04/19/2014VATICAN Way of the Cross: "Evil will not have the last word; love, mercy and forgiveness will," pope says In the Cross of Jesus, we find "all the bitterness of the betrayal perpetrated by Judas and Peter, all the vanity of bullies, and all the arrogance of false friends." Yet, in front of so many evils, "we also see the vastness of God's love for he does not treat us according to our sins but according to his mercy." Rome
(AsiaNews) - "Evil will not have the last word; love, mercy and
forgiveness will," Pope Francis said at the end of tonight's Way of the
Cross or Via Crucis, in the stunning setting of 40,000 people gathered around
the Coliseum. As an interpretation of the ills and pains of our time, his words
found an echo in the meditations prepared by Mgr Giancarlo Maria Bregantini on the
journey Jesus took up Mount Calvary.
For the pope, the Cross...
04/18/2014PAKISTAN Good Friday in Pakistan: fasting and prayers for Asia Bibi, Sawan Masih and other blasphemy victims by Jibran Khan The country's Christian community and civil society groups express closeness to the victims of the "black law". The bishop of Islamabad also expresses his solidarity. Muslim activist joins "our Christian brothers and sisters in Good Friday celebrations." Appeals are made to the government to take "serious steps to fight intolerance and abuse."
04/18/2014CHINA Beijing: four more New Citizens Movement activists convicted All wanted government officials to declare their economic and financial assets. A court in Haidian found them guilty of disturbing "public order" and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from three and half to two years in prison. Defence lawyer slams the decision, calling it flawed. Now "calling on officials to disclose their assets is a crime."
04/18/2014IRAQ Chaldean Patriarch celebrates Holy Thursday with disabled and marginalised Christians and Muslims by Joseph Mahmoud Mar Sako visited a residential facility in the Iraqi capital that caters to people with severe disabilities. His Beatitude performed the traditional rite of 'Washing of the Feet' on 12 people, including two Muslim women. "Easter is for you," he told the disabled residents. After the service, he offered them a meal, as a token of closeness and sharing.
04/18/2014PHILIPPINES Central Luzon: making learning fun in summer camp for 150 "special" children Organised every year by the GUIDE association and its chief and founder Gerry Duwin Dela Zerna, the event this year is set for 25 April to 4 May. The NGO works with children with disabilities, like Down syndrome or other physical and learning disorders. Dedicated, the activist has turned down offers from abroad worth thousands of dollars in order to take care of Filipino children.
04/18/2014INDONESIA Charitable works, confession and Mass fill Holy Week for Indonesian Catholics by Mathias Hariyadi This is a time of meditation, devotions and deep introspection into the faith. In the Archdiocese of Jakarta, families offer small sums of money to fund community-wide projects. The head of the Archdiocese's communications commission releases some videos. During Chrism Mass, hundreds of priests renew their pledge to their bishops.
04/18/2014LAOS - THAILANDIA Thai geologists warn Xayaburi dam is an earthquake risk The huge barrage under construction on the Laotian section of Mekong River is located near active fault lines and is therefore vulnerable to seismic activity. There is a 30 per cent chance of a medium-sized earthquake in the next 30 years, and a 10 per cent chance of a magnitude 7 tremor. Builders claim instead that the project complies with all earthquake safety rules
04/18/2014NEPAL Nepali Hindus and Buddhists also celebrating Easter by Christopher Sharma Many activities are being organised in the mountain nation to celebrate the Christian holy day. A priest at Kathmandu Cathedral hopes "that all the inhabitants of the country can share the Easter message, and that Easter will soon become a festivity for all faiths and communities". Thousands of cards and e-messages are exchanged for the occasion.
04/17/2014SRI LANKA Easter should spur Catholics to defend human rights in Sri Lanka by Melani Manel Perera Interview with Sister Deepa Fernando, a nun with the Congregation of the Holy Family, and a member of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) and the Christian Solidarity Movement (CSM). According to her, Christians in Sri Lanka sometimes "forget that we are all brothers and sisters." For this reason, we must follow in the footsteps of Jesus, who "died to protect the rights of others."
04/17/2014SOUTH KOREA As sorrow grips the country, bishop of Jeju calls for prayers on behalf of ferry victims The Sewol, a ferry that capsized yesterday for still unknown causes, was on its way to Jeju Island. "All we can do for them and their worried families is to pray, and hope that our prayers and solidarity can somehow bring some comfort," said Mgr Peter Kang U-il, bishop of Jeju and president of the Bishops' Conference, as he spoke to AsiaNews. Rough seas and strong winds have slowed down rescue operations. About 300 people are still missing.
04/17/2014VATICAN Pope: A priest’s "joy", "anoints", is "incorruptible", "missionary" and guarded by poverty, obedience and loyalty Pope Francis celebrates the Chrism Mass with "his" priests. The priestly joy only flows “when the pastor is in the midst of his flock". Even in "in those moments of listlessness and boredom which at times overcome us in our priestly life (and which I too have experienced), even in those moments God’s people are able to “guard” that joy; they are able to protect you, to embrace you and to help you open your heart to find renewed joy"
04/17/2014INDIA Easter among India's Christians, a challenge and a mission of hope by Nirmala Carvalho Through AsiaNews, Card Telesphore Toppo, archbishop of Ranchi, calls on his community to bear witness with their lives to the light of Christ. "The Church's task is to defend man's dignity, especially that of the most vulnerable".
Before the tomb, something completely new and unexpected happens, they draw near and they do not find the Lord's body, What was a simple act, done surely out of love - going to the tomb - has now turned into an event, a truly life-changing event. Nothing remains as it was before, not only in the lives of those women, but also in our own lives and in the history of mankind. Jesus is not dead, he has risen, he is alive! He does not simply return to life; rather, he is life itself, because he is the Son of God, the living God! Jesus no longer belongs to the past, but lives in the present and is projected towards the future; Jesus is the everlasting "today" of God. This is how the newness of God appears to the women, the disciples and all of us: as victory over sin, evil and death, over everything that crushes life and makes it seem less human. How often does Love have to tell us: Why do you look for the living among the dead? Our daily problems and worries can wrap us up in ourselves, in sadness and bitterness... and that is where death is. That is not the place to look for the One who is alive!
Pope Francis
AsiaNews wishes all our friends and readers a Happy Easter 2014
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