Franco Pisano

Francis appeals "to those with institutional responsibilities" in his message to a conference held at the Gregorian university marking the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. When fundamental rights are violated "we are all called into question", especially Christians, he says.

The first ever beatification ceremony in an Islamic country, in the presence of government representatives, family members of the martyrs, the main imams of the country and representatives of the religious congregations to which the new blessed belonged. The Pope: "this celebration helps to heal the wounds of the past and to create a new dynamic of encounter and coexistence".

"It will do us good today, and also tomorrow, during the week, to take this chapter IX of John and read this beautiful story of the boy blind from birth. And finish from our heart with the act of faith: 'I believe, Lord. Help my little faith '".

"First of all we are called to reclaim the depressions produced by coldness and indifference, opening ourselves to others with the same sentiments of Jesus, that is, with that cordiality and fraternal attention that takes responsibility for the needs of our neighbor".

Francis pays homage to the image of Our Lady, and remembers the sick, those in difficulty, families, priests, religious and those who have responsibilities in public administration. The visit to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major and to Rome’s "Messaggero" Newspaper headquarters.

On the day of the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Francis underlines the value of Mary's "here I am!": "It is being open to the Lord, it is the cure for selfishness, the antidote to disatisfaction with life, when we feel that there is always missing something". Today, Bishop Peter Claverie and eighteen religious comrades killed in hatred of the faith are beatified in Algeria.

They are "fascinating symbols of Christmas, they can bring a reflection of the light and tenderness of God, to families and places of encounter, to help everyone to experience the feast of the birth of Jesus. Contemplating the Child God who radiates light in the humility of the nativity scene , we can also become witnesses of humility, tenderness and goodness ".

State-owned Global Times writes that "Washington is resorting to a despicable rogue’s approach as it cannot stop Huawei’s 5G advance in the market.” Chinese media, whilst attacking Washington, do not seem to believe that the fragile truce in in the trade war reached in the recent meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping will be affected.

Local people protest the annexation of the region to the Federal District of the Far East with means losing the advantages of the Siberian energy tariffs. Fears for the facilities for Chinese refugees who are also assigned a hectare of land and now can also settle on the shores of Lake Baikal, easily acquiring citizenship and property rights.

Francis will travel to the United Arab Emirates to take part in an international interfaith meeting on "Human Fraternity" from 3 to 5 February 2019.

Referring to today's Gospel from Matthew and the first reading taken from the book of the prophet Isaiah, Francis indicated three pairs of words in contrast to each other, which mark life: "to say and to do", "sand and rock "," high and low ".

Francis began a cycle of catechesis dedicated to the "Our Father", highlighting how Jesus was "a man of prayer". "Even if we have been praying for so many years, we must always learn!". "And we do not even know if the prayers we address to God are actually those that He wants to hear."