According to government data, attacks against minorities have increased by 30 per cent in the last three years. In 2017 there were around a thousand incidents resulting in 111 deaths. Unfortunately, “unemployed youth" vie to show who is less tolerant.

The appointment was made official on 3 December. In Amravati, the new archbishop promoted social development, support for the marginalised, and transition to organic farming and agricultural reform.

In recent days the Arab media report of "first" Coptic Mass in Saudi Arabia. The function celebrated by Bishop Ava Morkos was held in a private house. Activists recall that Riyadh has not made "significant steps" in terms of religious freedom. And cults other than Islam remain prohibited.

Bangladesh reacts to comments by Myanmar’s Religious Affairs minister who claim refugees were “brainwashed". For Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, in Myanmar there is an "anti-Bangladesh, anti-Rohingya and anti-Muslim policy, which many considered as apartheid."

Referring to today's Gospel from Matthew and the first reading taken from the book of the prophet Isaiah, Francis indicated three pairs of words in contrast to each other, which mark life: "to say and to do", "sand and rock "," high and low ".

The Bishops’ Conference will not be provoked. "We do not want to add fuel to the fire," said Fr Jerome Seciliano, executive secretary of the CBCP Permanent Committee on Public Affairs. Duterte has publicly and vehemently criticised the Church on several occasions using vulgar language. His utterances have outraged a large part of the population, including Catholics and Protestants.