EU Commission Boss Von der Leyen Elected for 2nd Five-Year Term

Ursula von der Leyen reacts after being chosen President of the European Commission for a second term, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, July 18, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo
Ursula von der Leyen reacts after being chosen President of the European Commission for a second term, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, July 18, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo
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EU Commission Boss Von der Leyen Elected for 2nd Five-Year Term

Ursula von der Leyen reacts after being chosen President of the European Commission for a second term, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, July 18, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo
Ursula von der Leyen reacts after being chosen President of the European Commission for a second term, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, July 18, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo

Ursula von der Leyen won a second term as president of the European Commission on Thursday after pledging to create a continental "defense union" and to stay the course on Europe's green transition while cushioning its burden on industry.
Members of the European Parliament backed von der Leyen's bid for another five-year term at the helm of the European Union's powerful executive body with 401 votes in her favor and 284 against in a secret ballot in the 720-member chamber.
In an address to the Parliament in Strasbourg earlier in the day, von der Leyen, 65, laid out a program focused on prosperity and security, shaped by the challenges of Russia's war in Ukraine, global economic competition and climate change.
"The next five years will define Europe’s place in the world for the next five decades. It will decide whether we shape our own future or let it be shaped by events or by others," von der Leyen said ahead of the vote.
She stressed the need not to backtrack on the "Green Deal" transformation of the EU economy to fight climate change - a key pledge for Green lawmakers, who joined her core coalition of center-right, center-left and liberal groups in supporting her.
After pledging to support Ukraine for as long as it takes in its fight against Russia, von der Leyen said Europe's liberty was at stake and that it must invest more in defense.

Von der Leyen pledged to create "a true European Defense Union,” with flagship projects on air and cyber defense.
The plan sparked criticism from the Kremlin, which said it reflected an attitude of "militarization (and) confrontation.”

She also vowed to tackle housing shortages across Europe and said she would appoint a commissioner for the Mediterranean region due to the multiple challenges it faces.
She also took a swipe at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his recent visit to Russia shortly after his country took over the rotating six-month EU presidency.
"This so-called peace mission was nothing but an appeasement mission,” von der Leyen said as she vowed that Europe would remain shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine.



Pope Francis’ Body to Be Taken to St Peter’s Ahead of Funeral 

People gather in St Peter's Square ahead of the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St Peter's Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP)
People gather in St Peter's Square ahead of the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St Peter's Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP)
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Pope Francis’ Body to Be Taken to St Peter’s Ahead of Funeral 

People gather in St Peter's Square ahead of the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St Peter's Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP)
People gather in St Peter's Square ahead of the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St Peter's Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP)

Pope Francis' body was due to be moved to St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday to allow Catholic faithful to pay their final respects ahead of a funeral expected to bring US President Donald Trump and dozens of other world leaders to Rome.

Francis, a groundbreaking reformer, died at 88 on Monday from a stroke and cardiac arrest, ending an often turbulent 12-year reign in which he repeatedly clashed with traditionalists and championed the poor and marginalized.

His body, lying in an open casket, was set to be taken from the chapel of the Vatican residence where he lived to St Peter's, entering through the central door, in a grand procession starting at 9 a.m. (0700 GMT), with cardinals and Latin chants.

Long queues of people formed around the Vatican ahead of the procession, which will be followed by a religious service in the basilica. The faithful and the general public will then be allowed to visit the late pontiff until 7 p.m. on Friday.

A funeral is scheduled for Saturday morning in St Peter's Square, due to be led by the dean of the college of cardinals, 91-year-old Giovanni Battista Re.

At least 200,000 people are expected to attend the outdoor service, the head of Italy's civil protection agency, Fabio Ciciliano, told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Trump, who clashed repeatedly with the pope on immigration, will be accompanied by first lady Melania. Leaders from Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Ukraine, EU institutions and Francis' home nation of Argentina also confirmed their presence.

CONCLAVE NOT FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS

Francis asked to be buried in St Mary Major, a Roman basilica he was particularly attached to, rather than St Peter's like many of his predecessors, with a simple inscription of his name in Latin, Franciscus.

On Tuesday, the Vatican released images of the late pope dressed in his vestments, holding a rosary, with Swiss Guards standing beside his casket. Dignitaries, including Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Jewish leaders, came to visit.

His death, which came after he had appeared in public the previous day, still frail after a bout of double pneumonia and a five-week hospital stay that ended on March 23, set in motion ancient rituals.

About 60 cardinals had gathered on Tuesday to decide funeral plans, with more meetings due in the coming days on other urgent business.

The conclave, which will choose the new pope, is not expected to start before May 6. There is no clear frontrunner to succeed Francis, although British bookmakers have singled out Luis Antonio Tagle, a reformer from the Philippines, and Pietro Parolin, from Italy, as early favorites.

In the meantime, in the period known as the "sede vacante" (vacant seat) for the global Catholic Church, a cardinal known as the camerlengo (chamberlain), Irish-American Kevin Farrell, is in charge of ordinary affairs.