Middle East

During today’s Jubilee audience, Francis said that "By washing the Apostles' feet, Jesus showed how God acts towards us, and set an example of his ‘new commandment’ to love one another as he has loved us." Speaking to the participants in a course organised by the Roman Rota, the pontiff said that "the verification of the validity of a marriage represents a major possibility”. Those who have experienced a failed marriage “should be helped to follow this path as smoothly as possible."

In a video, IS calls on Christians to convert to Islam, urges Sunnis to rise up and impose Islamic law on Lebanon. Hezbollah, which is fighting the al-Nusra Front and IS in Syria, is declared a terrorist group. Arab League and Arab Gulf States also condemn "terrorist" Hezbollah. Riyadh is accused of supporting extremist groups in Syria and Iraq. Iran warns against putting Lebanon’s stability at risk.

The second round of UN-sponsored indirect talks between the government and opposition is set to begin on Monday in Geneva. The main opposition group confirmed its participation without preconditions “to stop the spilling of Syrian blood and find a political solution". Humanitarian agencies and UN officials show cautious optimism.

AsiaNews spoke to Josephine, one of hundreds of Christians from Al-Hasakah, who spent a year in the hands of the Islamic State group. She talked about psychological suffering, conversion attempts, and separation from her male relatives. She survived thanks to her faith. Her mother Caroline, a Caritas official, is the only one in her family to have been spared the ordeal. She also negotiated their release with IS, and gave a Jihadi copies of the Bible. Now she hopes “to meet the pope” with her entire family.

A demonstration is held in Darayya, a town south of Damascus that has been besieged by government troops for three years. One banner is directed at the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria.

Western governments believe the document is authentic and boosts "knowledge of the organization's structures". It will help investigators to trace the movements of militants and the judiciary to prosecute those returning to their country of origin. List includes names of fighters from many European countries.

Spearheaded by the Palestinian Authority and supported by the Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Churches, the work has restored mosaics, roof, and trusses. For a Christian leader, renovations are "very interesting", something "beyond our expectations,” but "new funding” is needed to complete them.

The Kerala-born priest served as chaplain to the Sisters of Mother Teresa, four of whom were killed in their convent. He was in mission to Yemen for four years. His uncle Matthew, a Salesian as well, founded the mission. Fr Tom chose to stay in the country, even though he had the opportunity to leave. Salesians have been present in Yemen since 1987 to provide outreach for the few local Catholics and the many migrant workers.

All schools, private and governmental, closed for the day. Yesterday there were 254 road accidents. Emergency services received over 3 thousand calls in a few hours. High alert for possible flooding. The UAE among the 10 driest countries in the world.

Indirect dialogue through mediation of UN envoy. The truce has enabled the delivery of humanitarian aid in many areas that were under siege. Still no help in Daraya and Douma, besieged by government forces, and Deir Ezzor, besieged by ISIS.

A former post office inspector, the new bishop’s vocation began when he was already an adult. As a missionary with the Paris Foreign Missions Society, he worked in China. During his stewardship of the society, the number of missionary vocations rose. In his view, developing the mission in Asia has a good impact on the missionaries’ native Churches.

Mgr Hinder met the superior of the Missionaries of Charity in Yemen, who is now safely abroad. She is “exhausted” but overall “doing reasonably well”. Now she needs “peace and quiet”. The fate of the abducted priest remains uncertain. Channels have been opened to secure his release but caution and prudence are required. The humanitarian situation in Yemen is uncertain with millions of people living in difficult conditions.