South Asia

For some young people, an international event like World Youth Day is an opportunity "to share feelings, opinions and ideas, suggesting new paths to the world." This year in Rio, there will not be a Sri Lankan delegation.

In the Northern Province, the army continues a policy of forced evictions, unmoved by protests from the local population. Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam files a petition with the country's Court of Appeal of the country.

A tweet by Francis from the plane taking him today to Rio de Janeiro for the 28th World Youth Day. Place and theme of World Youth Day, "Go and make disciples of all nations!" chosen by Benedict XVI, but Pope Francis wanted the program of this visit to include Aparecida and meetings with people addicted to alcohol and drugs, prisoners and residents of a favela.

After pupils died in India from pesticide-tainted food, about 50 per cent of children in Nepal's rural schools stay away. Despite government guarantees that food served in school is of good quality, experts complain of spoilt flower and poisonous meals.

The humility of the Argentine pope and his simple gestures are attracting many young atheists to the faith. From Rio, pictures of smiling faces, hugs and the revelation of a humble God will come from a humble pope. A young Cuban doctor, married with children, now living in exile in Miami, is the author of this testimonial.

During his flight to Rio de Janeiro, the pope spoke to reporters about the world crisis, which "is not treating young people well". We must go past our "disposable culture," which is now applied to people, especially the elderly, but also the younger generations, who are "isolated".

As the city of Rio welcomes Pope Francis in the streets, his motorcade is stopped several times. In his message, he says we must give young people "a solid basis on which to build their lives; how to guarantee their safety and their education to be everything they can be; how to pass on to them lasting values that make life worth living; how to give them a transcendent horizon for their thirst for authentic happiness and their creativity for the good; how to give them the legacy of a world worthy of human life; and how to awaken in them their greatest potential as builders of their own destiny, sharing responsibility for the future of everyone."

In the last Angelus before leaving for Rio de Janeiro, where tomorrow World Youth Day begins - which he calls "the Week of Youth" - Pope Francis speaks of the Gospel of Luke: “Prayer that fails to become concrete action towards our brothers who are poor, sick, in need of help, is a sterile and incomplete prayer. " After the prayer, he asks everyone to "accompany him on his journey towards the young people."

Hindu extremist Rashtriya Sawayamsevak Sangh (RSS) lay false charges of forced conversions and denounce the Reverend to the police. Christian leader: “persecution of Christians has become a lawful practice in this state."

The cardinal died last night at 93 years of age. His diocese in mourning, date of funeral to be decided. Appointed bishop by Pope Paul VI and Cardinal by John Paul II, he led the Indian Bishops' Conference for three terms. The Auxiliary Bishop of Mumbai: "A great leader not only for the diocese, but for the whole of India."

With a chirograph, the pontiff establishes a Pontifical Commission that will provide specialised advice to the Council of Cardinals to "avoid the misuse of economic resources, improve transparency in the processes of purchasing goods and services, [. . .] work with greater prudence in the financial sphere" and help the eight cardinals reform the Curia.

Some members of the Border Security Forces (BSF) are thought to have desecrated Islam's holy book and beaten up an imam. When hundreds of people protested outside a BSF camp, agents opened fire, killing four and wounding 42.