Marta Allevato

AsiaNews talks to two prelates from Yangon and Mawlamyaing, who express their ‘closeness, to Buddhist monks who took to the streets to protest against the military junta in September. The bishops discuss international pressures against the regime. “The government is trying to gain time” but the time to act is now and might not come back. The Church carries out its work in silence helping an exhausted population.

Putin confounds Russian and foreign analysts by appointing an unknown, Viktor Zubkov, to replace Prime Minister Vicktor Fradkov who unexpectedly resigned. In Russia prime ministerial appointments signal Tzar Vladimir’s intentions with regard to his succession. Observers agree that the real election campaign for 2008 has just started.

The PIME missionary, who took part in the Youth Agorà, tells of his meeting with Benedict XVI and the young people. In an interview with AsiaNews he reflects on the most intimate aspects of his experience as a captive in the Philippines, and on the meaning of his kidnap for the PIME mission, as well as the local Church, and confides his future projects.

In an interview with AsiaNews the Orthodox Bishop of Vienna and Austria, Hilarion, discusses the positive evolution of relations between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Vatican. He adds that having Benedict XVI and Bartholomew I in Ravenna together would be at odds with Orthodoxy’s hierarchy.

An interview with Mgr Jacques Isaac, Chaldean auxiliary bishop of Baghdad and rector of Babel College: hardships will not kill the Church, every day we live the Passion of Christ but dying with him also means resurrecting with him. Masses are crowded and so are catechism and pre-marriage courses. He mentioned the support of the pope, who “prays for Iraq every day”.

In a round table conference organised by the Italian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Afghan women who leaders in political and civil society talked about the progress achieved since the fall of the Taleban: free elections, literacy and women’s development. At the same time, many objectives remain distant dreams. The women called on countries with a presence in Afghanistan to work more on security, an indispensable requisite to guarantee development and democracy.

After the suicide bombs in Kabul, the only Catholic priest there talks about the dangerous alliance between al-Qaeda and the Taleban, about nationwide discontent and about the disorganized work of NGOs. But there is also widespread appreciation for foreign troops and their "work of peace". Catholic organizations are also highly regarded.

Mgr Kondrusiewicz, in Rome with members of his community from Russia, talks about "good" prospects for dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Moscow Patriarchate after the Vienna conference.

A PIME missionary in Andhra Pradesh, who for years has been on the frontline of the fight against leprosy, talks about his patients' participation in Holy Week services, and their daily efforts to "defeat death with the strength of love."

An interview with the Archbishop of Manila. Tomorrow he will be created Cardinal by Benedict XVI. He talks of commitment to pastoral care among the poor, mission and evangelization of Asia. "This continent is the cradle of religions and the capital of economic development". And he underlines the continuity from John Paul II to Benedict XVI.

A Pime missionary in Tamil Nadu speaks of the many problems linked to government funding for reconstruction : people no longer have faith in the Government, yet to deliver promised housing. Their needs even greater than a year ago. Psychological trauma still a major factor in daily life: panic each time sea water nears camp tents.

Polling stations have been set up in 15 nations. In Italy, a couple originally from Mosul talks about the impossibility of contributing to the political process at home, but still they look ahead.