Pope draws 6.6 million at Vatican in 2013
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican says Pope Francis drew more than 6.6 million people to his audiences, Masses and other Vatican events in 2013, more than twice as many as his predecessor Benedict XVI did in his first year as pope.
The statistics released yesterday cover only events held at the Vatican starting from Francis’ March 13 election. They don’t include his trips, including World Youth Day in Brazil and trips within Italy: The Vatican estimated that some 3.7 million people attended Francis’ final World Youth Day Mass in Rio alone, though statisticians put the true figure at about half that.
For comparison’s sake, the Vatican reported that some 2.85 million people attended Vatican events in Benedict’s first year as pope in 2005.
Francis is the first Latin American and first Jesuit pope.
Former Israeli PM Sharon in critical condition
JERUSALEM (AP) — Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has been in a coma for eight years, was in critical condition yesterday, clinging to life after a decline in the functioning of various bodily organs, his doctors said.
Dr Zeev Rotstein, director of Tel Hashomer hospital, said Sharon’s condition had deteriorated over the past two days and that a number of vital organs, including his kidneys, were suffering from “critical malfunction”.
“He is in critical condition and his life is definitely in danger,” Rotstein told reporters at the hospital, just outside Tel Aviv. “The feeling of the doctors treating him and also that of the family with him is that there is a turn for the worse.”
Sharon’s family are at his bedside, Rotstein said.
The 85-year-old Sharon, one of Israel’s most iconic and controversial figures, has been in a coma since suffering a devastating stroke in January 2006. At the time, he was prime minister and at the height of his political power.
Sharon’s career has stretched across Israel’s 65-year history.
As one of Israel’s most famous generals, Sharon was known for bold tactics and an occasional refusal to obey orders. As a politician he became known as “the bulldozer” — a man contemptuous of his critics while also capable of getting things done.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford files to run again
TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has put his name on the ballot to run for another term, defying repeated calls for him to step down after admitting he smoked crack “in a drunken stupor”.
Ford was the first candidate to show up at City Hall when registration opened yesterday for the city’s municipal election October 27.
He promised “Ford more years”, the Toronto Star reported. He also called himself “the best mayor this city has ever had.”
“If you want to get personal, that’s fine,” Ford told reporters, according to the Star. “I’m sticking to my record, and talk is cheap. You’re going to see action like you’ve never seen before.”
He was more restrained on Twitter, tweeting a photo of himself signing up to run again and saying simply, “Just filed my paperwork for the 2014 election. Vote on October 27th.”
Ford has faced intense pressure to resign over erratic behaviour that has embarrassed many Canadians.
The Toronto City Council has stripped Ford of most of his powers, but he continues to receive support from some in the city’s more conservative suburbs.
Passengers rescued from icebound Antarctic ship
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A helicopter rescued all 52 passengers from a research ship that has been trapped in Antarctic ice since Christmas Eve after weather conditions finally cleared enough for the operation yesterday.
The Chinese helicopter carried the scientists and tourists from the Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy in groups of 12 to an Australian icebreaker, said the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre, which oversaw the rescue. The Aurora Australis will now take the passengers to the Australian island state of Tasmania, a journey expected to last two weeks.
“I think everyone is relieved and excited to be going on to the Australian icebreaker and then home,” expedition leader Chris Turney told The Associated Press by satellite phone from the Antarctic.
All 22 crew members stayed with the icebound vessel, which is not in danger of sinking and has weeks’ worth of supplies on board. They will wait until the ice that surrounds the ship breaks up.