Spain To Observe 3 Days Of Mourning For Pope Francis
Spain will observe three days of mourning to honour Pope Francis after the Argentine pontiff's death on Monday aged 88, Justice Minister Felix Bolanos said in a televised address.
"We regret the death of a good man and a great pope. Therefore, the government of Spain will declare three days of official mourning," Bolanos said, praising Francis's "reformist" 12-year papacy that "will leave a legacy for history".
Francis "dedicated his life to the weak, to those who have nothing... a pope characterised by his struggle against inequality, injustices, his fight against climate change and his concern for all those on the peripheries", added Bolanos.
"For that reason, the government of Spain has always felt close to his work and his values, especially his defence of peace," the Socialist minister continued.
In Spain, historically a deeply Catholic country, "we loved him and what his papacy meant", said Bolanos.
"With his papacy the Church has started to travel a path which must continue."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
BJP raises spectre of ‘political Islam' infiltrating Church in Kerala
The BJP has raised the spectre of 'political Islam' infiltrating the Church in Kerala. The party's State vice-president Shone George told a news conference on Monday (August 4, 2025) that radical Islamists, beholden to the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and Jamaat-e-Islami, had infiltrated Church protests in sizeable numbers, including those led by bishops, across the State. He noted the presence of Islamist elements in demonstrations led by Church leaders and the laity in several locations, including Kannur, Thalassery, Kozhikode, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Mananthavady, Angamaly and Ernakulam. 'I talked to the senior-most prelate in Kerala on Monday. He seemed not to be concerned about the presence of radical Islamists among the demonstrators,' he added. Asked to adduce evidence to back his charges, Mr. George asked mediapersons to contact the State police intelligence or mine their sources in the localities. Mr. George alleged that the SDPI's gambit was to use the arrest of the nuns as a foil for alienating Christians from the BJP. The SDPI and Jamaat-e-Islami's tactics had the tacit backing of the Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]. He accused the ruling front and the Opposition of seeking to frustrate the efforts of the BJP governments at the Centre and Chhattisgarh to secure an early release for the nuns. 'Both the Congress and the CPI(M) wanted the nuns to remain in jail to ensure that the emotive issue festers and retards the BJP's bourgeoning acceptance among Christians in Kerala,' he added. Mr. George said the Vatican Council in 1964 had ruled against forced conversion. 'In contrast, if Tipu Sultan's expeditionary forays had not halted at Kodungalloor 200 years ago, Kerala's social matrix would have been different,' he added. Mr. George attacked the Congress and CPI(M) for seeking the support of the Jamaat-e-Islami and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) respectively during the recent byelection in the Nilambur Assembly constituency. He said the BJP was with 'patriotic Muslims,' who, he stated, were in the majority. BJP leader S. Suresh, who is also a State vice-president, said the party would not allow political adversaries to single out State president Rajiv Chandrasekhar for criticism.
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
India-US Tension "Opened New Chapter For Iran Ties": Khamenei Aide
New Delhi: In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Dr. Abdul Majeed Hakeem Ilahi, a prominent scholar, religious leader, and representative of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, shared insights on critical global and bilateral issues. Dr. Ilahi, one of only five representatives of Ayatollah Khamenei worldwide, recently attended the Hussain Day event organized by in Bengaluru on July 2-3, 2025. What role can Iran play in the ongoing Gaza crisis? First, I would like to thank NDTV for this prestigious platform and for hosting such a remarkable program. Attending Hussain Day in India was truly inspiring, showcasing the beautiful coexistence among followers of different religions. I congratulate the Indian people for fostering such unity, which promotes humanity and teaches us to walk in the footsteps of Imam Hussain. Regarding the Gaza crisis, Iran's constitution mandates us to support oppressed people, whether Muslim or non-Muslim. The people of Gaza are suffering from hunger, thirst, and a lack of basic necessities. As human beings, it is our duty to help them-this is not just a religious issue but a humanitarian one. Across the world, from the US to Canada, France, and Germany, people are protesting in support of Gaza. Iran has been aiding Gaza from the outset, despite challenges posed by sanctions from some neighbouring countries and Western powers. We are doing our utmost to provide support to the oppressed. The US has imposed a 25% tariff on India. How can India and Iran strengthen their ties in this context? The history of India and Iran is deeply intertwined. To understand Iran's history, one must study India's, and vice versa. Over centuries, many Iranians migrated to India seeking safety and peace, as India was a hub of knowledge and culture. For instance, Indian scholars wrote 250 books addressing a single question about whether water was available to Imam Hussain on the night of Ashura, highlighting India's historical role as a center of learning. There has always been a strong bond between Iran and India in knowledge, science, culture, and trade. Unfortunately, over time, we lost some of that closeness. However, we hope that through the efforts of both nations and their governments, we can revive those ties. Many Indian cities and places still bear Iranian names, and numerous mosques and imambaras were built by Iranian immigrants. Currently, the economic relationship between Iran and India is good but has the potential to be much stronger, given the vast opportunities available. Politically, our ties are also positive, and we are grateful to both the Indian and Iranian governments for their efforts. With greater collaboration between our parliaments and ministries of trade, agriculture, and industry, we can further enhance these relations. Can Iran offer any specific proposals to India, especially in light of the US tariffs? Absolutely. The recent tensions between India and the US have opened a new chapter for India-Iran relations. Both nations are members of BRICS, which provides a platform to strengthen economic cooperation. Iran is eager to deepen its cultural and economic ties with India. Our Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, has a deep affection for India and consistently emphasizes the need for stronger bilateral relations. How does Ayatollah Khamenei view India? As you know, the Supreme Leader has representatives in only five countries worldwide, and India is one of them, reflecting its significance. He loves India, its culture, and its people, and he always advocates for better cultural and economic ties. He has worked to resolve barriers in Iran-India relations and continually encourages our officials to strengthen ties with India. Whenever Iran's Foreign Minister meets him, he inquires about the state of relations with India, urging them to foster deeper economic and cultural connections. Here in India, I feel at home. The respect, hospitality, and warmth I've experienced surpass even what I feel in Iran. This reinforces the potential for robust Iran-India relations. There have been reports of tensions between Iran and Israel. What would Iran's strategy be if Israel attacks? Iran is always prepared to defend itself. If anyone makes a mistake, Iran's response will be stronger than ever before. Our Supreme Leader has demonstrated courage and resolve during recent tensions. Is it true that Ayatollah Khamenei is hiding in a bunker? Such reports are entirely baseless and exist only in the media. The Supreme Leader never fears anything; he seeks martyrdom and stands firm in the face of challenges. He has not gone into hiding. During the recent conflict, he was actively leading and directing Iran's response to Israel. How has your experience been in India? In India, I don't feel like a foreigner-I feel at home. The culture, respect, and hospitality here are even better than what I experience in Iran. I am truly impressed by the Indian people and their warmth.
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
Visa Applicants May Need To Post Bond Of Up To $15,000 To Enter US
Washington: The State Department is proposing requiring applicants for business and tourist visas to post a bond of up to $15,000 to enter the United States, a move that may make the process unaffordable for many. In a notice to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, the department said it would start a 12-month pilot program under which people from countries deemed to have high overstay rates and deficient internal document security controls could be required to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 when they apply for a visa. The proposal comes as the Trump administration is tightening requirements for visa applicants. Last week, the State Department announced that many visa renewal applicants would have to submit to an additional in-person interview, something that was not required in the past. In addition, the department is proposing that applicants for the Visa Diversity Lottery program have valid passports from their country of citizenship. A preview of the bond notice, which was posted on the Federal Register website on Monday, said the pilot program would take effect within 15 days of its formal publication and is necessary to ensure that the U.S. government is not financially liable if a visitor does not comply with the terms of his or her visa. "Aliens applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure and who are nationals of countries identified by the department as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or offering citizenship by investment, if the alien obtained citizenship with no residency requirement, may be subject to the pilot program," the notice said. The countries affected will be listed once the program takes effect, it said. The bond could be waived depending on an applicant's individual circumstances. The bond would not apply to citizens of countries enrolled in the Visa Waiver Program, which enables travel for business or tourism for up to 90 days. The majority of the 42 countries enrolled in the program are in Europe, with others in Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere. Visa bonds have been proposed in the past but have not been implemented. The State Department has traditionally discouraged the requirement because of the cumbersome process of posting and discharging a bond and because of a possible misperceptions by the public. However, the department said that previous view "is not supported by any recent examples or evidence, as visa bonds have not generally been required in any recent period." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
