Over the course of nearly twenty years, a project led by Orthodox volunteers has restored more than 200 churches and chapels built entirely of wood in the characteristic style of traditional rural communities. Among them is the Church of the Ascension of the Lord in the village of Pijala in the Arkhangelsk region, founded in 1654 and standing a full 45 metres tall.
On his third day in Angola, Leo XIV spoke in the diamond-rich city where people’s “hope” is "exploited by the overbearing and defrauded by the rich.” The pontiff slammed the injustice that makes bread "the possession of a few." Violence and exploitation deny "the resurrection,” while the faithful are urged to embrace "the meaning" of Christ's words, and reject “superstitious practices”.
Bangladesh’s energy crisis, caused by the war in the Middle East and heavy dependence on imported oil and gas, is jeopardising the operation of data centres, which are crucial to the local telecommunications network. Fuel supplies are low, and operators warn that potential blackouts could disrupt calls, Internet, and text messaging across much of the country.
The Israeli activist, who has fought for years in Jerusalem against religious intolerance, spoke about the action of an IDF soldier who tore down and smashed a cross in southern Lebanon. Israel’s military and foreign minister have apologised. Harani calls for education, even in the religious sector. She hopes to see an exemplary sentence.
The second part of a reflection by an AsiaNews source with first-hand knowledge of the Church’s journey in China, marking the year since the death of Francis and the start of the pontificate of Leo XIV. “Silence on the Pope; political study activities dominate. Controls and regulations stifle missionary work”.
According to the UNHCR, last year was the deadliest for Rohingya refugees, who continue to make the journey from Bangladesh and Myanmar to Malaysia and Indonesia due to fresh fighting in Myanmar's Rakhine State, and continued persecution, worsening conditions in refugee camps in Bangladesh.
