For the members of the Holy Land Coordination, who came from Europe, America and South Africa, the Holy City is Jewish, Christian and Muslim. Christians are tasked with upholding the “city's openness and universality.” The prelates met with the family of slain Christian Palestinian journalist. They also expressed hope that pilgrimages will restart for they represent a crucial resource.
Father Jeevantha Peiris was sanctioned along with other activists for filing a complaint in connection with violence by pro-government supporters on 9 May at the protest camp set up near the Presidential Secretariat. The government wants “to make the victims more vulnerable,” the priest told AsiaNews, but “the struggle cannot be stopped”.
Arrested in 2011, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison, and released early thanks to appeals from the US State Department. In an interview with Radio Free Asia, the activist talks about his experience. Despite serious health problems, he will continue to pray for the other prisoners.
In 2012, Delhi and Islamabad struck a deal to let seniors reunite with family members left on the other side of the border during the violence of 1947. In fact, it was never implemented and getting a visa to meet loved ones still takes months. However, over the past year, a YouTube channel and an open crossing for religious pilgrimages have given some hope to the people of Punjab.
The ruling will be used to prevent the Chinese from trampling on Manila's maritime rights. It is a change compared to the policy of outgoing Head of State Duterte. However, Marcos Jr does not want to take sides in the geopolitical confrontation between China and the US, like most leaders in Southeast Asia.
For the head of the Afghan Missio sui iuris, "the world is forgetting the country, which is in a desperate condition". While the Jesuits aim to restart their activities, the only church - located in the capital - has not been touched. Italian cooperation operates from Pakistan, "we need to reopen in Kabul".