12/10/2013VATICAN Pope: When Jesus draws near, "He consoles," "always opens doors" and gives us the hope to move forward "The Lord comforts us with tenderness." God the powerful "is not afraid of tenderness." "" When a Christian forgets hope, or worse loses hope, his life has no meaning. It is as if his life was in front of a wall: nothing". Vatican City (AsiaNews)
- When Jesus comes,
"He consoles,"
"always opens doors" and
gives us the hope to move forward.
Pope Francis focused
on this during Mass celebrated this morning at Casa Santa Marta,
commenting on a passage from the Book of
Isaiah the...
12/10/2013INDIA - SOUTH AFRICA Card. Gracias: We must learn from Mandela , champion of freedom, democracy and equality by Card. Oswald Gracias The Archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Catholic Bishops paints a portrait of the South African leader " icon of peace and reconciliation." Today, Heads of State and dignitaries from around the world participate in the celebrations in honor of Nelson Mandela. Card. Gracias recalls 27 years in prison lived "with great courage and dignity, never ceasing to pursue the values of peace, love and reconciliation."
12/10/2013PHILIPPINES Manila all set for a day of prayer against human trafficking The Movement, made up of Catholics and Protestants, has called a day of meeting, discussion and prayer for December 12. At least 5 thousand people expected. The recent devastation caused by the earthquake and typhoon have exacerbated the phenomenon of modern slavery. The heads of the churches in the Philippines makes concrete proposals against traffickers and for protection of victims.
12/10/2013KOREA North Korea, the purge of Jiang "is a clear message. Kim doesn't need a No. 2" Analysts agree: the removal of the powerful former tutor gives all power to the young dictator. The photos of the humiliating arrest and the charges against the uncle of the dictator "demonstrates that no one is safe in North Korea."
12/10/2013CAMBODIA Christmas: God's light makes man breathe by Luca Bolelli This Advent story from the mission in Kdol Leu looks at the service provided to young students who have left for the big city as well as at friendship with Buddhists and the discovery of the gift of faith. Fr Luca Bolelli, a PIME missionary, has been in Cambodia for the past six years. He has not brought a "foreign" faith to the Asian nation but a God who gives man immense value.
12/10/2013LEBANON - SYRIA Lebanon asks for Qatari help in Maaloula nuns affair by Fady Noun The head of Lebanese security also wants information about the two Orthodox bishops abducted last April. Questions are addressed to Al-Jazeera with regards to the source behind the video released days ago showing the sisters "detained" by Islamist insurgents. Greek-Orthodox Patriarch Youhanna calls for prayers and actions to obtain the nuns' release. Lebanese Minister criticises international community for not doing enough to deal with this abduction.
12/10/2013MYANMAR - VATICAN - PIME Archbishop of Yangon: Isidore Ngei , our first Blessed, a sign of the Pope's love for the Church in Burma by Francis Khoo Thwe Archbishop Charles Bo bears witness to the joy of the Catholic community in Burma , which is preparing to celebrate 500 years of history and hopes for a visit by Pope Francis. The prelate adds, however, that it is a first step " on a long journey and “there are many others", because " we have many martyrs in Myanmar, who deserve sainthood".
12/10/2013UNITED STATES - CHINA Washington to Beijing : Free Liu Xiaobo , guarantee human rights On the fifth anniversary of the arrest of the activist and Nobel Laureate , the U.S. Secretary of State urges China to release him, his wife ( under house arrest without charge since 2010 ) and all other activists "who have only exercised their freedom of expression."
12/09/2013NEPAL Nepal: Christians , Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims prepare for Christmas together by Christopher Sharma Houses and shops of capital already decorated. Among the best-selling images are those of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Young Hindu volunteers help Catholics decorate Cathedral of the Assumption in Kathmandu. The former hotel of the Hindu monarch organizes a Christmas party for diplomats and VIPs themed on harmony between the faiths.
12/09/2013SRI LANKA On the feast day of the Immaculate Conception, Salvatorian Sisters celebrate 125 years of service by Melani Manel Perera In an interview, Sister Dulice Fernando SDS, provincial superior of the Sisters of the Divine Saviour in Sri Lanka, talks about the celebrations surrounding the 60th anniversary of their presence in the Asian nation. Education, health and pastoral care are the congregation's main missions. In the island formerly known as Ceylon, the sisters have also been closely involved in helping war victims.
12/09/2013VATICAN - PIME - MYANMAR Pope: Fr Mario Vergara and Isidore Ngei Ko Lat, martyrs for the faith in Myanmar, to become blessed The missionary with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions carried out his mission among the Karens of the Soku tribe, one of the poorest in pre-independence Burma. Arrested by the British at the outbreak of World War II, he was back in the mountains after 4 years in captivity setting up an orphanage and a sanatorium. Along with a young priest, Fr Galastri, he continued his mission despite fighting sparked by Burma's independence between rebels of different religions. He and Burmese catechist Isidore Ngei were killed by Baptist rebels.
12/09/2013EGYPT The confrontation between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood blocking Egyptian reconciliation The military responded to the chaos caused by the Muslim Brotherhood with mass arrests and a crackdown on its schools. Young secular protesters are arrested under new anti-demonstration legislation. For Mohammed Osman, an official with an Egyptian political party, national reconciliation is still far away. Army and Islamists aim to boycott each other.
12/09/2013IRAQ Patriarch Sako: The flame of hope lights up Christmas for Iraqi Christians by Mar Louis Raphael I Sako In his message to the faithful during Advent, His Beatitude calls for "courage" and "perseverance", following the example of Abraham. He urges the faithful to keep the faith alive, even amid "suffering, anxiety and the considerable challenges." He also calls on "fellow" Muslims to join and be part of a true "peace project" for the country.
12/09/2013INDIA Elections in India: "great concern" over victory of Hindu nationalists The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP ) wins in Rajasthan , Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Local Catholic sources tell AsiaNews : "The results are serious, because the party is supported by the fundamentalists”. Congress (secular party at the helm of the central government) lost because "the people are exasperated with corruption, the party did not present a real political program ; inflation is bringing people to their knees ."
The light that this world offers us, Is an artificial one. It maybe a bright light, brighter than the light of Christ, Bright like festive fireworks, Bright like the flash of a camera. Instead, the light of Christ is meek, It is a calm and peaceful light. It is the light of that first Christmas Eve: Without any pretence. It is this: It offers and gives peace... It is a meek light with the power of meekness; It is a light that speaks to the heart It is also a light that offers the Cross. Pope Francis
AsiaNews wishes all our friends and readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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