Middle East

An Italian businesswoman talks about the severity of the situation in the Libyan capital, media lies and the rebels’ atrocities. People are afraid, locked up in their homes without humanitarian aid and medicine because of NATO’s embargo.

Rebels could go back on ol contracts with Beijing because of the latter’s support for Gaddafi.

Yesterday the rebels demanded his arrest and that he be brought before the International Court in The Hague. Pro-Gaddafi groups and rebels claim to control almost all of the capital. The NATO bombing and killing of civilians continues. Some media forced to keep silent about the presence of Islamic fundamentalists among the rebels.

The bishop and the Islamic religious leader attended the dinner organized by the Center for Human Rights in the city. Archbishop Sako gives an envelope with money to Muslim children, "an expression of support from fellow Christians." During Ramadan, many gestures of solidarity between Christians and Muslims. But still more attacks on churches and violence in the country.

Mgr Giovanni Martinelli expects strong resistance against the rebels. Dialogue is necessary for peace, even if it should come at the last moment. Boasting of bombing the civilian population for six months is horrible. Hundreds of Filipino women and a priest thought of fleeing by sea but were prevented by the prevailing insecurity and gunfire across the city. Tripoli’s main Catholic church is also closed because of security concerns.

The ecumenical patriarch celebrates the liturgy on Mount Sümela, which was a dynamic Christian community until 1923. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan delivers a message on freedom of thought and religion. Bartholomew calls for the return of properties seized from religious minorities.

Syria’s president claims the backing of the Syrian people and criticises Barack Obama and Europe. He announces changes: local elections in December, parliamentary elections in February 2012, a new law on freedom of expression by the end of Ramadan and changes to the constitution to allow for a multiparty system. Today UN Human Rights Commission held an emergency meeting to discuss Syria. A UN humanitarian mission also arrived in Damascus today.

Thousands of people loyal to Gaddafi could lose everything with his defeat. The sudden fall of Tripoli was due to growing weariness by the Libyan leader and the population. The country could fall in the hands of unscrupulous characters.

At the concluding Mass of World Youth Day, Benedict XVI proposes for young people to enter into a personal relationship with Christ, to find out more and more in the Church, to go into all the world to witness. The communion is not distributed to all participants because of the damage caused by the storm the night before. The next World Youth Day will be in Rio de Janeiro.

The president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue has sent a message to Muslims around the world for the end of the month of fasting. Christians and Muslims "are too often witnesses to the violation of the sacred, of the mistrust of which those who call themselves believers are the target."

In recent days several attacks in Iraqi cities have killed dozens of innocent people. At the same time, two churches were affected, bringing to 52 the number of churches bombed in the country. The Archbishop of Kirkuk appeals for peace.

Benedict XVI celebrates a mass with seminarians from all over the world attending the World Youth Day and celebrates the priestly vocation, "rooted in Christ." He asks the thousands of young clerics present to be grateful to Christ asks for this "act of preference for each of you." Imitating Christ and testifying before the world " without anxiety or mediocrity." St. John of Avila, patron saint of the Spanish clergy, proclaimed Doctor of the Church Universal. The Pope confesses some young WYD pilgrims.