Fides News - English

ASIA/HOLY LAND - Lara and all the others: The young lives sacrificed in the massacre in Gaza

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:19:17 +0200

by Father Ibrahim Faltas ofm*

Jerusalem - It is a duty to remember with sadness and respect every human life lost due to the violence of war. These are losses that could have been avoided. But humanity is looking for the possibility of war and not for the possible peace. Among the many innocent victims, particularly sad is the preventable death of Lara al-Sayegh, an 18-year-old refugee girl who took refuge in the parishes of Gaza since 7 October together with 650 other Christians. After the loss of her father, who died on December 21st due to lack of vital care, Lara sought refuge in the church and community rooms with her mother and other people for seven months. She eventually made her way to Egypt with her mother and died of heat and sunstroke. That's what was said. The mother is in a coma for the same reason and because of the immense pain. Lara, like so many innocents, had already suffered pain and deprivation, strived for a dignified life and suffered deception at the hands of those who unscrupulously assured her of the hope of freedom. She was buried at the place where she met her death. I am in constant contact with the deputy parish priest of the Catholic church in Gaza, Father Youssef, and I feel his suffering every day as pastor of a grief-stricken community. In Gaza, people have been suffering for seven months from war that is causing death, destruction and fear. People die from bombs, under collapsed buildings, from hunger, thirst, cold and heat. In Gaza there is a lack of everything and especially of any kind of help. I feel the willingness of those who would like to help and are prevented from doing so. So many men and women of good will would like to help with health care, but children who need immediate and essential care are not allowed. I learned that Modena can accommodate three children suffering from a rare disease, epidermolysis bullosa, the so-called "butterfly child syndrome". The disease makes their skin so sensitive that the slightest friction causes it to become inflamed and fill with sores that can only be soothed by the constant application of creamy bandages. With the heat and the lack of specific treatment, their suffering becomes worse and worse.
These children are already in Rafah, but it is not easy to bring them from Gaza to Italy. I face many difficulties, but I pray and trust in God's help and in the help of so many men and women who are peacemakers. Humanity has struggled with pandemics, disease and environmental disasters in the past and more recently, creating solidarity and sharing in the process. Wars wanted by a few destroy and spread violence and hatred with the complicity of a silent humanity, deaf and blind to the essential and vital needs of its fellow human beings. Pope Francis calls for a just peace for wounded humanity. He demands it for everyone, without distinction. He calls for a rejection of war forever, he calls for the abolition of all violence of oppression. He calls for genuine, constructive, solid and decisive negotiations for a definitive peace. He calls for dignity for two peoples who have suffered and are still suffering. He calls for valuing and respecting human life, protecting it and ensuring social justice by guaranteeing the most basic rights, especially for the weak and defenseless.
Lara's death and other young people is sad and difficult to understand. There are no reasons or justifications for all violent and preventable deaths. We ask Almighty God for forgiveness in the hope that humanity will forget the evil of war.
* Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land

AFRICA/BURKINA FASO - Catechist murdered in the east of the Country

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:03:01 +0200

Ouagadougou - The catechist Edouard Zoetyenga Yougbare was kidnapped and killed near Saatenga, in the diocese of Fada N'Gourma, in eastern Burkina Faso. According to a diocesan priest quoted by the Aci Africa news agency, the catechist was looking for his donkey on April 18 when the area where he was staying was about three kilometers from Kamona, a suburb on the outskirts of the center of Saatenga, was attacked by an armed group, possibly shepherds from the Peuls tribe. Several people who were in the area were captured by the armed group, including another catechist, Jean Marie Yougbare, “who was briefly detained but later released after the attackers recognized him as a benefactor because he had welcomed them in his house during a thunderstorm".
Edouard Zoetyenga Yougbare's family members did not see him return and learned of the attack, so they went looking for him but only found his bicycle. The search for the catechist continued the next day and his body was found in the early hours of April 19 in Pouargogê, about seven kilometers from Saatenga. The man was found with his throat slit, his hands tied behind his back and with signs of torture. According to the priest, the motive for the murder may lie in disagreements between the catechist and a group of Peuls over land ownership. The murdered catechist was born in Kouriogê in 1964 and was married to Eulalie Delma. He is the father of eight children, six boys and two girls, three of whom, two boys and a girl, have died. His commitment to the church "was marked by a remarkable devotion," according to the diocese.

ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Beatification process for the Filipino girl Niña Ruiz Abad begins: "God first of all"

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 11:21:10 +0200

Laoag - This is a figure that the Philippine Church presents to the world and that will be particularly highlighted on the occasion of World Children's Day, proclaimed by the Pope for 25 and 26 May: the diocese of Laoag, in the province of Ilocos Norte , in the northern archipelago of the Philippines, has officially opened the diocesan phase of the canonical process of beatification of Niña Ruiz Abad, a 13-year-old girl who is believed to have spent her time in this world in the name of prayer, devotion, sanctity of life. In the solemn celebration held in the Cathedral of St. William in Laoag - the city where the girl is buried - Bishop Renato Mayugba announced to an enthusiastic crowd of faithful: "We are beginning our investigation into Niña's life to see if we can really say that God has deigned to bless her with sanctity." In this phase, with the creation of a specific diocesan tribunal, the writings and testimonies of the faithful who knew the "Servant of God" Niña will be collected. "We will do our part, but everything is in God's hands", stressed Marlo Peralta, Archbishop of Nueva Segovia, in his opening homily for the cause. "But - he said - one thing is certain: Niña now offers herself to us and to the faithful around the world, especially children and young people, as a model of Christian life. In her life she chose the path of holiness, she wanted to be close to the heart of God, she accepted and was faithful to the will of God in her journey", said Msgr. Peralta. "At this time we continue to ask for her intercession and we continue to work for the cause, praying and hoping that one day, God willing, she will be presented to us by Mother Church as Saint Niña Ruiz-Abad," he added.
Abad, who was born in Quezon City on October 31, 1979, but lived in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte province, fell ill at the age of 10 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an incurable disease that restricts blood flow to the heart. She spent the years of her illness with inner peace and joy, in the constant company of Christ Jesus. She always wore the Rosary around her neck, she venerated the Holy Trinity and felt a deep love for the Eucharist, which she received every day. In addition, she visited the chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in Laoag, before and after going to school. The girl was also known for announcing to everyone her motto: "God First." With these words - her former classmates remember - she "infected" the entire class and it soon became a common motto. She was also considered a model of charity, as she loved to share what she had, she listened to everyone and showed concern for everyone. She died on August 16, 1993 after suffering a heart attack while at school, a place where she liked to be and where she could share the love of God with classmates and friends.

AFRICA/DR CONGO - The M23 rebel movement takes up arms again: Congolese fear “balkanization”

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 12:10:39 +0200

Kinshasa - "Balkanization". The Congolese use this term to describe the attempt by neighboring countries to divide the Democratic Republic of Congo by dividing it into numerous territories controlled by different armed groups, each of which is supported by them. This attempt is being carried out in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo primarily by the M23, an armed movement with ties to Rwanda. But more or less all East African states are interested in intervening in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, both to protect their own security by preventing rebels and uncontrolled refugee movements from entering their territory, and to advance their own economic interests support financially. East African countries are trying to take advantage of the Democratic Republic of Congo's natural resources: competition revolves around higher revenues in the export chains - in the form of taxes and value added. Each country seeks to increase the amount of the DRC's natural resources flowing through its territory by granting favorable export taxes and investing in gold refining capacity, but also in transport infrastructure projects. Several UN expert reports show how Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda benefit from trade in raw materials from the Democratic Republic of Congo that illegally cross the Democratic Republic of Congo border into their respective countries where they are then exported from. In addition to mining, the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is also an important market for its neighbors, especially for agricultural products, consumer goods and services. The geopolitical competition between neighboring countries for mineral export chains as well as other economic opportunities such as trade in consumer goods in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo gives the Congolese the impression that their country is being exploited by neighboring countries that are enriching themselves behind their backs. The re-armament of the M23, which laid down its arms in 2013 after a series of agreements with the government in Kinshasa, came in 2021 after Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo announced a joint project for security and the rehabilitation of roads in the Democratic Republic of Congo which was intended to significantly increase cross-border trade between the two countries. This would have worried the Rwandan government as one of these roads would have threatened Rwanda's sphere of influence in North Kivu. The new road would have allowed the settlement of new farmers who could have changed the local ethnic balance to the detriment of the Rwandan population that had settled in the area. The Congolese have long suspected that Rwanda wants to annex part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Fears have been fueled again by the resumption of M23 operations with support from Rwanda, whose president has also said the territory's borders should be reviewed because they were drawn during the colonial era.

ASIA/CHINA - World Day of Prayer for Priestly Vocations in Catholic Communities: Between hope and crisis

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 11:21:47 +0200

Beijing - The care and support of priestly and religious vocations are signs that shape the daily horizon of every baptized person. In this spirit, Catholic communities in China celebrated the 61st World Day of Prayer for Spiritual Vocations, heeding the words of Pope Francis, who in his annual message called for prayer so that all priests follow in the steps of Christ the Good Shepherd, and families encourage the flourishing of new vocations in their homes.
In the Diocese of Zhoucun , Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang, on the occasion of the fourth local day for the promotion of spiritual vocations, realistically and honestly pointed out the critical signs in the diocese regarding the number of young men embarking on the path of priestly formation. For this reason, Bishop Yang encouraged the faithful to "pray more for vocations" and urged everyone to "show respect to the clergy and care for seminarians in every way." At the same time, he added, seminarians should learn "to become good pastors, always remembering that the original calling of every priest is to follow Jesus Christ and become like Him". In the parish of the Tangshan community , priests and seminarians from this community returned to their church of origin to ask everyone that "every family responds with joy and courage to the call of God's love." In the parish of Jiujiang , the laity were asked to pray for the vocations of bishops and priests and to support them generously with material resources. In the Diocese of Nanjing, two new priests were ordained on April 21, the Day of Prayer for Vocations . "The two new priests - it was said during the ordination liturgy, in which Pope Francis’ message for the 61st World Day of Prayer for Spiritual Vocations was quoted "have accepted the call to the ordained priesthood and are devoting themselves to the proclamation of the Gospel and breaking their lives together with the Eucharistic bread for their brothers and sisters, to sow hope and show everyone the beauty of the Kingdom of God".

ASIA/JAPAN - Catholics in Nagasaki witness the Resurrection

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 20:45:23 +0200

Vatican City - "The faithful of Nagasaki have had the strength to overcome many difficult difficulties throughout their history. They persevered first in the period of persecution and then, in the 20th century, when they were hit by the atomic bomb the same thing happened: even in the face of a tragic event, their faith saved them and they began to live and hope again. When we look back at our history, we find in our roots the hope that accompanies us," emphasizes Archbishop Peter Michiaki Nakamura of Nagasaki, an archdiocese in which there are 58,000 Catholics in an area of 1.2 million people.
Nagasaki is the symbolic city of Japanese Catholicism. It was the most important center of the Catholic community in Japan. In its history dating back to the 16th century, the community preserved the faith in silence for over two centuries during a time of severe persecution, with parents baptizing their children in secret despite not having access to the Eucharist due to a shortage of priests. A total of 26 Catholics were martyred in Nagasaki in 1597, and another 52 believers were martyred in this city in 1622. In recent history, the explosion of the atomic bomb on August 9, 1945 is also a wound that has left deep and indelible marks.
The Archbishop states: "This is the community of today: a community of faith that, after having experienced such tragic moments, bears witness to the hope of the risen Christ: precisely because we are facing death, persecution, death of the atomic bomb, and from these shocking events, we have risen again, there is hope in our hearts, yes, recovery, rebirth, thanks to the work of God".
"From the martyrs of Nagasaki we inherited the gift of faith," he continues. "Today the work of proclaiming the Gospel in our area is a little weak, because when you go out of the church, the witness of faith is also today in society, for various reasons, "a little weak and troublesome" compared to the people you meet. The bishop attributes this attitude to "the great period of persecution" when believers "had to protect and preserve themselves, because whoever showed their faith was arrested and even killed." Perhaps, he notes, "seeds of this attitude are still present today; there is a certain difficulty in publicly displaying and justifying one's faith. There is in people's DNA a sense of protection, an approach, in private, to stay in secret. But now we have to change and come out of our shell," he hopes.
"The topic we think about when we look to the future is precisely that of being an 'open-minded Church', he emphasizes. As a church, you shouldn’t stay in the sacristy, but you have to “be aware of the outside world. “We feel particularly challenged by the words and appeals of Pope Francis: We feel that these words of his apply precisely to us, precisely to Nagasaki. Our wish is: let us open ourselves to the outside world. “We should not only keep faith, the gift of Jesus Christ, as a treasure in our churches, but also see it as a precious gift for society and the world. This poses many questions and drives us forward,” he says.
In the Japanese context, the community of Nagasaki does not, as in other areas of Japan, have a large proportion of Catholic immigrants who can also provide support for the life of faith. Although Nagasaki is a "peripheral city" in the Japanese archipelago, located far from the capital, it is the city most associated with and shaped by the history of Catholic missions. In these traces, in these roots, in this work of the Lord," Archbishop Nakamura concluded, "lies our life and our hope: today we walk together as a community so that it can flourish again".

ASIA/KOREA - Appointment of the Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:26:36 +0200

Vatican City - On April 18, 2024, Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, appointed Rev. Father Joseph Cheong Yong-jin of the clergy of Cheonju, as National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Korea for a five-year period.
The new national director was born in 1968 and attended the seminary in Rome, where he earned a master's degree in missiology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was ordained a priest in 1997 and after his ordination worked as a parochial vicar in two parishes. From 2000 to 2007 he studied biblical theology at the Gregorian University. After returning to the diocese, he worked as parish priest in three parishes, was President of the Diocesan Training Institute, Head of the Diocesan Institute for Evangelization and Biblical Apostolate.
Since 2023, he has been an administrative assistant and secretary of the Commission for Mission and Pastoral Care of the Korean Bishops' Conference. In addition to Korean, he also speaks English and Italian.

AFRICA/DR CONGO - Land rights conflicts: An often overlooked factor in the wars in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:17:02 +0200

Kinshasa - The war in North Kivu, in which the M23 is involved, is perceived by the Congolese as a war of aggression carried out by neighboring Rwanda with the help of this armed group. The M23 is known to have entered into talks with the Congolese government after its defeat in 2013, with the mediation of Uganda and led to the Nairobi Agreements of November 12, 2013. The M23 then resumed hostilities in 2021 under the pretext of non-compliance with the agreements. While the various parties to the conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo are vying for control of the local mineral resources, ethnic and land rights factors are also the cause of instability in the region. The latter are not just conflicts between different communities over the control of pastures or agricultural land. There are land disputes between farmers and large landowners, between rural communities and mining companies, between ranchers and farmers, and between national parks and the local population. Access to land, particularly farmland, is therefore a cause of conflict between different ethnic groups, particularly in the Masisi area, where Hutus and Tutsis are considered immigrants and their access to land is contested by communities that consider themselves indigenous. Access to power is therefore an essential prerequisite for acquiring and maintaining land. The use of land is regulated by both written law and customary law. In written law, there are certain political-administrative authorities that have the power to grant land and others that are responsible for issuing land titles on behalf of the State. As far as customary law is concerned, the community leader is considered the guardian of the land, who can grant use of the land to his administrators upon payment of different fees depending on different customs. This dual registry - state and customary - creates further confusion and, in the latter case, can lead to discrimination based on ethnicity. The community leader is generally more inclined to favor members of his community at the expense of those who do not belong to it. The arrival of M23 militiamen in a given area disrupts this system of land registration. The rebels are displacing both state officials and local leaders, who are often left without people over whom they can exercise authority due to the forced displacement of the population. In certain other situations, traditional leaders are forced to coexist with the M23. Another guerrilla strategy is to destabilize the rule of a traditional leader by initiating and fueling traditional conflicts in the occupied territories. Since April 2022, the M23 has begun to gradually establish a parallel administration. The movement appoints the heads of the institutions it controls based on ethnicity or ties to the M23 or groups affiliated with it.

EUROPE/ROMANIA - Blessing of the chapel of the the Pontifical Mission Societies in Romania, dedicated to Blessed Pauline Jaricot

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 13:47:01 +0200

by Cristina Grigore
Bucharest - Father Tadeusz Nowak, Secretary General of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith , describes as a "historic moment" the inauguration of the chapel of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Romania on Saturday, April 20 in Bucharest. This is the first place of worship in Romania named after Blessed Pauline Jaricot, foundress of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. The inauguration ceremony took place after a mass in the parish church near the headquarters of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Romania, presided over by the Archbishop of Bucharest, Aurel Perca. The Archbishop Emeritus of Bucharest, Ioan Robu, the Council of the Apostolic Nunciature in Romania, Prelate Tuomo T. Vimpari, the Secretary General of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Father Nowak, the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Romania, Father Eugene Blaj, Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic priests from Bucharest, children of the Pontifical Children's Mission Society in Romania together with director Matilda Stefan Andrici and the American artist of Mexican origin Lalo Garcia as well as numerous faithful also took part in the celebration.
At the beginning of the mass, the Archbishop of Bucharest blessed the image of Blessed Pauline Jaricot, painted by the artist Lalo Garcia, which was then placed in the central altar of the chapel. The artist personally brought the painting to Romania and declared himself "privileged to have been chosen to paint the image of Blessed Pauline". In the painting, Pauline is holding a rosary in her hands, which is a replica of a wooden rosary that the artist carried with him throughout the creation of the work and which he presented to Father Eugen Blaj at the end of the mass as a gift for the Pontifical Mission Societies in Romania. In his homily, Father Nowak spoke about the life of Pauline Jaricot and her charism. Father Tadeusz recalled that the Church is missionary by nature and lives to evangelize, emphasizing that "we are all called to mission." "Of course," he said, "we cannot all leave our countries to go to China, Laos or Bangladesh, and in this sense Blessed Pauline Jaricot has found a special role and a special place in the history of the Church. But "As her charism suggests, each of us can participate in the mission of the Church". Father Nowak spoke of the means that Pauline Jaricot mentioned as contributing to the missionary apostolate: first of all, prayer ; and finally, knowledge of missionaries' needs and support of the Church's missions. "Pauline died poor in material goods but rich in spiritual goods," explained the priest at the end of the homily, "this was recognized by the Church after two hundred years and she was declared beatified. Let us thank God for the charism he gave to Blessed Pauline Jaricot and that she left to the Church, and let us pray that the hearts of all Christians will become more eager and open to share the Good News with others and to participate in the mission of the Church, bearing witness to the mystery of the Risen Christ ". The Mass was celebrated in the presence of the relic of Blessed Pauline Jaricot, which the Pontifical Mission Societies received two weeks ago from Archbishop Olivier de Germay of Lyon. Before giving the final blessing with the relic of the French Blessed, the Archbishop of Bucharest, Aurel Perca, prayed "through the intercession of Blessed Pauline Jaricot for graces for the universal Church, for the missions and for all people who spread missionary works." After the Mass, the relic of Blessed Pauline Jaricot and her image were carried in a procession to the chapel of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Romania, where, following the rite of inauguration of the chapel, she was venerated by the faithful who took part in the celebration. "We thank God for this great gift of having Blessed Pauline among us as we dedicate the first chapel in Romania in her honor. We pray to Blessed Pauline that through her service and courage she will inspire us to live our lives in Christ, and that the celebration of her holiness serves for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls," says a statement from the Pontifical Mission Societies.

ASIA/SRI LANKA - Commemoration of the victims of the Easter attacks: Catholic Church wants to initiate the beatification process of their martyrdom

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 13:26:17 +0200

Colombo - Yesterday, April 21, in the Archdiocese of Colombo - but also in the other dioceses of Sri Lanka - with Eucharistic celebrations, ringing of bells and two minutes of silence, the country's Catholics commemorated their "martyrs", the victims of the Easter attacks on April 21, 2019. At that time, eight suicide bombers carried out attacks on two Catholic churches, a Protestant church and three luxury hotels, killing a total of 269 people and injuring more than 500. These included 171 Catholic believers who were killed during services in the Catholic churches of St. Sebastian and St. Anthony.
Five years after these tragic events, the local church announced on Remembrance Day its decision to initiate the process of recognizing martyrdom. At the commemoration in Negombo - where the "Martyrs' Chapel" stands in the cemetery where the Catholic victims are buried - a petition with the signatures of more than 50,000 faithful was presented to the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith. Based on this petition from the population, the Archdiocese of Colombo will now forward the official request to the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints in order to begin the diocesan phase of the beatification process. "The collection of signatures and sensitization of the faithful has been ongoing since the beginning of Lent. People are aware of the gift of faith of these innocent people who were murdered in the church while celebrating the Resurrection of Christ," explains Father Jude Chrysantha Fernando, head of the office for Communications of the Archdiocese of Colombo, to Fides. "Yesterday there was a large participation of the faithful in the celebrations: in the morning, memorial masses were held in all churches and a special ceremony was held in the presence of Cardinal Ranjith at the Church of Saint Anthony in Colombo.
The memorial event was also attended by the Apostolic Nuncio in Sri Lanka, Archbishop Brian Udaigwe, as well as religious leaders from various faiths and representatives of civil society. The thousands of people observed a solemn two-minute silence, which was also observed in churches across the country, to honor and remember the victims". In the afternoon, the faithful marched in procession from the Shrine of St. Anthony to the Church of St. Sebastian in Negombo, another site of the attacks, and in the presence of several Sri Lankan bishops, the popular initiative was presented, along with the signatures and the booklet that will be sent to the Holy See to receive the "nihil obstat" and to be able to begin the diocesan process to proclaim the 171 killed faithful as martyrs. Father Fernando reported that "it was a moment of great spiritual intensity for the Catholic community of Sri Lanka: the memory of these 'heroes of the faith' is alive and a source of inspiration for many." "There is great devotion. The gift of these martyrs is an encouragement for everyone in the difficulties of the present, marked by the dramatic effects of the economic crisis, but also by the lack of justice", he said.
Cardinal Ranjith focused on these aspects, recalling that the Catholic Church has been calling for justice and truth for five years, an appeal still unheard by politicians, and reiterated the call for an independent international investigation to establish the facts to determine responsibility and complicity in the 2019 attacks.

AFRICA/ETHIOPIA - Appointment of the new Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Father Gebremariam

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:03:24 +0200

Vatican City - On December 19, 2023, Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, appointed Rev. Father Abraham Gebremariama as National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies of Ethiopia for a five-year period.
Father Gebremariam, 52 years old, 20 years of ordination, from the Apostolic Vicariate of Hosanna, studied theology at St. Francis Theological Institute and obtained a Bachelor Divinity at the Pontifical Urbaniana University of Rome; he also studied civil law and obtained a diploma from Alpha University College in Addis Ababa.
He served as assistant parish priest in two parishes and worked in elementary, middle and high schools.
He has been parish priest in several parishes and, in the Apostolic Vicariate of Hosanna, he is also a member of the group of "Peace Builders", which strives to resolve conflicts, whatever and wherever they occur. He is currently parish priest in Doyogena. In addition to English, he speaks and writes local languages: Amharic, Kemabata and Hadiya.

AFRICA/DR CONGO - Update after the reactions sparked by a publication by Fides Agency on Cardinal Ambongo

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 12:20:47 +0200

Rome - The latest publication of our Agency on Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu has sparked strong and partly negative reactions. In certain cases, the Cardinal has been attributed with the intention of accusing the civil authorities of his Country by taking up "de facto" theses and arguments used against them by leaders of other nations currently in conflict with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In fact, the published journalistic summary did not highlight certain nuances mentioned during the interview. Inaccuracies had crept in during the transition from the original version of the interview to translations into other languages, leaving room for misinterpretations.
These inaccuracies in the wording used therefore lead us to emphasize that the Cardinal did not make the following remarks: "the government distributed additional weapons to various armed groups such as the Wazalendo and certain members of the Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda ". We therefore apologize to the Cardinal himself and to all those who may have been perplexed or embittered by the content and catchphrases used in the reactions to the article.

That said, an honest and correct reading of this publication must be based on positions often expressed by Cardinal Ambongo: 1) the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo is caused by the predation of the riches of its soil and its subsoil by the international community as well as the expansionist desire of some of its neighbors including Rwanda; 2) this war benefits from the internal complicity of the Congolese; 3) insecurity tends to become widespread in DR Congo, in particular due to the proliferation of armed groups; 4) the solution to this crisis will not be military, but essentially involves dialogue between Congolese and with the international community, etc.

Thus in the article of 18/4/2024, as in several interviews and speeches of Cardinal Ambongo published by Fides, the Archbishop of Kinshasa has always described with realism and clarity the negative consequences suffered by his Country, also following initiatives and international initiatives and decisions that he considers to be forms of "neo-colonialism". It is enough to mention the exclusive interview that Cardinal Ambongo gave to Fides on March 21. In this interview, among other things, Cardinal Ambongo clearly denounced the agreement signed between the European Union and Rwanda "for the exploitation of raw materials and other resources which, in reality, are not found in Rwanda but in the DR Congo". This - underlined the Cardinal Archbishop of Kinshasa - "is intolerable and creates a lot of confusion in a region, that of the Great Lakes, which is already experiencing strong tensions".

The controversies aroused by the last article, however, represent for Fides an additional stimulus to document with passion and accuracy the mission of the local Churches for the peace and salvation of peoples, taking into account the different contexts in which they operate.

ASIA/HOLY LAND - A theatre, a swimming pool, a football field to educate about peace

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 12:00:10 +0200

by Father Ibrahim Faltas ofm *

Jerusalem - The Franciscans opened their first school in the Middle East in 1598, in Bethlehem, in the Holy Land.
Since then, many more schools have opened, providing educational and other opportunities for growth for the children and youth of the Holy Land.
For many years I have been Director of the Schools of the Custody of the Holy Land.
In Jerusalem, the West Bank and in all of our eighteen schools, we have always promoted academic and personal education, we have supported reception and inclusion and conveyed values such as solidarity and fraternity.

Young people and children, even though they come from different realities and backgrounds, all have the power of a pure heart and behave peacefully by nature. I learned this by listening to their fears and concerns and observing their desire and longing for peace.

In the morning, before class, Christian and Muslim students pray together the prayer of Saint Francis: "Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace!". It is an important and beautiful moment: a sign of unity and brotherhood.

When I see them playing and running around in the schoolyard, I am convinced that peace is action, movement and life, not just the absence of war.

In addition to educational training, the school must also provide tools for personal development.
In the Holy Land, more attention must be paid to the educational path and all components of the school must be more involved. To the subjects and disciplines provided for in a normal school organization, peace education must be added, which does not have a fixed weekly schedule but is an essential part of every moment experienced in and outside of school.
There is no textbook for such peace education, but behavior is the tool that must be continuously practiced by everyone - teachers, parents, students - and is aimed at everyone, especially in areas affected and threatened by war.
Schooling around the world should avoid competition and favor sharing and mutual support. This is particularly essential where there is war.
Sport, theater and music are activities that specifically contribute to education and a culture of peace.
A few days ago we inaugurated a theater in the “Holy Land School” in Jerusalem, last year a swimming pool also in Jerusalem and a few years ago an indoor football pitch in Bethlehem. These are the conditions for our boys and girls to grow up and develop into men and women of peace in the future.
In this way, they learn the respect and solidarity necessary to be part of a whole that pursues a common goal: overcoming selfishness and oppression.
Thanks to the generosity of a priest who died prematurely, Father Giuseppe Ballia, we were able to complete the theater. The children and young people performed in the presence of the Minister General of the Franciscan Order, Father Massimo Fusarelli, the Apostolic Nuncio and the Father Custos, Ambassadors, Consuls, Directors of other schools and many Friars.
The young people on stage were excited but very well prepared with traditional songs and dances. Their show was titled "We are the hope!" and I am sure that their commitment on stage will pay off in their lives.
Sport, theatre, music help ensure that children and young people in the Holy Land, which is so badly affected by war, grow up in a peaceful environment, with mutual respect and peaceful behavior.

*Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land

ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - The journey towards World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul: Opportunity for fruitful cooperation under the sign of synodality

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 11:39:52 +0200

Seoul - The preparation for World Youth Day 2027 is an opportunity for fruitful collaboration between bishops, priests, religious and laity on a path of communion and synodality. The Organizing Committee set up in Seoul has been given a headquarters and its own work area in the archdiocese's buildings: the young employees of the "Preliminary Research Team", which consists of around 40 participants, including priests, religious and young people, will work there, meet, socialize and exchange ideas and prepare creatively for the upcoming WYD. "We work, as the Apostle Paul says, in respect and communion of our respective charisms and responsibilities, within the Body of Christ, in an experience that makes us the Church," emphasizes Auxiliary Bishop Paul Kyung-sang Lee of Seoul, who leads the committee. In this context, the auxiliary bishop emphasizes the importance of promoting an inclusive and welcoming environment so that young people can actively participate and feel like protagonists.
Archbishop of Seoul Peter Chung Soon-taick and his auxiliary bishop Paul Kyung-sang Lee, along with a Korean delegation, will attend the upcoming International Youth Pastoral Congress organized by the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. At the Congress, the Korean team will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with youth leaders from around the world and work with the WYD Lisbon 2023 Organizing Committee. This exchange of ideas will not only enrich the planning process for World Youth Day in Seoul, but also promote the spirit of unity and solidarity towards this global event.
Archbishop Chung, in his capacity as chairman of the event committee for World Youth Day 2027, emphasized in an address to the participating clergy and young people: "The preparation process for World Youth Day in Seoul is itself a common path, under the sign of the synodal church," hoping that "the journey towards WYD will be full of grace".
The young Koreans who are part of the research group described their first impressions: Deborah Jang So-hyun wondered "how best to convey the love of God"; the answer was: "It is important to experience God's love personally and to deepen the encounter with Christ, to give it to one's neighbor not alone, but together." Sister Son Sang-hee expressed her hope: "I believe that with prayers, our goodwill and our humility, the work of God can be accomplished through us." Father Kim Sang-yoon of the Salesians of Don Bosco noted: "We start by listening: let us all listen carefully. Then we summarize what we collect and see where the Holy Spirit leads us. Let us not forget that "God does not leave us on this path, but is always with us and loves us."

EUROPE/LUXEMBOURG - Appointment of the new director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Father Claude Bache

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:37:25 +0200

Vatican City - On December 19, 2023, Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, , appointed the Rev. Father Claude Bache as National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies of Luxembourg for a five-year years.
Father Bache was born in 1964 and ordained a priest in 1990. He belongs to the clergy of Luxembourg and is a member of the Cathedral Chapter, parish priest-dean of the "East" Deanery and mediator of the pastoral team in the parish of "Musel a Syr Saint-Jacques".
He is member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and ecclesiastical master of ceremonies for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

ASIA/CHINA - World Day of Prayer for Spiritual Vocations: “Mission means following Christ”

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:30:04 +0200

Beijing - A cloth bag with the "Our Father" printed on it and an invitation to everyone to always carry the Word of God with them "to be nourished by it every day". This is the unique gift distributed at the Beijing Seminary to all seminarians in anticipation of the 61st World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which this year falls on April 21, the fourth Sunday of Easter.
"The Word of God - says the booklet included in the bag - gives the strength to face the many urgencies of life and to follow the call of God in every situation; with the Word in hand and the mission in the heart, one can respond to the Lord's will in every situation". The message to all young men who feel called to the priesthood is to recognize "with wisdom and courage" what moves them to accept the mission of "becoming seminarians following Christ".
At the center of the reflections shared in the Beijing Seminary in this Easter season are the insights and suggestions contained in Pope Francis' message for the 61st World Day of Prayer for Spiritual Vocations 2024.
Bishop of Beijing, Joseph Li Shan, in turn, invited everyone to take part in the diocesan program to promote vocations in a message published on the day of prayer. Bishop Li Shan also called on Catholic families to be open to the possibility of their children pursuing the path to the priesthood and to accompany them on their vocational journey. "The family," the bishop recalled in a recent homily, "is the hearth where faith flourishes and the cradle of vocations." Parents, he added, should accompany their sons and daughters on the path to holiness and themselves act as 'good signs' on this path. In this way, young people will be able to "discern with wisdom what is eternal and what is temporary" and embrace the mission of becoming seminarians, following Jesus.
On the Day of Prayer for Spiritual Vocations, the doors of the Seminaries are open as usual to all baptized and non-baptized people to experience a time of community fraternal sharing. The dioceses will also send priests and seminarians to parishes to bear witness to their priestly vocation before the people of God.
On April 11, two young men were ordained priests in the Diocese of Datong , while in the Archdiocese of Xi'An, 13 priests celebrated their 25 years of priesthood together.

AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - After the release of the main suspect, Bishops call for a “thorough investigation” into the attack on Bishop Carlassare

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:19:21 +0200

Juba - "We ask the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation into this incident and to bring those responsible to justice", say the Catholic Bishops of Sudan and South Sudan, who have jointly called on the authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the shooting of the Bishop of Rumbek Christian Carlassare on 25 April, 2021 .
Meanwhile, the former diocesan coordinator of the Diocese of Rumbek, Father John Mathiang Machol, was initially sentenced to seven years in prison by the Juba High Court in 2023 for his involvement in the attack on Bishop Carlassare.
However, last month the Supreme Court overturned the priest's conviction after his defense lawyer Malith Jokthiang said the court had found no evidence against his client.
Last Tuesday, April 16, the local bishops announced the suspension of Father Machol “a divinis” in accordance with canon law.
The President of the Bishops' Conference and Archbishop of Juba, Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, told the press in Juba that the Church stands in solidarity with Bishop Carlassare following the release of Father Machol. "We express our deep solidarity with our confrere, Bishop Christian Carlassare of Rumbek, following the recent release of Father John Mathiang Machol, the main suspect in the attempted murder of the bishop three years ago," he said.
The bishops condemned the "cruel act of violence" against Bishop Carlassare and called on the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation in order to bring those responsible to justice. "We condemn in the strongest possible terms the cruel act of violence against a church clergyman. Attacks on religious representatives have no place in a just and peaceful society."

VATICAN - The Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization to the diocesan directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies: “'The mission is mine, not yours,' said the Lord to Saint Francis”

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:10:56 +0200

Vatican City - "If we do not have a deep awareness of the meaning and importance of mission in the Church, we would reduce the Pontifical Mission Societies to an organization for collecting and distributing donations, of which there are so many today. It is Rather, it is necessary to help people listen to their own wounds and failures, as St. Francis did on Mount La Verna."

In his address to the diocesan Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies who took part in a training organized at the Missionary Animation Center , Monsignor Samuele Sangalli, Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, focused on the prayer to Saint Francis written by Pope Francis, which he delivered in recent days to the Friars of the Italian Franciscan monastery “La Verna” on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the appearance of the Stigmata received by the Saint .

"This prayer 'to the man wounded by love' – continued the Undersecretary – takes us to the core of the mission. What does to evangelize mean, considering that the Dicastery for Evangelization reminds the whole Church that this is our goal, our raison d'être? And when we think about our mission, we should always start from the two questions of Saint Francis in 'La Verna': 'Lord, who are you and who am I?' So let's go back to the basics. Let us return to the basics of our faith and Christianity. Why are we here, why are we missionaries, who sends us and why?".

"The most important thing," continued Father Sangalli, "is our simple presence before we act. Very often we feel demotivated because we don't get the answers we expected, and so the temptation is to do less and to close ourselves off. In the face of apparent fruitlessness or even failure, we must recognize the winged Seraphim who calls us to a more intense adaptation to the surrender of our whole self to the Father, becoming like the Crucified and Resurrected One. "The Church is mine. The mission is mine, not yours," said the Lord to St. Francis. We are called to cultivate the soil and then let the Spirit work according to his time and his ways".

"The prayer to the man wounded by love reminds us, first of all, that we are all people in need and wounded," continued the Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization. "Each of us has our own story and that makes us stand in solidarity with all our other brothers and sisters in the world. Let's assume that we are wounded, that we need mercy, that we need love, that we all seek that great embrace that the Lord does not deny to anyone. This is evangelization, this is the message we can convey within and outside our communities. We are wounded, we are fragile, we are weak and we seek comfort, peace, tenderness, compassion, that which comes from the unconditional love of God. Let us reflect on Christ's passion, consider his words, touch his wounds and through them his love for us, his compassion for us. We must allow our deep wounds to be healed by the love, mercy and compassion of Christ in order to become, like Francis, witnesses of his mercy".

"This – said the Undersecretary of the Missionary Dicastery – is the good news that makes us proclaimers of the Gospel. We are witnesses of his mercy wherever we are, in whatever situation we find ourselves. If this is replaced by frantic activism that is an end in itself, our mission will be a useless waste of time. Spiritual conversion is at the heart of our mission. If we do not share this deep hope, the sign of the resurrection, how can we continue to be missionaries? And without this missionary spirit, the Church loses its distinctiveness, its essence as a 'field hospital' that welcomes and cares for everyone, as Pope Francis says again and again. We must invite people to return to themselves, to feel the need for Christ's love and to long for his comfort".

"We are not self-sufficient," concluded Monsignor Sangalli. "This is contrary to the entire culture that tells us to be strong, to be assertive, to deny our weaknesses, our deepest and truest needs. We are begging for love, and only by finding solidarity and compassion can I share it with others. Otherwise I only share my selfishness. We have to be very careful because behind activism there is often frustration. The feeling of being self-sufficient and not needing compassion, mercy and solidarity is a big lie on which this world is unfortunately built and which in the end leads to conflict and antagonism and not to the harmony and peace that humanity needs for a peaceful present and a dignified future".

Link correlati :Prayer (in Italian)

ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Stop the spread of gambling in Negros Oriental: civil society protects the lives of young people

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:19:35 +0200

Dumaguete City - Gambling is a scourge in the Philippines. Present in society and culture for centuries, it has also taken on illegal forms and is widespread throughout the archipelago. The Philippine government has established an agency, the “Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation” , to regulate gambling and also to generate government funds. There are numerous public and private agencies that offer certain forms of gambling. Gambling in casinos in particular is seen as an essential element for tourism. For this reason, a new casino is now being built on the outskirts of Dumaguete City, the capital of Negros Oriental Province , a tourist area known for its natural beauty. On the other hand, Dumaguete, a coastal city with over 134,000 inhabitants, is home to four universities and several colleges, which has also earned the nickname "university city" and makes it an educational and cultural center in Negros Oriental.
The city was shaken on March 4, 2023, when former soldiers killed ten people, including Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. But social peace is also threatened by a company's plans to open a new casino on the outskirts of Dumaguete, an idea that has sparked alarm and protest in the Catholic civil society community. The "Southern Lights Gaming Corporation" will be able to open the casino with city government approval. Julius Heruela, parish priest in the Diocese of Dumaguete, says that "the community was taken by surprise". The priest, president of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, also emphasizes that the diocese will oppose the establishment of a casino because it is "immoral and detrimental to society", especially considering the corruption and the harm it could cause to youth, and because it is a hotbed for crime. The local church intends to coordinate with educational institutions such as universities, schools and colleges as well as associations in the area to carry out a nationwide information campaign against gambling. "Casino operators try to attract tourists with entertainment offers," the cleric notes. For example, some resorts already offer gambling as part of their services to tourists. The Catholic community will therefore "seek alliances with educators, environmentalists and health experts, i.e. with people who are genuinely interested in the well-being of the population and not just with profit in mind."
According to police, casino activities are often used to launder money. And despite pressure from civil society, lobbying by the gaming industry at the legislative level in the Philippines remains very strong to obtain permits to open new establishments.
Meanwhile, gambling addiction also puts a strain on public health: pathological or compulsive gambling is a real social disease that harms individuals, families and businesses. It is true that the relevant government authority is committed to licensed, legal, conscious and balanced gambling to minimize the potential harm to individuals and communities. But the popularity and prevalence of gambling in Philippine society - a practice that was institutionalized as early as the 1500s, at the time of the Spanish occupation - makes it difficult to control or restrict the practice in society. According to anthropologists, gambling is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon, as well as an extremely flexible means of redistributing wealth.
For the predominantly Catholic Philippines, the issue of gambling also has serious moral implications: in several statements, the Philippine Bishops' Conference has highlighted the role of politics in curbing the effects of gambling in society, as it "seriously undermines the moral values of the people, fuels corruption, negatively impacts families' lives and is addictive".

ASIA/KUWAIT - Mission in the Confessional: The Story of Father Dominic Santamaria

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 13:41:51 +0200

by Antonella Prenna
Kuwait City - More than eighteen thousand masses, eight thousand one hundred and forty baptisms and seven hundred and forty-eight marriages. The number of liturgies and sacraments celebrated until Easter 2024 says a lot about the life of the Indian-born priest Dominic Santamaria, who was ordained a priest in Jerusalem on June 27, 1970 and has lived in Kuwait since October 27, 1973.
Father Dominic Santamaria is responsible for the Co-Cathedral of the Holy Family in Kuwait City in the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia. He is the first priest to be incardinated in the Latin Vicariate and to this day he is part of the community along with ten other priests who serve in the largest Catholic church in the country under the leadership of the Vicar Apostolic of Northern Arabia, Bishop Aldo Berardi, O. SS.T..
"At the age of 25, I was appointed parish priest of the Holy Family Parish in Crater , where I remained until I was incardinated here in Kuwait," said the Catholic priest. "In Yemen," said Father Dominic, "I left a part of my heart behind. I still jealously guard a comb that I used there when I still had hair. Every morning, even though I have very little hair now," he adds with a smile, "I use this comb and always think of Yemen in my prayers".
Dominic, who comes from Goa, always wanted to become a priest . The priest, now a charismatic figure throughout the Vicariate of Northern Arabia, is known as the 'Padre Pio' of Kuwait because of the time he spends in the confessional. "People," he adds, "also affectionately call me 'Don Bosco' because when I go out on the premises I am always surrounded by children. Although in reality in recent months I do not go out much because the last time I went out was to go to hospital after a bad fall", the priest says calmly. "To date, I have baptized 8,140 children and I hope to baptize many more. It is an immeasurable joy to be able to give them Jesus." Father Dominic tells Fides that he has never experienced a crisis in his priestly vocation "since I received the call one night on Holy Thursday, while I was adoring the Blessed Sacrament". "People listen to me because I have a very clear tone and I speak loudly. Every day I invite everyone to repeat 'JESUS-MARY-JOSEPH' as many times as possible. Which is why they also call me 'the Priest JESUS-MARY-JOSEPH'...". "My days," says Father Dominic, "are still full, beginning in the morning when I tidy up my room and my things and then dedicate myself to the Liturgy of the Hours, prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and spiritual reading" . There are also the prayer of the rosary, the Eucharist, meditation and the examination of conscience." Father Dominic loves his mission, which is why he pays a lot of attention to his health, which he maintains through a healthy and economical diet. "No sweets, no chocolate, no wine, no coffee". The place assigned to him at the table is always set with two small plates on which he eats his meals, one of which always contains fruit, and a large glass for the water that he drinks hot in the evening.

“I have been here at the Co-Cathedral of the Holy Family,” said Father Dominic, “since I arrived in Kuwait in 1973. Having stayed here throughout the Iraqi army invasion, I received a first Vatican recognition from Saint John Paul II. On November 30, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI awarded me the Cross of Honor 'Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice' in recognition of my decades of service to the country."
The 'Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice' award was created in 1888 to mark the Golden Jubilee of Pope Leo XIII. It is awarded in recognition of service to the Church and the Papacy.