East Asia

The Kim regime allows CNN to interview and broadcast appeals from Kenneth Bae, Jeffrey Fowle and Matthew Miller: the first was sentenced to 15 years hard labor, the other two are awaiting trial. The North has always used foreign prisoners as a bargaining chip for material aid and cash.

The two leaders, both nationalist and hostile to China, sign strategic agreements in every sector, including defence and high-speed trains. Both praise the new, stronger bilateral relationship that could become the greatest ever.

"If we Christians do not fully understand the things of the Spirit, if we do not give or offer witness then we no identity". "Often, so often, we find among our faithful, simple old women who perhaps didn’t even finish elementary school, but who can speak to us of things better than any theologian, because they have the Spirit of Christ".

From the Marian shrine of Sheshan where he is confined, Mgr Thaddeus Ma Daqin sends a prayer for the three new episcopal brothers ordained by Card Tong in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He asked "the almighty God to bless them, and under the leadership of Cardinal Tong the new bishops will serve in charity, help pastoral work and evangelization work to grow, and bring blessings to Hong Kong". Bishop Ma also "wished peace in Hong Kong and peace in their motherland China".

MPs and activists interrupt the speech of Li Fei, deputy Secretary General of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, and accuse the government of the territory of having "broken their promises." Mainland China excludes "a political future" for those who want freedom in the Territory.

The chief executive won a new mandate with 96 per cent of the vote, cast by a group of 400 people chosen by Beijing. After the election, he refused to comment on the landslide victory, thanked his supporters "for the chance to serve the Macau public". Pro-democracy activists call on the "government to [. . .] launch political reform".

During his homily at Mass in Santa Marta, Francis says that "Jesus is right there in His Word, in His Gospel". We must receive the Word of God "just as you receive Jesus, that is to say with an open heart, with a humble heart, with the spirit of the Beatitudes".

The local pro-democracy movement is dismayed by Beijing's intransigence on the issue of universal suffrage for the former British colony. The Chinese proposal turns the existing Election Committee, whose members and size remain the same, into a nominating committee to pick "two or three" candidates for the election to the post of chief executive. Under the new rules, "The chief executive must be a person who loves the country and loves Hong Kong" whilst Hong Kong will continue to enjoy a "high degree" but not "full autonomy". By contrast, critics insist that Hong Kongers are "more than ready to have democracy. We are not living in North Korea."

At the Sunday Angelus Pope Francis warns against becoming "worldly" and "tasteless salt”. "Watered down Christians" are like watered down wine, "you do not know whether it is wine or water". Read the Gospel every day. Gospel, Eucharist, prayer help us to safeguard the newness of Jesus. Tomorrow World Day for Safeguarding Creation.

The president of the Vietnamese Bishops' Conference was a delegate at the Pope’s Asian visit. He emphasizes the Pope’s openness, dialogue and attention to reality of the Church in Vietnam. The bishop praises the dynamism of the Church in Korea and the strong presence of the laity and young people in missionary work.

The democratic movement announces a demonstration outside local government offices tomorrow evening to coincide with the announcement on the Beijing draft on universal suffrage. The massive deployment of security forces is a symptom of mainland China’s fear of the democracy in the Territory.

The members are also accused of rape and fraud. Their teacher is a human rights activist, who has been sentenced to 11 years for calling for political reform.