Anna Pozzi

The pope visited today Cameroon’s English-speaking region in the western of the country, scene of a forgotten war that has caused thousands of deaths, destruction, and more than a million refugees in this part of Africa. During his peace meeting with the local community, the pontiff encouraged those working for reconciliation, contrasting their action with what the masters of war do, to “look into each other’s eyes: we are this immense people!”

The Holy See has officially announced the pontiff's trip, which includes Algeria (the capital Algiers and Annaba, Saint Augustine’s ancient city of Hippo) as well as Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. Algeria’s bishops are delighted that a pontiff will visit a country that has also seen Christian martyrs in recent years. For Bishop Carraro of Oran, a PIME missionary, this “visit encourages us”.

On the day of the 50th anniversary of the end of the war in Saigon and the reunification of the country, the experience of the Scalabrinian missionaries who stand by the families arriving in the big city from the countryside.

Gaza’s Holy Family parish priest thanks “God for this truce”, calling “on him to ensure that the commitments are respected”. Meanwhile, everyone is waiting to see the details of the deal that would allow the wounded in need of treatment to leave and let hundreds of thousands of people to return to northern Gaza. The Catholic bishops of the Holy land urge political leaders and the international community “to develop a clear and just political vision” for a “true and lasting peace.”

The city where the pontiff will go tomorrow is located in a particularly remote area. Francis has expressly asked to add this stop to be able to meet the faithful of the diocese, but also the priests and religious of the Argentine Institute of the Incarnate Word in the parish of Baro, where he has contributed to the construction of a secondary school. The presence of Indonesian missionaries also among those who fled from across the border.

Thanks to a workshop set up in 2020 by an Italian foundation that works with prisoners in the world's most tormented places, the parish of the Holy Family continues to be able to celebrate the Eucharist. Arnoldo Mosca Mondadori: "A light of hope, despite all the horror".

The last survivor of the 1996 abduction and massacre of Trappist monks died at the age of 97. Humble and discreet, he lived the last years of his life in the monastery in Midelt, Morocco. In a video interview he said: “By staying in Tibhirine we didn't want to be martyrs, but signs of love and hope.”

The order founded by Fr. Carlo Salerio now numbers 380 Burmese religious who give voice to the suffering of their people. "Every day news of new violence." On November 10, an evening with them in Milan (broadcast in streaming) on this forgotten drama.