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Comienza la cuenta regresiva para el cónclave: los cardenales buscan definir el rumbo de la Iglesia católica
Tras el masivo funeral del papa Francisco, este lunes a la madrugada argentina comienza la cuenta regresiva hacia el futuro cónclave que deberá elegir al sucesor de Jorge Bergoglio y cuya fecha de inicio será determinada en breve.
El cónclave no empezará antes del domingo 4 de mayo, cuando concluirá el luto de 9 días desde la sepultura del pontífice. La fecha podría ser anunciada este mismo lunes.
Leé también: Se conoció un video inédito del papa Francisco que fue grabado antes de que se agravara su estado de salud
En esta transición de “sede vacante”, el Vaticano atraviesa el período de duelo conocido como “novendiales”, con misas diarias y reuniones periódicas de cardenales en las llamadas “congregaciones generales”.
Cuál es la importancia de las congregaciones generales
Estas asambleas buscan definir el rumbo que deberá seguir la Iglesia en el futuro pontificado y sirven de antesala a la elección del nuevo papa. En estas reuniones participan los cardenales que ya llegaron a Roma y sus deliberaciones son secretas.
Entre otras cosas, la primera congregación celebrada un día después de la muerte de Francisco determinó la fecha del funeral. Se espera que, de ahora en más y hasta el inicio del cónclave, los cardenales comenzarán a definir hacia dónde se inclinará la balanza entre esa lucha entre continuistas y rupturistas sobre la herencia que deja Francisco. El cardenal Matteo Zuppi llega a la Basílica de San Pedro, mientras el cuerpo del Papa Francisco es llevado en un ataúd dentro de la Basílica, el día de su traslado, en el Vaticano, el 23 de abril de 2025 (Foto: Reuters/Hannah McKay)
Si bien las deliberaciones son secretas, se sabe que estas reuniones son vitales para definir el perfil de quien será el nuevo pontífice.
De hecho, en el último cónclave, según una infidencia “autorizada” hecha hace unos años por el fallecido cardenal cubano Jaime Ortega y Alamino, el entonces cardenal Bergoglio leyó un discurso que captó la atención del sector progresista. “La Iglesia está llamada a salir de sí misma e ir hacia las periferias, no solo las geográficas, sino también las existenciales”, sostuvo. Días después fue electo papa.
El objetivo más ambicioso de estas congregaciones es achicar el tiempo de duración del cónclave. La Iglesia católica necesita dar un mensaje de unidad tras la muerte de Francisco. A nadie escapa que Bergoglio fue un papa muy popular y querido, pero que también generó una fuerte resistencia en la curia y en sectores conservadores.
Leé también: De la niñez al Vaticano: la historia del sacerdote que le enseñó a ser monaguillo al papa Francisco
Si bien en estas reuniones no se barajan nombres, sí se vislumbra el perfil que deberá tener el sucesor. Los discursos de los cardenales tratan de definir el modelo y la agenda prioritaria del nuevo pontificado. El portavoz vaticano, Matteo Bruni, dijo que en la congregación del jueves pasado hubo 34 intervenciones.
En los próximos días, los discursos buscarán “consensuar” el perfil del nuevo papa para evitar un cónclave extenso. “No será largo”, dijo este fin de semana el cardenal Reinhard Marx, arzobispo de Múnich y Freising, la diócesis de Joseph Ratzinger
“Durará pocos días”, aseguró Marx, miembro del Colegio Cardenalicio y coordinador del Consejo para la Economía.
Según el cardenal alemán, el futuro papa deberá ser comunicativo y “poner en el centro la autoridad del Evangelio. En estos días hemos podido constatar el sentimiento del pueblo de Dios Los cardenales no pueden ignorar este sentimiento”, dijo. Sus palabras fueron interpretadas por la prensa italiana como un vaticinio de la “continuidad” del estilo del papa argentino.
Un caso urgente: el cardenal Angelo Becciu
Los cardenales deberán tomar una decisión urgente sobre su colega italiano Angelo Becciu, a quien Francisco le quitó sus “derechos” cardenalicios tras ser condenado por corrupción. Sin embargo, Becciu insiste en su inocencia y reclama participar del cónclave.
Según el diario Domani, Francisco dejó dos cartas en las que confirmó su voluntad de que Becciu sea excluido del cónclave.
Ante este panorama y frente al riesgo de un escándalo, los purpurados decidieron crear una comisión especial conformada por cinco cardenales para analizar el caso. La prensa italiana afirma que el propio Becciu integra el grupo.
Vaticano, conclave, Papa Francisco
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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is accusing the GOP-led House Oversight Committee of using her to «distract» from President Donald Trump during her high-stakes testimony in Congress’ Jeffrey Epstein probe.
«A committee endeavoring to stop human trafficking would seek to understand what specific steps are needed to fix a system that allowed Epstein to get away with his crimes in 2008,» she is telling the panel, according to her opening remarks.
«But that’s not happening. Instead, you have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers.»
Clinton is telling lawmakers, «As I stated in my sworn declaration on January 13, I had no idea about their criminal activities.»
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is appearing before the House Oversight Committee. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
«I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island homes or offices. I have nothing to add to that,» her remarks state.
«Like every decent person, I have been horrified by what we have learned about their crimes. It’s unfathomable that Mr. Epstein initially got a slap on the wrist in 2008, which allowed him to continue his predatory practices for another decade.»
The House Oversight Committee’s deposition is officially kicking off on Thursday morning after months of back-and-forth.
«No one’s accusing, at this moment, the Clintons of any wrongdoing. They’re going to have due process,» Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., told reporters shortly before it began. «But we have a lot of questions, and the purpose of the whole investigation is to try to understand many things about Epstein.»
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Hillary Clinton’s deposition comes a day before her husband, former President Bill Clinton, will testify before the panel as well.
«Today will be a long deposition, I would assume, and tomorrow will be an even longer deposition,» Comer said.
Both Democrats and Republicans on the committee, as well as the panel’s staff, traveled to the Clintons’ hometown of Chappaqua, New York for the two-day affair.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., speaks to reporters after a closed-door deposition with Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend and confidante of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 9, 2026. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)
It’s part of an agreement struck between the GOP-led panel and the former first couple’s lawyers in order for them to appear in person.
Lawmakers on either side will have the opportunity to question Hillary Clinton in addition to their staffs.
Fox News Digital was told that Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., will be the first lawmaker to question the former first lady and Obama administration official.
Mace was one of four House Republicans who successfully forced a vote late last year on getting the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release files on Epstein, despite pressure from GOP leaders.
The South Carolina Republican, who is running for governor of the Palmetto State, told reporters on Thursday that she would also be questioning Hillary Clinton on Trump Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, among other names that have been mentioned in relation to Epstein.
Comer told reporters she would also be questioned on her ties to Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, pointing out that Maxwell was present at Chelsea Clinton’s wedding in 2010, after the first allegations against Epstein surfaced.
He also suggested that Epstein and Maxwell’s ties to the nonprofit Clinton Foundation would also see scrutiny.
President Donald Trump listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Jan. 29, 2026. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)
«Again, we’re not accusing Hillary Clinton of wrongdoing. We know that Jeffrey Epstein said many times in emails that he was the first person to raise money for the Clinton initiative, the Clinton Foundation, that he solicited money at some of his properties for the Clinton Foundation,» Comer said.
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«Again, that’s not saying anything illegal, but there are a lot of questions pertaining to Secretary Clinton with respect to Epstein and his involvement in the Clinton initiative and her relationship with with Ghislaine Maxwell.»
But Clinton’s prepared remarks show her accusing Republicans of going on a «fishing expedition» to find information that is not there.
«If this committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein’s trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press giggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement. It would ask him directly, under oath, about the tens of thousands of times who showed up in the Epstein files. If the majority was serious, it would not waste time on fishing expeditions. There is too much that needs to be done,» her remarks said.
Neither of the Clintons has been accused of wrongdoing related to Epstein, nor has Trump. But both the current and former president’s names appear in the Epstein files numerous times, alongside other well-known figures like Bill Gates and Leslie Wexner.
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Russia warns against ‘provocative actions’ around Cuba after 4 killed onboard US-registered speedboat
Cuban Coast Guard kills 4 on US-registered boat
International legal expert Eugene Kontorovich discusses the Cuban Coast Guard shooting of 4 people on a U.S.-registered boat and analyzes U.S. demands for Iran, including abandoning its nuclear weapons and missile programs.
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Russia warned Thursday against any «provocative actions» around Cuba after a shootout between the country’s coast guard and a U.S.-registered speedboat that left at least 4 dead.
The remark comes after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. was «going to have our own information» on Wednesday’s incident, and that «we’ll respond appropriately based on what that information tells us.»
«The situation around Cuba, as we can see, is heating up. The main thing is the humanitarian component. All humanitarian issues concerning Cuban citizens must be resolved, and no one should create obstacles,» Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday, according to Reuters.
«As for security around the island, it is, of course, very important that everyone remain restrained and refrain from any provocative actions,» he added.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, left, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters; Ken Cedeno/Reuters)
Cuban officials say five service members approached the Florida-registered speedboat detected within Cuban territorial waters. Occupants then opened fire on Cuban troops, who returned fire, according to the Cuban foreign ministry. The ministry reported that «four aggressors on the foreign vessel were killed and six were injured.» The Cuban vessel’s commander was also injured, according to the ministry.
Cuban officials also claimed the 10 passengers on the Florida-registered boat were armed Cubans living in the U.S. who were trying to infiltrate the island and unleash terrorism.
Cuba’s government added that the majority of the 10 people on the boat «have a known history of criminal and violent activity,» The Associated Press reported.
According to data retrieved by Fox News Digital, the vessel, registered in Florida with number FL7726SH, is a 24-foot Pro-Line boat.
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The Cuban Coast Guard tows a boat attempting to leave the country in Havana in December 2022. (Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images)
«Suffice it to say, it is highly unusual to see shootouts in the open sea like that. It’s not something that happens every day. It’s something, frankly, that hasn’t happened with Cuba in a very long time. But we’re going to find out,» Rubio said Wednesday. «We’re not going to base our conclusions on what they’ve told us. And I’m very, very confident that we will know the full story of what happened here, and we will know it soon. And then, you know, we’ll respond appropriately based on what that information tells us.»
U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones from the Southern District of Florida also said Wednesday that, «Today’s reports indicate that four people aboard a Florida-registered vessel were killed and several others wounded during a deadly gunfire exchange off the coast of Cuba. This is a tragic and deeply concerning event. The Cuban regime asserts their forces were fired upon, but the facts remain unclear and conflicting.»
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Wednesday’s incident «highly unusual.» (Kevin Mohatt/Reuters)
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«We are using all available federal tools to understand exactly what happened, who was involved, and whether U.S. citizens or lawful residents were among the casualties. We are committed to a thorough, impartial, and fact-based investigation,» he added.
Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf, Emma Bussey and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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