South Asia

God's initiative is gratuitous, salvation is gratuitous, the Lord "does not ask for anything in return": "Only love, fidelity, as He is love and He is faithful." "Salvation is not bought".

The ordination ceremony will be on December 1st during the Mass at Suhrawardy Udyan Park. The deacons came from the Major Seminary of the Spirit. A "great gift" to be ordained by the pope.

Children study in Tamil and Sinhalese. Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and Christian pupils hold a common prayer. The school model, based on plans of the president of the time, was adopted in 1996 to promote inter-ethnic harmony.

The gifts God makes are "irrevocable", so is "the gift of election, promise, and covenant." "Each of us is an elected one, an elect of God. Each one of us brings a promise that the Lord has made." "I think it would do all of us good today to think about our election, the promises the Lord has made to us, and how I live this covenant with the Lord."

North Korean threat on agenda in meetings with leaders in Japan, South Korea, China. But also the balance of trade. Attempts to encircle Chinese economic power in talks with Hanoi and Manila. Overcoming the Asia-Pacific area, which now becomes "Indo-Pacific".

The Franciscan Poor Clare was stabbed to death in 1995. Her social work in favor of poor tribal had become uncomfortable for Hindu leaders. Her assassin Samunder Singh was forgiven by the martyr's family.

During the Angelus, Pope Francis criticised those who "have authority, be it civilian and ecclesiastical”. For him, “Authority provides help, but if it is exercised badly, it becomes oppressive, it does not allow people to grow, and creates a climate of mistrust and hostility that can also lead to corruption”. Indeed, “I personally feel sorry to see people who psychologically live by chasing honours”. The martyred Regina (Rani) Maria Vattalil is beatified. "Her sacrifice is a seed of faith and peace, especially in India” where she was known as ‘Sister smile’.

Speaking to members of the International Federation of Catholic Universities, Francis said that “it is appropriate to initiate further studies on the remote causes of forced migrations, with the aim of identifying practicable solutions also in the long term”. In universities, welcoming, protecting, promoting, and integrating newcomers are needed in the areas of research, teaching, and social promotion.

Sardar Muhammad Yousaf argues that the "black law" has a noble purpose, namely to protect all religions and religious leaders. Between 1987 and 2015, 663 Muslims, 494 Ahmadis, 187 Christians and 21 Hindus were charged under the law.

Pope Francis will be in Dhaka from 30 November to 2 December 2017. Parishes are registering pilgrims. The organisation is handled by a central committee, plus twenty local and eight diocesan committees. Catholics in the north are sorry that the visit does not include a stop in the northern dioceses.

In 2015, the ban was imposed on imams to prevent terrorism. In early 2016, the visits of all religious leaders were blocked. Christians discriminated behind bars and forced to carry out degrading jobs.

At Mass in suffrage of the cardinals and bishops who died during the year, Francis recalls that "the awakening from death is not in itself a return to life": "many" will awaken. “Yet awakening from death is not in itself a return to life: some will awake for eternal life, others for everlasting shame. Death makes definitive the “crossroads” which even now, in this world, stands before us: the way of life, with God, or the way of death, far from him”.