing body of the Catholic Church – and is believed to be among the cardinals most likely to be elected to the top position.
His favor among cardinals in the Sacred College, who will vote on the next pope, is due to his politically moderate position and his career in diplomacy, reported The New York Post.
Parolin, who spent part of his career in Mexico and Nicaragua, was appointed by Pope Francis in 2014 and would likely be seen as an extension of the current papacy.
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The Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, attends the blessing ceremony of the newly opened reception and integration center for Ukrainian refugees during the Bishops’ Conference of Slovakia in Kosice, Slovakia, on Sept. 15, 2023. (Robert Nemeti/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, Philippines
Tagle is also believed to be a frontrunner among voting cardinals and serves as the pro-prefect for the section of first evangelization of the Dicastery for Evangelization, as well as president of the Interdicasterial Commission for Consecrated Religious.
He has been dubbed the «Asian Pope Francis» particularly for their similarities when it comes to their more embracing position of the LGBTQI community than their predecessors.
In a 2015 interview, Tagle said the Church’s «severe» position on the LGBTQI community, divorcees and single mothers was doing it harm.
According to the Catholic Herald, Tagle «would be hailed by liberals, given the changing demographic of the Church.»
Pope Francis greets Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle during a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Sept. 4, 2024. (Tiziana FabiI/AFP via Getty Images)
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Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, Hungary
There are several conservative cardinals who are believed to be top contenders for the papacy, including Cardinal Peter Erdo, who has been critical of Francis’ position on divorce and immigration.
Erdo has argued that divorced or re-married Catholics should not be allowed to receive Holy Communion due to his position regarding the «indissolubility of marriage.»
The Catholic Herald pointed out that appointing a conservative pope following Francis’ tenure would «send a powerful message about the direction the Church would be taking.»
Erdo has also differed from Francis greatly on immigration and argued in 2015 that permitting refugees to resettle is tantamount to human trafficking.
Pope Francis greets the archbishop of Budapest, Cardinal Péter Erdő, after arriving in Budapest, Hungary, on April 28, 2023. (Vatican Media Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, Democratic Republic of Congo
Another conservative cardinal thought to be a serious contender is Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu from the war-torn nation of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Membership of the Catholic Church in Africa is growing faster than anywhere else in the world, according to the Associated Press.
Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The 65-year-old Ambongo controversially rejected Pope Francis’ blessing of same-sex couples by the Catholic Church. In a letter signed by other African priests, they said they refused to follow the pontiff’s declaration because such unions are «contrary to the will of God.»
Cardinal Raymond Burke, 76, United States of America
The Wisconsin native and former archbishop of St. Louis is considered to be the leading American candidate. The 76-year-old cardinal is also viewed as being from the conservative side of the Church.
Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke attends the Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals led by Pope Francis at the St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
He is a proponent of the Latin Mass, and has been critical of Pope Francis regarding the Church’s new language around artificial contraception, LGBT issues and civil marriages. Burke was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, Italy
Pope Francis meets with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi during an audience at the Apostolic Palace on Aug. 24, 2023, in Vatican City. (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
Zuppi was born in Rome. He is the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference and is viewed as an insider in Francis’ Vatican, having served as the archbishop of Bologna.
The 69-year-old Zuppi is seen as being one of Pope Francis’ favorites. He was sent on a peace mission in 2023 to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He was also sent to meet with President Joe Biden that same year.
Zuppi was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019.
The Vote
Of the 252 cardinals in the Sacred College, only 138 are under the age of 80 and therefore are permitted to participate in the conclave, the papal election process – though there are no age limitations for the candidate who would serve as the future pope.
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Following the death of a pope, the conclave then holds a vote, and will continue to vote, until a pope is chosen by a two-thirds majority.
At that time, the ballots will be burned with a chemical that produces white smoke, as opposed to black smoke, to alert the world that a new pope has been chosen.
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At least a dozen states are scrambling to limit health insurance premium hikes after Congress failed to renew enhanced Obamacare subsidies, leaving millions of Americans facing higher health care costs.
States including California, Colorado, Maryland and New Mexico have approved or are considering temporary measures to help some residents afford coverage, but some officials across the country said the cost of replacing federal subsidies for millions of enrollees is beyond the reach of state budgets, according to Politico.
«We can carry the cost for a little bit, but at some point, we will need Congress to act,» New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez told the outlet. New Mexico is so far the only state to fully replace the expired subsidies.
Obamacare, officially known as the Affordable Care Act, was former President Barack Obama’s signature piece of legislation which expanded healthcare coverage to millions of Americans in 2010. Critics argue it forced people to buy insurance, raised costs for some consumers and significantly expanded the federal government’s role in health care.
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At least a dozen states are scrambling to limit health insurance premium hikes after Congress failed to renew enhanced Obamacare subsidies, leaving millions of Americans facing higher health care costs. (iStock)
The looming expiration of the subsidies hung over negotiations during the longest-ever government shutdown in the fall, as Republicans and Democrats tried — and failed — to pass competing plans to extend or replace the enhanced tax credits.
The lapse of the subsidies is expected to push millions of Americans out of the individual insurance market, increasing pressure on state Medicaid programs and hospitals already facing financial strain. State responses have varied widely, reflecting political divisions, fiscal constraints and differing views on the Affordable Care Act.
According to Politico, California, which anticipated the subsidies would expire, is spending nearly $200 million to support roughly 300,000 lower-income residents, but officials warn that hundreds of thousands more could still lose coverage.
COLLINS, MORENO UNVEIL OBAMACARE PLAN AS REPUBLICANS SEARCH FOR SOLUTION TO EXPIRING SUBSIDIES
Obamacare, officially known as the Affordable Care Act, was former President Barack Obama’s signature piece of legislation which expanded healthcare coverage to millions of Americans in 2010. (By Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images; Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Some states are using regulatory maneuvers rather than direct funding to stretch remaining subsidies. Other states, including Georgia and Washington, say budget shortfalls or political opposition prevent them from acting.
Most states have taken no action at all, including both Republican-led states that oppose the Affordable Care Act and some Democrat-led states that support it, according to Politico.
A few lawmakers in Maine and other battlegrounds worry their efforts could disincentivize Congress from coming up with a federal solution.
Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, announced their plan to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies by two years, include income caps and end zero-cost premiums. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images ; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Earlier this month, Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, held bipartisan confabs to hash out a framework for an Obamacare fix that could meet the desires of both sides of the aisle, but it has not been formally written into a bill that passed either chamber yet.
Any fix would likely involve a short-term extension of subsidies paired with Republican demands for guardrails, such as income limits or cost controls.
Fox News’ Alex Miller contributed to this report.
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Restos
Erika Palacio Fernández dijo que grabó un vídeo del humo sobre el agua que resultó provenir de un barco que estaba en llamas. (Federico Ríos/The New York Times)
Vicente Fernández, un pescador local, dijo que le daba miedo pescar demasiado lejos en el océano. (Federico Ríos/The New York Times)Entierro
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INTERNACIONAL
Taiwán detectó 130 aeronaves militares del régimen chino durante las maniobras militares de Beijing alrededor de la isla
El régimen de China intensificó este martes su presión militar sobre Taiwán tras la detección de 130 aeronaves militares del Ejército Popular de Liberación (EPL) en las inmediaciones de la isla en un lapso de 24 horas, en el marco del segundo día de ejercicios con fuego real que Beijing presentó como una simulación de bloqueo de puertos estratégicos.
El Ministerio de Defensa de Taiwán informó que, desde las primeras horas del lunes hasta la mañana del martes, sus sistemas de vigilancia identificaron la presencia de 130 aviones militares chinos, además de 14 buques de guerra y ocho embarcaciones gubernamentales no especificadas. Según las autoridades de Taipéi, las maniobras constituyen un acto de intimidación militar con efectos directos sobre rutas de navegación marítima y aviación internacional.
La actividad aérea representó uno de los mayores despliegues registrados en un solo día alrededor de Taiwán. El ministerio taiwanés señaló que los aviones operaron en distintas zonas cercanas a la isla, en coordinación con unidades navales, en un contexto de ejercicios de gran escala anunciados por Beijing.
En paralelo, imágenes captadas por AFP mostraron el lanzamiento de cohetes desde Pingtan, una isla bajo control chino situada en el punto más cercano al territorio principal de Taiwán. Periodistas de la agencia observaron una salva alrededor de las 9:00 hora local, con estelas de humo blanco visibles en el cielo.
Al menos diez cohetes despegaron con segundos de diferencia y los estruendos se escucharon en distintos sectores de la isla. Turistas se acercaron a barricadas de madera frente al mar para registrar la escena con teléfonos móviles.
Poco después, el Ejército Popular de Liberación difundió un comunicado oficial. “A las 9:00 del 30 de diciembre, las fuerzas terrestres del Comando del Teatro Oriental del EPL realizaron ejercicios de fuego real de largo alcance en las aguas al norte de la isla de Taiwán y lograron los efectos deseados”, indicó la declaración.
Las maniobras, denominadas “Justice Mission 2025”, comenzaron el lunes y se extendieron durante dos días. Según el EPL, las fuerzas desplegaron destructores, fragatas, cazas y bombarderos, con el objetivo de ejecutar ejercicios de identificación y verificación, advertencia y expulsión, ataques simulados, asaltos a objetivos marítimos, además de operaciones antiaéreas y antisubmarinas.
El Comando del Teatro Oriental afirmó que los ejercicios realizados en aguas al norte y al sur de Taiwán “pusieron a prueba las capacidades de coordinación mar-aire y de bloqueo y control integrados”.
En ese contexto, el portavoz militar Shi Yi sostuvo que las maniobras constituyen “una severa advertencia contra las fuerzas separatistas de ‘independencia de Taiwán’ y una acción legítima y necesaria para salvaguardar la soberanía y la unidad nacional de China”.
La televisión estatal CCTV informó que uno de los ejes centrales del operativo consiste en un bloqueo de puertos taiwaneses estratégicos, entre ellos Keelung, en el norte de la isla, y Kaohsiung, en el sur. Autoridades chinas publicaron un mapa con cinco grandes zonas alrededor de Taiwán destinadas a los ejercicios, previstos hasta las 18:00 del martes hora local.
Desde Taipéi, el gobierno rechazó la operación. El Ministerio de Defensa afirmó que las zonas designadas por China, algunas situadas dentro de las 12 millas náuticas de la costa taiwanesa, afectaron el tránsito marítimo y aéreo internacional. En otro comunicado, sostuvo que las acciones del régimen chino “confirman aún más su naturaleza de agresor y lo convierten en el mayor destructor de la paz”.
La escalada se produjo tras una ronda de ventas de armas de Estados Unidos a Taiwán y declaraciones del primer ministro de Japón sobre la posibilidad de una respuesta militar de Tokio ante el uso de la fuerza contra la isla.
En Beijing, el canciller del régimen chino Wang Yi respondió con dureza. “En respuesta a las continuas provocaciones de las fuerzas pro independencia en Taiwán y las ventas de armas a gran escala de Estados Unidos a Taiwán, debemos, por supuesto, oponernos resueltamente y contrarrestarlas con firmeza”, afirmó en un discurso.
Añadió que cualquier intento de obstruir la unificación “inevitablemente terminará en fracaso”.
Por su parte, el presidente taiwanés Lai Ching-te aseguró en una publicación en Facebook que el territorio no busca “escalar el conflicto” ni provocar disputas. Un día antes, su oficina declaró que China mostró “desprecio por las normas internacionales y el uso de la intimidación militar para amenazar a países vecinos”.
El régimen de China considera a Taiwán parte de su territorio y no descarta el uso de la fuerza para tomar control de la isla, mientras el gobierno taiwanés rechaza esas pretensiones y denuncia el aumento de la presión militar en su entorno inmediato.
(Con información de AFP)
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