East Asia

The Vatican COVID-19 Commission and the Pontifical Academy for Life issued a statement. Refusing “the vaccine may also constitute a risk to others”. The statement reminds world leaders that the vaccine must be provided to everyone in a fair and equitable manner, giving priority to those who need it the most.

The sentence will be pronounced tomorrow, two days after the trial. They are charged with having violated Chinese territorial waters while trying to flee to Taiwan. Family members were unable to attend the hearing; foreign diplomats and journalists were also prevented from entering.

Thanks to its effective containment of COVID-19, Beijing is set to become the largest economy in the world by 2028. However, doubts remain about the health and economic data provided by the Chinese. Taiwan’s democracy is the real success story in the fight against the coronavirus, more than China’s or Singapore’s technocracy. The demand for participatory politics is growing in the Asia-Pacific region.

Churches shut down, checks, inspections and threats on the pretext of anti-Covid measures, have failed to dim celebrations of the coming of Jesus in both official and underground communities. Several faithful, given the ban on celebrating Christmas mass, were only able to pray at home.

The objective of the papal decision is “a better organisation of the administration, supervision and surveillance of the economic and financial activities of the Holy See to ensure transparent and efficient management and a clear separation of responsibilities and functions.”

Guilty of creating "unrest", she recounted the pandemic emergency in Wuhan. Lawyer says his client suffered torture in prison. Many reporters targeted for talking about the health emergency. New cases of contagion registered: the authorities reintroduce restrictions for the holidays.

After 4 months of forced exile, the Metropolitan of Minsk, returned to his homeland. Following a press conference, he celebrated Christmas mass in the cathedral. After crossing the border, he knelt down and kissed the Belarusian land. Thanks to Pope Francis and to the nuncio Msgr. Ante Jozic for his return. Religious freedom in Russia after three generations of atheism is a responsibility.

During the Angelus, Pope Francis mentioned the Apostolic Exhortation promulgated on 19 March 2016. The year of reflection is set to last until June 2022, when the 10th World Meeting of Families will be celebrated in Rome. The “Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph” are the model through which we can “rediscover the educational value of the family unit”. The important “three words” for a family are: “please, thank you, and sorry”. The pontiff mentioned the families marked by the pandemic.

Sunday Gospel: the faithful God and the family (VIDEO)

During the Angelus, Pope Francis prayed “for those suffering persecution because of the name of Jesus.” The martyrs (i.e. the witnesses) “break the cycle of hatred with meekness and love.” “God guides history through the humble courage of those who pray, love and forgive.” Every day, “We too can change evil into good”.

In the Urbi et Orbi Christmas Message, Pope Francis asks that the distribution of anti-Covid vaccines does not become an opportunity for economic competition and individualism, but is given to everyone, first of all to the "most vulnerable" people. He recalls and prays to the Child Jesus for the Middle East, Africa, the American continent. For Asia, he remembers the Philippines, Vietnam, and the Rohingya. At Christmas, we need to rediscover the family, "as a cradle of life and faith".

Commentary on the Christmas Gospel (Mass of the day: John 1, 1-18)