Oceania

The prelate last week addressed the plenary session of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference (ACBC), highlighting his country’s multiple challenges, from earthquakes and healthcare to war and the economy. He bore witness to the devastation caused by the 2021 military coup while reiterating the strength of the local Catholic community. The US State Department acknowledges religious persecution.

Oceania’s small island nations are among the hardest hit by the fuel crisis. As the world's most diesel-dependent region, domestic transportation, food supplies, and access to healthcare are already under pressure, with Tuvalu declaring a state of emergency. China is watching, while New Zealand is asking the United States for help.

This year marks the bicentennial of the birth of the Italian missionary killed on Woodlark Island in 1855. For this occasion, the bishops of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands recently asked PIME’s former superior general, Father Ferruccio Brambillasca, to speak about the relevance of the testimony of the institute's first martyr. We publish extensive excerpts from his address.

This year, the award went to six women activists for their work defending ecosystems and local communities. Among them, Papuan Theonila Roka Matbob, who played a crucial role in the long struggle for the cleanup of the Panguna mine, and South Korean Borim Kim, who led a legal battle over climate that culminated in a constitutional ruling in favour of future generations.

According to a study by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the region is rapidly aging. The declining workforce and the spread of the informal economy risk accentuating existing inequalities. But greater investment in care services could create millions of jobs and new opportunities for inclusive development.

President Marcos strongly rejected reports of the Sydney attack linking the two perpetrators' 28-day stay in the country to training at some militia camp. Investigations reveal that the two men booked in at a hotel during their stay in Davao where they may have spoken to someone but did not engage in any activities. For Climate Conflict Action, “restraint and caution against hasty conclusions” are needed. But Dawla Islamia in Mindanao is not defeated and is still recruiting.

In a statement, a group representing Australia’s Pakistani community described the incident as a "horrific act of violence" that "shocked our community." The Bondi Beach attack in Sydney was allegedly the work of a father and son of Pakistani origin who had ties to the Islamic State. The hero who risked his life to disarm them was from Syria. In Pakistan, political leaders slammed the attack, saying that their country is “also victim of terrorism." For Pope Leo, “Enough with these forms of antisemitic violence!”

The two countries struck a deal after divisions had led to speculation about a fallback on the organisation's headquarters in Bonn. Turkey will host the event, while Australia will chair the talks. Concerns remain about the true effectiveness of the collaboration between the two countries, coupled with criticism from Pacific nations who had hoped to see the event take place in their region.

A new, large-scale mining facility, 75 per cent owned by Chinese companies, began operations this week in the hills of southern Guinea. It is expected to have a major impact on the global mining industry, not least because of the quality of the extracted material, which is more suitable for low-carbon steel production.

During the canonisations on 19 October, Pope Leo XIV will proclaim the first saint of this Oceanic country: a lay catechist, husband and father, who died a martyr for defending Christian marriage. Vice-postulator Fr Ravaioli reflects on the relevance of this figure today: ‘He fought against corruption. He tells us what it really means to proclaim oneself a Christian.’

A report prepared by ACT NOW and Jubilee Australia brings the issue of deforestation back to the forefront. The focus is on issues related to the application and implementation of logging licenses, which are exploited for different purposes. It is necessary to ensure better control of the timber industry and develop local employment and income.

Care for creation and overcoming divisions were the themes at the centre of the Argentine pontiff's last apostolic journey in September last year. Already by name the successor draws the Church's attention to the “new things” and the challenges of the present. The sacredness of life and the mission to build bridges in society.