South East Asia

Francis celebrates Mass in Santa Marta in the presence of the papal representatives from around the world, in Rome for the Jubilee. Their’s "is a vagabond’s life , constantly on the move. But you must remember three ways of going out: physically, culturally and spiritually. Never forget this ."

The Catholic Commission for Education (CCE) lays down the guidelines to be followed in the coming years. Msgr. Charatsri: "The cooperation between the school and the family is crucial, but unfortunately the latter is changing radically." The secretary general of CCE: "Catholic schools must not only communicate knowledge, but also to educate to a beautiful and peaceful coexistence."

Francis met participants at the annual training course organised jointly by the Congregation for Bishops and the Congregation for Eastern Churches. Mercy is a "summary of what God offers to the world."

"We are afraid to accept and bear the ultimate consequences to the flesh of Christ. a spiritualistic piety is easier, a gossamer pietism; but to enter into the logic of the flesh of Christ, this is difficult. And this is the logic of the day after tomorrow. We will be resurrected as Christ is risen, with our flesh".

National Conference of catechists held in Makassar (South Sulawesi). Theologians, bishops, priests and laity from 37 dioceses met to discuss the relationship between family, technological innovations and faith transmission for five days.

In a message published yesterday, the Bishops' Conference condemns the escalation of violence that exists in the Philippines. Abortion, acts of terrorism and extra judicial killings of drug dealers are "sins that harm the dignity of the human person". In the last 10 weeks 3500 people killed in the country. Addicts "are brothers who deserve a second chance, not death."

For three days, 106 papal representatives will take part in seminars and moments of spirituality. Francis will receive them on Saturday, but the diplomats will have more opportunities to meet with him. A Jubilee day will be held on 18 November for the nunciature employees.

Yesterday the US president held talks with Aung San Suu Kyi in the Oval Office. He praised Myanmar’s “remarkable social and political transformation”. He also called for its reinstatement to the generalised system of preferences (GSP). Republican senator is “appalled by her [Suu Kyi’s] dismissive reaction to concerns I raised this morning about the problem of human trafficking”.

A former member of Jemaah Islamiah, a jihadist group linked to al Qaeda, he served six years in prison for involvement in the killing of two policemen. In prison, he underwent a "spiritual conversion". Once released, Ghazali founded an Islamic school to educate terrorists’ children about moderate Islam and prevent them from developing “feelings of hatred towards the state”.

In the current "crisis of a great orphahood", "We Christians have a Mother, the same as Jesus; we have a Father, the same as Jesus. We are not orphans. "

Mohammad Basri Santoso led the terrorist group East Mujahidin Indonesia (MIT). He was taken in South Poso Pesisir area with his wife. Now he is in hospital for medical checks. MIT has direct ties to the Islamic State, but now has only 13 members.

Dr. Gabriel Dy-Liacco, Filipino, is a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Children. He tells AsiaNews about the groups "progress", called by the Pope to prepare a series of initiatives for the protection of the weakest in the Catholic community: "We need practical steps and clear measures, that we hope will be less and less necessary thanks to the work on prevention". The essential role of prayer: "We cannot limit our work to prayer, but without total faith in the loving face of God we will never heal these wounds".