INTERNACIONAL
Where will the next pope come from? Analysts say it could be Africa’s time
JOHANNESBURG: The next pope could, and some analysts say should, come from Africa. Christianity is booming here. More people are becoming Catholics on the continent than anywhere else in the world, and millions of Africans proudly stay true to their faith despite persecution and death.
«As in previous years, increases (in the number of Catholics) were registered above all in Africa,» the Vatican said in October 2024, stating that 7,271,000 Africans joined the faith last year.
In 2023, the National Catholic Register reported «Home to fewer than 1 million Catholics in 1910, the Catholic population of Africa is now 265 million.»
Fox News Digital understands there are three leading African papabile – «pope-able» candidates – Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, 76, from Ghana, and Guinea’s Cardinal Robert Sarah, who is viewed as less likely due his being 80 years old.
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Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
«Is it time? Certainly, it is an appropriate time for the leader of the Catholic Church to come from Africa for reasons that would capture the world’s imagination,» Greg Tobin, author of the novels «Conclave» and «Council,» and the biography of «Pope John XXIII, the Good Pope,» told Fox News Digital.
He added, «The Church has been growing at an amazingly rapid rate over the past few decades in the face of government opposition in many African nations, overt persecution of Christians and Catholics in many of the same nations, and violent opposition. Further, the leaders who have been appointed bishops and raised up as cardinals are generally highly educated, often in the West.»
Theologian and executive coach Jonathan Morris was also positive about the idea of a new pope coming from Africa, telling Fox News Digital, «An African candidate for pope is not only interesting from the perspective of representation of the fastest-growing region of the Church, but also because an African candidate could bring together divergent ideological groups of cardinals.»
Catholic bishops attend a mass for peace in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on Jan. 28, 2024. (Alexis Huguet/AFP via Getty Images)
Morris, a Fox News contributor, added, «The African Church is, as a whole, more conservative than the European and American Church. But wouldn’t these Europeans and Americans love to be part of making history!»
While this largely conservative approach from Africa’s papal candidates is a positive factor among traditional Catholics, many still don’t want a hardline pope, Gregory Tobin said. Tobin is right on topic, as he is currently writing a new book, «The Mysteries of the Conclave.» The Conclave is the meeting in the Vatican where the new pope is chosen. Tobin said, «The (African) Church and its leaders can come across as either ambivalent or very hard conservatives – a mixed bag that is a ‘turnoff’ for cardinal-electors who seek more highly defined, clear theology and pastoral ‘style’ from the one whom they will elect.»
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Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson waits to exchange Christmas greetings with Pope Francis at the Clementina Hall on Dec. 21, 2013, in Vatican City. (Franco Origlia/Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
Some analysts recommend it’s the right moment, with a pope from Africa, to reward Christians for their strength despite often horrific persecution. It’s easy to openly be a Christian in Texas. But recently in the DRC, where 95% of the population are Christian, no one stopped Islamist rebels from forcing 70 Christians into a church where they were butchered, beheaded with machetes.
In 2023, Fox News Digital was told that more than 52,000 Christians «have been butchered or hacked to death for being Christians» since 2009 in Nigeria, according to Intersociety, a civil society group based in Onitsha.
Yet Nigeria in 2023 was shown to have the largest number of practicing Catholics in the world – worshipers who attend Mass – by a long way, followed by another African country, Kenya. This is according to Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), which reported «weekly or more frequent Mass attendance is highest among adult self-identified Catholics in Nigeria at 94% followed by Kenya at 73%.»
Greg Tobin offered his take on the preferred candidates. First, «Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, DRC, Archbishop of Kinshasa, is a leading African candidate, though he is not considered strong or consistent in his theological teachings, (and) he is a vocal opponent of the dictatorial leadership of his country.»
Pope Francis waves to the public as he leads the Mass at Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo on Feb. 2, 2023. (Chris Milosi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
And «Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appia Turkson, from Ghana, [from] 2020 onward served Pope Francis as head of a multi-group task force to monitor widespread effects of (the) coronavirus pandemic on churches and Catholic institutions. Turkson is a viable choice, widely respected, liked by Pope Francis, and theologically and ‘politically’ palatable to Western prelates, but his visibility has dimmed in recent years. His election would be a major surprise along the same line that Bergolio’s (Pope Francis) was in 2013.»
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Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, center, attends a prayer at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Victories in Dakar on Dec. 4, 2023. (Guy Peterson/AFP via Getty Images)
Tobin pointed out that Guinea’s Cardinal Robert Sarah, being 80, is «ineligible to vote in the conclave due to age. A distinct long-shot, due to age and sense his time has passed.»
One final note: Should the next pope come from Africa, he won’t be the first. Victor I, from North Africa, served as the pontiff between 189-199, and was closely followed by Miltiades and Gelasius I.
INTERNACIONAL
El jefe de la OTAN respaldó la capacidad de respuesta del bloque frente a las incursiones de drones rusos en territorio aliado
El secretario general de la OTAN, Mark Rutte, destacó este jueves la rápida respuesta aérea del bloque frente a las recientes incursiones de drones y aviones rusos en el espacio aéreo de la Alianza.
Durante su visita al Mando Conjunto Aliado de la Fuerza de Brunssum, en los Países Bajos, Rutte subrayó que la organización está plenamente preparada para reaccionar ante cualquier amenaza en el norte y el este de Europa.
También remarcó la importancia estratégica de ese centro como pieza clave en la coordinación de las operaciones defensivas de la OTAN, en un contexto de creciente actividad militar rusa orientada a poner a prueba los límites de las defensas occidentales.
Rutte describió el flanco norte y oriental de Europa como escenarios donde Moscú evalúa la determinación de la Alianza y busca detectar debilidades en la coordinación defensiva.
“Estas son zonas donde Rusia intenta constantemente poner a prueba nuestra determinación y nuestras respuestas”, señaló el ex primer ministro neerlandés.
“La OTAN ha respondido de manera rápida y decisiva a las violaciones del espacio aéreo por parte de Rusia, y cada día nuestra sólida presencia sobre el terreno demuestra nuestra determinación”, agregó Rutte tras una reciente oleada de incidentes en territorio aliado.
El dirigente de la OTAN manifestó que la labor de Brunssum, uno de los tres mandos estratégicos en Europa, resulta fundamental para sostener la credibilidad disuasiva del bloque atlántico. Rutte argumentó que el despliegue de fuerzas multinacionales en ocho países del flanco oriental funciona como mensaje inequívoco hacia Rusia y otros adversarios.
“Las fuerzas en el flanco oriental, con los batallones multinacionales en ocho países aliados, envían una señal clara a cualquier adversario de que la OTAN se toma en serio su misión de protegerse mutuamente”, afirmó.
En incidentes anteriores, la OTAN optó por escoltar o interceptar aeronaves rusas y evitar acciones que pudieran convertirse en una escalada, aunque Rutte subrayó que la Alianza cuenta con todos los recursos y la voluntad política para defender su territorio y el aire aliado en caso de una agresión intencionada.
“Si Rusia intenta algo intencionalmente contra la OTAN, tenemos todas las herramientas para defender nuestro territorio y espacio aéreo”, puntualizó.
El secretario general defendió el compromiso asumido por los aliados para reforzar el gasto en defensa, camino al objetivo de destinar un 5% del PIB para 2035.
El acuerdo alcanzado meses atrás en la cumbre de La Haya refleja la evolución que el entorno internacional exige a la organización. Para la OTAN, el fortalecimiento defensivo no solo responde a la amenaza rusa sino también a la transformación acelerada de la guerra, impulsada por nuevas tecnologías y el aumento de ataques híbridos.
Rutte también aplaudió el avance de la coalición gubernamental sobre la reforma del servicio militar de Alemania.
Berlín adoptó una nueva fórmula que exigirá a partir del próximo año a jóvenes de 18 años —hombres obligatoriamente y mujeres de manera voluntaria— que informen su aptitud para el ejército, una medida calibrada para responder al déficit de personal en las fuerzas armadas.
Si el reclutamiento voluntario resulta insuficiente, la ley contempla la reintroducción de la obligatoriedad. El Ministerio de Defensa de Alemania proyecta incrementar su plantilla a 270.000 efectivos antes de 2035, frente a los cerca de 183.000 actuales.
Para el secretario general de la Alianza, la decisión alemana refuerza la capacidad colectiva de defensa.
“Cada país decide por sí mismo cómo encontrar suficientes hombres y mujeres para el ejército. Estoy muy feliz de escuchar que la coalición en Alemania ha acordado avanzar. Es muy importante”, evaluó Rutte.
El líder de la OTAN sostuvo que cualquier medida que implique mayor participación nacional en el esfuerzo militar constituye una contribución directa a la solidez conjunta de la Alianza, en tiempos de renovada rivalidad estratégica.
La agenda del bloque contempla, además, la entrega coordinada de materiales y equipamiento avanzado a Ucrania, en el marco de la invasión rusa y con financiación compartida entre Estados Unidos, la Unión Europea y el conjunto de los aliados.
(Con información de Europa Press y EFE)
International,Relations,Diplomacy / Foreign Policy,Europe
INTERNACIONAL
Progressive Democrats turn on party leadership after government shutdown ends without healthcare guarantees
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Several Democrats broke ranks with their party to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history in a move that has triggered backlash from rising progressive stars, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who questioned whether the 43-day standoff had been worth it.
The intraparty revolt has exposed a widening rift between Democratic leadership and its left flank, as progressive candidates accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., of surrendering leverage to Republicans and President Donald Trump in exchange for a funding deal that left key healthcare priorities unresolved.
«We have federal workers across the country that have been missing paychecks. We have SNAP recipients, millions of SNAP recipients across the country whose access to food stability was imperiled, and we have to figure out what that was for,» Ocasio-Cortez said, before adding, «We cannot enable this kind of cruelty with our cowardice.»
Back on the campaign trail, several Democrats running in next year’s midterm elections blasted colleagues who voted to reopen the government without extending the pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies — the key provision they’ve pushed for since the shutdown began on Oct. 1.
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., talks with reporters outside the U.S. Capitol about members security after the murder of Charlie Kirk on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Aftyn Behn, the Democratic nominee to represent Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District who has been described as the «AOC of TN,» said the shutdown ending proved «we need a new generation of leadership in Washington» and criticized the «career politicians» who caved without a guarantee to vote on ACA subsidies from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
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Saikat Chakrabarti, Ocasio-Cortez’s former chief of staff who is running to replace House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in her congressional district in San Francisco, agreed those Democrats who «caved» to Trump to reopen the government proved «we need a new generation of leaders in Congress.»
Tennessee state Rep. Aftyn Behn speaks to members of the audience before the start of a Democratic Party forum for candidates running for the 7th Congressional District special election at the Fairview Recreation Center in Fairview on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (Alan Poizner-For The Tennessean/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
«After 40 days of holding firm, with public opinion and momentum on our side, establishment Democrats decided to cave to Trump. Schumer and the entire democratic leadership need to step down — and if they run for re-election, we need to primary them,» Chakrabarti said.
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Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, one of several progressive candidates vying for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat next year, who «literally wrote the book on Medicare for All,» according to his campaign website,» said the healthcare fight shouldn’t end with ACA subsidies.
«It HAS TO BE bigger. Too many Americans are suffering over medical debt and spiraling costs. It should be nothing short of Medicare for All,» he said.
El-Sayed said Americans should be «spitting mad about a few Senate Dems capitulating as health insurance premiums skyrocket for 25M people.»
As word circulated Sunday night that Congress was approaching a deal to reopen the government, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani called on Democrats to reject the bill.
«This ‘deal’ dramatically hikes healthcare premiums and only exacerbates the affordability crisis,» Mamdani said. «It should be rejected, as should any politics willing to compromise on the basic needs of working people.»
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., speaks at a campaign event for Zohran Mamdani in New York City on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. New York voters are turning out early in high numbers for a mayoral race that’s captured the country’s attention. (Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
And Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who traveled to Queens, New York City, to campaign for Mamdani last month, has said this week that reopening the government without healthcare guarantees proved Schumer is «no longer effective and should be replaced.»
«If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?» Khanna said.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., on Thursday shifted the blame to Republicans, charging Trump and Republicans of adopting a «my way or the highway» approach in Congress.
«Unless they change course, we’re going to have challenges governmentally for the balance of the first two years of Donald Trump’s time in office,» Jeffries said on MSNBC’s «Way Too Early.»
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) expired on Nov. 1, jeopardizing food access for millions of low-income Americans who rely on the benefit.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks at the «No Kings» Rally in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 18, 2025. (Fox News Digital/Emma Woodhead)
While Ocasio-Cortez questioned what the shutdown was for, if not to preserve the healthcare subsidies, Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Ala., argued Wednesday that healthcare in Alabama is more than just a «talking point,» citing Alabama’s low life expectancy rates and limited hospitals.
«Protecting health care for us is a requisite,» he said. «It’s a requirement. It’s something we have to do. And if you ask us if the shutdown was worth it, I say, hell yes, it was worth it. Because fighting to maintain healthcare for American people, there’s nothing more pure than that. There’s no more important role that we have here as members of Congress.»
Meanwhile, «Squad» member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., called the Senate’s deal a «betrayal of working people and a sham.»
«The public rightly recognizes that Trump and Congressional Republicans are to blame for the longest government shutdown in history,» Omar said in a statement on behalf of the progressive caucus.
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And Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a longtime supporter of Medicare for All and universal healthcare, also criticized Trump on Wednesday for being «willing to see children go hungry to make a political point.»
«I think what is so important for folks to understand is that this problem is bigger than one person, and it actually is bigger than the minority leader in the Senate,» Ocasio-Cortez said Wednesday, calling this failure of Democrats to hold the line on the government shutdown a «reflection of the party.»
Fox News’ Tyler Olson and Ryan Schmelz contributed to this report.
democratic party,the squad,socialism,elections,midterm elections,government shutdown
INTERNACIONAL
Top Ukrainian officials in Zelenskyy government submit resignations amid $100 million corruption scandal
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Two senior Ukrainian officials submitted their resignations Wednesday amid the fallout over an alleged $100 million kickback corruption scheme linked to the state-owned nuclear power company Energoatom.
Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said on X that Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk submitted their resignations, and the government suspended several senior officials at Energoatom amid the corruption probe.
Svyrydenko added that the cabinet also submitted proposals to apply personal sanctions against Timur Mindich, a former business partner of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and businessman Alexander Tsukerman.
Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk submitted their resignations on Nov. 12, 2025. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images; Andrii Nesterenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Ukraine’s independent anti-corruption agencies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) said they led a 15-month investigation code-named «Midas» that uncovered a «large-scale corruption scheme to influence strategic state-owned enterprises.»
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It involved a «high level criminal [organization]» that systematically received «illicit benefits from Energoatom’s contractors in the amount of 10% to 15% of the contract value,» NABU said.
«In particular, Energoatom’s contractors were forced to pay kickbacks to avoid having payments for their services/products blocked or losing their supplier status,» the agencies announced.
The offices of NABU, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, on Oct. 1, 2019, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Sean Gallup/Getty)
The anti-corruption agencies stated that the alleged criminal organization ran a Kyiv-based «laundry» office whose premises belonged to the family of former Ukrainian lawmaker and current Russian senator Andrii Derkach.
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The office kept «black accounting» records and laundered approximately $100 million through non-resident companies, according to NABU and SAPO.
Five people were detained and another seven were placed under suspicion, including a former advisor to the Minister of Energy.
The scandal comes amid Russia’s escalating attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure that have led to power outages across the country.
A seller waits for customers in a shop during a partial blackout in Lviv on Nov. 28, 2024, following Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP via Getty Images)
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«Internally this scandal will be used to undermine unity and stability within the country. Externally, our enemies will use it as an argument to stop aid to Ukraine,» said Oleksandr Merezhko, a lawmaker with Zelenskyy’s party, according to The Associated Press.
«It looks really bad in the eyes of our European and American partners,» Merezhko said. «While Russians destroy our power grid and people have to endure blackouts, someone at the top was stealing money during the war.»
Zelenskyy said in a post on X that he supports the investigations carried out by Ukraine’s law enforcement and anti-corruption officials.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy participates in a briefing at the Office of the President following a staff meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Nov. 7, 2025.
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«Right now it is extremely difficult for everyone in Ukraine – enduring power outages, Russian strikes, and losses. It is absolutely unacceptable that, amid all this, there are also some schemes in the energy sector,» he wrote. «I will sign a decree to impose sanctions on two individuals implicated in the NABU case concerning Energoatom. Right now we all must protect Ukraine. Undermining the state means you will be held accountable. Breaking the law means you will be held accountable.»
ukraine,corruption,world,energy
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