India

84 million first time voters. The next election date is April 18 (Holy Thursday). Episodes of violence at the polling stations; Maoists cause two attacks. The radical "secret" faction of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh launches door to door search for votes.

At the end of the spiritual retreat in the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis called on South Sudan’s civil and Church authorities present to pay attention to the gaze of God and the people. He urges them to “reflect on our own lives and the common mission the Lord has entrusted to us”. The civil war that followed independence has left 400,000 people dead. Currently some seven million people suffer extreme hunger, whilst four million are refugees. The retreat was held on the day Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir was removed from power. The pope donated a copy of the Bible to participants.

In fact, trafficking disfigures the humanity of the victim, offending his freedom and dignity. But, at the same time, it dehumanizes those who carry it out, denying them access to "life in abundance". Those who aim to "restore and promote" our humanity and that of others are in line with the mission of the Church.

In a long essay published today, the Pope Emeritus highlights the causes of the moral crisis in the Church, which he attributes to the sexual revolution and liberation of 1968, along with a relativism in moral theology and a misunderstanding of the Vatican Council II. The absence of God in society undermines the capacity to distinguish good from evil and to the endorsement of paedophilia. The path of renewal in the Church and society requires the recovery of faith in the Church, of the mystery of the Eucharist, and of witness. His thanks go to Pope Francis.

The polls will remain open from 7am to 6pm. The final results will be announced on May 23rd. There are long queues and malfunctions of the electronic voting system. The Telegu Federation of Churches invites to vote for candidates who work in favor of adivasis, tribals and Dalits.

The Maldivian Democratic Party, led by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, won 65 seats out of a total of 87. The agreements signed with China are under careful scrutiny.

"The Christian who prays asks God, first of all, to forgive his trespasses, namely, his sins, the bad things he does. This is the first truth of every prayer: even if we were perfect persons, even if we were crystalline saints who never deflect from a life of goodness, we always remain children who owe all to the Father”.

Since yesterday evening the faithful have been holding a sit-in to protect the sanctuary, located in the district of Taibai, a very poor mountainous area. The authorities want the whole diocese to join the Patriotic Association. The faithful ask all Christians to pray for the preservation of the sanctuary and the salvation of the population.

The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism will remain in care at the Max Super Specialty Hospital in South Delhi for a few days. His personal doctor reassures that "there is no reason to worry". Beijing has always considered him a "wolf in sheep's clothing", even though the Dalai Lama has renounced his political office.

The suspended bishop of Jalandhar is also accused of abusing his dominant position. He could get life in prison. This is the first for the Indian Church that a prelate's name appears in formal charge sheet.

At Mass in Santa Marts, Pope Francis compares the lives of many Christians to that of the Jewish people in the desert: "They could not stand the journey". It gave rise to complaints, dissatisfactions, negativity, attachment to failure. The "snake that had seduced Eve ... always bites in desolation".

The ruling of the local High Court clears the path for eugenics and is causing a stir. The court will allow abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy if the life of the mother is at risk or if the fetus has malformations. The sisters of Mother Teresa welcome children rejected by their families because of their disabilities.