At the Angelus, Pope Francis urges us not to fall prey to the "master of illusion" who "promise quick success, great profits, magical solutions to every problem". It is easy to slip into idolatry: "replacing God with an idol". A prayer for the meeting at the Vatican with the presidents of Episcopal Conferences from across the globe on the protection of minors.
Priest: Sirisena, as a Buddhist, should be against the death penalty
by Melani Manel Perera | SRI LANKAThe Christian cultural center Vishwa Jyoti Communications organizes a pilgrimage from Nepal to Uttar Pradesh. The stages are rich in symbolic meanings, and recall the message of harmony and compassion of the Buddha. Fr. Anand: "Jesus challenges me to love my neighbor and his enemy".
13 of the 21 Christians massacred by the jihadists in Sirte in 2015 were from town of El-Aour, in Upper Egypt. The area has become a destination for pilgrimages and site of mysterious healing. Fr. Rafic: "simple" people who believe in these "signs of heaven". Caution and in-depth studies are needed.
Francis celebrated the opening Mass of the ‘Liberi dalla paura’ meeting, which is promoted by Catholic associations dedicated to welcoming and integrating migrants. For the pontiff, “fear is legitimate" vis-à-vis people different from us.” But far too often, we “refuse to encounter the other and raise barriers to defend ourselves.” Instead, we are called to overcome fears to open ourselves to encountering others because “Forsaking encountering [others] is not human.”
The city-state has been penalised by its reliance on exports to China. The government recorded the slowest on-year pace since the third quarter of 2016. Electronics and semiconductors are a source of vulnerability. GDP growth in 2019 is expected to be less than 2.5 per cent.
With the vote of 485 members in the 596-seat chamber, Parliament begins the process of strengthening the powers of the president. In addition to extending terms limits, changes would enhance the role of the Armed Forces in the country’s political life. For an Egyptian activist, Sisi runs the country like a "military unit”, but for Fr Rafic, power still lies with voters.
After decades of discrimination, racism against the ethnic minority is banned. Tourism will be promoted in Hokkaido, home to the remaining 12,300 Ainu.
In a long interview, the new metropolitan traces his three main tasks: unity, formation, attention to the young. The Kiev autocephalous Church is not a "branch" of Moscow. Praise for President Petro Poroshenko and ambiguous characters. Already 150 parishes have already passed from the jurisdiction of Moscow to that of Kiev.
The video about the girls is viewed hundreds of thousands of times, with thousands of comments. After visiting their home village for Chinese New Year, parents go back to work in the big cities. China has some 286 million migrant workers and at least 61 million children are "left behind" by their parents. For one commentator, “The parents of the girls are also weeping in their heart”.
The murder took place on January 29, 2017. Ko Ni was killed outside the Yangon airport shot at point-blank range. The Muslim lawyer wanted to change the militarist Constitution. The bishops spokesman: "We reiterate no to capital punishment".
In Kaesong a summit to organize the joint event to commemorate the March 1 Movement. Japan ruled the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945. In 1919, patriots publicly read the Unilateral Declaration of Independence. Tokyo carried out a ferocious repression: over 7 thousand dead, and 10 thousand injured.
Erdogan, Putin and Rouhani in favor of the exit of the United States. Moscow announces unspecified "measures" against the "terrorist outbreak" in the north. But at the moment there are no joint military operations planned. For Erdogan it is essential to limit the Kurds.
The bomber a local fundamentalist of the Pakistani Islamic group Jaish-e-Mohammad. An official note from the Pakistani government rejects all " insinuations" of Islamabad connection with the incident. In Bandra a mass in memory of the dead soldiers.
Ahead of the general elections, the Council of lay people of the Indian Bishops' Conference is organizing meetings throughout the territory. It wants to make local communities more involved in issues of freedom of worship in India. In March it will present a report to the bishops. John Dayal: "A poisonous context of regional nationalism undermines the secular roots of our republic".
A Pakistan-based Islamic extremist group has claimed responsibility. A car full of explosives rammed a bus carrying soldiers. For Mgr Theodore Mascarenhas, "Violence can never solve any issue.”
