South Asia

"Announcing a great joy to the poor can only be done in a respectful, humble, and even humbling, way. Evangelization cannot be presumptuous. The integrity of the truth cannot be rigid, because the truth has become flesh, has become tenderness, he became a child, became man, became sin on the Cross. " Mother Teresa of Calcutta, "a Samaritan soul".

About a hundred Catholics from Colombo and Negombo went to Mullivaikal where up to 40,000 civilians died in 2009 caught in the crossfire between government forces and Tamil Tigers.

Chandrika Digal and her two sons, Prabin and Rohim, were baptised today. The youngest also received the sacraments of confession and first communion. He wants to become a missionary. The three began reaching out to the Church six years ago and followed a training course with the help of local catechists.

"And this hope sprouted precisely by the strength of love: because a love that “hopes all, endures all” (1 Corinthians 13:7), love that is God’s life, has renewed everything it has reached. So, at Easter, Jesus transformed, by taking upon himself our sin for forgiveness. "

On 6 April, thousands of Catholics marched in solidarity with tribal Santal. Last November, the latter were attacked by police and Muslims who set fire to their homes. At present, about 250 Christian families are still living in tents, in conditions of extreme need and in fear of attack.

Pupils from the St Joseph's Girls School in Nugegoda took part in the pilgrimage, which the Sisters of the Holy Family organise each year to replicate the Stations of the Cross. After leaving the top of Hiniduma Calvary, the group came down collecting rubbish.

Bishops, activists and ordinary people complain about incidents of violence and intimidation across the country. Despite constitutional guarantees, the Christian minority is being persecuted. The threat on Palm Sunday: "If you want to pray, you must have official permission."

The Chinese courts database contains less than one-tenth of the cases reported in the media. In 2016 at least 1,032 people were executed; 1,634 in 2015. The drop largely due to a lower number of executions in Iran and Pakistan. For the first time since 2006, the United States is not among the first in the world

Joyshita Roy Augustian works in Gazipur district, where he moved with his wife six years ago. For a time, the porch of his house was used to celebrate Mass. When he arrived in the village of Malibara, there were about 12 Christian families; today there are 60 Catholic, plus 60 Protestant families.

After being detained at the Religious Affairs Office in Fuan, he was taken to an undisclosed location "to study and learn." Catholics believe that he will be pressured into joining the Patriotic Association. His refusal will likely mean that he won’t be allowed back to his diocese.

The Palm Sunday initiative of the Indian Missionary Society’s Vishwa Jyoti Communications office. The missionaries have rallied activists of all religions. New Nationalist government has blocked the work of cleaning water.

For the pontiff, "people, and sometimes even those who represent and govern them" cannot fully realise the seriousness of the emerging challenges. “When the interplay between technological and economic power becomes close, interests can affect lifestyles and social orientations to the benefit of come industrial and business groups”.