At the Angelus, Pope Francis explains Jesus’s first announcement: time fulfilled and conversion. Life “is a gift of God's infinite love, but is also the time to prove our love for Him,” he said. The pontiff also recited a silent prayer for Edwin, a 46-year-old homeless Nigerian man who died from exposure near St Peter's Basilica. Tomorrow an ecumenical prayer will be held at St Paul outside the walls. Francis urges journalists “to go and see even where no one wants, to bear witness to the truth”.
By midnight, all residents will be tested in 48 hours. Since the start of January, 160 cases of SARS-CoV2 have been reported in the area. Residents protest the sudden decision. Police confine journalists to a hotel. A year ago, China declared a health emergency in Wuhan.
Commentary (in Italian) on the Gospel of the 3rd Sunday for the Year B (Mark 1:14-20).
There is a lot of fear and self-censorship in the country where “peace” between confessions is guaranteed by the Kremlin. The “strong Christians” preach moral principles, but are distant from the “weak”, the “lower ranks” of the population. A disciple of Fr Alexander Men is interviewed to mark the end of the Week for Christian Unity.
The National Insurance Institute reports that 23 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line, almost 50 per cent in the case of Israel’s Arab population. The pandemic has particularly hit the middle classes and the self-employed. The poor were able to rely on government subsidies. Unemployment is a major concern.
Mgr Jacob Manathodath sent a letter to the CPI-M secretary in support of Isaac Varghese’s inclusion on the party list, a decision that has raised some eyebrows. For a former spokesman for the Syro-Malabar Church, “It is not good for a bishop or a priest to show public support” in politics. But in this case, the endorsement is an internal party matter.
Bangladeshi authorities renew their commitment to de-radicalise extremist militants, young people recruited in universities and on the web. A life of hiding and fleeing, of armed militancy is not life. The state should punish but also rehabilitate those who err. Help from family is crucial.
The dioceses of Colombo, Kurunegala and Jaffna celebrated a prayer service on Monday. Jaffna will continue until 25 January. Participation in celebrations was limited to 50 people.
The village chief is responsible for the order to tie to trees people who are reluctant to stay home. In Hebei the number of cases is down, but places of worship remain closed. Some people blame them for being the source of contagion.
The shock that reached 7.1 on the Richter scale was felt, as well as in the region, as far as the Philippines. No tsunami warning was issued.
Repression of the democratic movement in the former British colony condemned. Calls for targeted sanctions against the officials responsible for the crackdown. The Union had to use the negotiations to preserve the autonomy of the city state. Defending human rights also in Xinjiang and Tibet.
Pope Francis appointed the Belgian religious as archbishop of Teheran-Ispahan of the Latins, after years of sede vacante. He will be consecrated on 16 February in Rome, on the feast day of St Maruthas. He appeals to Catholics around the world to nurture “contact and bond” with Iranian Catholics.
Overnight the jihadist group claimed responsibility for the double kamikaze attack on the city market, with 32 victims and 110 injured. Iraqi Church: "Fateful moment", every citizen called to "turn the page". The Iraqi president against the "rogue" attempts to "destabilize" the nation. Support from the US, the UN and the EU.
The South American country is a popular destination for those who want to escape the war in Syria with their entire family. The work of the Catholic community and Christian-inspired NGOs. A response to the call of Pope Francis. Migrants thank the Argentine people for their humanity.
Russian sociologist Sergej Erofeev wants to nominate him for the Nobel Peace prize. Demonstrations in favour of the blogger activist. Authorities try to block protests. Film on "Putin's Palace" in Gelendzhik has already been seen by over 53 million viewers.
