South Asia

With the encyclical Redemptoris Missio, the Polish pope returned mission to non-Christians to the center of the Church's life. He re-launched the conciliar Ad Gentes document boosting it in urgency and quality. Meanwhile, the Catholic mission slid towards short-sighted commitments: weapons, water, debt ... fruits of a crisis of faith. A witness of the Council and of mission speaks (Part VI).

The highest court in India demands Orissa account for the numerous acquittals related to the pogroms of 2008. Of 185 trials, only 64 convictions and all for minor offenses. No sentence for murder, rape, looting, arson. A report compiled by an NGO led the Supreme Court to action.

The mission ad gentes, revived by Vatican II, suffered the violent Marxist ideological interpretations and sociological reductions. Pope Paul VI always took the right direction, indicating where "true liberation" is found and that Jesus Christ is the centre of the missionary commitment. A witness of the Council and of mission speaks (Part V).

Mohammed Christophe Bilek pleads with Muslims to defend freedom of conscience and the right of Muslims to change their religion in the same way that Christians can embrace the Muslim religion. At the same time, he calls on Christians not to marginalise converts and work instead to ensure their rights in Muslim countries and in Europe.

Selvarasa Kumaran Pathmanathan, also known by his initials KP, headed the rebels' international section. For the government, there is no evidence against him. However, Interpol still wants him for arms smuggling in Asia, Canada, United States and Europe. Activists complain he was not regularly tried.

For the anti-corruption movement, the BJP president Nitin Gadkari confiscated land in Maharashtra and diverted rivers to feed his business. In the state, water is scarce. To expropriate the land, he sought the help of political opponents of the Congress. Gadkari's defense: "I'm only a social entrepreneur."

Hundreds of people take part in the opening ceremony, including many non-Christians. Benedict XVI's prayer is translated in Nepalese for the occasion and handed out in churches and elsewhere.

Strengthening the priesthood, develoing a Christian conscience in children; care for the needs of other communities: these are some of the challenges presented by the Archbishop of Colombo in the opening Mass of the Year proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. Priests, nuns, religious and laity must "strengthen their faith." The "fullness of the mystery of God" which "invites us to a new life."

For the Shri Krishna Pranami Youth Council, the government is profiting from the Hindu festival. Some 70,000 goats are sacrificed during Dashain. Nepal imported 29,000 live sheep, 370,400 live goats and 59,810 live buffaloes last fiscal year. For one expert, such inhumane practices push people away from Hinduism.

Benedict XVI begins a series of catechesis dedicated to the faith, in this Year called to rediscover the joy of believing in Jesus. Believers today and especially young people are not free from the effects of secularization and a widespread nihilistic mentality, "without clear ideals and solid hopes, in fluid social and family ties. " "Forms of barbarism, which pass under the sign of the conquests of civilization."

The High Court in Islamabad delays the trial before deciding whether to drop the blasphemy charges or not. The girl's lawyers want the case thrown out of court. In Karachi, a mob of extremists attack St Francis Catholic Church. In Faisalabad, Christians praying for Malala Yousafzai come under attack.

For World Food Day, former Ceylon has dedicated a week of workshops, theater performances, events and religious activities in the defense of and the right to food and livelihood. According to the Global Security Index, Sri Lanka is at 62nd place (out of 105) in the field of food safety.