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Reporter’s Notebook: From John Paul II to Francis, covering two historic papacies
Two popes . . . Francis and John Paul II . . . their deaths separated by almost exactly twenty years. Both world-renowned figures and similar in personal approach . . . but the two were different, as well. I had the honor of covering both.
The news of the death of Pope Francis came just as I was returning to London from a long Easter weekend in the States. While Francis had been seriously ill, he also seemed to be on the mend, so his quick and quiet death at his modest apartment in the Santa Marta guesthouse caught many by surprise. A planned «catnap» by me at home turned into a quick dash to our UK studio.
In a series of «live shots,» I talked about a man who seemed so familiar to all. They called him the «People’s Pope.» And no wonder. The first from the Americas. For 12 years a champion of the downtrodden, victims of war, hunger and poverty. Taking on big global issues like inequality and global warming. Tangling, with degrees of success, with issues inside the Roman Catholic Church like sex abuse and the roles of women and gays. All with a personal, humble and humorous touch.
FOX NEWS TO AIR SPECIAL LIVE COVERAGE OF POPE FRANCIS’ FUNERAL ON SATURDAY
A follower holds a portrait of the late Pope Francis at the Basílica de San José de Flores, where he worshipped as a youth, following the Vatican’s announcement of his death in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, April 21, 2025. (Gustavo Garello/AP)
And at the same time, in my mind, there were memories of the passing of Pope John Paul II. I was there in Vatican City on a chilly night in April 2005, reporting with the Fox News team. The pope was literally on his deathbed in his Apostolic Palace apartment overlooking St. Peter’s Square, where tens of thousands had gathered in a mass vigil. And then the lights went out.
Fox News Correspondent Greg Palkot reporting on the passing of Pope John Paul II at Vatican City, April 2005 (Fox News)
We detailed, too, that night, the life of this man who had captured the spirit of the world. A strong voice for freedom and democracy. Who had played a big role in bringing down communism in his homeland of Poland and elsewhere. John Paul II tried to bring the world together as he kept church rulings in line. I had covered him for 26 years, starting as a «cub» producer at his conclave in 1978.
Greg Palkot, left, producing for WABC News during the conclave for John Paul II at Vatican City, October 1978. (Courtesy Greg Palkot)
After both deaths, the same words were used by Vatican officials to describe the «trip» the Popes took on those fateful days: «He has returned to the house of his father.»
The passing of a pope is just the beginning of a lengthy process when the Vatican turns over the keys to the church of 1.3 billion global followers to a new leader. A massive ceremony-laden funeral is then followed by the drama of the selection of a new pope, the conclave with its black smoke for no decision . . . white smoke for a new Pope. And then their inauguration.
The cardinals who gathered in the wake of the passing of John Paul II chose Pope Benedict XVI a more conservative and more elderly leader than they’d picked before. He would only serve for eight years. His resignation (he died in 2022) paved the way for another conclave, which chose the Argentinian Pope Francis.
POPE FRANCIS REVEALED BURIAL WISHES JUST DAYS AFTER BECOMING POPE IN 2013
Fox News’ Greg Palkot reported on both Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II. (Pope Francis AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino | John Paul II: Getty Images)
Both John Paul II and Francis were thought to be long-shot outsiders. Speculation is now building about the choice to be made in the upcoming papal «election.» Will it return the papacy to Italian dominance or spread its reach to a new country and continent? Will the new pope revive a more conservative approach to the church or stay in the modern spirit of Francis?
The coming days will tell.
Many of us carry our own reminders of those who have passed. In my case, literally. In 2005, a Vatican insider gave me rosary beads blessed by John Paul II. I’ve kept them with me on all my sometimes-rough travels since. From Afghanistan and Iraq . . . to the Mideast and Ukraine.
Rosary beads blessed by Pope John Paul II, carried by Greg Palkot on his travels. (Greg Palkot)
I also keep with me the memory of my late mother. She was a big fan of the Polish pontiff. She died of Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS, which ravages the body. Similar to some of the effects of Parkinson’s disease that contributed to John Paul II’s death.
Born of humble stock, I know Mom would also have liked the simple faith of Pope Francis. And how he passed. There are some who say he held off his «departure» until the Monday after the events of Easter, so as not to spoil that most holy day in the Roman Catholic calendar.
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Just like some in my family think, my mother held off her passing until the day after my April birthday. Considerate of others to the end.
Rest in Peace Francis. Although I’m sure you’ll have a lot of catching up to do with all your friends «upstairs»!
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Trump le pidió a China postergar la reunión con el presidente Xi Jinping por la guerra con Irán
REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Foto de archivo
El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, afirmó este lunes que planea retrasar aproximadamente un mes el viaje a China que tenía previsto realizar a finales de marzo para reunirse con su homólogo, Xi Jinping, debido a la guerra con Irán.
“Debido a la guerra, quiero estar aquí. Siento que tengo que estar aquí. Así que hemos solicitado posponerlo un mes más o menos, y espero con interés estar con ellos. Tenemos una muy buena relación”, explicó el presidente a la prensa.
La portavoz de la Casa Blanca, Karoline Leavitt, había avanzado este mismo lunes que existía la posibilidad de que se retrasara el viaje de Trump a Beijing, previsto entre el 31 de marzo y el 3 de abril, porque el mandatario está centrado en la ofensiva en Irán.
Trump sugirió el fin de semana en una entrevista con el Financial Times que podría retrasar la visita al gigante asiático hasta conocer la postura de Beijing sobre si está dispuesto a ayudar a garantizar la seguridad del estrecho de Ormuz, vía clave para el tránsito del petróleo que ha sido bloqueada por Irán en represalia por los ataques estadounidenses.
“El presidente tiene muchas ganas de visitar China”, dijo Leavitt. “Las fechas podrían moverse. Como comandante en jefe, su prioridad número uno en este momento es garantizar el éxito de la Operación Furia Épica”, agregó. Más temprano, en Fox News, la portavoz había matizado que el encuentro no estaba en peligro pero que un retraso era perfectamente posible.
REUTERS/Abdul Saboor
El secretario del Tesoro, Scott Bessent, ofreció su perspectiva desde París, donde se reunió con el viceprimer ministro chino He Lifeng en una ronda de conversaciones comerciales destinada a preparar la agenda de la cumbre. Bessent subrayó en CNBC que cualquier postergación no tendría nada que ver con la disputa sobre el estrecho. “El presidente quiere permanecer en Washington para coordinar el esfuerzo bélico”, explicó. “Viajar al exterior en un momento como este puede no ser lo más conveniente.”
La velocidad del desarrollo del conflicto iraní reconfiguró la agenda diplomática de Washington. Trump dijo el domingo que había contactado a cerca de siete países sobre la posibilidad de sumar fuerzas navales para proteger el tránsito de petroleros. Sobre China fue ambiguo: sugirió haber extendido una invitación a Beijing para unirse a la coalición, pero añadió que “ya veremos” si responde.
La visita sería la primera de un presidente estadounidense a China desde el viaje de Trump en 2017. Se acordó en noviembre tras la tregua comercial entre ambas potencias y estaba concebida para avanzar en comercio, seguridad y relaciones bilaterales. Trump y Xi se habían visto cinco meses antes en Busan, Corea del Sur, donde pactaron una tregua arancelaria de un año después de que los gravámenes mutuos llegaran brevemente a niveles de tres dígitos.
REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Beijing no confirmó las fechas —algo habitual en su protocolo— y su cancillería eludió pronunciarse sobre las exigencias de Washington. El portavoz Lin Jian se limitó a afirmar que “la diplomacia entre jefes de Estado desempeña un papel estratégico insustituible” en las relaciones bilaterales y confirmó que ambas partes mantienen comunicación sobre la visita.
La postura china combina cautela retórica con inacción práctica. Beijing recibe aproximadamente un tercio de su petróleo a través del estrecho —Trump cifró esa dependencia en el 90%, cifra que contradicen los datos de aduanas chinas, según los cuales Rusia es el mayor proveedor individual—. China no respondió al llamado de Washington. Su diario oficial Global Times argumentó que la propuesta busca trasladar los riesgos de “una guerra que Washington inició y no puede terminar”.
El barril de Brent cotizaba este lunes en torno a los 101 dólares, según FactSet, tras tocar un máximo de 126 dólares en los días más álgidos del conflicto. En Estados Unidos, el galón de gasolina alcanzó los 3,72 dólares, casi 80 centavos más que hace un mes, según la Asociación Americana del Automóvil. China afronta sus propias presiones: Beijing redujo su objetivo de crecimiento para 2026 al 4,5%-5%, el más modesto desde 1991.
Las conversaciones entre Bessent y He Lifeng avanzaron este lunes en su segundo día. Según una fuente al tanto de las negociaciones, los representantes chinos mostraron apertura a ampliar sus compras de productos agrícolas estadounidenses —aves de corral, carne de vacuno y cultivos distintos a la soja— y ambas delegaciones abordaron el flujo de minerales de tierras raras y fórmulas para gestionar el comercio bilateral. La cumbre en China sigue siendo el horizonte al que apunta toda esa negociación.
Corporate Events,Diplomacy / Foreign Policy
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«Mi madre gritó una última vez»: un nene palestino de 12 años cuenta cómo las fuerzas israelíes mataron a tiros a su familia dentro del auto en Cisjordania
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Mexican illegal alien allegedly used Roblox currency to solicit explicit content from kids under 10
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FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an arrest detainer request for a Mexican illegal migrant who was charged with soliciting sexual content from children under 10 years old.
Angel David Rubio Marin allegedly used «Robux» in the Roblox video game to entice children to send him sexually explicit videos and images of at least three young children under 10 years old. He was arrested in Prince William County, VA.
Rubio Marin was previously charged with two counts of public masturbation, but was released in Virginia prior to the current charges, according to DHS.
«This sicko preyed on innocent children by offering to pay them in a video game currency in exchange for child pornography,» Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital in a statement. »This illegal alien was RELEASED from jail after an arrest for public masturbation. This case is a perfect example of why we need state and local cooperation with ICE.»
The case highlights criticism of Virginia’s sanctuary-style policies under Governor Abigail Spanberger, who recently ended the 287(g) program and state cooperation with ICE, allowing the illegal migrant suspect to be released back into communities before federal intervention. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Courtesy of ICE)
SANCTUARY POLICIES LET ALLEGED CHILD PREDATOR ROAM FREE UNTIL DHS MADE PORTLAND, OREGON, AIRPORT ARREST
«We are calling on Virginia sanctuary politicians and Governor Spanberger to commit to not releasing this child predator back into Virginia neighborhoods,» Bis added. «No one wants this pedophile loose on American streets.»
Roblox is an online video game where users interact via chat. Robux is an in-game currency where players can purchase accessories and items for their character. The game is popular among young children.
Roblox made clear that the platform’s filters make it impossible for users to share images or videos through in-game chat.
ICE NABS IRANIAN NATIONAL WITH RAPE, SODOMY CONVICTIONS AFTER VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS MOVE TO CURB COOPERATION
DHS and ICE issued an arrest detainer for Mexican national Angel David Rubio Marin, who allegedly used Robux in Roblox to solicit sexually explicit images and videos from at least three children under 10, after he was previously released from custody in Virginia following charges of public masturbation. (Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Rubio Martin entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown place and time, according to DHS.
The department was quick to bash Democratic Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, who ended cooperation with state agencies and federal immigration authorities through an executive directive in February shortly after her inauguration.
In a statement issued after signing the directive, she argued that requiring state and local officers to take on federal immigration duties diverts them from their primary responsibilities of enforcing Virginia law and investigating crimes.
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Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivers an address in Richmond. (Al Drago/Getty Images)
According to Spanberger, shifting those duties can damage relationships between police and residents and create an atmosphere of fear and mistrust that ultimately makes it more difficult for officers to effectively do their jobs.
The directive also reverses the 287(g) program adopted under former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. That policy allowed certain local law enforcement officers to carry out limited immigration enforcement responsibilities under the supervision of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including helping ensure criminal illegal migrants were not released back into communities and identifying illegal migrants already being held in local jails.
Fox News Digital reached out to Spanberger’s office but has not yet heard back.
Preston Mizell is a writer with Fox News. Story tips can be sent to Preston.Mizell@fox.com and on X @MizellPreston
illegal immigrants,abigail spanberger,homeland security,migrant crime,kristi noem,sex crimes
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