Pope: Via Crucis, seeing in the Cross of Christ all the crosses of the world

This includes officials born in the 1970s.  One of them will be responsible for taking over the reigns from  Xi Jinping.  The leader can remain party secretary until 2032 and president until 2033. Ten officials seem to have an advantage in running for top party positions.  Xi's first requirement for future leaders is "political morality".

Long queues of different ethnic groups flock to the Eucharist.  The Mass in Coena Domini attended by 5 thousand people.  Mass has not been celebrated in Yemen for three years due to a lack of priests.  The communion distributed by the priests and 40 extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist.

Francis celebrated the ‘in coena Domini’ Mass in a prison in Velletri washing the feet of 12 inmates. "It is true that in life there are problems: we quarrel among ourselves . . . but this must be a thing that passes, a passing thing, because in our hearts there must always be the love to serve others, of being in the service of others."

Fr Paul talks about the many families from North America and Europe who have come back for Holy Week. Heavy rains are hindering the celebrations, but the desire to participate is very strong. A father brought his daughter from Canada to Mart (Saint) Barbara shrine in Karamles to baptise her. “We must stop looking back and think about the past, about the Islamic State,” says the clergyman. “We must build a future here, in this land, and help those who have left to come back.”

The government pledged to create ten million new jobs and build five million houses. With a 4 per cent growth rate, poverty will not be tackled, nor will per capita income increase by much. The government is negotiating a bailout with the International Monetary Fund. Terrorism is driving investors away.

The court accepted a petition presented by a Muslim couple. The Qurʾān does not speak of separation between men and women in places of worship. In some cases, women have access to a space through a secondary entrance, but in most they pray at home.

Francis celebrates the Chrism Mass, which precedes the beginning of the Easter Triduum.  To the priests Francis proposes faces of the "crowd" that surrounds, follows, admires Jesus. "In the soul of the people the desire to follow Jesus is awakened, arousing admiration, discernment".

The North Korean leader, who had not attended a test-firing exercise since November, set the "phased and strategic goals" for maintaining his country's munitions production. According to South Korean experts, the new weapon could be a newly developed short-range guided missile. The first meeting between Kim and the Russian president might take place next week.

The eight most important poling companies attribute a range of votes between 54.32% and 55.77% to Widodo.  His rival, supported by the Islamists: "They are trying to make it look like we lost".  Fear of possible street unrest spreads among the population.  The armed forces promise "zero tolerance".

About 155 million citizens go to the polls in 12 states.  The biggest challenges are among the large local parties in Tamil Nadu, Karnata and West Bengal.  Today is Holy Thursday and the bishops had asked not to hold the votes in conjunction with the Christian holiday.

Two months after the signing of the important document on "Human Fraternity", the "House of the Abrahamic family" and a fund to finance cultural activities on coexistence were founded.  The search for a tolerant Islam, which avoids Wahhabism and Western liberalism.  The pontiff has aroused much curiosity among Muslims.  But there are still situations of violence and humiliation towards Christian workers.

The figure refers to 2018, which marks a slight decrease compared to the 9.2 billion dollars of the previous year.  Ministry of Defense says the sector is "exceptionally strong" and represents one of the leading industries.  Most important clients are India, Azerbaijan and Vietnam.

Bishop Guo, an auxiliary bishop not recognized by the government, was able to celebrate with episcopal insignia.  Perhaps there was an intervention by the Vatican.  Patriotic Association membership is optional.

Fr Dominic Monto Hasda is PIME’s first tribal priest. For the past three years he has been on mission in Papua New Guinea, in charge of the protection of minors, education, evangelisation, and teaching the Christian faith, especially to young people.