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☆ Polish bishop resigns amid alleged sex scandal at diocese
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Lindsay Isaac | Antonia Mortensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Vatican has accepted the resignation of a Polish bishop who stepped down after a sex scandal involving clergy from his diocese in the southern Polish city of Sosnowiec. According to Poland’s state news agency, the parish has been hit by a string of scandals over the past few years involving priests under the administration of Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak. The allegations that precipitated the bishop’s resignation are connected to an incident in September, widely reported in Polish media, in which a priest identified as Fr. Tomasza Z allegedly hosted several other priests and a male prostitute at his apartment. Tomasza Z has since been dismissed, according to PAP.

Persons: Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak, Kaszak, Nunciature, “, Father Francis, Bishop of Sosnowiec, Adrian Galbas, Tomasza, Tomasza Z Organizations: CNN, of Locations: Polish, Sosnowiec, of Sosnowiec, Katowice

☆ Women Will Vote at a Vatican Meeting for the First Time
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Elisabetta Povoledo | More About Elisabetta Povoledo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Helena Jeppesen-Spuhler, an advocate for the ordination of women, joined a major Vatican meeting this month, she was skeptical that an institution dominated by men for 2,000 years was ready to listen to women like her. The gathering of some 300 bishops from around the world also included for the first time 70 lay people, women among them, who have voting rights. As the confidential meeting approaches its end on Oct. 29, Ms. Jeppesen-Spuhler said she has been pleasantly surprised. Some clerics — priests, bishops and cardinals — openly supported the advancement of women, she said. There had been “really good discussions,” Ms. Jeppesen-Spuhler said, adding, “It hasn’t been the women against the bishops and cardinals.

Persons: Helena Jeppesen, Pope Francis, Spuhler, —, ” Ms, It’s, ” Organizations: Roman Catholic Church

☆ The Incoherence of Pope Francis
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( William Mcgurn | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Main Street: Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai goes to jail—and Pope Francis says nothing. (12/07/20) Images: Reuters/Zuma Press Composite: Mark KellyPope Francis called President Biden on Sunday to talk about Gaza. The papal phone call came amid Israel’s public criticism of the Vatican’s tendency to treat the Israel Defense Forces as morally equivalent to the Hamas terrorists who targeted, attacked and butchered unarmed Israeli civilians. Israel’s irritation was kicked off by a joint statement on Oct. 7, the day of the Hamas attack, from the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem. But the statement didn’t name Hamas, and it called for the “cessation of all violent and military activities that bring harm to both Palestinian and Israeli civilians.”

Persons: Hong, Jimmy Lai, —, Pope Francis, Mark Kelly Pope Francis, Biden, Jerusalem, “, ” Organizations: Zuma, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Gaza, Jerusalem

☆ Polish bishop resigns after priestly sex party scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WARSAW, Oct 24 (Reuters) - A Polish bishop, whose diocese was reportedly the scene of a sex party organised by priests at which Polish media say a male prostitute collapsed after taking erectile dysfunction pills, has resigned, the Vatican said on Tuesday. The statement did not give a reason for the resignation of Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak, saying only that the pope had accepted it. According to Polish media reports, a male prostitute collapsed at the party after taking too many erectile dysfunction pills. The priest who hosted the party in his apartment, named as Tomasz Z, was eventually dismissed, according to the state-run news agency PAP. The diocese said his behaviour was "a cause of great scandal for the faithful and justified indignation of public opinion", PAP reported.

Persons: Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak, Kaszak, Tomasz Z, Alan Charlish, Alvise Armellini, David Holmes Organizations: Gazeta Wyborcza, Thomson Locations: WARSAW, Kaszak's, Poland, Dabrowa Gornicza, Warsaw, Rome

☆ Pope Calls for More Aid for Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

"I think about the serious humanitarian situation in Gaza and it pains me that the Anglican hospital and the Greek Orthodox parish were also hit in recent days," the pope said following his recitation of the noon Angelus prayer at the Vatican. He appealed "for humanitarian aid to continue to arrive and that the hostages may be released...War is always a defeat; it is a destruction of human brotherhood."

Locations: Gaza

☆ Pope Francis and Biden Discuss Israel-Hamas War
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Pope Francis spoke with President Biden by phone on Sunday, after the pope called for the continued flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages. The two talked for about 20 minutes, according to the Vatican, discussing “situations of conflict in the world and the need to identify paths to peace." The White House said Biden discussed his efforts "to ensure delivery of food, medicine, and other humanitarian assistance to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza."

Persons: Pope Francis, Biden Organizations: Gaza Locations: Gaza

The White House reported Biden's separate calls with the Western leaders, Netanyahu and Pope Francis amid growing fears that the Israel-Hamas war could mushroom into a wider Middle East conflict as Israel pounded Gaza and clashes on its border with Lebanon intensified. It was not immediately clear why Biden's call with the Western leaders did not include Japan. U.S. President Joe Biden has demonstrated unwavering support for Israel's security over a half century in public life. Biden and the Catholic leader discussed "the need to prevent escalation in the region and to work toward a durable peace in the Middle East," the White House said. Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, Pope Francis, Biden, Read, Andrea Shalal, Kanishka Singh, Nick Zieminski, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Sunday, Hamas, White, Israeli, Thomson Locations: REHOBOTH BEACH , Delaware, Israel, Palestinian, Canada, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Gaza, Lebanon, Japan, Morocco, Tel Aviv, Ukraine, Washington

Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from his window at the Vatican, October 22, 2023. In his call with Pope Francis, Biden, who is a Catholic, condemned the attack by Hamas and affirmed the need to protect civilians in Gaza, the White House said. They also discussed Biden's recent visit to Israel and efforts for delivery of food, medicine, and other humanitarian assistance in Gaza, according to the White House. The pope has several times called for the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack. "Brothers, stop," Pope Francis said.

Persons: Pope Francis, Joe Biden, Biden, Antony Blinken, Francis, Peter's, Pope Francis said, Kanishka Singh, Crispian Balmer, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, WASHINGTON, VATICAN CITY, Sunday, Hamas, White, United, Food Program, Thomson Locations: VATICAN, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, St, Washington, Vatican City

☆ Biden Holds Call With Key Western Allies, Pope to Discuss Israel-Hamas War
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

The White House reported Biden's separate calls with the Western leaders, Netanyahu and Pope Francis amid growing fears that the Israel-Hamas war could mushroom into a wider Middle East conflict as Israel pounded Gaza and clashes on its border with Lebanon intensified. It was not immediately clear why Biden's call with the Western leaders did not include Japan. Biden convened a virtual meeting of the G7 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Biden and the Catholic leader discussed "the need to prevent escalation in the region and to work toward a durable peace in the Middle East," the White House said. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Lisa Shumaker)

Persons: Andrea Shalal, Kanishka Singh, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, Pope Francis, Biden, Nick Zieminski, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Reuters, Sunday, Hamas, White Locations: Kanishka Singh REHOBOTH BEACH , Delaware, Israel, Palestinian, Canada, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Gaza, Lebanon, Japan, Morocco, Ukraine, Washington

☆ Pope Francis may attend global climate talks in Dubai
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pope Francis leads the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, October 18, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Pope Francis may attend the COP28 climate conference starting next month in Dubai, Vatican sources say, to drive home his recent appeal for action to curb global warming. It would be the first time a pope has attended a U.N. climate change conference since they began in 1995. Other Vatican sources put the probability that the pope would go to the Nov. 30-Dec. 12 event as high as 90 percent. Failure in Dubai, Francis said in the document, "will be a great disappointment and jeopardize whatever good has been achieved thus far".

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Joe Biden, Sultan al, Jaber, Philip Pullella, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, CITY, State, Reuters, Catholic, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Dubai, Vatican, Rome, el, Sheikh, Egypt, Glasgow, Scotland, Mongolia, French, Marseilles

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Two Vatican trials are coming to a head this week and posing uncomfortable questions for the Holy See, given they both underscore Pope Francis’ power as an absolute monarch and the legal, financial and reputational problems that can arise when he wields it. The rationale: The pope hired Milone and then wanted him out, and the court has no right to judge his decisions. For Vatican prosecutors, that amounted to extortion. The Vatican is the lone absolute monarchy left in Europe, with Francis wielding supreme legislative, executive and judicial power. While he delegates that power on a day-to-day basis, he is still pope and what he says goes.

Persons: Pope Francis ’, Libero Milone, Francis, “, ”, Milone, Vatican, Gianluigi, Rene Bruelhart, Tommaso Di Ruzza, didn’t, Monsignor Edgar Pena Parra, Torzi, Pena Parra, Bruelhart, Filippo Dinacci, Di Ruzza, Roberto Borgogno, Di Ruzza's, –, Filippo Di Giacomo, Francis ’ Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Vatican, ” Prosecutors, Prosecutors, Islamic, RAI Locations: London, British, Torzi, Britain, Luxembourg, Vatican, Europe

☆ Nicaragua sends Catholic priests to Rome after talks with Vatican
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 18 (Reuters) - Nicaragua sent a dozen Catholic priests who had been "processed" by judicial authorities to Rome on Wednesday, the government said, the latest action, a critic said, in a government crackdown on the church. President Daniel Ortega has at times accused Catholic church leaders of seeking to overthrow his government, while judicial authorities have arrested priests and accused some of committing treason, among other crimes. An exiled Nicaraguan researcher who publishes records of what she describes as the persecution of the Catholic Church under Ortega said sending the priests to Rome was a "forced removal." The researcher, Martha Patricia Molina, accused Ortega of seeking to "strangle and disappear" the church with such action. Bishop Rolando Alvarez, perhaps Ortega's most prominent Catholic critic, was this year sentenced to a 26-year jail term on treason charges, but was not among the 12 priests the government sent to Rome.

Persons: Stringer, Daniel Ortega, Ortega, Martha Patricia Molina, Bishop Rolando Alvarez, Valentine Hilaire, David Alire Garcia, Christopher Cushing, Robert Birsel Organizations: Metropolitan Cathedral, REUTERS, Catholic, Thomson Locations: Managua, Nicaragua, Rome, Italy, Nicaraguan, United States

France, where Ryanair serves cities such as Marseille and Bordeaux, has floated proposals for a minimum ticket price in an effort to reduce pollution from aviation. The French price proposal, which EU officials said has drawn some support from the Netherlands and Belgium, got short shrift from senior Ryanair executive Eddie Wilson. Having established a strong position in large parts of Western Europe, Ryanair is now looking east to countries such as Poland for further growth. Europe's main airlines lobby group expressed relief and called on more European coordination to support the sector. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr has said a stronger ITA will reinvigorate competition in the Italian market but Ryanair's Wilson is unperturbed, describing ITA as a sideshow.

Persons: Eddie Wilson, Wilson, Andrea Giuricin, Giorgia, Giuseppe Cocuzza, Ourania Georgoutsakou, Carsten Spohr, Ryanair's Wilson, Rome Fiumicino, Sacbo, Angelo Amante, Keith Weir, Joanna Plucinska, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Ryanair, Europe's, European Union, Ryanair DAC, Alitalia, TRA Consulting, European Commission, Airlines for, ITA, Lufthansa, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Thomson Locations: Italy, ROME, France, Marseille, Bordeaux, Sicily, Sardinia, Netherlands, Belgium, Europe, Western Europe, Poland, Rome, Catania, Airlines for Europe, Bergamo, Milan, Malpensa, Brescia, London

☆ A Columbus Letter Beloved by Thieves and Forgers Hits the Market
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Julia Jacobs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The last time Christie’s sold a copy of a famed 15th-century pamphlet announcing Christopher Columbus’s first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean was in 1992, and it did not end well. It later emerged that the document had been stolen, and it was eventually repatriated to Italy. The pamphlet Christie’s is auctioning off on Thursday comes from an anonymous private collection in Switzerland. This one, it says, has been investigated relentlessly to ensure it was neither stolen nor forged. He said that Christie’s had “covered all the bases” to authenticate this copy of the oft-stolen pamphlet.

Persons: Christie’s, Christopher Columbus’s, ”, Jay Dillon Locations: Italy, Spain, Switzerland, New Jersey

☆ He visited every country in the world — without flying. Here's how much it cost
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Danish traveler Torbjorn Pedersen says he is the first person to visit every country in the world — without flying. The best and worst timesPedersen had planned to stay in Hong Kong for about a week when he arrived in January 2020. Pedersen spent the most time in Hong Kong, staying 772 days because of the Covid -19 pandemic. "I feel more at home in Hong Kong than I do in Copenhagen, " he said. Torbjorn Pedersen

Persons: Torbjorn Pedersen, Pedersen, Ross, Selena Wright, I've, Torbjorn Pedersen Pedersen, it’s Organizations: CNBC, Ross Energy, United Nations Locations: Singapore, Bolivia, Hong Kong, Vatican City, Copenhagen, Cameroon, Congo, Denmark, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Solomon

☆ Pope Francis Warns of Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

"The victims are increasing and the situation in Gaza is desperate," the pope said during his weekly public audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. "War does not solve any problem," he said, adding that religious believers can "take only one side in this conflict, that of peace, but not in words, but with prayer, with total dedication." The pope said that he had dedicated Oct. 27 a day of "fasting and prayer of penance" for peace.

Locations: Gaza, St

☆ Pope Deplores 'Desperate' Situation in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday deplored the "desperate" situation in Gaza as he urged the faithful to take "only one side" in the Israel-Hamas conflict, "the side of peace." Speaking during his weekly audience in St Peter's Square, Francis did not explicitly mention the Gaza hospital strike for which Israelis and Palestinians are blaming each other. He pleaded for all possible efforts "to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe", and said he would lead special prayers for peace in St Peter's Basilica on Oct. 27. (Reporting by Alvise Armellini, editing by Cristina Carlevaro)

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Alvise Armellini, Cristina Carlevaro Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Wednesday Locations: Gaza, Israel, St Peter's

☆ Jerusalem Catholic Patriarch offers to be exchanged for Gaza hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM looks on after being elevated to the rank of cardinal at the Vatican, September 30, 2023. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, made his comment in response to a question during a video conference with journalists in Italy. Diplomatic efforts have been intensifying to get aid into Gaza as Israel prepares a ground invasion to destroy Hamas. Pizzaballa said that about 1,000 Christians were sheltering in Church buildings in northern Gaza after their homes were destroyed in Israeli strikes. Hamas, which runs Gaza, has told people to ignore Israel's message.

Persons: Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Yara, Pope Francis, Pizzaballa, Gazans, Philip Pullella, Nick Macfie Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, Hamas, Roman Catholic, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Jerusalem, Italy, Israel, Jordan, Cyprus, Church

☆ Israel Protests Pope Francis' Statement on Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Francis X. Rocca | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

"It is inconceivable that an announcement essentially expressing concern for the residents of Gaza is issued at the same time Israel is burying 1,300 murdered citizens," Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen said in a statement on Sunday evening. Earlier in the day, the pope had called for humanitarian corridors for Gaza and for the release of civilian hostages held by Hamas. Cohen spoke with his Vatican counterpart, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, on Sunday evening, the Israeli foreign ministry said, and called on the Vatican to unequivocally condemn the attacks. On Monday, the pope's representative in the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, said that he was willing to offer himself in exchange for Israeli children being held hostage.

Persons: Eli Cohen, Cohen, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa Organizations: Foreign, Vatican Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ Pope Francis Calls for Humanitarian Corridors for Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Pope Francis appealed for humanitarian corridors in Gaza as Israel prepares to invade the enclave. Speaking after his noon prayer at the Vatican on Sunday, the pope asked that "children, the sick, the elderly, women and all civilians not be victims of the conflict." The pope also repeated his call for the release of hostages held by Hamas. "Brothers and sisters, many have already died," Francis said. "Please, let no more innocent blood be shed, neither in the Holy Land, nor in Ukraine or anywhere else.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis Locations: Gaza, Israel, Ukraine

☆ Vatican Says It's Ready to Mediate Between Israel and Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Vatican said it was ready to mediate between Hamas and Israel to prevent further violence and facilitate the return of hostages held by Hamas. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, told Vatican media on Friday that the attacks on Israel by Hamas were "inhuman" and he echoed Pope Francis' call for the freeing of Israeli hostages held by the militant group. But he also called for negotiations and for Israel to limit itself to a proportional response in Gaza.

Persons: Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis Organizations: Vatican Locations: Israel, Gaza

☆ Pope Urges Release of All Hamas Hostages, Concerned by Gaza Siege
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday called on militant Islamist group Hamas to release all hostages captured during its weekend attack on Israel, while expressing grave concerns about the "total" Israeli siege imposed on Gaza. "I pray for those families who saw a feast day turn into a day of mourning, and I ask that the hostages be immediately released," he said during his weekly audience. Referring to Israel's response to Hamas, Francis said: "It is the right of those who are attacked to defend themselves, but I am very worried by the total siege in which Palestinians in Gaza live, where there have also been many innocent victims."

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis said Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza

[1/2] Pope Francis looks on as he leads the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, October 11, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Pope Francis, in his strongest comments since the start of the conflict in Gaza, on Wednesday called for the release of all hostages taken by Hamas militants and said Israel has a right to defend itself. On Saturday, Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip rampaged through parts of southern Israel, in the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in Israel's history. The pope's mention of Israel's right to self defence followed diplomatic pressure from Israel for him to make such a statement, following earlier statements from the pope and Vatican officials which Israel saw as too timid. But I would like to hear stronger words about Israel's right to defend itself."

Persons: Pope Francis, Remo Casilli, Israel, Raphael Schutz, Francis, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Gaza, St, Israel, Palestine, Rome

☆ Pura Luka Vega: drag queen arrested after Jesus performance sparks backlash in the Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The Philippines is a deeply Christian country and the Catholic Church maintains significant influence both in daily life and politics. Social media videos of drag queen Pura Luka Vega singing to a rock version of The Lord's Prayer while dressed as Jesus became a topic of debate in the Philippines. Multiple politicians, including senators, also went on Philippine television shows to criticize the drag artist’s performance, calling it blasphemous, disrespectful and offensive. ‘Denied my rights’The drag artist has previously apologized to those who “felt uncomfortable” about their performance. But Secillano stopped short of commenting whether the church viewed Pagente’s arrest as the right thing to do to defend the faith.

Persons: Jesus Christ, Amadeus Fernando Pagente, Pura Luka Vega, “, belting, revellers, Jesus, Christian Manalon, Pagente, Hijos Del, Lord Jesus, Father Jerome Secillano, ”, Secillano, Carlos Conde, Vega, –, ” Conde, Rod Singh, Singh, ” Singh Organizations: CNN, Catholic Church, Pura Luka, Catholic, Del, Black Nazarene, Nazarene, CNN Philippines, Catholic Bishops ’ Conference of, Human Rights Watch, Amazon Prime Locations: Philippines, Manila, Del Nazareno, Mexico, Quezon City, Hijos Del Nazareno, Philippine, Vatican City

Rarely in recent times has a Vatican gathering generated as much hope, hype and fear as this three-week, closed-door meeting, known as a synod. But it nevertheless has drawn an acute battle line in the church’s perennial left-right divide and marks a defining moment for Francis and his reform agenda. Even before it started, the gathering was historic because Francis decided to let women and laypeople vote alongside bishops in any final document produced. While they have secured some high-profile positions in the Vatican and local churches around the globe, the male hierarchy still runs the show. Asked specifically about church blessings for same-sex unions, Francis suggested they could be allowed as long as such benedictions aren’t confused with sacramental marriage.

Persons: — Pope Francis, Francis, Francis ’, “, ”, JoAnn Lopez, Lopez, Cardinal Raymond Burke, ” Burke, Cardinal Robert Sarah, Burke, Francis didn’t Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Catholic Church, Catholic Locations: Indian, Seattle, Toronto, U.S, ”

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