Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, April 23 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Why there is no chance of a Slovak becoming Pope
Pope Francis celebrating a an open air Mass in Šaštín, western Slovakia, on September 15, 2021. (source: TASR)
Soon after the death of Pope Francis was announced, names of future popes have started circulating. According to Sme daily, one thing is almost certain: there is no chance that the next Pope will be of Slovak origin.
There are several reasons for that.
The pope will be elected by 135 cardinal electors under the age of 80. The process is expected to begin by May 10. Theoretically, even a baptised lay person can become a pope; however, it has so far been mostly cardinals.
That's the crux: currently, there is not a single Slovak among them. So far, six cardinals have come from the territory of Slovakia, with the latter two - Ján Korec and Jozef Tomek - being the most known to current Slovaks. Neither is alive anymore.
The daily talked to Slovak bishops, theologists and priests. They agree in that Pope Francis appointed mainly dignitaries from countries outside Europe as cardinals. It would seem that he did not have close relations with any of the Slovak bishops that would elevate them to the College of Cardinals. Even when he visited Slovakia in 2021, it was more because then president Zuzana Čaputová invited him, rather than because of Conference of Bishops of Slovakia (KBS).
In addition, Slovakia is small, has no historically significant church seats unlike its neighbouring countries, such as Kraków in Poland or Esztergom in Hungary.
Also, priest Marián Prachár based in Rusovce near Bratislava and theologian Jozef Žuffa argue that the Catholic Church in Slovakia has not been present when global church issues were discussed, and that Francis was, theologically, in different place than Slovak church dignitaries.
Mass: On Thursday, April 24, a holy mass for Pope Francis will be held at St. Martin's Cathedral in Bratislava at 18:00.
State mourning: In order to show great respect for the late Pope, Saturday, April 26 was chosen as a day of state mourning to coincide with the funeral of the Pope. It will last from 8:00 to 20:00. State flags will fly at half-mast until the end of the state mourning, according to the Interior Ministry.
Funeral: President Peter Pellegrini confirmed he will attend the funeral of late Pope Francis. According to PM Robert Fico (Smer), the government is of the opinion that it too should send a representative, which will probably be Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár (Smer), unless someone else is picked. Figures from the Slovak Catholic Church will also be present at the funeral.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
LIVING OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL: Many young couples dream of starting a family and raising children in house with a garden. In fact, high real estate prices in the capital drive them out to the Bratislava hinterland. But they soon find that reality is somewhat different.
EXPLORE BRATISLAVA: This weekend, Bratislava City Days offer the best way to explore the capital, with dozens upon dozens of mostly free events awaiting visitors.
BUSINESS: Employers face growing burden from state-imposed benefits like sports and meal vouchers, the think tank INESS claims.
SOMETHING TO REMEMBER: A mangled ambulance is standing on a plinth outside Bratislava's Old Market Hall these days, its windows shattered, roof collapsed, interior scorched. Once a mobile lifeline on Ukraine's eastern front, it was was destroyed by a Russian drone strike.
TRAVEL: Not long ago, a narrow stone corridor in north-western Slovakia called Manínska Tiesňava was utterly impassable. Today, it is one of the country's most extraordinary natural landmarks.
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SLOVAK SCIENCE
Jurassic amber with insect in Slovakia
Details of the insect inclusion in the amber. (source: Archive of P. V.)
When Jurassic Park roared its way into cinemas in 1993, it did not just leave a lasting impression on a whole generation of researchers; it sparked a new generation of dinophiles as well. And with it, whether the science was real.
At the time, there were three main scientific objections to it. Now, Slovak scientists lead an international team that discovered an amber containing an insect from the Jurassic Period, tearing down two objections. But do not expect to see dinosaurs roaming your neighbourhood.
EVENT FOR THIS WEEK
The Slovak Film Week
The Kino Lumiere cinema. (source: TASR)
The Kino Lumiere cinema in Bratislava is holding the Slovak Film Week until April 27, showcasing the work of the country's cinematography from the past year, including documentaries, feature and animated films. Many also have English subtitles. Find out more here.
IN OTHER NEWS
Due to pneumonia, Canadian ice-hockey coach Craig Ramsay is unable to lead the Slovak national team in the current preparation phase for the upcoming world championship and will miss the event altogether. At the moment, Vladimír Országh is leading the team in his place. According to the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation, Ramsay is feeling better and is grateful for the support he has received from fans. On Thursday and Friday, the Slovak national team will faceoff against the Czech national team in Ostrava, Czechia.
According to a new survey, 54 percent of Czechs consider Slovakia an ally. Still, the latter placed higher than Baltic States (47 percent), Hungary (30 percent), US (28 percent). At the same time, more Czechs view Poland, Germany, France, even Great Britain as an ally. The survey also showed that 35 percent of Czechs perceive Slovakia as a necesary partner, 2 percent see it as an adversary, with the remainder unable to say. This stems from a survey conducted by the Centre for Public Opinion Research and the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences in March on a sample of 1,037 people. (SITA)
The government approved the deployment of up to 50 soldiers to help monitor the situation in regards to brown bears. The measure will remain in effect until October 31. They will be equipped with weapons and other material and provide support to the Environment Ministry. In early April, Slovakia declared emergency after a bear killed a man. The government also approved the culling of 350 animals. (TASR)
Health Minister Kamil Šaško (Hlas) has been tasked with requesting the Biomedical Centre of the Slovak Academy of Sciences to prepare a report on Covid-19 vaccines in Slovakia and provide an expert opinion on the impact of substances in the vaccines on the human body. In addition, the minister is to stop accepting more Covid-19 vaccines until the results of the report are known. Slovakia is to obtain 300,000 more vaccines. According to PM Robert Fico (Smer), "an opinion presented by a registered expert points to an excessive amount of DNA and other substances in the vaccines used in Slovakia". This is a referrence to MP and pandemic investigator Peter Kotlár, a known conspiracy theorist who has claimed that the vaccines contain genetic material capable of altering human DNA and likened vaccinated Slovaks to modified corn. Kotlár has not yet shown the results of his report, but the government ordered him to do so by June 30. Education Minister Tomáš Drucker (Hlas) supports the move, but at the same time has said that Kotlár has yet to show anything after almost year and half in the post. If he fails to do so, Hlas will want his dismissal, according to Drucker. Opposition Progressive Slovakia criticised the move, saying Fico is pandering to Kotlár to keep the coalition together, which has a tight majority in the parliament. (TASR)
President of the New York Press Photographers Association, Bruce Cotler, awarded director of Slovak Press Photo, Jana Garvoldtová, a commemorative plaque to mark her induction as its member. According to Garvoldtová, she is the first European woman to be accepted. "This moment of pride is a milestone not only for me, but also for Slovakia, which with this success proves once again that Slovak culture and art have something to offer the global community," she said. The exhibition Slovak Press Photo 2024 is open until April 25 in the Slovak General Consulate in New York. (TASR)
The first rental apartment building on Muchovo Námestie square in Bratislava's Petržalka borough, managed by the capital city, has been approved, adding 103 apartments to the city's housing stock. The first tenants could move in at the turn of May and June. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Cloudy to overcast skies, expect showers, rain and storms. Daily temperatures will rise to between 18°C to 24°C. Level 1 storm warning issued for western and central Slovakia. (SHMÚ)
APRIL 24 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Juraj
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