(Vatican Radio) A referendum was held on Monday in the Republic of Azerbaijan on proposed constitutional changes regarding presidential powers and term limits, just days ahead of Pope Francis' Apostolic Journey to the country.Listen to Devin Watkins' report: The proposed changes to the Azerbaijani constitution included raising presidential term limits from five to seven years and granting the president the right to disband parliament.Voting on Tuesday wrapped up at 7 pm and initial counting showed a high turnout of around 70 percent of eligible voters.Azerbaijan’s Central Election Commission chief, Mazahir Panahov, said that with nearly three-quarters of the ballots counted, over 90 percent of voters supported the extension of the presidential term.President Ilham Aliyev assumed the top office in October of 2003 and is the 4th president of the country since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.Officials say referendum results will be announced by Octo...
(Vatican Radio) A referendum was held on Monday in the Republic of Azerbaijan on proposed constitutional changes regarding presidential powers and term limits, just days ahead of Pope Francis' Apostolic Journey to the country.
Listen to Devin Watkins' report:
The proposed changes to the Azerbaijani constitution included raising presidential term limits from five to seven years and granting the president the right to disband parliament.
Voting on Tuesday wrapped up at 7 pm and initial counting showed a high turnout of around 70 percent of eligible voters.
Azerbaijan’s Central Election Commission chief, Mazahir Panahov, said that with nearly three-quarters of the ballots counted, over 90 percent of voters supported the extension of the presidential term.
President Ilham Aliyev assumed the top office in October of 2003 and is the 4th president of the country since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Officials say referendum results will be announced by October 21st.
Pope Francis is due to visit Azerbaijan this Sunday following his Apostolic Journey to Georgia.
It will be the Holy Father’s 16th pastoral visit and will focus on the themes of peace and solidarity, following on the message of peace that he took with him to the neighbouring Republic of Armenia last June.
null / Credit: Peter Hermes Furian via ShutterstockACI Prensa Staff, Apr 19, 2024 / 15:00 pm (CNA).The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) on April 19 condemned the kidnapping and murder of a catechist in Burkina Faso, West Africa.In a news brief, ACN informed ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, that catechist Edouard Yougbare was kidnapped on Thursday night by "terrorists, and his lifeless body was found near Zigni this morning."According to other local sources, along with Yougbare, who was a member of Saatenga parish in Fada Gourma, Burkina Faso, more people were kidnapped and murdered."We are heartbroken by the loss of Yougbare. He served his community faithfully and his death is a devastating blow for the people of Saatenga," lamented Spaniard María Lozano, press and public relations director of ACN International."Catechists in Burkina Faso are on the front lines, risking their lives for the good of their people. Just two months ago, ano...
Pope Francis addresses the faithful at his Wednesday general audience on March 27, 2024. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Apr 19, 2024 / 10:07 am (CNA).In the latest move in Pope Francis' reform of the Vatican judiciary, the pope issued a new motu proprio on Friday on the retirement age and benefits for cardinal judges and magistrates in the Vatican's court system.The April 19 motu proprio states that Vatican magistrates will retire at the end of the judicial year in which they turn 75 and cardinal judges at the age of 80, unless Pope Francis asks them to remain in office beyond the age limit.Magistrates and judges who wish to resign from office before the retirement age can only do so with the approval of the pope.The pope also has the prerogative to dismiss magistrates unable to fulfill their duties at any time. Upon the termination of their duties, magistrates will retain the rights to assistance and welfare provided to Vatican citizens and employees.The motu proprio, wh...
Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski of Krakow announced on April 14, 2024, the decision to begin the process of beatification and canonization of Helena Agnieszka Kmiec, a young lay missionary murdered in Bolivia in 2017. / Credit: The Helena Kmiec FoundationACI Prensa Staff, Apr 19, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski of Krakow, Poland, announced the decision to begin the process of beatification and canonization of Helena Agnieszka Kmiec, a young lay missionary murdered in Bolivia in 2017.The prelate said that after the preliminary phase began in December 2022, he made the decision to officially open the process for Kmiec after having consulted the Polish Bishops' Conference and receiving the go-ahead from the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints."With this edict I call on all those who have any document, letter, or information about the Servant of God, both positive and negative, to send them to the Metropolitan Curia of Krakow before June 30," the archbish...
