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FARMING

Pope Francis statue unveiled – in potato field

The first-ever statue of Pope Francis has been unveiled in a potato field near Naples - an unorthodox homage to the fact that the Argentine pope's ancestors were farmers in northern Italy.

Published: 21 May 2013 10:28 CEST
Pope Francis statue unveiled - in potato field
Photo: Mario Laporta/AFP

The statue will be presented to the pope next month by Italian actor Barbato De Stefano, who comes from the village of Cicciano where it was presented and has financed the project.

"The poverty of my village is a treasure for the community in which I was born and grew up," said De Stefano, who praised the pope's own modest demeanour saying he had "pierced people's hearts".

The primitive-style statue was shown on Sunday, with a painted background of the balcony of St Peter's Basilica on which the pope stood after his election at a conclave of cardinals in March.

De Stefano said that next month he will present the pope with the statue, which has as its background the balcony of St Peter's Basilica on which the pope stood after his election in March.

The 76-year-old pope was formerly the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio.

Like many Italians, his parents emigrated to Argentina between the First and Second World Wars.

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POLITICS

France vows to block EU-South America trade deal in current form

France has vowed to prevent a trade deal between the European Union and the South American Mercosur bloc from being signed with its current terms, as the country is rocked by farmer protests.

Published: 31 January 2024 15:46 CET
France vows to block EU-South America trade deal in current form

The trade deal, which would include agricultural powers Argentina and Brazil, is among a litany of complaints by farmers in France and elsewhere in Europe who have been blocking roads to demand better conditions for their sector.

They fear it would further depress their produce prices amid increased competition from exporting nations that are not bound by strict and costly EU environmental laws.

READ ALSO Should I cancel my trip to France because of farmers’ protests?

“This Mercosur deal, as it stands, is not good for our farmers. It cannot be signed as is, it won’t be signed as is,” Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire told broadcasters CNews and Europe 1.

The European Commission acknowledged on Tuesday that the conditions to conclude the deal with Mercosur, which also includes Paraguay and Uruguay, “are not quite there yet”.

The talks, however, are continuing, the commission said.

READ ALSO 5 minutes to understand French farmer protests

President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that France opposes the deal because it “doesn’t make Mercosur farmers and companies abide by the same rules as ours”.

The EU and the South American nations have been negotiating since 2000.

The contours of a deal were agreed in 2019, but a final version still needs to be ratified.

The accord aims to cut import tariffs on – mostly European – industrial and pharmaceutical goods, and on agricultural products.

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