(Vatican Radio) Centrist Emmanuel Macron has gone through to the second round of the French presidential elections, where he will face far-right leader Marine Le Pen. With the votes counted, Macron stood at about 24 percent, followed by Le Pen with just over be on 21 percent.Listen to Stefan Bos' report: Official results showed that for the first time in six decades neither of France's main left-wing or right-wing parties will have a candidate in the upcoming run-off vote on May 7.And if everything goes according to his plan, Centrist Emmanuel Macron, a former banker and seen as a political outsider, is replacing outgoing French President Francois Hollande.At 39, Macron could now become the youngest president France has ever had.Both Macron and Le Pen seemed to quarrel over who is the best patriot to move the economically troubled nation forward. In a victory speech to supporters, Macron used language favoured by his main rival to describe himself as the true p...
(Vatican Radio) Centrist Emmanuel Macron has gone through to the second round of the French presidential elections, where he will face far-right leader Marine Le Pen. With the votes counted, Macron stood at about 24 percent, followed by Le Pen with just over be on 21 percent.
Listen to Stefan Bos' report:
Official results showed that for the first time in six decades neither of France's main left-wing or right-wing parties will have a candidate in the upcoming run-off vote on May 7.
And if everything goes according to his plan, Centrist Emmanuel Macron, a former banker and seen as a political outsider, is replacing outgoing French President Francois Hollande.
At 39, Macron could now become the youngest president France has ever had.
Both Macron and Le Pen seemed to quarrel over who is the best patriot to move the economically troubled nation forward. In a victory speech to supporters, Macron used language favoured by his main rival to describe himself as the true patriot for France. "I hope in 15 days to become your president," prompting an enthusiastic response of applauding fans.
"I want to become the president of all the people of France -the president of the patriots in the face of the threat from the nationalists. I hope to become your president," he added.
'SINCERE PATRIOTS'
While he is favored to win the ballot, 48-year-old Le Pen says she is still counting on all patriots to support her. "I am calling sincere patriots wherever they come from, whatever their origin, whatever their journey has been of who they voted for in the first round. I invite them all to join us and to abandon ancient quarrels because it is in the interest of the country," she said.
Their nearest challengers, centre-right François Fillon and hard-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon, will now look on as they fell behind, with just over 19 percent of the vote each in the first round.
Commentators described this as France's most important president election in more than half a century as it could determine the future of the European Union.
Le Pen's campaign for the Front National party centred on France leaving the 28-nation block, a move known as 'Frexit', as well as cracking down on immigration and free-trade.
Macron, who was current President Hollande's economy minister but quit to create his own party, En Marche, favors liberal, pro-EU policies.
Landscape view of Sacrofano, Italy, north of Rome. / Credit: Dmitry Taranets/ShutterstockRome Newsroom, Apr 29, 2024 / 15:00 pm (CNA).The World Meeting of Parish Priests for the Synod opened on Monday to discuss "how to be a synodal local Church in mission," allowing priests from around the world to discuss questions raised during the ongoing synod and share their personal pastoral experiences. The four-day meeting, which is taking place from April 29 to May 2 at the Fraterna Domus retreat house in Sacrofano, Italy, just north of Rome, is attended by about 300 priests from around the globe and is divided into several sessions, taking cues from different themes and questions raised in the synod's synthesis report. "The parish priest is a man of the people and for the people. Like Jesus, he is open to the crowd, constantly open to the crowd, to help each and every one understand that they are a letter from Christ," said Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary general of the Gen...
Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne. / Credit: Diocese of Burlington, VermontCNA Staff, Apr 29, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).A New England prelate is urging Catholics to both minister to transgender-identifying individuals in the Catholic Church while still continuously affirming "the goodness of human creation" as male and female.Coadjutor Archbishop Christopher Coyne of Hartford, Connecticut, told CNA last week that he would make it a point not to challenge a transgender-identifying man or woman when they present as the opposite sex.Coyne appeared on Connecticut Public Radio earlier this month arguing against the basic claim of gender ideology, which argues that men and women who "identify" as the opposite sex should be treated as such."Biology is biology. You're either XX or XY. That's a scientific fact. You can't un-prove that fact," the bishop told public radio. But, he argued, the LGBT debate has "pulled me more into a place of understanding and care," including regarding trans...
The Verona Arena is illuminated at night on Aug. 3, 2018, in Verona, Italy. The Holy See Press Office on Monday, April 29, 2024, released the pope's schedule for a one-day trip to the city scheduled for May 18, 2024, on the vigil of Pentecost. / Credit: Athanasios Gioumpasis/Getty ImagesRome Newsroom, Apr 29, 2024 / 11:30 am (CNA).After completing a one-day trip to Venice, Pope Francis is set to return to northern Italy in late May for a visit to the city of Verona, where he will attend events focused on peace and justice while also meeting with clergy, laity, and inmates. The Holy See Press Office on Monday released the pope's schedule for the one-day trip scheduled for May 18 on the vigil of Pentecost. Located in the Veneto region, approximately 75 miles from Venice, the city is renowned for its trove of Roman antiquities, medieval architecture, and as the setting of Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Juliet."Pope Francis will leave the Vatican by helicopter at 6:30 ...