East Asia

Francis points to the Day for Human Fraternity at the general audience. Illustrating prayer in the liturgy, he says: "in the liturgy there is an objective mediation required by the fact that Jesus Christ is not an idea or a feeling, but a living Person, and his Mystery is a historical event ". “A Christianity without liturgy I would dare to say is a Christianity without Christ”.

The document backed by the US, Great Britain and France called for the restoration of democracy and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. Moscow in support of Chinese. China woos the Naypyidaw Armed Forces. Fears in the West that Myanmar will fall into the Chinese orbit.

A decision taken for "humanitarian reasons". The captain remains in custody. The Pasdaran had blocked the ship on charges of pollution; billions of Iranian dollars frozen by Seoul over US sanctions at stake. The Pentagon recalls the Nimitz aircraft carrier from the Gulf waters.

On the 25th World Day of Consecrated Life, which falls on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Francis points to "three ‘settings’ in which patience can become concrete”: personal life, community life, and the world. We must wait patiently for "the light in the darkness of history".

Calm returns to the streets after yesterday's coup. General Min Aung Hlaing forms the new government. Analysts: the coup dictated by the personal interests of the army chief. Washington threatens sanctions. Tokyo: Keep the channels open so as not to hand Naypyidaw over to China.

The new US Secretary of State accuses Beijing of violating its commitments for the territory’s autonomy. The prosecutor wants to deny bail to the magnate: the doubts of the Court of Appeal. Criticism of Carrie Lam for having met the territory’s highest judge shortly before the hearing.

In China, factory activity and services are down because of new lockdowns and restrictions for the Lunar New Year. Xi Jinping's strategy is threatened. GDP growth slows down in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Taiwan enjoys eight consecutive months of economic expansion and the best manufacturing numbers in eight years.

The Court of Final Appeal has decided to reserve judgement before ruling on Lai’s bail application. Cardinal Zen lined up for the hearing. Prosecutors argue against bail on national security grounds. Lai’s defence team urges the court to uphold the presumption of innocence. Applications to move to the UK have started; 7,000 people have already fled because of the repression.

The UAE’s Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed is behind the event, set to take place in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital on 4 February, a date chosen by the UN. On 4 February 2019, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, considered the highest Sunni religious authority, signed the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together.

Two women who were seeking transparency on vaccination campaign have disappeared. Sentences for journalists and activists. Lawyers and human rights activists also targeted. WHO experts visit the Wuhan fish market, which some believe the epicentre of the virus.

It will be celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July, in correspondence with the memory of Saints Joachim and Anna ("Jesus’ grandparents", celebrated on July 26). "Old age is a gift and that grandparents are the link between generations, to transmit an experience of life and faith to young people ". “Listen to Jesus, the definitive prophet”, by reading the Gospel and carrying it with you, in your pocket or purse. The commitment to peace of the children of Catholic Action.

The Prefect of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development issues a message stating the disease needs to be treated from a human and medical perspective: "the human encounter can eliminate stigma and that mental essential part of integral health ". In 2020, there were 200,000 new patients. Pope Francis thanks the missionaries, medical staff, associations, volunteers.