East Asia

The new 54-year-old prelate succeeds Msgr. Bosco Lin. As a child he was adopted by a Catholic family, who educated him in the faith.

The Games will open on 23 July. The Japanese government and International Olympic Committee confident in the presence of spectators. All athletes will be vaccinated and will be exempted from quarantine obligations. Contagions increasing in the Land of the Rising Sun.

At the Angelus, Pope Francis reiterated the value of World Day of the Poor. “The poor are at the centre of the Gospel. Jesus came for the poor. Have you received so many things and yet you your brother and sister die of hunger?” The pontiff mentioned the people of the Philippines affected by floods caused by typhoons. He also appealed for reconciliation in the Ivory Coast, and prayed for the victims of a fire in the Piatra Neamt hospital (Romania).

During the Mass in St Peter's Basilica for the 4th World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis mentions Don Roberto Malgesini, a priest who was killed in Como on 15 September, “[H]e simply saw Jesus in the poor and found meaning in life in serving them.” “Those who do not live to serve, serve for little in this life.” “For the Gospel, faithfulness is never risk-free.” Those who are “content only to observe rules and obey commandments” make no mistakes, but “end up like mummies.” The real Christmas question: “What can I give to be truly like Jesus, who was born in the manger?”

Sunday Gospel: talents, proclamation, work (video)

Susanna Marino and Stefano Vecchia wrote a book on the topic that was released recently. The “atomic bombs dropped 75 years ago are a ghost that haunts above all the minds of the Japanese, but also of all humanity”. The crisis associated with the Fukushima nuclear disaster has revealed the limits of technology, raising questions about the use of nuclear energy.

Beijing wants to impose Mandarin in schools of the autonomous region in lieu of the local Mongolian language. In September, ethnic Mongolian students turned against the authorities. Local officials are blamed for poorly handing the reform, which Beijing wants firmly implemented. Inner Mongolia’s native population fears for their cultural survival.

Congratulations for the Democratic candidate come almost a week after election results were announced, following those of most other governments. The Chinese were slow, weary of further friction with the Trump administration. The president-elect said he was ready to work with Francis against poverty and climate change, and on integrating migrants and refugees.

In September the game was banned for national security reasons. The South Korean company that owns it replaced China's Tencent as its Indian distributor. The smartphone app has more than 70 million users worldwide. Indian psychologists warn that it is dangerous and addictive, especially for young people.

According to a survey, 86.4% of respondents believe that only the inhabitants of the island have the right to determine the future of the country. The Chinese regime’s "one China principle" and the "one country, two systems" formula is rejected. Irritation at the military threats of the "motherland" and support for military cooperation with the US.

Pew Research Centre publishes its latest report. To restrain and control religious groups, political authorities increasingly use force - such as detentions, physical abuse, destruction of property, expulsion. More than 50% of the most restrictive countries are in Asia. Instead, the restrictions caused by society (individuals, groups, etc.) are decreasing.

For Chinese Human Rights Defenders, the trio’s only fault was defending people living with disabilities or HIV-AIDS. Held on suspicion of national security breach, they were tried for subversion. A UN body called for their release six months ago.