Bernardo Cervellera

Sanctions have been largely responsible for Iran’s 20 per cent youth unemployment rate. The crisis is such that many young Iranians have to live with their parents, unable to marry and start their own family. For them, jobs remain “more important than missiles and the nuclear programme.” Mullahs have come under criticism for their corruption and for the intrusiveness of religion in public life. "Only 16-17 per cent practice Islam."

The small Armenian, Chaldean and Latin communities are free but inside their churches. Muslims seeking baptism have to be turned away to avoid antagonising the government. The prevailing model is one of tolerance, living side by side, but without dialogue. As a new Latin cathedral is under construction, many fear that Rouhani’s openness may not last.

As the world’s most powerful nations try to find an agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue in Lausanne, in Iran things are changing. Despite known limitations on freedom of conscience and problems, including violence, the country’s 350,000 Christians enjoy a degree of freedom that is certainly greater than in other countries of the region. This is the first part of a report.

A framework agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue has to be inked by 31 March. US Republicans, Israel and Saudi Arabia are fiercely opposed to it for ulterior motives. Hassan Rouhani wants Iran to come back into the international fold. Tehran is playing a mediating role in the Middle East. For Vatican nuncio, “there is no evidence that Iran is preparing a nuclear bomb.”

BREAKING NEWS: Chinese police seize two priests in Mutanjiang

For the Global Times (the People's Daily) China does not like the "Vietnamese model" of agreed episcopal ordinations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s embarrassment in front of the Holy See’s countless efforts. China wants the Vatican to accept all excommunicated bishops and to keep silent on those who are underground and imprisoned. The case of Msgr. Cosma Shi Enxiang. Without religious freedom, diplomatic relations are pointless. The work of mission and the unity of Catholics in China. A task for Xi Jinping: implement the anti-corruption campaign in the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Patriotic Association, which have grown rich over the decades on the backs of Christians.

The Islamic State claim to fight for God, but in reality that suffer from megalomania because they feel themselves to be God. The 21 timid martyrs who whispered the name of Jesus with their last breath testified to the very end how the center of their lives, was not their own well-being but Jesus himself. This year, in his Lenten Message Pope Francis asked us to combat the "globalization of indifference": " As long as I am relatively healthy and comfortable, I don’t think about those less well off. Today, this selfish attitude of indifference has taken on global proportions, to the extent that we can speak of a globalization of indifference”.

The underground bishop of Yixian disappeared in police custody in 2001. In late January news of his death spread. But authorities denied the reports. Family members await his corpse or ashes. The long list of underground bishops who have died in prison after torture. The government is terrified of possible demonstrations at his funeral. The visit of Yu Zhengsheng, "number four" from Baoding Politburo. Out of his 93 years of life, Bishop Shi spent 54 years in prison because of his fidelity to the Church and the Pope.

The controversy over Catholics who have children "like rabbits" has overshadowed the Pope’s message about ideological attacks on the family a "colonization" to be freed of. The UN and development agencies funds used for "reproductive health". Collaboration with other religious traditions, including Jews and Muslims vital to counter this "ideological colonization".

The State Administration for Religious Affairs has launched plan’s that includes new ordinations without papal mandate. Beijing hardens towards the Holy See. Already now faithful refuse to participate in the ceremonies of the illicit bishops. A return to Maoist politics: the ideal of the Party is to destroy religions. The anti-corruption campaign of Xi Jinping has not yet touched the corruption of the Patriotic Association and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, who have stolen 13 billion euro.

Hassan, 15, has lost his entire family. Women have been sold or used as prostitutes; young women married off to Islamic state fighters and forcibly impregnated by them. Some 10,000 Yazidis are still besieged on Mount Sinjar. During his visit with Pope Francis, the Yazidi leader called the pontiff the "father of the poor". Christians and Yazidis are equally helped. The coalition is still slow in helping the recapture of ISIS's seized territory. Winter in the camps is full of misery.

Yesterday's huge rally did not show a lot of 'liberté', 'égalité' and 'fraternité'. People demonstrated for freedom of expression, but in Russia and Turkey - who were represented at the event - detain journalists and bloggers. Political leaders were afraid of marching with ordinary people. Changing Schengen rules threatens to divide Europe along a north-south axis. Little solidarity was shown to the daily victims of terrorism in Syria, Iraq, and Nigeria. European countries sell weapons to Al Nusra Front and the Islamic State. Living side by side and education are necessary for a true 'fraternité'.