Israel, the UAE and Bahrain signed a normalisation agreement yesterday. For its backers, it represents an “historic” moment. But the UAE and Bahrain rulers were noticeable by their absence. For Palestinian Presidents Mahmoud Abbas, there is no peace without an end to occupation. In the background, the two-state solution remains unresolved. Netanyahu has also not disowned his annexation plan.
Washington: Israel, UAE and the Abraham Accords on the backs of the Palestinians
| ISRAEL – UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – UNITED STATESTrump announces a 'peace agreement' between Bahrain and Israel
| BAHRAIN-ISRAELDuring the Angelus, Pope Francis noted that "God calls everyone and calls always, at any time". “The Church must be like God, [and] always go out,” he added. God's action "goes beyond justice". He "gives us more than we deserve". The International Eucharistic Congress has been postponed to next year, in the same venue in Budapest.
Pope Francis met with the members of the organisation that is celebrating its 20 years. the foundation is present in several countries like Afghanistan, Lebanon, Niger, Libya, Kosovo, Djibouti, Somalia, Venezuela, South Sudan and Syria, supporting medical aid projects. Pope calls for action against “pharmaceutical marginality”.
In his meeting with journalists from a Belgian Christian weekly, Francis said that “the presence of Christian media specialised in quality information on the life of the Church in the world, capable of contributing to the formation of consciences, is very important.” Christian journalists can “nurture hope in the pandemic situation the world is [now] going through.”
The 46-year-old priest returned home yesterday at 6.30pm. Msgr.Julius Jia Zhiguo was taken from his residence last August 15.
The episcopal ordination took place yesterday in Solin (Split, Croatia) led by Card Pietro Parolin. The ordination was postponed twice because of an accident and the pandemic. Mgr Jozić was appointed nuncio to Belarus a few months ago.
The underground priest was kidnapped by members of the Religious Affairs Bureau. This isn't the first time he's been arrested. His father, 86, and his mother, 70, are in need of his assistance. At least 20 priests of the diocese are under pressure to sign up for membership of the "independent Church".
“I think of the indigenous peoples in a special way, to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude. And also of penance, for all the harm we have done to them”. The glaciers of Antarctica, which are melting: "It will be terrible, because the sea level will rise and this will bring so many difficulties and so much harm. And why? Global warming, by not caring for the environment, not caring for the common home ".
The situation of the Church in China has become increasingly worse since the signing of the agreement. The concordat with Nazi Germany in 1933 gave the Church freedom for a few months. Then crucifixes were removed from the schools; Catholic associations were brought back under the Nazi party; everyone was obliged to study Nazism. Fritz Stern: The concordat with the Holy See boosted Hitler's respectability in Germany and abroad.
For Fr. Francis Hu, a priest from central China, the "experts" celebrating the agreement have no idea of the real situation in China and the Church. Since the agreement was signed, the sale of Christian material on the internet has been blocked; churches and crosses continue to be destroyed; minors are prohibited from entering church or receiving religious formation. The agreement risks being just a political gesture, which has no relevance for Catholics in China.
At the Angelus Pope Francis urges forgiveness in families and society. In God "justice is pervaded by mercy, while our human attitude is limited to justice". Bearing a grudge is "like an annoying summer fly". Solidarity and closeness to all the victims of the fire that broke out in the Moria (Lesbos) refugee camp which the Pope visited in 2016. May the Churches work "in favor of dialogue and in favor of reconciliation" in places of conflict between civil society and political powers. The Collection for the Holy Land.
Francis affirms, generic commitments are not enough for an integral ecology and one cannot look only to the immediate consent of one's constituents or financiers. Far reaching vision is needed, otherwise history will not forgive us”.
According to a study by Economics and Peace (IEP) at least 1.2 billion people will live in areas at risk. Food insecurity and lack of water are accompanied by natural disasters. Critical situation in Central Asia and the Middle East. At the nation level, Pakistan and Iran face a toxic combination of threats.
During his regular press conference, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman expresses appreciation for the "successful" implementation of the Sino-Vatican agreement and promises "improvements in bilateral relations". But he does not explicity commit to anything. Chinese Catholics see the renewal as a forgone conclusion: China dominates the Catholic Church and needs diplomatic victories. The United Front is pulling against the agreement.
