03/14/2013
PRI’s The World: 03/14/2013 (Vatican City, Nepal, Argentina)
Pope Francis’s first full day, we hear about what he and the Catholic Church did during Argentina’s Dirty War. Also, can the slime of hagfish become the coveted material of future fashion? Plus, saying “I do” over an Internet connection.
Pope Francis and Argentina’s Dirty War
The new Pope, formerly Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was head of the Jesuit Order in Argentina during much of that nation’s darkest episode, the so-called Dirty War in the 1970s and early ’80s. That has led to some uncomfortable questions there about his role.
Pope Francis is a Diehard Fan of Buenos Aires Soccer Team San Lorenzo
Fans of the San Lorenzo professional soccer team in Buenos Aires are ecstatic about the new pope. The former Cardinal Bergoglio is a longtime fan of San Lorenzo. Anchor Marco Werman gets the details from The World’s William Troop.
Cartoon Slideshow: Satirists Welcome the New Pope
Electing a new pope is a solemn affair but now that he’s been elected (and it is still a ‘he’), well, Pope Francis is fair game for satirists. In this selection of cartoonists’ first impressions, look for white smoke in the shape of a continent, a reference to tango and more than one allusion to another Argentinian who has touched the hand of God. Hint: he played soccer.
Hugo Chavez and the Vatican
Venezuela’s interim President Nicholas Maduro, suggested that the late president Hugo Chavez might have “influenced” the selection of a Latin American pope from “his perch in heaven.” But during his lifetime, Chavez ridiculed Catholic leaders in Venezuela, saying they opposed his socialist revolution.
Papa Francisco! US Latinos Welcome New Pope But Big Hurdles Ahead
As word spread about the new Pope, many Latino Catholics in the US celebrated the historic choice of a pontiff from Argentina. But it is also clear that, just like in Latin America, the Catholic monopoly over Latin America immigrants is also shrinking, especially as evangelical churches and Pentecostal congregations rise.
Hagfish Slime Could Provide Fibers for Future Eco-Friendly Clothes
Hagfish are eel-like creatures that live at the bottom of the ocean. They defend themselves from predators by producing a thick, suffocating slime. Scientists in Canada have found that this slime contains natural fibers that may offer clues to making the eco-friendly clothing of the future.
International Media in Kenya Walk Fine Line
Kenyan authorities have announced a crackdown on foreign media, limiting who can cover events in the country and imposing new rules for credentials. Mukoma Wa Ngugi of Cornell University, tells anchor Marco Werman that western journalists can do more to offer nuanced coverage of Kenya.
‘Girl Rising’ Film Shows How Educating Girls Can Break the Cycle of Poverty
If you can provide a girl in a developing country with just a few years of education, you can break the cycle of poverty in a way that reverberates throughout a community.
Jerusalem Eats: Where America’s Foodie President Might Want to Dine in the Holy City
President Barack Obama makes his first presidential visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories next week. He arrives just ahead of the Jewish high holiday of Passover, and he’s pledged to keep kosher. There are, of course, plenty of eateries in Jerusalem where the POTUS might eat. The World’s Matthew Bell takes a look at where the president might go – and what he might miss.
Proxy Marriage: International Couples Getting Hitched Online
A growing number of couples especially in immigrant communities are getting hitched over the Internet. New York Times reporter Sarah Maslin Nir tells The World about a recent online proxy marriage of a Bangladeshi couple she attended.
Why the Pope Might Like New Music from Boogat
If Pope Francis is aiming to reach out to younger members of the flock, we strongly recommend he also check out some of the newer music coming out of his home city. Try Boogat for starters. Even though Boogat is from Quebec, he’s been a hot number on the electro-latino circuit in Buenos Aires.
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