Daniele Frison

Some 21 young people aged 15 to 27 from Hong Kong’s St Patrick's Catholic Church are in Italy for the youth jubilee with Leo XIV. They also stopped off in Assisi, Milan, Florence, and Naples. For PIME missionary Fr Fabio Favata, the experience will help the group, which was recently formed, to "broaden their minds” and “discover the beauty of community”. Educational and psychological challenges await ahead. Friday's meeting with Card Chow Sau-yan is eagerly awaited.

The event, which will be the central event of the Holy Year from 28 July to 3 August, was presented in the Vatican. It will include a vigil and Mass with Pope Leo XIV, dialogues on faith, parishes welcoming young people, and a "missionary mandate”. More than 500,000 participants are expected, including young people from war-torn countries like Myanmar, Ukraine, Israel, and Syria. For Archbishop Fisichella, it will be a “genuine moment of peace”.

In the presence of 156 international delegations, Prevost celebrated the Mass marking the beginning of his Petrine ministry. During the Regina Caeli, Pope Francis was movingly remembered: “He accompanies us from Heaven.” The Pope’s thoughts turned to the “survivors reduced to starvation” in Gaza, the “new innocent lives” lost to airstrikes in Myanmar, and the “tormented Ukraine.” This afternoon, a private audience is scheduled with Volodymyr Zelensky.

The new pope began his pontificate in the sign of peace. Today, Good Shepherd Sunday, in front of almost 100,000 people, he took up the plea his predecessors Paul VI, John Paul VI, and Francis made. Looking out onto St Peter's Square, he urged a ceasefire in Ukraine and Gaza. He called for urgent humanitarian aid be “provided to the stricken civil population”. Leo XVI welcomed "with satisfaction" the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. During this morning Mass in the Vatican Grottoes, near the tomb of Saint Peter, he said “to listen to build bridges and not judge”.

Many Filipinos in the crowd are waiting for the smoke that will announce the end of the conclave. Many hope for Tagle, but “let the Holy Spirit do its work.” An Asian pope would represent great hope for the continent. Indian nuns pray for peace with Pakistan, like Pope Francis did.

This morning, the pro eligendo Pontifice Mass was held at the tomb of Peter, the first act of the Conclave that will elect the new pontiff. In his homily, the dean of cardinals said, “that the Pope elected may be he whom the Church and humanity need at this difficult and complex turning point in history.” In the afternoon, the procession from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel took place, ending with the pronunciation of the "extra omnes”. Card Pietro Parolin will chair the assembly. The first smoke is expected around 7 pm.

The Archbishop Emeritus of Bangkok has led the Thai Catholic Church with a focus on mission and inter-religious dialogue. He had promoted the foundation of the Thai Missionary Society - supported by PIME missionary Fr. Adriano Pelosin - closeness to the poor and openness to the Buddhist majority. He will be among the cardinal electors at the next Conclave.

The Syrian community in Jordan (1.3 million) remains trapped between poverty and cuts in international aid, which have increased since the fall of the Assad regime. According to the UNHCR, few Syrians have returned home. "My house was destroyed,” one refugee told AsiaNews. He wonders how he can go back to a place without work. In Mafraq, near the Za'atari camp, people barely survive. Relations between Jordan and Syria rekindle hopes, but the future remains uncertain.

In his new book, the Spanish writer recounts his trip to Ulaanbaatar with Pope Francis in 2023. As a convinced atheist, he discovered the "radicality" of men and women religious who help people without proselytising. For him, they embody the pontiff’s “missionary and poor Church”, he said yesterday at a meeting with the press in Rome. The novel narrates the meetings with Fr Ernesto Viscardi and Sr Ana Waturu.

The former Minister of Justice was unjustly detained for 2,454 days for her opposition to the former president's drug war methods. The families of the victims had hoped for a mandate from the International Criminal Court. Today Duterte supporters are rallying to mark his 80th birthday. In The Hague, his trial’s preliminary hearing is set for 23 September. Speaking in Rome at the conference for the 150th anniversary of the Congregation of the Divine Word, de Lima urged those who tolerated and favoured killings to seek healing.

Dialogue and mutual exchange are the Holy See’s “weapons”, the apostolic nuncio to Jordan told AsiaNews. The Jordanian government is committed to “paths of reconciliation”. Aid is flowing constantly from Jordan to Gaza. Syrian refugees are cautious but eager to return home. Some 50,000 have already made the trip. The new Latin church on the Jordan River shows the “vitality of the Christian community”.

Human rights activist Xavier William told AsiaNews that access to the only church in a Pakistani correctional facility has been restricted. Opened in 2009, the place of worship was used by about 200 Christian inmates. Former PM Imran Khan is among the prisoners held in the facility. For William, a balance must be found “between security and religious freedom;” he urges prison authorities to “review this decision”.