Vatican's secretive conclave to pick next Pope starts May 7
More than 100 senior clergy members will take part in a conclave to cast ballots for the pontiff to succeed Pope Francis, who died on April 21. They'll meet in the Sistine Chapel for a closely watched election whose outcome is highly unpredictable.
The participants won't be allowed to leave or communicate with the outside world until they've reached an agreement. The process could take days.
Under canon law, only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. Discussions and four rounds of balloting will take place each day until a candidate receives two-thirds of the votes.
Meanwhile, millions of Roman Catholics will be left guessing until the traditional white smoke – signalling the choice of a new pope – is seen over the Vatican.
High-profile cardinals considered as possible candidates include Pietro Parolin, an Italian who serves as the Vatican's secretary of state and is known for his diplomatic skills.
Speculation has also surrounded the possibility of the first ever US-born pope, with Raymond Leo Burke, a one-time archbishop of St Louis and an ardent critic of Francis, seen as a possible contender.
Peter Turkson, a Ghanaian known for relatively liberal views on social justice and human rights, could also be considered, as could Philippines-born Luis Tagle, an advocate for enhanced inclusivity.
Still, based on historical precedents, the process is likely to be highly unpredictable. BLOOMBERG
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
2 hours ago
- AsiaOne
How do Cambodia and Thailand's militaries compare?, Asia News
Months of simmering tensions between Cambodia and Thailand exploded into armed conflict on Thursday (July 24), including the deployment of a Thai F-16 fighter jet, in the heaviest fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in over a decade. Here is a look at the defence forces and arsenals of two countries, according to data from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies: BUDGETS AND GROUND PERSONNEL Cambodia had a defence budget of US$1.3 billion (S$1.7 billion) in 2024 and 124,300 active military personnel. The armed forces were established in 1993 from the merger of the country's former Communist military and two other resistance armies. Of this, the Cambodian army is the largest force, with some 75,000 soldiers, backed by more than 200 battle tanks and around 480 pieces of artillery. Thailand, which the US classifies as a major non-Nato ally, has a large, well-funded military, with a defence budget of US$5.73 billion in 2024 and over 360,000 active armed forces personnel. The Thai army has a total of 245,000 personnel, including an estimated 115,000 conscripts, around 400 battle tanks, over 1,200 armoured personnel carriers and some 2,600 artillery weapons. The army has its own fleet of aircraft, comprising passenger planes, helicopters such as dozens of US-made Black Hawks, and unmanned aerial vehicles. AIR FORCES Cambodia's air force has 1,500 personnel, with a relatively small fleet of aircraft, including 10 transport planes and 10 transport helicopters. It doesn't possess any fighter aircraft but has 16 multi-role helicopters, including six Soviet-era Mi-17s and 10 Chinese Z-9s. Thailand has one of the best-equipped and trained air forces in Southeast Asia, with an estimated 46,000 personnel, 112 combat-capable aircraft, including 28 F-16s and 11 Swedish Gripen fighter jets, and dozens of helicopters. NAVIES The Cambodian navy has an estimated 2,800 personnel, including 1,500 naval infantry, with 13 patrol and coastal combat vessels and one amphibious landing craft. Thailand's navy is much larger, with nearly 70,000 personnel, comprising naval aviation, marines, coastal defence and conscripts. It has one aircraft carrier, seven frigates, and 68 patrol and coastal combat vessels. The Thai fleet also contains a handful of amphibious and landing ships capable of holding hundreds of troops each and 14 smaller landing craft. Thailand's naval aviation division has its own fleet of aircraft, including helicopters and UAVs, besides a marine corps that has 23,000 personnel, backed by dozens of armed fighting vehicles. [[nid:720568]]
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
How do Cambodia and Thailand's militaries compare?
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Royal Thai Army soldiers are pictured on an armoured vehicle in Chachoengsao province on July 24. Follow our live coverage here. BANGKOK - Months of simmering tensions between Cambodia and Thailand exploded into armed conflict on July 24, including the deployment of a Thai F-16 fighter jet, in the heaviest fighting between the South-east Asian neighbours in over a decade. Here is a look at the defence forces and arsenals of two countries, according to data from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. Budgets and ground personnel Cambodia had a defence budget of US$1.3 billion (S$1.66 billion) in 2024 and 124,300 active military personnel. The armed forces were established in 1993 from the merger of the country's former Communist military and two other resistance armies. Of this, the Cambodian army is the largest force, with some 75,000 soldiers, backed by more than 200 battle tanks and around 480 pieces of artillery. Thailand, which the US classifies as a major non-Nato ally, has a large, well-funded military, with a defence budget of US$5.73 billion in 2024 and over 360,000 active armed forces personnel. The Thai army has a total of 245,000 personnel, including an estimated 115,000 conscripts, around 400 battle tanks, over 1,200 armoured personnel carriers and some 2,600 artillery weapons. The army has its own fleet of aircraft, comprising passenger planes, helicopters such as dozens of US-made Black Hawks, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Air forces Cambodia's air force has 1,500 personnel, with a relatively small fleet of aircraft, including 10 transport planes and 10 transport helicopters. It doesn't possess any fighter aircraft but has 16 multi-role helicopters, including six Soviet-era Mi-17s and 10 Chinese Z-9s. Thailand has one of the best equipped and trained air forces in South-east Asia, with an estimated 46,000 personnel, 112 combat capable aircraft, including 28 F-16s and 11 Swedish Gripen fighter jets, and dozens of helicopters. Navies The Cambodian navy has an estimated 2,800 personnel, including 1,500 naval infantry, with 13 patrol and coastal combat vessels and one amphibious landing craft. Thailand's navy is much larger, with nearly 70,000 personnel, comprising naval aviation, marines, coastal defence and conscripts. It has one aircraft carrier, seven frigates, and 68 patrol and coastal combat vessels. The Thai fleet also contains a handful of amphibious and landing ships capable of holding hundreds of troops each, and 14 smaller landing craft. Thailand's naval aviation division has its own fleet of aircraft, including helicopters and UAVs, besides a marine corps that has 23,000 personnel, backed by dozens of armed fighting vehicles. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Italy's Albanian migrant hub cost seven times more than home facility, report says
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the reception camp, as migrants who were intercepted at sea and later detained at a reception facility in Albania are transferred to Italy after a court in Rome overturned their detention orders, in Shengjin, Albania, October 19, 2024. REUTERS/Florion Goga/File Photo ROME - The migrant detention hub Italy has set up in Albania has cost seven times more than an equivalent facility back home, a study by the ActionAid Italy charity and the University of Bari said on Thursday. The Italian interior ministry declined to comment on the report. Conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sees the facilities set up in Albania as a cornerstone of her tough immigration policies, and other European countries have looked to them as a possible model. The scheme was launched last year but almost immediately put on hold as Italian courts repeatedly ordered the return to Italy of migrants picked up at sea and taken to Albania, citing issues with European Union law. The bloc's top court has yet to give its opinion on the issue. According to the report, Italy's government awarded contracts worth 74.2 million euros ($87 million) to build the Albanian detention facilities. It spent more than 153,000 euros for each operational bed space in Albania, the report estimated. By comparison, an asylum seekers' detention facility in Sicily's Porto Empedocle cost around 1 million euros for 50 operational bed spaces, or just over 21,000 euros per bed, ActionAid and the University of Bari found. "The Albania operation stands out as the most expensive, inhumane, and ineffective measure in the history of Italian migration policy," their report said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Live: People evacuated from border regions amid deadly Thailand-Cambodia clash Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Singapore Singapore calls for immediate Gaza ceasefire amid 'unconscionable' civilian suffering Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp Singapore First BTO flats in Greater Southern Waterfront, Mount Pleasant to go on sale in October Singapore Primary 1 registration: 29 schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2B Asia 'Vampire coach': Coercive blood sampling in school casts spotlight on Taiwan's culture of obedience Singapore 1,300 names, addresses of traffic offenders published online; police investigating It also reported that Italy last year paid some 570,000 euros ($670,000) to a cooperative that runs the Albanian centre, despite it being operational for just five days to host a total of 20 migrants. In response to judicial opposition, this year Meloni's government said it would turn the Albanian hub into a repatriation facility for failed asylum seekers expelled from Italy, rather than a holding centre for migrants rescued in the Mediterranean. Italy's main opposition force, the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), seized on Thursday's report to denounce a waste of public resources. "Giorgia Meloni must apologise to Italians, because the figures regarding the costs of her illegal Albania operation are an insult even to the millions of people who are currently struggling to get by," said PD leader Elly Schlein. REUTERS
