The South Korean president: "We are paving the way for a noble effort, which will ensure a peaceful future for the Korean peninsula and the whole world". Moon praises the role of the Church in the history of the country: " During the dark hours of colonization, division, war and dictatorship, it stood tall to shed light on human dignity and justice, as well as the path of peace and love".
Card. Parolin presides over Mass for peace on Korean peninsula
| VATICAN-KOREAIf invited, Pope Francis could go to Pyongyang
| VATICAN – KOREASynod: Mgr Riana Prapdi sees young people as agents of change for Church and nation
by Mathias Hariyadi | INDONESIA – VATICANRihan Hanna Ayoub is one of five Christian Members of Parliament (out of 329) elected in this year’s election. A lawyer by profession, she was born and raised in Iraqi Kurdistan where she attended a local parish as a child. Faith, for her, is a "resource and strength in life and work". Christians have a crucial role in the country’s reconstruction.
The disciple is poor, in the sense that he is not attached to riches and this is the first step. He is then poor because "he is patient before small or large persecutions", and - third step - he is poor because he enters into that state of mind of feeling abandoned at the end of life. The same path as Jesus.
New generations have come under the influence of technology and are exposed to different cultures and traditions. In the country the confessional element is very strong because children live at home until 25, and learn their culture and traditions. Atheism and extremism are the challenges of today's youth.
Nguyễn Ngọc Như Quỳnh, a 39-year-old mother with two children, was arrested in October 2016 and sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of "propaganda against the state". Friends express joy online for her release: "After numerous efforts, the family has gathered in a free country". Since 2016, activists and bloggers have been the targets of a government campaign against dissent. At present there are 129 political prisoners arrested for criticizing or protesting against the communist regime.
Crime scene investigators and specially trained dogs patrolled the premises, the garden and the cars of the diplomatic representation for nine hours. In the audio the Saudi consul would ask the commando to kill the journalist "outside of here". The US president wants evidence of the existence of registration. The Washington Post publishes the latest posthumous article by the Saudi intellectual.
Msgr. Franco Mulakkal was granted release on bail in a trail that sees him implicated in Kerala. Waiting for him in Punjab also Msgr. Agnelo Gracias, current diocesan administrator.
The Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops writes an open letter to the former nuncio to Washington. In it, he describes the former nuncio’s accusations as a baseless “political manoeuvre”. “I cannot understand how you could have allowed yourself to be convinced of this monstrous accusation which has no standing,” he writes.
Chinese faithful, official and underground communities, express their feelings about the present and the future of the Sino-Vatican provisional agreement. Many ask for the publication of the agreement document; others that bishops held in prison are freed and that the unofficial bishops are recognized by the government. The fear that China will belittle the Vatican. Fidelity to the Pope and to the unity of the Church, but concern for the rise in "collaborator" bishops.
For the optimists the provisional agreement is "historic"; for the pessimists it is the beginning of the total sell out of the Church to the Party. The Pope is involved in naming bishops. But we know nothing of a right of veto. The lifting of excommunications is good, but the faithful expect a public request for forgiveness. China has not asked for a break with Taiwan as a prior condition. Praise for Lithuanian martyrs, amid silence on the Chinese ones.
