International press review
In the spotlight: the rumor swells on a possible resignation of Pope Francis
Audio 05:29
Pope Francis at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, June 1, 2022. AFP - FILIPPO MONTEFORTE
By: Véronique Rigolet Follow
4 mins
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“
Is Pope Francis near the end of his pontificate?
», headlines the
Washington Post.
“
Is the pope going to resign?
“, asks the Suddeutsche Zeitung
more directly
, which highlights that a “
certain number of signs fuel speculation that the pope could soon abdicate
”.
“
Rumors have been swirling since the beginning of May
”, explains the
Guardian,
“
since he appeared in public in a wheelchair following knee surgery
”.
“
The pain has become evident
”, comments the
Washington Post
for which “
it is impossible not to notice the fragility of the 85-year-old pope
”.
And in addition to his health problems, the "
rumors have been amplified
", says the American daily, "
by the pope's decision to convene a consistory for next August 27, in order to install 21 new cardinals who will have the right to vote. to elect his successor
.
A completely “ unusual
” summer summons
, notes the
Guardian
, which quotes a Vatican specialist for whom “
his resignation is a real possibility
”.
►
To read also:
Pope Francis closes the door to a future meeting with the Patriarch of Moscow
"
After the historic abdication of Benedict XVI in 2013, Francis made it clear that this decision should not be considered an exception
", underlines the
Post
, which nevertheless points out "
that having two ex-popes at the same time would be undoubtedly tricky
,” for the Vatican.
Ukraine suspicious of the establishment of maritime corridors in the Black Sea
While Russia is accused by the West
of “obstructing Ukrainian wheat exports
” at the risk of creating “
a world food crisis
”, castigates the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
, the Ukrainians look “
with suspicion
” on the ongoing talks in Turkey with the head of Russian diplomacy Sergei Lavrov on the creation of "
maritime corridors
", underlines
Le Temps
.
"
Agreed to open secure corridors to Ukrainian ships transporting wheat
", argues Ukrainian President Zelensky in an interview with the
Financial Times,
"
but no question, he says, of offering the same guarantees to Russian ships
".
The fear of the Ukrainians "
is that these corridors could leave the Ukrainian ports open to Russian attacks, in particular the strategic port of Odessa
", explains for its part the
Guardian
, which also underlines that Kiev estimates "
that it would take at least 6 months to rid the coast of Russian and Ukrainian mines
".
Time is running out, however, according to the British daily, which reports "
that the risk of famine is increasing, particularly in Africa
", while 20 million tonnes of cereals "
are still blocked in Ukraine
".
Rebellious Tories are not giving up on Boris Johnson
Although the Prime Minister survived the vote of no confidence, "
he now faces a war of attrition
", the
Times tells us,
with 148 MPs voting against him, who are "
determined to change the rules of leadership of the party, to force a new vote of no confidence in the coming months
".
And in the meantime, the rebels “
plan to go on a vote strike
,” notes the
Guardian.
“
They will refrain from voting on government texts in order to paralyze the legislative process
” and further weaken Boris Johnson who, according to the admission of William Hague, the former head of British diplomacy “
now leads the country with 2 flat tires
".
►
To read also: "Partygate": Boris Johnson saves his head during a vote of no confidence from which he emerges weakened
The exit from the road could also happen very quickly "
from next June 23 if the Conservatives lose 2 crucial by-elections in Wakefield and Tiverton & Hinoton
", analyzes the daily, with the possibility of a new crisis and "
new resignations in the conservative camp
”.
"
Tory leaders rarely survive long after the first stab
," commented the
Times
.
Australia is concerned about the power of the Calabrian mafia on its soil
La Ndrangheta, “
Calabrian mafia dominates Australian criminal networks
”, headlines
The Australian
which reports an extensive investigation by the federal police according to which “
as many as 5,000 members of the mafia have been identified in the country
”.
Mainly from "
the Calabrian mafia responsible,
specifies the daily,
for the smuggling of tons of illegal drugs and the laundering of billions of dollars of dirty agent in the economy
".
Some of these mafiosi "
would take their orders directly from Italy
", underlines for its part the
Guardian
which also evokes the stranglehold of this Calabrian mafia "
on organized crime
" in Australia, with the support of "
Asian and Middle Eastern groups
".
“
A global problem
” argues the Australian government which estimates “
that they are responsible for 70 to 80% of cocaine trafficking in the world
”.
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