Middle East

A year ago, Amer was studying at a prestigious university in Aleppo. Now he is dead, killed fighting for al-Qaeda against Syria's 'infidel Shia regime'. More and more young people, from all backgrounds, are joining the cause of jihad in Syria.

As he celebrated Mass on the feast day of the founder of the Society of Jesus, Pope Francis stressed the need to be "moved" in the service of Christ and the Church. "There can be no parallel or isolated journeys." In order to live this "dual centrality", we must "let ourselves be conquered" by Jesus and ask the Lord for "the grace of shame".

Charity, solidarity and aid to the poor are some elements that have given birth to new congregations and institutes in Brazil. But the pope wants a charity that is an expression of evangelization. Faith in Jesus Christ is the greatest gift to share. And many young people are deciding to become missionaries for life.

Bishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik led 350 young South Koreans to the WYD with the Pope and the Catholic youth of the world: "We have experienced the love and closeness of the Brazilian people, we are ready to give back what received during the upcoming Asian Youth Day. " Now, a 10 day retreat with the Brazilian bishops to "reflect on the message and on the invitation of the Pope to move out to the margins."

In Syria since the 1980s, where he established an Islamo-Christian monastic community, Fr. Paolo dall'Oglio had been expelled by Assad in 2012. He returned occasionally to rebel-controlled Syria where he had friends. News still being verified. The country is in chaos and few see "any light at the end of the tunnel."

The announcement of new demonstrations by the Shiite majority pushes Manama to approve harsher rules against "acts of violence and terrorism." Two years after the Arab Spring and the long wave of rebellion of Egypt’s Tamarod, Shiite protests against the al-Khalifa royal house continue.

Bishop Giuliano Frigeni, a PIME missionary, told AsiaNews that the event drew more than three million people for the final Mass. He spoke about the pope's "significant gestures" and his message of "love, hope and freedom", which comes "from proclaiming the Gospel." He stressed the "missionary vocation" of Church, which "must come out of its shell, even at the risk of getting hurt."

Francis’ final appointments in Brazil, who today returns to Rome. The memory of his first "call" from God and courage to make definitive decisions "against the trend", like the priesthood or marriage, today no longer seen as "fashionable".

Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas resume talks after a three-year hiatus with a Muslim meal. The release of one hundred Palestinians from Israeli prisons reopens negotiations between the two governments. In Washington, the two leaders will discuss ways to tackle over the next months the main issues, namely Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees and the settlements.

During World Youth Days, the Pope laid down the path of change he plans to use to reshape not only the Curia but especially the Church, whose task is to ease the encounter between Christ and the world. His example is Aparecida, a 'mystery' that shows the needs of today's Catholic community and those of the world, in full communion with Pope Benedict XVI, outside the 'right-left' divide imposed upon him.

Canonization of John XXIII and John Paul II, IOR, "resistance" to curial reform, gay lobby in the Vatican, pastoral care for marriage and divorced in Francis impromptu briefing with journalists on papal plane.

At least two, perhaps three million young people, took part in the Vigil on the Copacabana waterfront and beach, singing, praying, relaying personal stories, listening to the words of Pope Francis. The Church and the world are a work in progress that require personal involvement to change them for the better, following the example of Mother Teresa of Kolkata. After the Eucharistic adoration was held, the silence of the night followed.