Franco Pisano

"Last week the long awaited exchange of prisoners between the Russian Federation and Ukraine was carried out. I rejoice for the people who were freed, who have been able to re-embrace their loved ones, and continue to pray for a rapid end to the conflict and for lasting peace in eastern Ukraine ".

Francis writes to the Ecumenical Patriarch on the meaning of the gift of relics of St. Peter. It is "a confirmation of the journey that our Churches have made in drawing closer to one another". "The joining of the relics of the two brother Apostles can also serve as a constant reminder and encouragement that, on this continuing journey, our divergences will no longer stand in the way of our common witness".

A special inquiry to investigate some agents accused of having started fires by the bishop, who his being sued for defamation as a result.

Francis invites the representatives of the main religions, the exponents of international organizations and the various humanitarian institutions, from the academic, economic, political and cultural world to sign the "Global Compact on Education". The event scheduled for May 14, 2020 in Rome, in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican.

China has announced a one-year postponement of duties on some American assets and Trump's two-week shift in the increase in customs duties to $ 250 billion of Chinese products.

At the general audience, Francis retraced his journey to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius. Before leaving and on the way back, the visit to the Our Lady, Salus populi romani "for her to accompany me". "With Our Lady I travel safely".

Peace, xenophobia, interfaith dialogue and globalisation are some of the issues Francis spoke about during a press conference on the flight home from Madagascar.

Francis took his leave of the Antananarivo nunciature greeting a dozen poor elderly women representing the people assisted every Friday by the nunciature.

On the culturally and religiously diverse island nation, Francis talks about "A conversion that seeks not only to avoid terrible climatic phenomena or extreme natural catastrophes but also to promote a change in the way we live, so that economic growth can really benefit everyone, without the risk of ecological catastrophes or serious social crises.”

Celebrating Mass on the island, Francis calls for a missionary spirit that bears witness to Christian joy. "When we hear the forecasts of gloom "there are so few of us left", we should first of all be concerned not with the reduction of this or that form of consecration in the Church, but rather with the lack of men and women who want to live happiness by making paths to holiness."

Father Pedro, an Argentine missionary, created Akamasoa: five reception centres that serve 17 villages where everyone has a job. Speaking to priests and religious, the Pope said that “many of you live in difficult conditions and lack such essential services as water, electricity, roads and means of communication, or the financial resources needed for your life and pastoral activity.” For the pontiff, “It is interesting to see how Jesus sums up his disciples’ work by speaking of victory over the power of Satan”.

A million people attend Mass. For the Pope, it is hard “to follow him if we seek to identify the kingdom of heaven with our personal agenda or our attachment to an ideology that would abuse the name of God or of religion to justify acts of violence, segregation and even murder, exile, terrorism and marginalization.”