The Hear
Flag of spain
22.04.2025

22.04.2025Day Pope's Funeral Announced As Sánchez Increased Military Spending

THE
The Hear Logo
HEAR

This page is an archive of main headlines from Spain for 22.04.2025.

It displays 107 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.

22.04.2025Day Pope's Funeral Announced As Sánchez Increased Military Spending
The Vatican announced Pope Francis's funeral for Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 in St. Peter's Square, highlighting his wishes for a simpler ceremony than Benedict XVI's and burial at Santa María la Mayor instead of the Vatican. Coverage examined the upcoming conclave's dynamics, noting Francis appointed 80% of cardinal electors to ensure his modernization agenda continues.

By midday, Prime Minister Sánchez announced a €10.47 billion defense spending increase to reach NATO's 2% GDP target this year, with details showing only 18.7% for weapons while the rest funds digital security and salary improvements. This plan widened rifts with his coalition allies, with Sumar explicitly rejecting the "exorbitant" military spending increase.

Late afternoon reports revealed Sánchez would skip the Pope's funeral, sending ministers instead – making him the only major country leader absent. Meanwhile, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia confirmed their attendance.
22.04.2025
04:10
05:01

05:45Cardinals Prepare Conclave as Francis's Legacy Hangs in Balance

The newspapers extensively report on the papal succession process following Pope Francis's death. Coverage focuses on the upcoming conclave and its potential outcomes, with analysis of progressive versus conservative factions within the Church (El Mundo, infoLibre, La Vanguardia, El Español). Reports indicate Francis strategically appointed 80% of the cardinal electors to ensure continuation of his modernization agenda (El Español). Several outlets discuss his advocacy for migrants (El País). In domestic news, Judge Peinado visited Moncloa to question a Sánchez aide (El Confidencial, El Plural), while Madrid faces a garbage collectors' strike (El Salto) and student protests have emerged supporting public universities (Público).
08:01

08:37Pope's Funeral Set for Saturday as Succession Battle Looms

The newspapers extensively cover Pope Francis's funeral arrangements, reporting it will take place Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 in St. Peter's Square (La Razón, Público). Reports detail his personal wishes for burial in Santa María la Mayor instead of the Vatican (El Mundo). Media analysis examines the upcoming conclave, noting there are many papal candidates but no clear frontrunner (El Periódico). Several outlets highlight the unusual political reaction to Francis's death, with the left showing more grief while the right remains restrained (El Plural, Libertad Digital). In other news, some coverage explores how banks are operating behind the scenes in Altri's cellulose project in Galicia (El Salto), while sports media discusses VAR controversies in La Liga (20minutos).
09:18
11:22

11:40Spain Boosts Defense Budget by €10.47 Billion

The newspapers extensively report on Prime Minister Sánchez's defense spending increase, with multiple sources highlighting the government's €10.47 billion plan to reach NATO's 2% GDP defense commitment this year (El Periódico, La Marea, Público). Several outlets cover Judge Peinado's investigation at Moncloa, interviewing Sánchez's close aide (El Confidencial, El Plural). Pope Francis's funeral arrangements continue receiving coverage, scheduled for Saturday at 10:00 (RTVE, La Razón). Other stories include growing anger over Sánchez's support for Morocco's expansion plans in Western Sahara (El Salto) and a Seville influencer orchestrating a €500,000 robbery from a businessman (Libertad Digital).
13:05

14:15IMF Slashes Growth Forecasts Due to Trump's Tariff War

The newspapers report on Prime Minister Sánchez's €10.47 billion defense investment plan to reach 2% of GDP this year (El Confidencial, La Marea, Público). Extensive coverage continues of Pope Francis's funeral, scheduled for Saturday at 10:00, with reports that Spanish royalty will attend while Sánchez's office hasn't confirmed his attendance (RTVE, La Razón, 20minutos). Several outlets highlight how the IMF has downgraded global economic growth forecasts due to Trump's tariff policies, cutting world growth by 0.5 points to 2.8% and US growth by 0.9 points (El País, El Periódico).

16:32Sánchez Skips Pope's Funeral While Boosting Defense Budget

The newspapers extensively cover Prime Minister Sánchez's announcement of a €10.47 billion defense spending increase to reach NATO's 2% GDP target this year, with details showing only 18.7% will go toward weapons, while the rest funds digital security and salary improvements (El Español, El Confidencial, infoLibre, La Marea, Público). Multiple outlets report that Sánchez will not attend Pope Francis's funeral this Saturday, with Ministers Montero, Díaz, and Bolaños representing the government instead, making him the only major country leader skipping the event (El Plural, La Razón, 20minutos). The funeral will follow Francis's wishes for a more modest ceremony than Benedict XVI's (El Mundo, RTVE).
19:07

22:11Sánchez's €10.47 Billion Defense Plan Widens Coalition Rift

The newspapers extensively cover Prime Minister Sánchez's defense spending plan, with multiple outlets reporting on the €10.47 billion increase to reach NATO's 2% GDP target this year (El Periódico, El Español, infoLibre, La Marea, Libertad Digital). Several sources note political tensions around the plan, highlighting skepticism about its strategic foundations (El Confidencial) and growing distance between Sánchez and his coalition allies (Público, Libertad Digital). In parallel, coverage continues of Pope Francis's funeral, scheduled for Saturday (RTVE, La Razón, El Mundo), with reports that Spanish faithful are traveling to Rome to pay tribute (El Mundo), while noting Sánchez will be the only major leader absent (20minutos).
22:53