South East Asia

UN special envoy criticizes the government: "Ticking boxes and boosting numbers, not the lives of Laotians". 80% of Laotians live on less than $ 2.5 a day. Over 20% of children are underweight, 9% suffer from malnutrition and a third are rickety.

For Francis, who was confessed and confessed some people during a penitential service, “evil is strong, it has a seductive power: it attracts and fascinates. Our own efforts are not enough to detach ourselves from it: we need a greater love.” Thus, “Let us start over, then, from Confession, let us restore to this sacrament the place it deserves in life and pastoral ministry!”

On 17 April, Indonesians will elect their president, vice president, and lawmakers. The former head of intelligence stands with moderate Widodo, urging voters to "go to the polls and make the right choice, to save the nation”.

Francis issues three texts for the Vatican State extended to the Curia to "further strengthen the institutional and regulatory framework to prevent and combat abuses against children and vulnerable people".

The initiative takes place every four years. Over the six lessons the missionary Fr. Gianni Criveller developed the theme of life, of the difficulties and expectations of clergy today. During the three days, moments of sharing and debate, prayer, socialization and fraternity. The participants recall Fr. Alfredo Cremonesi, martyr of the Institute and close to beatification.

A thousand workers protest in Gia Tân after discovering rotten seasonings and cooking oil in their canteens’ kitchen. Workers at the Tnhh Tm-Dv-Sx plant in in Đồng Nai province complain of headache, blurred vision, abdominal pain and fainting. In Bình Dương, the authorities seize and destroy five tonnes of rotten pig.

As in the past, the faithful are called upon during this year’s Lent to "think with greater intensity of our brothers and sisters who live the faith and [bear] witness to Christ who died and rose in the Holy Land”. And for this reason, “we express our solidarity with them through acts of charity.”

A member of NASSA/Caritas Philippines joins the organisation’s representative Council. Fr Gariguez, executive secretary, will “honour this expression of trust.” After Typhoon Haiyan, the clergyman coordinated one of the greatest humanitarian responses in the history of the Church.

Jesus teaches us to ask for it not only for ourselves, but for all the world. "Let us think of the children who are in countries at war: of the starving children of Yemen, of Syria, of the starving children where there is no bread, of South Sudan." An honor for Sr. Maria Concetta missionary in Africa for 60 years. "With this gesture, I intend to express my gratitude also to all the missionaries, priests, religious and lay people who spread the seeds of the Kingdom of God in every part of the world."

The result of the elections remains shrouded in doubt: the Electoral Commission will communicate unofficial data in two days or more. The democratic bloc risks overly fragile margin over the pro-military party Palang Pracharat. Constitution and electoral law establish that the new prime minister must obtain the support of at least 376 parliamentarians.

The Representative Council is the governing body of Caritas Internationalis, which now includes new members from the Philippines, South Korea, Mongolia and Nepal, who will work with its new president Benedict Alo D'Rozario.

While visiting Rome’s Campidoglio, Capitol Hill, Francis recalls the city’s tradition of welcome. "Rome in a certain sense forces temporal and spiritual power to constantly dialogue, to collaborate on a permanent basis in mutual respect".