Although Rosstat has decided to keep the data secret until 2025, many independent demographers believe that the decline in the Russian population is accelerating. The only areas bucking the trend are the Muslim-majority regions of the North Caucasus. Where religious practice is already much more intense than among the faithful of the Orthodox Churches.

The American Catholic activist founded Roots of Peace, a humanitarian organisation that turns  landmine fields into agricultural initiatives. In India for the ordination of her friend, Bishop Stephen Fernandes, she met with students from Saint Stephen High School for the Deaf and Aphasic and symbolically planted a white rose bush with them. For her, “we can break the silence and inspire transformative change”.

Leo XIV closed the Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica, and referred to the multitudes of pilgrims who passed through it as today's new Magi. Of the 33 million who arrived in Rome, 7.69 per cent came from Asia, with China as the eighth country in terms of numbers. God will continue “to amaze us,” especially “if our communities are homes “. If they “resist the flattery and seduction of those in power, then we will be the generation of a new dawn.”

China cites "international law” and “the UN Charter" to stand with Venezuela (while not respecting it in the South China Sea). Xi Jinping calls on South Korean President Lee to make the “right strategic choices”. A former Japanese defence minister is concerned about a possible domino effect involving Taiwan. India is cautious in order to keep a door open for Trump on tariffs.

The year that just ended saw China further tighten its bureaucratic control over religions. The idea that the country’s interests must come before religion is growing stronger. This includes a “fight” against religious education for minors. Following an unscheduled visit to the Vatican by the Abbot of Saholin, new regulations are expected on issuing passports for members of the clergy. Mainland China has come 99 Catholic bishops: 80 in the official Church, 10 in the underground Church, and nine irregular.

The founder of the Viasna Human Rights Centre was released a few weeks ago, along with a hundred other Belarusian political prisoners. He spoke with Radio Liberty from exile in Lithuania about his four years in jail for protesting Lukashenko's election fraud. The 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate noted that a thousand more people are still jailed in a “never-ending vicious circle.”