Giulia Mazza

AsiaNews interviews the Catholic organisation’s outgoing president. The cardinal takes stock of his eight years in office, noting the charity’s swift response to emergencies like Haiti, Fukushima, Chile, and Nepal; its admission of new member countries; and the never-ending refugee crisis in the Middle East.

The Iranian vice president spoke to AsiaNews about the status of women in her country. Iranian women are in a better position than those of other Islamic nations of the area in terms of education, university enrolment and health. In Iran, efforts are being made to boost women's participation and representation in politics and the economy.

An accident took Gisella Aschedamini's husband, two daughters and a granddaughter, turning her life upside down. Still, she started anew with the help of the missionaries of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) in Bangladesh. Working with them, she set up hostels, maternity clinics, schools, embroidery facilities and microcredit programmes.

Archbishop Bernard Moras celebrated Mass with Pope Francis, bringing to a close the Year of Faith. "He is a Pontiff who is a good shepherd for everyone, one who calls on the universal Church to renew the proclamation of the Good News." Talking about Bangalore, the prelate explained that it "has become the fastest growing city in Asia" due to its large IT industry and the development of its health and education sectors. He also talks about recent attacks against Christians, the result of personal vendettas but also due to the lack of prudence on the part of minorities, which do not always respect their neighbours.

Fr Danilo Gomez will go to Asia for the very first time in association with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME). Recounting how his desire to go on mission came about, he talks about the 'strange' path that will soon lead him to Bangladesh. Steadfastly aware that "God leaves no one alone, that he shows the way when the time comes," he is full of concerns yet curious about a people that is "so different", one with whom "we might have much more in common than we think."

The American activist founder of Women 's Rights Without Frontiers, tells AsiaNews the story of how her battle against China’s family planning policies begun, her ongoing fight to stop forced abortions and forced sterilizations . Because of birth control, Littlejohn explains, "the Chinese local system is in danger of collapse ."

George and his family owned a supermarket. On 10 August, Islamists blew up the business and threatened to kill him and his loved ones. After his escape, he spent the past month in Rome, waiting for his application for political asylum to be accepted by Italian authorities. In Egypt, "there is no place for me," he said. "I can no longer live there. The Egyptian Revolution is not democratic." For Christians, "Life has never been easy. No one has helped us."

Bishop Sebastian Tudu speaks to AsiaNews about the reaction of the Catholic Church and the local community to election of the new pope. In the Year of Faith, the prelate has launched many projects for the diocese, two new parishes, two pastoral centers and a vocational program for priests and nuns. The challenge of being a minority of 0.1% in a Muslim country.

The archbishop of Mumbai, who took part in Conclave describes the "blessing and joy" of Pope Bergoglio’s election. Prayer, the urgency of New Evangelization and teaching of Benedict XVI essential in choice of successor of Peter. Confident there will be a papal trip to Asia and India.

His Beatitude Mar Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara Church, will be made a cardinal on November 24 along with five other prelates. His appointment is "an honor and a recognition of" India and the Syro-Malankara Church. Religious radicalism "belongs to all faiths" and is "a form of selfishness," to be fought “within ourselves." A prayer for the imprisoned Chinese bishops and priests.

AsiaNews interviews Gyan Prakash, an Indian historian who teaches at Princeton University. Starting from his latest book, which is about Mumbai, the scholar looks at today's India, pushed towards the future but also victim of corruption and anti-politics. Religion is a source of harmony and coexistence.

Interview with Fr. Joseph Caraci, Comboni missionary who has followed the Enrica Lexie case from the beginning, in which two marines of the San Marco Battalion are accused of killing two Indian fishermen. Tolerance, religiosity, and the pain of the Catholic community in India, to be able to "look beyond" and seek truth and justice.