Bernardo Cervellera

At the opening Mass of the Synod on "The pastoral challenge of the family in the context of evangelization," Pope Francis warns against greed and arrogance, by placing " intolerable burdens on the shoulders of others " and considering "the faith of the Church" as "property." Let ourselves be guided by the Holy Spirit not to "thwart" God’s drean. Present the 253 members of the synod, including 18 members from Asia and 14 married couples from all over the world.

PIME's superior general launches a year dedicated to the society's founder. Bishop of Pavia and then Patriarch of Venice, he corresponds to Pope Francis' role mode for a pastor. The missionary men and women leaving for Cameroon, Mexico, Brazil, Cambodia, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh, including two Colombian priests associated with the PIME, will receive a crucifix as a "companion" for their apostolic activity.

The story first reported by an Argentinian online paper stands out in Catholic websites in China. The pontiff's hand written letter was delivered to close Xi aides. For a priest in northern China, this is a first step that shows great respect for the Chinese president. The second step will be to speak about the problems of the Catholic Church in China. Hong Kong waits for Xi's response before evaluating matters. China and the Vatican see eye to eye on a multi-polar world and the problems of the Middle East. Ping-pong diplomacy is played out for world peace and religious freedom and democracy in China.

The issues dominating discussions thus far - the pastoral care of divorced, communion for the remarried, gay couples - are likely to overshadow the positive beauty of married life and of the sacrament, bound to the Eucharist. Mercy towards the remarried should not be psychological benevolence, but help that comes from the mystery of the Cross. The conflict between the Christian mentality and the individualistic mentality is leading the contemporary world to treat heterosexual marriages like "gay marriage." The summer issue of the prestigious magazine, with articles by Cardinals Ouellet and Scola, and other personalities related to the John Paul II Institute for the family.

The US president is set to present a plan to fight caliphate militias. His would-be alliance includes states that have provided ISIL with financial and ideological support, and excludes Syria, Iran and Russia. Pope Francis, Card Sandri, and Mgr Tomasi, the Vatican observer at the UN, demand that the United Nations be involved to enhance the fight's effectiveness.

Donations raised up to 31 August have been sent to the patriarch of Baghdad and the bishops of Kurdistan. The campaign helps to feed, house, clothe, and bring comfort to more than 150,000 Christian, Yazidi, Turkmen, Shia and Sunni refugees who fled the violence of the army of the Islamic Caliphate. People in Italy and around the world have been generous, including the poor and the unemployed, a sign of hope for the world as well as those who suffer and those who give.

Pope Francis sends another telegram to China. Still no answer, but Xinhua today published an article on the trip. The pontiff’s "olive branch" in line with missionary work of Matteo Ricci, missionaries in China, of previous popes. No emphasis on diplomatic relations. Beijing’s hampering Chinese youth in attending Asian Youth Day. An overview of the "new line" for China, in the hope that the young people are not arrested or persecuted.

The head of the Chaldean Church is grateful for the AsiaNews campaign and hopes that "this chain of solidarity will reach far and wide”. Helping refugees to remain in Iraq. But many want to flee abroad. The bishop of Amadiyah where thousands of displaced people have found haven in churches and homes: We also help the Arabs (Muslims), and Yazidis, for free and without looking at our confessional differences.

The raids near Erbil risk fuelling the division of the country. Oil rich Kurdistan attracts a lot of interest. The dream of a disintegration of the Middle East along ethnic and religious lines will not eradicate the danger of fundamentalists. The Chaldean Patriarch and Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani campaign for Islamic-Christian coexistence and the unity of Iraq.

In a few days time Msgr. Lazzaro You, Bishop of Daejeon, together with tens of thousands of young people from all over Asia will welcome his most illustrious guest: Pope Francis. This encounter is the main reason for the Pope's trip to the Far East. Young people are weighed down by competition and individualism, but thirsty for God and a desire to serve others. Mission in Asia and the contribution of Christianity: the history, the people, the community.

For Prof Bernard Sabella, this war that has lasted for 25 days is bound to continue indefinitely if leaders do not agree to open talks on "two peoples-two states." Gaza's youth (75 per cent of the population) has no economic and social prospects. Fundamentalism is growing even among Israelis. A ruthless war, in which both Hamas and Israel use civilians as a shield.

A wide ranging conversation with the bishop emeritus of Hong Kong: the courage of Msgr. Ma Daqin, who sent a message to Pope Francis; underground Catholics are also prepared to be arrested; suspicions about Beijing’s sincerity towards possible dialogue with the Holy See. And in Hong Kong, the march for a referendum on democracy; support for "Occupy Central"; the fear of the government and arrests. Card. Zen reaffirms that religious freedom and civil liberties go hand in hand.