Bernardo Cervellera

Pope Francis met with PIME missionaries - gathered in Rome for the General Assembly - and some representatives of the general direction of the Immaculate Missionaries. The proposal of St. Paul VI's Evangelii Nuntiandi. "There is no real evangelization if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the Kingdom, the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God, are not proclaimed". Do not confuse evangelization with proselytism. The "joy of evangelizing".

The interview with Card. Parolin was published yesterday evening at 11.53pm on the Global Times website. For the publisher it is a sign of "positive developments" in China-Vatican relations. Card Parolin sends a fraternal embrace above all to "those who have suffered the most and continue to suffer".

The Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia describes the life of his communities, the essential collaboration of the laity, multi-ethnic relations, and the special mission in the Gulf region. About a million Catholics live in the whole Vicariate, which includes the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman and Yemen, out of a total population of 43 million. UAE citizens represent only 20 per cent of the resident population. The "caravan" Church in the desert is the image of the future.

One Easter Vigil lasted over two hours with some 5,000 people present. Another Vigil had been celebrated hours earlier. A South African man and three Filipino women received baptism and confirmation. The liturgical service was efficient, with dozens of ciboria and aspersoria. The Islamic call from a nearby mosque could be heard during the liturgy. Prayers were recited for our "brothers and sisters of Yemen". Archbishop Hinder called for sharing the dismay of women at the tomb and the strength of the angel's proclamation.

Long queues of different ethnic groups flock to the Eucharist. The Mass in Coena Domini attended by 5 thousand people. Mass has not been celebrated in Yemen for three years due to a lack of priests. The communion distributed by the priests and 40 extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist.

Two months after the signing of the important document on "Human Fraternity", the "House of the Abrahamic family" and a fund to finance cultural activities on coexistence were founded. The search for a tolerant Islam, which avoids Wahhabism and Western liberalism. The pontiff has aroused much curiosity among Muslims. But there are still situations of violence and humiliation towards Christian workers.

Persecution and martyrdom are signs of today's Christians. In Holy Week, we should remember our commitment to evangelization. Even as a minority.

Thousands of faithful participate in the different masses. Palm Sunday celebrated on Friday and Saturday to to allow for workers to attend and given the impossibility of gathering all the faithful together at one time. For the Easter Sunday there will be 23 masses in 13 languages, from 5.30 am until midnight. The economic crisis and the unemployed. Bishop Hinder: The Master needs us.

In a long essay published today, the Pope Emeritus highlights the causes of the moral crisis in the Church, which he attributes to the sexual revolution and liberation of 1968, along with a relativism in moral theology and a misunderstanding of the Vatican Council II. The absence of God in society undermines the capacity to distinguish good from evil and to the endorsement of paedophilia. The path of renewal in the Church and society requires the recovery of faith in the Church, of the mystery of the Eucharist, and of witness. His thanks go to Pope Francis.

Since yesterday evening the faithful have been holding a sit-in to protect the sanctuary, located in the district of Taibai, a very poor mountainous area. The authorities want the whole diocese to join the Patriotic Association. The faithful ask all Christians to pray for the preservation of the sanctuary and the salvation of the population.

The building had an upper floor for the liturgy and a lower one that housed the nuns who offered medical visits and medicines to the population of the very poor area. The parish community is composed of 2 thousand faithful. Motive for destruction uncertain.

The former ordinary bishop, now reduced to auxiliary bishop at the request of Pope Francis, will not be able to celebrate the Chrism Mass. The Religious Affairs Office will not recognize him as a bishop unless he joins the Patriotic Association. All unofficial priests are required to register and support the "independent Church". If they register they receive an award of 200 thousand yuan (26 thousand euros). The ambiguity of Msgr. Zhan Silu, who from formerly excommunicated, is now the ordinary bishop of the diocese.