Naruhito harvests rice for the first time since his coronation

“Wealth can push to build walls, create divisions and discriminate. Jesus, on the contrary, urged his disciples to change course: ‘Make friends with riches’. This is an invitation to know how to turn goods and riches into relationships, because people are worth more than things and count more than the wealth they possess.”

The people of God are invited to pray for bishops and priests to have these neighborhoods, "for your leaders": "those who lead you on the way to salvation".

The ordained ministry is a gift from the Lord, "who looked upon us and told us ‘Follow me’." The failure to contemplate the gift leads to "all the deviations we know".

The meeting with the president of the German Bishops Conference, in all likelihood touched upon the assembly with "deliberative power" convoked by the Germans to address issues such as the separation of power in the Church, priestly life, women's access to ministry and to offices in the Church and sexual morality.

At the general audience, Francis said that those who are "Strengthened by this covenant” with the Holy Spirit are not afraid of proclaiming the Gospel. “Think also today of today's empires,” the pontiff noted, “they will collapse, if God is not with them, because the strength that men have in themselves is not enduring.” The pope also made an appeal for World Alzheimer’s Day.

"Often human language is indifference. I will get involved up to here but then I won’t think about it any further ". "Compassion takes us to the path of true justice. We must always give back to those who have a certain right, and this always saves us from selfishness, from indifference, from the closure of ourselves".

In his homily during the Mass he celebrated in Santa Marta this morning, Francis spoke about Italy’s recent "government crisis". "Who among us has prayed for their rulers? Who among us has prayed for parliamentarians? So that they may agree and take their country forward.”

"Last week the long awaited exchange of prisoners between the Russian Federation and Ukraine was carried out. I rejoice for the people who were freed, who have been able to re-embrace their loved ones, and continue to pray for a rapid end to the conflict and for lasting peace in eastern Ukraine ".

Francis writes to the Ecumenical Patriarch on the meaning of the gift of relics of St. Peter. It is "a confirmation of the journey that our Churches have made in drawing closer to one another". "The joining of the relics of the two brother Apostles can also serve as a constant reminder and encouragement that, on this continuing journey, our divergences will no longer stand in the way of our common witness".

After John Paul II, the second pontiff to visit the two Asian countries. The program of the first stage yet to be defined. The Pope will visit Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where he will pray for the victims of the atomic bomb. Fr. Marco Ribolini, PIME missionary, reflects on the meaning of the visit for Thai Catholics.

Francis invites the representatives of the main religions, the exponents of international organizations and the various humanitarian institutions, from the academic, economic, political and cultural world to sign the "Global Compact on Education". The event scheduled for May 14, 2020 in Rome, in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican.

Beijing is implementing total control over the Church and religious communities. For some Chinese priests there is a re-edition of the Cultural Revolution. But in reality China is implementing a project that dates back to the 1980s: the Chinese Church is a national church that belongs only to the state.

At the general audience, Francis retraced his journey to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius. Before leaving and on the way back, the visit to the Our Lady, Salus populi romani "for her to accompany me". "With Our Lady I travel safely".

Peace, xenophobia, interfaith dialogue and globalisation are some of the issues Francis spoke about during a press conference on the flight home from Madagascar.