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Mourners shout in defiance at funeral for Alexei Navalny

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Hundreds of individuals in Russia gathered for the funeral of Alexei Navalny, the outspoken Putin critic who died in prison last month. Despite a substantial police presence and erected barricades, mourners broke into applause as Navalny’s body was brought into a church near Moscow. Attendees knowingly risked arrest for expressing support, while Navalny’s wife squarely pointed the finger at President Putin for his demise, contrary to Moscow’s claim of natural causes.

Navalny’s memorial service commenced at 14:00 Moscow time at the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Quench My Sorrows, with notable foreign diplomats present in solidarity. Following the service, Navalny was laid to rest at Borisovskoye Cemetery. Despite efforts to broadcast the event live, disruptions to mobile signals hindered streaming, leaving many unable to witness the proceedings.

Despite warnings from the Kremlin, mourners seized the opportunity to voice their admiration for Navalny’s bravery and questioned the authorities’ apparent fear. Navalny’s team encountered challenges in organizing the funeral, including difficulties in procuring a hearse. Supporters abroad were urged to participate in memorial services, reminiscent of past public displays of grief for opposition figures.

Concerns about surveillance and the potential for post-funeral detentions were widespread, with social media platforms sharing advice urging attendees to exercise caution. The gathering was marked by a sense of defiance against government crackdowns on dissent.

Navalny’s immediate family, excluding his children residing abroad, attended the ceremony. However, his widow, Yulia, faced potential arrest upon her return to Russia, further underscoring the risks associated with opposition activism in the country.

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Alexei Navalny’s funeral to be held on Friday in Moscow

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Alexei Navalny’s burial is confirmed to take place at Borisovskoye Cemetery in Moscow on Friday, following a farewell ceremony at a local church. Yulia Navalnaya, his widow, expressed uncertainty about the funeral’s peacefulness and the potential for police interference.

Navalny, a prominent critic of Vladimir Putin, died unexpectedly in a Siberian prison earlier this month, sparking accusations against the Russian president from his widow and many world leaders. Details surrounding Navalny’s death remain scant, with Russian authorities initially resisting releasing his body to his family.

Funeral arrangements faced obstacles, with some funeral homes refusing service due to the deceased’s identity. Yulia Navalnaya addressed the European Parliament, criticizing Russia’s actions in Ukraine and advocating for a more effective strategy against Putin.

The funeral date was adjusted due to logistical challenges, with Navalny’s team urging attendees to arrive early. Security concerns loom over the event, given recent arrests of those paying tribute to Navalny across Russia. Allegations surfaced of a potential prisoner swap involving Navalny, but the Kremlin denies any knowledge of such arrangements.

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Pope Holds Meeting with Clerical Sexual Abuse Survivors in Portugal

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During his five-day visit to Portugal, Pope Francis held a private meeting with victims of clerical sexual abuse. The Vatican described the gathering, which took place on Wednesday, as an occasion of intense listening. A recent report revealed that at least 4,815 children in Portugal had suffered abuse, and the Church had attempted to systematically cover up the issue.

At an evening service in Lisbon, Pope Francis acknowledged the need for the Church to heed the anguished cries of the victims. He emphasized the importance of a continual process of purification in response to the scandal, which had also led to a growing detachment from practicing the faith among believers.

The meeting was conducted at the Holy See’s diplomatic mission in Portugal and included 13 abuse survivors, lasting for over an hour. Representatives from the Portuguese Church responsible for protecting minors also attended the meeting.

In February, an independent commission established by the Catholic Church in Portugal released a report documenting the experiences of 564 individuals who reported abuse by priests or other Church figures. This study, similar to audits conducted in other regions, covered cases dating back to 1950 and suggested that the actual number of victims could be much higher.

The Pope’s visit to Portugal coincided with World Youth Day, a week-long event organized by the Church every few years in different cities worldwide, celebrating religious and cultural activities.

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Poland Church asks Vatican to investigate child sexual abuse by priests

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The head of Poland’s Roman Catholic Church has requested the Vatican to investigate the cover-up of child sexual abuse by priests.

The request has been made formally by Archbishop Wojciech Polak.

The action has come shortly after a documentary on the subject was released.

The documentary has been circulated widely in the social media. Tens of thousands of people have already watched the video.

The documentary tells the story of two brothers who seek to confront a priest who allegedly abused them as children.

It is not the first time such an allegation has emerged against the church and such a request has been made to the church.

The Vatican is likely to appoint an investigation team to investigate the case.

“Hide and Seek” is already a viral content in the social media. Already the video has been watched around 1.9 million times in YouTube alone.


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Retired Pope strongly opposes Pope Francis’ plan to ease celibacy rules

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Retired Pope Benedict XVI has strongly opposed the, so called, plan of Pope Francis to ease the celibacy rules of the Church.

It is unusual for a retired Pope to comment about the clerical matters of the Church. Not any time before the retired Pope has come out strongly against Pope Francis.

Notably, a book co-authored by the retired Pope is used to launch an indirect attack against the new plan of the serving Pope.

Neither the serving Pope not the Vatican authority has commented yet about the argument projected against the Pope’s latest celibacy policy by the former leader of the Church.

In the coming days, the latest development is likely to trigger more serious debates about whether the celibacy laws of the Church should be relaxed or not.

It is possible for the issue to make a deep divide.

Pope Francis is not likely to make a direct comment against the argument raised by the former Pope in defence of the existing celibacy laws of the Church.

The present Pope is known for his revolutionary policies. Since his induction, he has already brought several significant changes in the Church.

His reputation as a revolutionary leader means the chances are less for him to step back from the new revolutionary policy.


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