Appeal of Francis on the eve of the feast of the Our Lady of Sheshan. Confirmation, the "gift" with which "Christ is to fill us with his Spirit, consecrating us as his witnesses, sharing in the same principle of life and mission, according to the plan of the heavenly Father". "Christian witness consists in doing only and all that the Spirit of Christ asks of us, granting us the strength to do it".
The papal message is addressed directly to young people so that they can discover that "life is a mission", that Jesus "fills life with joy", and that he allows us to challenge evil, going so far as to give ourselves. People can engage in temporary missionary service so as to better serve others and not to live for their career alone, until you can "decide to make a complete gift of yourselves as missionaries".
“Such interreligious competition wounds the image of religions and their followers, and it fosters the view that religions are not sources of peace, but of tension and violence. To prevent and overcome these negative consequences, it is important that we Christians and Muslims recall the religious and moral values that we share, while acknowledging our differences.”
Those who embrace the Lord are destined to "martyrdom", to "carry the cross", to be led where they do not want to go. But this is the compass that guides the pastor's journey. " Prepare for trials; prepare to leave everything behind, so that another may come and do different things ". The pastor "does not stick his nose in the lives of others, he does not waste time on gossip, in ecclesiastical gossip".
“We must go on that path, men and women united who always seek to go forward on the path of unity – not any false unity, which has no substance, but only serves to get ahead and condemn people and promote interests that are not ours: the interests of the prince of this world, which is destruction.”
Bad weather makes it hard for Saudi experts to see the new moon. Working hours are cut in the UAE where the authorities have issue warnings against car and domestic accidents. About a thousand prisoners are pardoned. Mideast airlines in offer iftar meals.
This is stated in the document "Oeconomicae et pecuniariae quaestiones. Considerations for an Ethical Discernment Regarding Some Aspects of the Present Economic-Financial System" a document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Integral Human Development.
The occasion could be the Island’s Eucharistic Congress. Abp. Hung will see the Pope on May 14th on his ad limina visit. "China and Taiwan are two churches, two nations, two different ways of life". On the island there are 300 priests and nuns from mainland China who study at the Catholic University of Furen.
Pope Francis meets with 100,000 members of the Neocathecumenal Way, together with 16 cardinals and 90 bishops. Representatives of dozens of Asian countries were present in the rally. The pontiff comments on Jesus words: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28, 19). Benediction of crosses, handed in to 34 members sent on mission ad gentes. Some of Rome parishes’ communities are sent on mission to Italian capital peripheral areas.
The inter-Korean summit between Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un opens up prospects for peace and unity for the entire Korean people. Families divided by the war meet. Opportunity for the Korean Church to offer a greater commitment to aid and interpersonal relations with the North. Seoul has never forgotten to pray for the North and its martyrs. An interview with the archbishop of Seoul and apostolic administrator of Pyongyang.
Liao Yiwu, a Chinese writer in exile, appeals for the wife of dissident Liu Xiaobo to emigrate to Germany. In one of her last phone calls, the woman cried continuously and said that "it is easier to die than to live". "Dona. Dona ", a Yiddish song, as a symbol of her personal holocaust.
