Minorities are increasingly discriminated. A Christian dies after he was shot for buying a house in a Muslim neighbourhood. The Archbishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi calls on the authorities to protect all citizens, without distinction of belief. Attempts to block the construction of a Hindu temple are unconstitutional.
Videos of their work have gone viral. The country has reported 160,000 cases of infection and 2,000 deaths, including a dozen Christians. Fearing contagion, very few people are willing to touch the bodies of the infected. Catholics are grateful for this service.
First superior of the Jesuits of the Russian region between 1992 and 1998. Protagonist in the days of Solidarność and of the great changes in Poland in the 1980s. He organized the presence of the Jesuits in Russia. The first Catholic priest barred from ministry in Russia after communism. A man of great vision and prophetic intuition.
"The "solace" that Christ offers to the weary and oppressed is not only psychological relief or almsgiving, but the joy of the poor to be evangelized and builders of the new humanity. It is a message for all men of good will, which Jesus still addresses today in a world that exalts those who make themselves rich and powerful.”
Terrorist suspects can be placed under surveillance for up to 60 days, detained without a warrant, and imprisoned for up to 24 days. For civil society groups and the Catholic Church, the legislation could be used to limit freedom of expression. Government argues that it will help fight communist and Islamic rebels.
The Financial Intelligence Authority (AIF), the agency of the Holy See and Vatican City State charged with fighting money laundering and terrorist financing, received 64 suspicious activity reports, took action in four cases, and froze one IOR account.
Secretary of State Card Pietro Parolin met with the US and Israeli ambassadors yesterday. Israel and Palestine have the right to exist and live in peace and security within internationally recognised borders.
In the message to the Catholic Press Association during the Catholic Media Conference, Francis writes that “Only with that gaze can we effectively work to overcome the diseases of racism, injustice and indifference that disfigure the face of our common family.”
Father and son had been arrested for violating anti-Covid-19 regulations. Victims’ family: Taken to hospital after three days of beatings and torture. Tamil Nadu authorities suspend four officers. Suspicions of a community feud. Card. Gracias: Unacceptable violence. Social ethics and the judicial system under scrutiny.
For Francis, “we often go to him only in times of need to ask for help. But God sees further and invites us to go further, to seek not only his gifts but [also] Him”. Above all, “the most important thing in life is to make life a gift”.
Unity and prophecy are the themes of Francis' homily on the day dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. “It is pointless, even tedious, for Christians to waste their time complaining about the world, about society, about everything that is not right,” said Francis. “Today we need prophecy, but real prophecy: not fast talkers who promise the impossible, but testimonies that the Gospel is possible. What is needed are not miraculous shows. [. . .] We need lives that show the miracle of God’s love.”
The pontiff says that the love for Jesus should be put above family affections, that “kinship ties, if put first, can deviate from the true good”. He urges the faithful “to pray for the people of Yemen, especially the children, who are suffering because of the serious humanitarian crisis”.
So far, the country has reported more than 490,000 coronavirus cases. After restrictions were lifted on 31 May, the number rose significantly. In southern India, returning Indian expats are the cause of upsurge. Too many people resumed regular activities without upholding health and safety regulations. Gatherings in Catholic churches are also a problem.
The new Directory for Catechesis, presented today at the Vatican, recalls the missionary responsibility of every baptized person and the urgency of finding new languages with which to communicate the faith. Catechesis, "must be intimately united with the work of evangelization and cannot be separated from it".
In his general audience catechesis, Francis spoke of the "David prayer" which "teaches us to transform our joys and sorrows, our worries and our hopes, our fears and our victories into prayer". In his greeting in Spanish, he invited people to pray and be in solidarity with the victims of the earthquake that hit Mexico.
