by Melani Manel Perera

The bombings left some 280 people dead and nearly 600 wounded. Card Ranjith thanks all those helping victims’ families, urges the government to find the culprits. The commemoration took place amid the pandemic crisis.

| 21/04/2020
| SRI LANKA
by Sumon Corraya

Bangladesh fears that, with its 165 million inhabitants and a density of 1,265 people per sq. km, the outbreak could spread further. The most serious problems are the lack of protective gear for doctors, or its low quality, as well as too many people staying in close proximity, and sick people hiding their symptoms. In Rajshahi the diocese is helping poor and unemployed tribal people.

| 21/04/2020
| BANGLADESH
by Shafique Khokhar

Raja Walter gives free food to those who need it, irrespective of faith and ethnicity. The pandemic has worsened the problem of malnutrition in the country. The Christian businessman’s example is used to promote social and religious harmony during the anti-COVID-19 fight.

| 21/04/2020
| PAKISTAN
by Mathias Hariyadi

The government has banned the traditional exodus of millions of people returning to their hometown to celebrate both Eid and the family reunion. Recent research has said that around three million are expected to perform mudik this year. Last year, the total number of pemudiks (the people of the exodus) was around 18.3 million.

| 21/04/2020
| INDONESIA

The Federation of Aramaeans in Switzerland recalls the kidnapping "which affected the hearts of all Christians". An event that "fomented the exodus" en masse of many faithful from Syria. Archbishop Georges: the hope, against all hope, that they are alive. The "spirituality" of Msgr. Boulos Yaziji and the "courage" of Msgr. Yohanna Ibrahim.

| 21/04/2020
| SYRIA

Unlike mainland China, the three countries and territory did not lock down their economies and populations. The Chinese model, also adopted by Italy, could have serious economic repercussions. The speed of intervention, a good healthcare system, and a cooperative population favoured success in the three democracies.

| 21/04/2020
| SOUTH KOREA - HONG KONG – TAIWAN
Editor's choices
 
by Dario Salvi
Layan Nasir, a 23-year-old native of Birzeit, is the only Christian woman under "administrative detention". She was taken, blindfolded and handcuffed, overnight by a military patrol without an arrest warrant or charges against her. The Bethlehem ...
| 19/04/2024
| ISRAEL – PALESTINE
 
Chinese Human Rights Defenders released a report detailing the stories of children and young people victims of human rights violations, like He Fengmei's daughter, who was separated from her mother a month after her birth and kept in a psychiatric ...
| 16/04/2024
| CHINA
 
Currently in intensive care, the seven-year-old is the only person to be seriously wounded by Iran’s attack against Israel because her house and village were not covered by Israel’s Iron Dome defence system. Nothing is known of the fate of ...
| 15/04/2024
| ISRAEL – GAZA - IRAN
 
by Daniele Frison
The auxiliary bishop of Jerusalem and patriarchal vicar for Palestine looks at the protests in Amman. Diplomatic relations with Israel allow aid to be sent to Gaza. Some students from Gaza’s Holy Family Parish arrived in Amman thanks to the Patriarchate’s ...
| 12/04/2024
| JORDAN
 
The Holy See has officially announced the long journey to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore. Card Goh of Singapore hopes the pope will bring to his predominantly Chinese city, “renewed fervour to all Catholics [. . .], especially ...
| 12/04/2024
| VATICAN
 
by card. Anthony Poola *
The Archbishop of Hyderabad looks at the media reaction to the declaration released by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on human dignity. The media are “focused on gender theory, sex change, surrogacy etc., but” people who “struggle ...
| 11/04/2024
| INDIA
 
The Vatican Secretary for Relations with States presides over Mass in the cathedral, the focal point of this historic trip for the local Church since the breaking of diplomatic relations between Hanoi and the Vatican in 1975. In the meeting with ...
| 11/04/2024
| VIETNAM
 
The Custody, a Jewish group and Tag Meir activists offered gifts to Muslims leaving al-Aqsa every Thursday at the Damascus Gate. Fr. Pari: An initiative that has been  carried out  for some time, but this year takes on special value in the context ...
| 06/04/2024
| HOLY LAND
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”