Bernardo Cervellera

On the first day of the Oasis Centre's annual conference, participants hear that secularism and the 'crisis of man'-that of an inward-looking man, stalked by radical environmentalism, man as an animal, a 'monkey'-appear to be at an end. Islamic parties brought to the fore by the Arab spring are failing. As new religious experiences emerge in the Arab world, states try to bring under their bureaucratic control. But, as Benedict XVI put it, faith and reason must engage in dialogue. In Najaf (Iraq), a Council for dialogue between religions has been set up for the purpose of promoting basic universal human rights and full citizenship for all of the country's religious communities.

The new Superior General of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, a former missionary in Japan, presents himself and the challenges of evangelization for the institute, for the Churches of Asia and the world. The fundamental value of reaching out to non-Christians and Massmedia.

The Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples comments on the words of Pope Francis, his first in explicit reference to China for the Day of Prayer launched by Benedict XVI in 2008. The intercession of Our Lady of Sheshan to strengthen the unity of the Chinese Church with the universal Church and the Pope, the successor of Peter.

The PIME Annual General Meeting will discuss the mission ad gentes and "new evangelization"; missionary revival for the older Churches (Italy, USA, Latin America), and the communications media. But above all, the awakening of faith, according to the teaching of Benedict XVI and Pope Francis’ call to "go out to the geographical and existential outskirts".

Peres invites the pontiff to Jerusalem and asks him to pray for him and his nation. The two leaders discussed various issues, including Israeli-Palestinian talks, the Syrian tragedy, the difficulties faced by the Catholic communities in Israel and the slow implementation of the Fundamental Accord.

During a sober ceremony, wearing simple vestments, the pope shows his closeness to children and the sick. Despite their differences, both Francis and Benedict XVI are profoundly united. Insisting on the need to protect creation and preserve the human habitat, the Pope Francis calls on the powerful to choose between good and evil, without relativism. He calls for less bureaucracy and more witness and mission, talks to Taiwan's president and an Iranian minister.

Ma Ying-jeou is the second president to attend a ceremony at the Vatican. At the funeral of Pope John Paul II Chen Shui-bian was present, raising the ire of Beijing. Relations between China and the Holy See blocked over the appointment of bishops. The advent of Xi Jinping has raised hopes, but Beijing’s embarrassment and hesitation persists. Director of the Vatican press office: all are welcome to the Pope’s inaugural Mass, even those who do not have diplomatic relations with the Vatican.

His election, after a few votes, shows unity among the cardinals. He is a pope who rejected Marxist liberation theology, but who lives like the poor and with the poor. He will be a reformer of the Curia starting from the mission of the Church, which is the message of Christ who is close to all men in everyday life. The dialogue with other Christian denominations and religions to meet the challenge of relativism and materialism, which gives rise to abortion, euthanasia, gender ideology, pollution, wild finance and dictatorships.

The most populous continent in the world has the largest number of non-Christians and poor. John Paul II saw Asia as the evangelization territory of the third millennium. A combination of the world's problems - fundamentalism, secularism, economic injustice, violent globalization, pollution - that longs for reconciliation, avoiding war. The Asian Churches are a sign of hope for Asia and the world.

The new secretary general of the Party – due to be confirmed as president in the coming days- has raised many hopes, but his policies thus far are one step forward, one step back: the laojiao have not been closed down; corruption is on the rise; the much touted reforms are slow in arriving; bishops and priests remain in prison. One positive sign, the Global Times article about the pope and an interview with Fr. Lombardi. But religion is the last place in the concerns of leadership.

In his freely "renouncing" his title, the pope is carrying out a bold gesture of missionary passion for Proclamation. His decision to retire in seclusion and contemplation shows the real root of the effectiveness of every Christian action. Most media have failed to grasp this divine-human dimension of his actions and are belittling the breath of his witness with political platitudes or gossip of secret plots. Yet there is huge interest in him, a sign of a secret hope.

Reportedly announced today by Meng Jianzhu, Secretary for CPC Political and Legal Affairs. Cancellation regards laojiao and not Laogai. The system of "re-education through labor (laojiao) affects up to 2 million people who work for 15 hours a day for minimal pay. Among the victims are Christians, members of the Falun Gong and dissidents. The message of an inmate found hiding in a toy sold in the U.S. Internal and external pressures against criminal justice system, to point of boycott of products the result of forced labor.