Middle East

Francis met in the small room in the Paul VI Hall with participants in a colloquium organised by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation.

"They are a sign that we want to know God, Jesus, and the mystery of his love for us better and more deeply " but "doubts must also be overcome." Lack of education is a source of discrimination and thus of injustice . "The Church, over the centuries, has felt the need to engage in education because her mission of evangelization entails the commitment to restore dignity to the poor".

A meeting with Card. Koch at Danilovsky Monastery in Moscow. Rebuilding churches and returning the religious life of Syria to normal. Unite the two anti-terrorism coalitions fighting in the Middle East. The Pope donates some relics of St. Francis of Assisi. A reception in the presence of Putin closes the celebrations for the birthday of the Orthodox Patriarch.

She is one of the recipients of the Mother Teresa Memorial Award. In 2009 she escaped an assassination attempt in Kabul and decided to help children and youth. She produced illustrated books and set up storytelling schools in which the country’s cultural heritage is passed down by word of mouth.

“If each of us is faithful to the Lord, when death comes, we shall say as Francis said, 'sister death, come' ... We are not scared. And when the day of judgment comes, we shall look to the Lord: 'Lord, I have so many sins, but I tried to be faithful'. And the Lord is good.”

"The three themes announced above are intended to give a clear Marian tone to the spiritual journey of the next three WYDs. At the same time they give a picture of young people on a journey between the past (2017), present (2018) and future (2019), inspired by the three theological virtues of faith, charity and hope".

Already in 1818, the highest Egyptian judicial institution had halted (radical) Saudi hegemonic ambitions. Now there is a renewed struggle, with the Riyadh boycott of al-Azhar. A cold and silent war that has favored the emergence of jihadist groups like al Qaeda and the Islamic State. The Grand Imam Al-Tayeb promotes dialogue and tolerance between religions.

The head of UN humanitarian operations speaks of people "isolated, starved, bombed without any medical care and humanitarian assistance." Government forces charged with deliberate use of "cruel tactics". In November, the rebels rockets on Aleppo killed more than 60 civilians in the western sector. The Security Council’s inaction.

The newly-elected president reiterates his defense for the American economy. The fears of Asian economies, that have boomed thanks to exports to the US. At the APEC gathering China offers itself as the new center for continental economy. But there are countries which fear its supremacy.

The apostolic letter "Misericordia et miserable" shows how to pour out the "extraordinary" Jubilee into everyday life. The need to energize the world with the experience of mercy in order to heal grief and despair. No mention of illegal Chinese bishops. Everything comes back to the "center" of Christianity, which is the mercy of God in Jesus Christ. A turning point to relaunch society and dialogue between the conservatives and progressives within the Church.

Mgr Fisichella noted that between 56 and 62 per cent of the world’s Catholic population took part in the event. A total of 21,292,926 pilgrims came to Rome from 156 countries around the world. ""One thing is certain with this Jubilee, namely that mercy has become the protagonist, at least for a year, of the daily life of Christians.”

In the apostolic letter "Misericordia et miserable" Francis writes that for the Church, mercy "constitutes its very existence." "There is no law or precept can prevent God from once more embracing the son who returns to him". Mercy - key of the relationship between God and man – should permeate the life and activity of the Christian community and pastors. A World Day of the Poor.