South Asia

At least 2 thousand Catholics attended the liturgy. One faithful affirms: "This year has made me stronger." The parish of Tejgaon was founded in 1677.

The kidnapper, a Muslim of 32 , acted out of revenge against her mother. There has been no trace if the child, Saba Waris, since June. A court has issued an arrest warrant against the torturer , who has disappeared.

Francis presides over the rite of admission to the catechumenate , the penultimate event of the Year of Faith, which closes tomorrow with a solemn Mass in St. Peter's. The pontiff gives Gospels to about 500 catechumens from all over the world , who are preparing to become Christians . During his homily, the pope underscores the "three moments" relative to this path : listening, encounter and the journey. Among the baptismal candidates presented to the Pope, Mahmoud Farah, Romina , Yoko (in a traditional Japanese robe ) , Olzi , Rami, Francesca , Kriztof , Mimosa and Zhao .

Older people, though ill, "have always been the protagonists in the Church, still are”. Today we are living longer and therefore "there are a growing number of people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, often accompanied by a deterioration of cognitive abilities ," that engages both the world of health care andassistance , even on the religious plane .

Engineering staff will examine the safety equipment and structural integrity of 1000 plants. Meanwhile, protests continue with workers demanding a minimum monthly salary of 8,000 taka (US$ 103).

At mass Francis speaks of the physical "temple" as a building where we go to worship and the "spiritual temple", the human being as a "temple of the Holy Spirit” called to listen to God, to ask Him for forgiveness and follow Him. But "are our temples places of worship, do they favor adoration? Do our celebrations foster adoration? " . " In these two temples, our attitude should be one of piety, of adoration and listening, praying and asking for forgiveness, praising the Lord."

In the western districts forced marriages are still widespread: During special "festivals", young men choose the most beautiful girls and kidnap them, forcing them to marry. In Nepal, this practice is illegal, but the silence of the people prolongs this tradition. Girls as young as 11 among victims.

The results are preliminary, but exit polls point to third place for the Unified Communist Party of Nepal ( UCPN -M ). Victory for Congress Party (Socialist and Democrat) , followed by the Communist Party. Prachanda , Maoist leader, announces they “do not accept the vote".

Francis meets with the participants in the assembly of the Congregation of Eastern Catholic Churches . "We should never resign ourselves to a Middle East without Christians." The whole Church is called to prayer that "disarms foolishness and generates dialogue where there is open conflict. If it is sincere and persevering , it will make our voice gentle and firm, capable of being heard even by the leaders of nations ."

Card Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo, announces a Marian Year to start on 30 November. For him, the Virgin "is the best possible example of how to live a life of faith". The country's Catholics are invited to take part in the pilgrimage to the shrine of Madhu, an event that always raises great expectations.

The grand assembly of elders will meet until November 24. Its members will discuss the security agreement with the US, which Washington wants to use in its fight terrorism. The assembly is also expected to discuss whether US troops will be subject to US or Afghan law.

On a visit to the nuns of the Camaldolese Monastery of Sant'Antonio Abate, Francis spoke about Mary, "the most expressive icon of Christian hope". He also prayed for the victims of natural disasters in the Philippines and Sardinia and for persecuted Christians around the world.