Vincenzo Faccioli Pintozzi

A small informal delegation from Taiwan came to Poland to meet with mainland Chinese Catholics. For its members, “it is very difficult for us to show our love and support to our brothers and sisters” in the mainland. Teresa Wang, from Kaohsiung’s Rosary Cathedral wants to work with disabled people in the mainland, “But political tensions between Beijing and Taipei make this wish almost impossible." An appeal is made to bishops not to forget religious freedom in Asia.

Not just Catholics, but all South Koreans are carefully analyzing the messages of Francis in his four-day visit to the peninsula. Closeness to those who suffer, reunification through the conversion of hearts, the power of the Cross of Christ are arousing debate on the front pages the day after the pontiff’s departure. The only public protest, small in size, was staged by Protestants who "now fear to losing importance and faithful".

At the great final Mass of his apostolic visit to South Korea, Francis once again calls on Koreans to "firmly to reject a mindset shaped by suspicion and instead shape a culture formed by the teaching of the Gospel. Trust in the power of the Cross". All Koreans "are brothers and sisters, continue with humanitarian aid." An unscripted prayer Card. Filoni, sent to Iraq, and for all minorities who suffer in that country. Before the Mass the Pope meets with a former "comfort woman", who gifts the Pope a badge of her association which he wore throughout the Mass. Leaders of other religions: "We walk together, in the presence of God".

Speaking to AsiaNews, the archbishop of Manila talks about this morning's meeting with Francis in Haemi shrine. "The Church in Asia, which includes many distinct communities and groups, should focus too much on numbers and statistics. We must be ever more open to others, even and especially to non-believers. This is the invitation the pope engraved in our hearts."

The young university student won a scholarship to study at a university in Korea. Because of that, he was able to come to the peninsula for Francis' apostolic visit. Together with two seminarian friends, he is attending Asian Youth Day and is hoping to meet the pope soon. "Our government is schizophrenic in religious matters, but that does not bother us that much. We call priests close to the authorities 'Red Guards'. It is important to be here to show the unity of the universal Church, even in difficult times."

Celebrating Mass for the Assumption in the Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Francis said that, as Mary taught us, "True freedom is found in our loving embrace of the Father's will". He also called on the faithful to "be a generous force for spiritual renewal at every level of society," noting that the Gospel "is the antidote to the spirit of despair that seems to grow like a cancer in societies which are outwardly affluent, yet often experience inner sadness and emptiness." After the Angelus, he devoted a special prayer for those who died in Sewol sinking. Before the ceremony, a young Spaniard asked him to pray for North Korea, to which Francis replied that he does every day. Some Chinese seminarians were also present at the event.

The Meeting with Korean bishops becomes the first embrace between the Pope and the faithful gathered to greet him. Despite a suffocating security, the Pope got out of his car to embrace and greet those present. To the Bishops: "Guardians of memory and hope, do not be overwhelmed by worldly standards of success. Woe to us if the cross is emptied of its power to judge the wisdom of this world".

Suffering from severe congenital malformations, the young man was abandoned at birth. Adopted by a Catholic priest, he managed to graduate at the Catholic University of Daejeon and entered as a lay brother in the Missionary Society of St. Luke. "I want to communicate to Korea and to the world the message of hope in our Lord." In two days he will meet the Pope.

More than 6 thousand young people from across the continent gather in Daejeon for the event, which starts tomorrow with Mass presided over by Msgr. Lazzaro You Heung-sik. They include a young refugee from North Korea, who tells AsiaNews: "I am not a Christian, but my grandmother once told me about the figure of the Pope, and since fleeing to the South I better understand his role. I know the good he does in the world and I want to be among those who will greet him on his visit".

The European tour of Pakistan's president got underway with a public meeting yesterday. Musharraf says he wants to change his country's negative image, but he is not talking about the hamstrung judicial system, and he characterises as "obsessive" the West's attention to human rights and democracy.

In an interview with AsiaNews, the bishop of Faisalabad president of the local Caritas speaks of the difficult situation of Christians in Pakistan and of their desire not to hide the Christian faith, or at least, not to cede to the violence of new Islamic extremists.