Fides News - English

VATICAN/ANGELUS - Pope appeals to the parties involved in the conflict in Myanmar: "I ask all parties involved to silence the weapons"

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 11:40:45 +0100

Vatican City - "To all parties involved, I make a heartfelt appeal: may all weapons be silenced and may a sincere and inclusive dialogue be opened, that may ensure a lasting peace," said Pope Francis at the end of the Angelus prayer with the pilgrims and believers gathered in St. Peter's Square, referring to the ongoing civil war in Myanmar.

The Pope recalled that tomorrow, November 25, Myanmar will celebrate its national feast day, in memory of the first student protest in 1920, "that set the country on its way to independence, and in the prospect of a peaceful and democratic season that it is still struggling to achieve today."

He expressed his sympathy to the entire population of Myanmar, "particularly to those who are suffering for the ongoing fights, especially my closeness to the most vulnerable: to the children, the elderly, the sick and all refugees, including the Rohingya," said the Pope.

Before the blessing, the Pope commented on the Gospel of the day , i.e. the passage "Jesus before Pontius Pilate," and analyzed the conversation that took place between the two. Through Pilate's questions and the Lord's answers, two words in particular are transformed, acquiring new meaning. Two words: the word “king” and the word “world.” ."

Pilate wanted to understand whether the man in front of him is potentially threatening." Jesus, said the Pope, "claims to be king, yes, but in quite another way! Jesus is a king insofar as he is a witness: he is the One who speaks the truth. The kingly power of Jesus, the Word incarnate, lies in his true word, in his effective word, that transforms the world."

But Pontius Pilate's “world”, the Bishop of Rome continued, "is one where the strong triumph over the weak, the rich over the poor, the violent over the meek. A world, in other words, which we know well, unfortunately". On the contrary, "the world, of which Jesus is King, redeems creation ruined by evil with the power proper to divine love. Jesus saves creation, because Jesus liberates, Jesus forgives, Jesus brings peace and justice".

"Let us try to ask ourselves – everyone ask themselves in their own heart: can I say that Jesus is my “king”? Or do I have other “kings” in my heart? In what sense? Is His Word my guide, my certainty? Do I see in Him the merciful face of God who always forgives, always forgives, who is waiting for us to give us his forgiveness? Let us pray together to Mary, the handmaid of the Lord, as we await the Kingdom of God with hope", Pope Francis concluded.

VATICAN - Pope Francis on the solemnity of Christ the King: World events have not escaped God's control

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 11:19:04 +0100

Vatican City - It is not true, as some think, that world events have “escaped” God’s control. Everything is ultimately subject to the judgement of God," said Pope Francis during the Eucharistic liturgy in St. Peter's Basilica on the occasion of the Solemnity of Christ the King.

In front of the World Youth Day Cross and the Marian icon "Salus Popoli Romani", the Bishop of Rome said in his homily, "by stripping himself of everything and dying on the cross for our salvation, teaches us that only in love can we live, grow and flourish in our full dignity."

The Pope then quoted a letter from Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, who will be canonized on August 3 as part of the Youth Jubilee: "without love we no longer live, but we simply get by. We want to live, not just get by. That is why we must strive to bear witness to the truth in charity, loving one another as Jesus taught us.” “It is not true, as some think, that world events have “escaped” God’s control. It is not true that history is written by oppressors, tyrants and the proud. Although many of the evils that afflict us are the work of men who have been deceived by the Evil One, everything is ultimately subject to the judgement of God. Those who oppress people, who make wars, what will their faces look like when they stand before the Lord? “Why did you start that war? Why did you commit murder?” How will they respond?” “We do not start wars and we do not kill”, said Pope Francis, but “when the Lord will say to us, “But why did you do this? Why have you been unjust in this way? Why did you spend money on your vanity?” The Lord will also ask us these things.” And in any case, the Pope continued, “The Lord gives us freedom, but he does not abandon us. He corrects us when we fall, but he never ceases to love us. If we wish, he picks us up so we can continue our journey with joy.”

The Solemnity of Christ the King is also the day when World Youth Day is celebrated, and at the end of the Eucharist, young people from Portugal presented the symbols of World Youth Day to the young Koreans: “You, young Koreans,” Pope Francis said, “will receive the Cross of Our Lord, the Cross of life, the sign of victory, but you are not alone: you will receive it along with our Mother. It is Mary who always accompanies us on our journey towards Jesus. It is Mary who in difficult moments is beside our Cross to help us, because she is our Mother, she is mum. Keep Mary in mind. Let us keep our gaze fixed on Jesus, on his Cross and on Mary, our Mother. In this way, even throughout our difficulties, we will find the strength to go forward, without fear of accusations, without the need for approval, based on your own dignity, with your own security of being saved and being accompanied by Mother Mary. Without making compromises and without spiritual make-up. Your dignity needs no make-up. Let us go forward, happy to live for others, to be in love, and to be witnesses of the truth. Please do not lose your joy!".

ASIA/CAMBODIA - The “Magnificat” of the Apostolic Prefect of Battambang: “In Cambodia I am a witness to the works of God”

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 10:38:54 +0100

Battambang - "When I celebrate Mass in my cathedral, more than half of those present are unbaptized people. They are people in search, in search of God, of the meaning of life," said Father Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzález, Apostolic Prefect of Battambang, to Fides. The Jesuit has been a missionary in Cambodia for 40 years and is now President of the Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia.
"When the Eucharist is distributed, we form a line on one side to receive Communion; on the other side, the line of the unbaptized to receive the blessing. And this line is always longer," he notes. "It is very beautiful to see the Church as a place of reconciliation of the heart," said the Apostolic Prefect. "People carry the burden of their history and find in Christ an oasis that renews and relieves the burdens of existence. In listening to the Gospel and the preaching - which I often design myself so that I also address non-Christians - many are moved, feel the call of God and embark on the path and time of the catechumenate. God reveals himself in their hearts."

The Apostolic Prefect explains how it is that Cambodians - in a predominantly Buddhist country where there are only about 30,000 Catholics out of a population of 17 million - turn to the Catholic Church: "People are interested and are attracted above all when they see that we are there for the poor, the orphans, the destitute, the disabled. They see compassion. They also appreciate listening, participation: when we welcome someone to the Church, we invite them to take part in the Mass, the choir and the meetings: there is an immediate personal involvement. The Cambodians find in the parish people who are ready to listen to their problems, their struggles and their sufferings: they consider this to be very important for their lives.”

“In Christ they find hope,” Father Figaredo continues, “of being saved and freed from the negative spirits that life, past events or cultural beliefs have placed like a yoke on their hearts. The Spirit of God gives liberation. The Gospel of Christ is a liberating message, on a cultural level it is revolutionary. We proclaim the power of God that liberates. On a spiritual level, God gives freedom from negative spirits, from adverse fates. The Lord Jesus gives a full life, transforms the heart.”

The Spanish religious reports: “Many ask to be baptized. We celebrate about 100 baptisms of adults a year, mostly young people. They talk about the call of the Lord, which gives them a meaning in life and belonging to a community. There are also baptisms of entire families. And in Catholic families we have over 100 infant baptisms per year." "Another remarkable aspect," says Apostolic Prefect Figaredo, "is that the Church is full of young people and children and there are very few elderly people: the exact opposite of what happens in the West. Cambodia is a very young country: 50 percent of the population is under 25 years of age, and this is reflected in the churches."

On the structure of ecclesiastical life in his Apostolic Prefecture in the west of the country, the Prefect says: "In the entire Battambang Prefecture there are 22 priests: three are Cambodian, all the others are missionaries who come mainly from Asia, from Indonesia, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, but also from countries in Africa, Colombia and France. Also among the sisters we have 60 of many nationalities and 4 Cambodians. So we are faced with the challenge of the relationship between people of different cultures and nationalities and a spirit of kindness and compassion, empathy and synodality is emerging. From the Synod I participated in at the Vatican, I bring with me the spirit of increased listening and spiritual conversion.”

Looking back on the 40 years of his work in the mission in Cambodia, Father Figaredo says: “I see that the Catholic community has grown in numbers, but there is a need for spiritual accompaniment, for responsibility for the community. For this, the catechists in the prefecture are very valuable: about 90, almost all young. And of the older ones, some were catechists in the pre-war period, before the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot. During the Pol Pot era, they went into hiding because priests, bishops and catechists were persecuted and killed. The young Catholics were hiding, but they had faith in their hearts and kept it hidden during the sufferings of the war. And now they are back, proclaiming the faith to the little ones.”

As a Spanish priest and missionary who has been living in Cambodia for 10 years, the Jesuit concludes: "I have been blessed. I am the happiest priest in the world. I experience the joy of witnessing so many works of God. I think of the disabled who had no opportunities and are now married, working and participating in the community. The first young people I accompanied spiritually and pastorally are now parents, I now have white hair and, so to speak, 'grandchildren'". I feel a sense of gratitude because I have seen so much beautiful life. Now I sing my Magnificat".

AFRICA/MALI - President of the Bishops’ Conference of Mali: “The path of dialogue is the path to restoring peace”

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 10:27:03 +0100

Bamako - "Since 2012, Mali has been in a multidimensional crisis: security, institutional and economic," says Jonas Dembélé, President of the Episcopal Conference of Mali and Bishop of Kayes, in an interview with Fides.

How is the Church in Mali experiencing the crisis that has gripped the country since 2012?

Recently, the crisis has been aggravated by the actions of jihadists and the spread of criminal gangs. As a Church in Mali, we are affected by this violence, but jihadist actions affect the entire Malian population. In fact, jihadist violence is not specifically directed against Christians, but affects the entire population of the country.

The most difficult situation is in the diocese of Mopti, where there are areas where priests can no longer go and where some churches have been desecrated. In other areas, freedom of prayer no longer exists: people are allowed to gather to pray, but not to sing, for example.
In addition, Christians are required to give alms, similar to zakat or dhimmi, so that they can continue to pray.
People have fled the villages in the countryside, where they are left to fend for themselves because the State cannot guarantee their safety. When jihadists come to these places, those who can flee and seek refuge in the cities.
Peasants have had to abandon their fields and have not been able to harvest their crops. This year, floods have also made the situation worse for farmers.

What is the Church doing to help those displaced from areas controlled by jihadist groups?

Caritas is active in our dioceses to help the displaced. This is not a new phenomenon. Since 2012, the diocese of Bamako has had a center for receiving displaced people from the north. Many of the people who come to the reception centers run by Caritas are Muslims. This can change people's perceptions. As Pope Francis reminds us in the encyclical 'Fratelli Tutti', we are truly part of the same family. As a Church in Mali, we have made 'Fratelli Tutti' a pastoral tool and a means of dialogue with other religions. At a meeting with Muslim religious leaders, we showed a picture of Pope Francis with Islamic religious leaders. This picture touched our interlocutors very much. Also present was a Congolese priest who studied Islamic studies in Rome and speaks Arabic well; the Muslims were amazed to hear a Catholic priest speaking Arabic.

Are there any signs of hope in this situation?

Yes. It is reassuring that the new Constitution, adopted in 2023, states that Mali is a democratic and secular republic. This means that at the level of the state leadership there is a firm intention to ensure that every citizen can freely profess his faith. We have a good working relationship with state leadership and Muslim leaders. There is a Muslim leadership that is very open to dialogue. In my diocese of Kayes, we work with the Sufi movement Ançar Dine . For three years, we have been organizing interfaith meetings, especially with young people, to make them aware of dialogue and openness towards others.

Do Catholic schools also contribute to interreligious dialogue?

First and foremost, we must mention the legacy of the African missionaries who, since the beginning of the evangelization of the country, have seen schools as a place of encounter where Muslim and Christian children and young people are taught together. Currently, 80 percent of students in Catholic schools are Muslims. This creates bonds of mutual respect and friendship between people of different religions. In this context, we must not forget the traditional religion that exists alongside Islam and Christianity. It happens that Christians, Muslims and members of the traditional tribal religion live together in the same family. This allows for dialogue at a social level, especially since there are events that are celebrated together. For example, when a Catholic wedding takes place, we do not prevent Muslims from coming to church.

In your diocese, there is a pilgrimage of national importance that Malians of all denominations join

It is the Marian pilgrimage to Kita at the end of November , which is attended by Christians and Muslims. I remember a Muslim woman who came to present her baby to the Virgin Mary who had previously asked for the grace to have a child. The grace was granted, and so she came to the shrine with her child and told everyone: "I am not a Christian, I am a Muslim, but Mary has granted my request." The pilgrimage is also attended by state officials who ask for peace for our country.

So what is needed to restore peace in Mali?

Terrorism is not just a Malian problem, but an international one. In our country, despite all the difficulties, we are trying to promote peace through dialogue with our Muslim brothers and sisters and our fellow citizens who adhere to the traditional religion. It is clear that the solution cannot be only military; if the basic needs of the population are not met, it will be difficult to restore peace.

It is hoped that we will soon see the light at the end of the tunnel. As an ecclesial community, our first weapon is prayer. We pray incessantly for peace. We also need the commitment of everyone, because peace is a gift from God, but to be accepted it requires the will of the people to work for it. This is why we, as bishops of the countries of the region , are committed together to ensuring that our peoples can live in harmony and peace. A commitment that we share with the Muslim religious leaders of our countries.

ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - “The Journey towards Peace”: young people from North and South Korea

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:11:33 +0100

Seoul - “Ttiattmeori” is a Korean word that means “love and friendship between brothers and sisters”. And it is the name of an organization in which young North Koreans who have fled the country and young South Koreans come together to talk, make friends and share their faith.
“Ttiattmeori” is under the patronage of the Congregation of the Blessed Korean Martyrs and aims to help young North Koreans integrate and settle in the South.
The organization recently organized a “peace concert” and a dialogue in which North Korean young people were able to tell their story “with an open heart”, while other young people listened and then shared their stories. “Living the faith together and experiencing spiritual unity is a great help in settling into South Korean society”, said the participants in the event. The intense dialogue between the young people was also one of the highlights of the “Korea Peninsula Peace-Sharing Forum 2024”, which was organized in recent days by the “Korea Reconciliation Commission” of the Archdiocese of Seoul. The annual forum was attended by the Archbishop of Seoul, Peter Soon-taick Chung, President of the Commission, and Archbishop Giovanni Gaspari, Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, as well as several ambassadors.
In his opening speech, Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung, who is also Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang, outlined the theme of the forum, “The Journey towards Peace”, and stressed that “this path to peace may seem long and arduous at first, but we must not lose hope”. “I look forward to inspiring hope by reflecting together on the role of the Church and the various paths of solidarity for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the world,” added the prelate.
In his remarks, Archbishop Giovanni Gaspari, Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, cited Pope Francis' encyclical Fratelli Tutti , which states that religions have a duty to make "a valuable contribution to building fraternity and defending justice in society." He also stressed that "fraternity is the alternative to war, it is the other possible horizon. It is a path that must be taken together and to which all men and women on earth, believers and non-believers, are called to build a world at peace." The German theologian and peace researcher Heinz-Gerhard Justenhoven explained the value of "reconciliation" as a prerequisite for German reunification and spoke in this context about the role of the Catholic Church, noting that "prayer for peace was crucial for German reunification."
In its ninth year, the Forum aims to respond to the Church's call to promote peace on the Korean peninsula. To this end, the Institute for Peace-Sharing, an institution established by the Korea Reconciliation Commission, presented two research projects. Yiseul Seraphina Choi, a member of the Thomas Society, a research group of young Catholics affiliated with the Institute for Peace-Sharing, stressed the importance of spreading the Church's teaching on peace in Korean civil society, i.e. among all citizens, and pointed to the special role of the Catholic clergy as a "bridge" and "antenna" for raising awareness.
The researchers surveyed some 5,700 Korean priests on their opinions on the issues of peace and reconciliation: 82% of them agreed on the need for reunification, a percentage that is far higher than the response rate of the general public or Catholic believers .
The year 2025, says a statement from the Institute for Peace-Sharing, will be a very important year, as it will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation and the 80th anniversary of the division of the Korean peninsula, the 30th anniversary of the Korea Reconciliation Commission and the 10th anniversary of the Institute for Peace-Sharing: next year's Forum will therefore be of particular importance. As a contribution to this event, the Thomas Society will develop a program to discuss the special role of young people in building peace on the Korean peninsula, also with a view to the World Youth Day in Seoul in 2027.

AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - Bishops' alarm on the situation in Sudan and South Sudan

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 11:30:38 +0100

Juba - "With the recurrent postponements of democratic elections in South Sudan, the hope for sustainable peace is waning," warn the Bishops of South Sudan and Sudan at the end of their meeting on peace in the two countries in Kit, in the South Sudanese state of Eastern Equatoria.
South Sudan is facing the challenges of the civil war that broke out in December 2013 and which saw President Salva Kiir against Vice President Riek Machar. In 2018, the warring parties signed another agreement for the resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan , which referred to the previous agreement signed in 2015 but never implemented.
The R-ARCSS was joined by the Tumaini Consensus, a memorandum of understanding signed by the transitional government and the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance . These agreements called for general elections to be held this year, but have been postponed until February 2027. The bishops call on “the Government of South Sudan and the opposition groups to speed up the implementation of the milestones of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and the speedy conclusion of the expected 2024 Tumaini Consensus without further delay.”
They also call for the rapid adoption of a new constitution and appeal to the international community to continue to support South Sudan’s efforts to achieve stability and development. Meanwhile, on November 21, a shootout broke out in the South Sudanese capital Juba following the attempted arrest of the former head of the National Security Service , Akol Koor Kuc. The latter headed the NSS from 2011 until early October, when he was dismissed by President Kiir. The dismissal of the former intelligence chief is, according to independent observers, an indication of an internal power struggle within the Kiir regime.
With regard to the situation in Sudan, which has been devastated by the civil war that broke out on April 15, 2023, the bishops recall that "thousands of Sudanese have lost their lives, and millions have since fled their homes to seek refuge in relatively peaceful states or in neighboring countries. The humanitarian consequences on the civilians have gone beyond toleration and must be condemned in the strongest terms possible." They therefore call on "the warring parties and their supporters from both sides to respect humanitarian law and desist from blocking humanitarian corridors for lifesaving assistance".

AMERICA/PUERTO RICO - Pope's message to the participants of CAM6: The source of the mission is the joy of the disciples after the encounter with the risen Christ

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 09:54:22 +0100

Ponce – “We cannot give what we do not possess, we cannot express what we have not experienced, what our eyes have not seen, or what our hands have not touched”. Therefore, “the foundation of the Church’s evangelizing mission rests on our personal, loving encounter with Jesus Christ”. It is He who “reveals the “Good News” to us, shows us the Father”.

The day after the publication of the letter addressed to Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, Archbishop Emeritus of Caracas, who is participating as his special envoy in the 6th American Missionary Congress , which is taking place in Ponce, Puerto Rico, until Sunday, November 24, Pope Francis addressed the participants of the Congress directly.

In the letter, dated November 9 but published only today, the Pope recalls that this event is taking place in the year of Prayer that he proclaimed in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee. He then refers to a prayer he wrote specifically for this conference and addressed to the Trinity, which addresses the Father as "the merciful God who revealed to us the 'Good News' in his Son Jesus Christ" and "asks him to pour out His love through the Holy Spirit and renew the face of this earth".

An example of this miracle - continues the prayer cited by the Pope - are the many missionaries who have proclaimed him in word and deed". Jesus first, continues the Bishop of Rome, "was a missionary, "a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people" . Words spoken before God, his Father, in the intimate prayer that preceded all his actions.
Works carried out before his Father in a life totally subject to his will, in order to bear witness to his people of the greatest love. This is the message that missionaries have transmitted at all times, in all places and in all languages,” said Pope Francis

And this, Pope Francis points out, “is also the vocation of the baptized to which the prayer refers; to see God, to see Him in the world, in our brothers and sisters, with ‘Christified’ eyes that carry a compassionate, welcoming, and merciful gaze.”

In his message to the participants of CAM6, the Bishop of Rome quotes what he calls a "beautiful hymn" from the Liturgy of the Hours: "I saw you, yes, when I was a child and was baptized in water, and, cleansed of old sins, I could see you without a veil." From such an experience can arise the "joy that fills our hearts. The joy of the disciples after meeting the Risen One, which cannot be tamed and urges them to set out."

And it is the Holy Spirit who "works this miracle in us and puts in our mouths the words that we should say to God and to people . That is why, since the very beginning of the Church, together with Mary, the disciples in the Cenacle, the first thing they do is invoke the Spirit in assembly. Through His life-giving power we can transmit the message in every language, not only because the Church speaks them all but, above all, because she always speaks the same language, “the language of love, understandable to all humanity, as it is part of our very essence as made in the image of God”.

AFRICA/NIGERIA - Archbishop Nwachukwu ordains 40 new deacons on the centenary of the Bigard Memorial Seminary

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:35:23 +0100

Enugu – In an atmosphere of profound joy, the city of Enugu, Nigeria, celebrated the centenary of the Bigard Memorial Seminary, a key institution in the formation of Nigerian priests. Founded 100 years ago, this seminary bears the name of Jeanne Bigard, co-founder of the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle, created to support the formation of seminarians and priests in mission lands, and has also helped the Bignards Seminary to take root and develop in the Enugu area, continuing to provide a significant contribution to the formation of new priests for the Nigerian Church.

Over the course of these 100 years of history, the Bigard Memorial Seminary has formed 4 Cardinals, 14 Archbishops, 37 Bishops as well as numerous priests who still serve in various parts of the world. Among them is Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, current Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, who graduated in Theology from this very seminary.
The Archbishop took part in the rich calendar of events planned for the Centenary, and today, Thursday, November 21, presided over a solemn mass in the church of the Bigard Memorial Seminary during which 40 new deacons were ordained, called to become priests in the coming months, and who are “fruit of your good labour” of the Seminary, as Nwachukwu himself said during the homily.

As deacons, the Secretary of the Missionary Dicastery recalled, "will embrace a service that finds its roots in the Bible". In the Old Testament, in fact, in the book of Numbers we read about how "the service of the altar was entrusted to the children of Levi", while in the New Testament, the book of Acts "recounts the origin of similar service in the earliest days of the Church". But "unlike the Levites, Stephen and his companions did not became deacons by human genealogy. They were elected by the casting of lots, and therefore by God. They were elected deacons in response to complaints of discrimination based on ethnic origin within the Church".

The beginning of chapter 6 of the Acts of the Apostles in fact reads: "In those days, as the number of disciples increased, discontent arose among the Hellenists toward the Hebrews, because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. Then the Twelve called the group of disciples together and said: "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, look for seven men of good reputation among you, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint over this task. We, however, will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." The whole group liked this proposal and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch. They then presented them to the apostles, who, after praying, laid their hands on them." "You too - Archbishop Nwachukwu stressed - will be sent into a Church and a world that still today face similar challenges of prejudice and discrimination based on ethnic, tribal or racial origins or affiliations. I therefore urge you to keep in mind the words that Pope Francis addressed, last March 25, to Nigerian priests and religious in Rome, when His Holiness invited them to ‘adopt as their own God’s style of closeness, compassion and tender love’”. Like the deacons, “Stephen and his companions, with your diaconate ordination you are elevated to a pedestal where you are no longer defined by your ethnic or genealogical descent, as were the Levites, but by God’s election. Later, your ordination to the priesthood according to the order begun by Melchisedek who had no human genealogy will make this new identity still more defined”, added the Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization.

For the Archbishop, “an elected and ordained deacon like Stephen and his companions, as well as a priest ordained according to the new order of Melchisedek can no longer reason or act according to human genealogy and geology. He becomes, as it were, uprooted from the soil and taken up by the wind of the Spirit. Christ is your model”. “Therefore I recommend you to “live a life worthy of the vocation to which you have been called, with humility, gentleness and patience”, was Archbishop Nwachukwu’s final wish addressed to the new deacons.

AMERICA/PUERTO RICO - CAM6, the Pope: one becomes a proclaimer of the Gospel only with the Holy Spirit

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:52:31 +0100

Puerto Rico - "As on the day of Pentecost" the Apostles were "filled with the Holy Spirit" and sent by the Lord "to the ends of the earth", so today "we too, having received the same Spirit, have become heralds of the Gospel with the Spirit". This is what Pope Francis wrote in a letter written in Latin to Venezuelan Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, Archbishop Emeritus of Caracas, who is participating as his Special Envoy in the celebrations of the VI American Missionary Congress , currently underway in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, until Sunday, November 24.

In the letter, the Pope strongly reiterates that only "with the Spirit" can one be an evangelizer: "We open ourselves to the power of the same Spirit, without fear, going out of ourselves," with the aim of "proclaiming the newness of the Gospel in the life of the holy people of God in which we live," with "freedom of speech and towards all our brothers and sisters," "even when it meets with opposition."

"We hope that the fruits of these holy celebrations will lead the faithful in America to nurture an authentic Christian spirit and to dedicate all their strength to the work of evangelization, strengthened by the consolation of the Holy Spirit," the Pope said.

ASIA/SRI LANKA - President Dissanayake's coalition wins majority in Parliament: economic recovery on the agenda

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:06:02 +0100

Colombo - Sri Lanka has opened a new chapter and once again entrusted the country's destiny to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, elected last September. The recent parliamentary elections confirmed the victory of the socialist coalition "National People's Power" , which won over 70% of the seats. In the election held on November 14, the coalition won 159 seats in the 225-member parliament, more than the two-thirds majority required for Constitutional reform that Dissanayake had promised in his election campaign. The parliamentary elections, called by President Dissanayake himself after his victory in the presidential elections in September, confirmed popular support for Dissanayake, who was also supported by the "Aragalaya" protest movement that emerged in recent years against the establishment and its economic policies.
The country is still grappling with a social and economic crisis and is waiting for the International Monetary Fund, which has come to the country's aid with a loan line totaling $2.9 billion, to give the green light to disburse another tranche of around $337 million. President Dissanayake plans to reach bilateral agreements with individual creditors such as Japan, China and India as part of his plans to restructure the $12.5 billion debt.
"We need to get the economy back on a stable path," he said. To achieve this, the president chose a woman: Harini Amarasuriya was appointed Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and heads a 21-member government. The election of a woman to the office of Prime Minister reminded observers of the "female" leadership tradition in Sri Lanka, such as former President Chandrika Kumaratunga .
To lead the recovery, the new government is counting on two key factors of the Sri Lankan economy: tourism and migrant remittances.
The government's agenda, according to Dissanayake's political program, also includes the fight against corruption, reducing taxes for the less well-off and strengthening social measures, adopting the approach of greater state intervention in strategic economic sectors.

AFRICA/GHANA - The Bishops: "No to donations that are the fruit of illegal mining activities"

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:28:33 +0100

Accra - The Bishops' Conference of Ghana will not accept donations from illegal mining activities. This was decided by the bishops at the end of their Plenary Assembly. "We will not accept any donations that are the fruit of illegal mining," said the President of the Ghanaian Bishops' Conference and Bishop of Sunyani, Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, announcing a measure that recalls the recent decision of the Kenyan bishops not to accept the donations of the Kenyan Head of State .
Bishop Gyamfi also announced sanctions against those involved in illegal mining of minerals , the so-called "galamsey", which causes very serious damage to the environment and the population. "The sanctions will be further tightened, to the point that we can even deny Holy Communion if, despite warnings, one openly participates in illegal mining of minerals and continues this dangerous activity," warned Bishop Gyamfi.
In this context, the President of the Bishops' Conference also appealed to the population to report illegal mining activities and to take responsibility for protecting natural resources. "The people should take it into their own hands to protect their land and should not allow somebody from somewhere to come and destroy their water," said Bishop Gyamfi. At the same time, he reminded that local communities themselves bear responsibility for what happens on their land. "Is it the government that is polluting the water? It is even some of us in the local communities who are doing this galamsey. Then we say the government should come and save us from ourselves. No, that is not possible.” The Ghanaian Bishops' Conference has long been a leading voice in denouncing the environmental damage and human costs of illegal mining . In October, the Archdiocese of Accra, in collaboration with the Conference of Religious Superiors of Ghana , hosted the "Environmental Prayer Walk", which ended with the delivery of a petition to the Presidential Palace calling for concrete measures to stop illegal mining .

VATICAN - Pope Francis: "The Catholic Church in Iran is not against the government; to say otherwise is a lie!"

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:09:51 +0100

Vatican City - "The life of the Catholic Church in Iran, a “little flock”, is very close to my heart. The Church is not against the government; to say otherwise is a lie". This was stated by Pope Francis who met this morning, before the general audience, in the small hall of the Paul VI Audience Hall, the participants in the XII Colloquium of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue with the "Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue" of Tehran, which is taking place these days at the Vatican.

"I am aware of its situation and the challenges it faces as it perseveres in bearing witness to Christ and contributing, quietly but significantly, to the good of society as a whole, while rejecting all religious, ethnic or political discrimination", added the Pontiff, referring to the Catholic Church in Iran. Among those present at the meeting with the Pope was the Conventual Franciscan Dominic Joseph Mathieu, Archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan of the Latins and future Cardinal.

And after the new threats of an escalation of the conflict between Russia and the Western North Atlantic to the point of using nuclear weapons, the Bishop of Rome relaunched the appeal for peace for this world "divided and rent by hatred, hostility, wars and the threat of a nuclear conflict". It is therefore necessary to "pray" and "work for dialogue, reconciliation, peace, security and the integral development of all humanity".
"We can read the latest threat in today’s newspapers," the Pope said before the members of the Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue in Tehran. "This situation - the Pontiff concluded - prompts us, as believers in the God of Peace, to pray and work for dialogue, reconciliation, peace, security and the integral development of all humanity. We profess our faith in the all-powerful God of love. The commitment to peace that we can demonstrate together will make us credible in the eyes of the world and above all to future generations."

VATICAN/GENERAL AUDIENCE - Pope Francis: charisms are gifts given to some to be useful to all

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 09:22:24 +0100

Vatican City - What are charisms? Pope Francis answered this question during today's General Audience. The Pontiff, continuing the cycle of catechesis on the Holy Spirit, began his reflection by quoting the conciliar constitution Lumen Gentium, which in number 12 says: "it is not only through the sacraments and the ministries of the Church that the Holy Spirit sanctifies and leads the people of God and enriches it with virtues, but, ‘allotting his gifts to everyone according as He wills’ ".

Therefore, after speaking of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit that is carried out in the sacraments, in prayer and following the example of the Mother of God, for the Bishop of Rome "the moment has arrived to talk also about this second way the Holy Spirit works, which is charismatic action".

There are two elements that help to define what charism is. First, “the charism is the gift given ‘for the common good,’ to be useful to everyone. It is not, in other words, destined principally and ordinarily for the sanctification of the person, but for the “service” of the community.”
Secondly, the Pope explained, “the charism is the gift given “to one”, or “to some” in particular, not to everyone in the same way, and this is what distinguishes it from sanctifying grace, from the theological virtues and from the sacraments, which instead are the same and common to all.”

In other words, the Bishop of Rome added, “Charisms are the “jewels” or the ornaments that the Holy Spirit distributes to make the Bride of Christ more beautiful.”
The Pope then quoted the words of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, in the homily of the Chrism Mass in 2012: “Anyone who considers the history of the post-conciliar era can recognize the process of true renewal, which often took unexpected forms in living movements and made almost tangible the inexhaustible vitality of the holy Church”.

According to Pope Francis, it is important to “rediscover the charisms, because this ensures that the promotion of the laity, and of women in particular, is understood not only as an institutional and sociological fact, but also in its biblical and spiritual dimension. Indeed, the laity are not the least, no, they laity are not a form of external collaborator or auxiliary troops of the clergy, no! They have their own charisms and gifts with which to contribute to the mission of the Church.”

And he warned: “When we talk about the charisms, we must immediately dispel a misunderstanding: that of identifying them with spectacular or extraordinary gifts and capabilities; instead, they are ordinary gifts that assume extraordinary value if inspired by the Holy Spirit and embodied with love in situations of life. Such an interpretation of the charism is important, because many Christians, when they hear talk of charisms, experience sadness or disappointment, as they are convinced that they do not possess any, and feel they are excluded or second-class Christians.”

At the end of the audience, the Pope announced the dates of canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati by surprise: “Next year, during the Jubilee for Adolescents , I will canonize Blessed Carlo Acutis, and that on the Jubilee for Young People, next year , I will canonize Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.”

Then the announcement of an event at the Vatican in defense of the rights of children: “On the occasion of the International Day of the Rights of Children and Adolescents, I wish to announce that next 3 February the World Meeting on Children’s Rights, entitled “Love them and protect them”, will take place here in the Vatican, with the participation of experts and figures from various countries. It will be an opportunity to identify new ways of assisting and protecting millions of children who are still without rights, who live in precarious conditions, who are exploited and abused, and who suffer the dramatic consequences of wars.”

“There is a group of children preparing for this Day,” said the Pontiff, while a group of children from the square “invaded” the scene to greet the Pope, who thanked them and embraced the little ones.
A thousand days after the conflict, he again called for peace in Ukraine: “A tragic milestone for the victims and for the destruction it has caused, but at the same time a shameful catastrophe for the whole of humanity! However, this must not discourage us from continuing to stand beside the tormented Ukrainian people, nor from imploring for peace and working to make weapons give way to dialogue and confrontation to encounter,” were the words of the Pope, welcomed with emotion by Olena Zelenska, wife of President Zelensky, who was present in St. Peter's Square and with whom the Pope had a private conversation before the General Audience.

The Bishop of Rome said: “The other day I received a letter from a university student from Ukraine”. And before giving the blessing, the Pontiff read part of the text of the letter: “Father, when on Wednesday you remember my country, and will have the opportunity to speak to the entire world about the thousandth day of this terrible war, I beg you, do not speak only of our sufferings, but also bear witness to our faith: although it is imperfect, its value does not diminish, it paints a picture of the Risen Christ with painful brushstrokes.”

AMERICA/PUERTO RICO - Archbishop Nappa at CAM6: Let us all return to the "first Announcement", the ever-living source of all the Church's work

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:47:37 +0100

Ponce - The second day of the sixth edition of the American Missionary Congress is underway, which began yesterday with a festive and participatory Eucharistic celebration in the "Juan Pachín Vicéns" Auditorium in Ponce. After the celebration, the work continued at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. The first day, which included institutional greetings and a theological and methodological introduction to the Congress, culminated with the presentation of Monsignor Roberto González Nieves, Archbishop of San Juan, who addressed the historical role of Puerto Rico in the faith of America, highlighting the arrival of Alonso Manso, the first Bishop on the continent.

This morning, the Congress continued with a presentation by Archbishop Raúl Biord Castillo, Archbishop of Caracas, who opened the day's work. Then, Archbishop Emilio Nappa, President of the Pontifical Mission Societies , based on three key words: "go, invite and banquet" from the Holy Father's message for World Mission Day 2024, explained the meaning of the mission, referring to various Gospel texts and the Pope's messages on the last three World Mission Days.

“Go! Mission is movement. It always implies a setting in motion. "The mission is a tireless going out to all humanity to invite it to encounter and communion with God", Pope Francis tells us - said Archbishop Nappa -. Sometimes we can travel the entire world while remaining closed in on ourselves. At other times, however, by remaining in the same place, one opens up to share the anguish and joys of an unknown and boundless humanity. Our Church, here in America, is also called to move in order to be authentically missionary.”

Referring then to the message of World Mission Day 2022 “You will be my witnesses”, which inspired the organizers of CAM6 for the motto of this year's edition, the President of the PMS recalled that the Pope, commenting on Christ's statement to the disciples “you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth”, writes: “The indication ‘to the ends of the earth’ must challenge the disciples of Jesus in every age and always encourage them to go beyond the usual places to bear witness to Him.”

The second word on which the President of the PMS focused is “invite”, which is also at the heart of the proclamation of the Gospel. “Being a missionary means being the bearer of an invitation from Another,” explained Archbishop Nappa. “We cannot and must not tire of announcing the Gospel, engaging in genuine and profound dialogue with all cultural and social contexts. It is not a question of imposing or proselytising. This invitation must reach every corner, not only in a geographical sense, but also existentially!”

Regarding the “geography” of the mission, the President of the PMS pointed out that today the clear distinction between “first” and “new” evangelization seems to have been overcome. He said in this regard: “We are increasingly witnessing an osmosis between territories and peoples of ancient and recent evangelization. We are often surprised by the freshness and enthusiasm of the brothers and sisters of the young Churches, to whom my daily work is mainly directed. But we too, here in the West, which seems tired and distracted, still have something to give... with our tradition which must be revived, rejuvenated... with our strengths and also our failures, which can be a useful reminder for the younger Churches. We are all called to return again and again to that 'first proclamation', the ever-living source of all the Church's work.”
Finally, the word “banquet”, an eloquent and intense sign of sharing, was addressed by the President of the PMS. “God has prepared a banquet for us and wants us to be his guests; the proclamation of the Gospel, so as not to remain a mere 'proclamation', must become something to be shared,” the President stressed. “Living the mission must lead us to share our resources, to redistribute wealth.”

AFRICA/GABON - New Constitution approved, an important step towards the return to civilian rule after the 2023 military coup

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:34:49 +0100

Libreville - With 91.8% of the vote, Gabon's new Constitution was approved in the referendum held on November 16. The turnout was 53.54%, below initial estimates . "This is an important step towards the return to constitutional order after the coup in 2023," commented the President of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat.
At the end of August last year, the military seized power in a bloodless coup, overthrowing the government of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who had succeeded his father in power since 1967 .
Interim President Brice Oligui Nguema had promised that the military would return power to the civilian population after a transitional period. The approval of the new Constitution is an important step in this process of returning to democracy, which will lead to the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for August 2025. General Oligui makes no secret of his intention to run for the office of Head of State in these elections. For this reason, the constitutional referendum was important to ensure the fairness of the electoral process under the military regime. Last year's coup took place following disputed elections on August 26, which favored then-President Ali Bongo Ondimba . About 30 electoral observation missions were deployed for the constitutional referendum, but in some polling stations independent observers were not allowed to observe the counting of the ballots. The ballots were destroyed after the counting of the votes was completed, in accordance with current regulations. The new 173-article constitution provides for a presidential system with a president with extensive powers whose term of office is seven years and can be extended for a further term. But it also provides that the provision for two consecutive presidential terms cannot be the subject of a constitutional amendment, in order to avoid the introduction of a presidential regime for life. Nor can the provision allowing marriage only with persons of the opposite sex be the subject of a constitutional amendment.
On the eve of the referendum, the bishops had stated that they left it to the freedom of conscience of the Catholic faithful to vote for or against the new Constitution, but warned them not to be misled by false information circulating on traditional and social media. To this end, Mgr. Jean Patrick Iba-Ba, Archbishop of Libreville, had released a special leaflet.

AFRICA/SOMALIA - Somaliland: The Opposition Wins the Presidential Elections amid Changes and Regional Challenges

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:17:03 +0100

Hargeisa - The presidential elections of November 13, 2024, with the election of Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi of the opposition Waddani party, represent a significant turning point for Somaliland. Abdullahi received 63.92% of the vote, replacing the outgoing Muse Bihi Abdi, who received 34.81%. The election result reflects the people's desire for change and can be considered a political turning point for this self-proclaimed independent region. The electoral campaign was marked by intense debates on key issues such as the economy, democracy, regional relations and the long-standing question of international recognition of Somaliland.
Among the most controversial measures taken by the outgoing government was an agreement with Ethiopia, which provoked much criticism. The agreement, which granted Ethiopia access to the sea in exchange for recognition of Somaliland's sovereignty , was strongly contested by the Somali government, which saw it as a violation of its territorial integrity. This contributed to tensions not only in Somalia but also throughout the Horn of Africa.
The change of power therefore comes at a difficult time, even if the previous regional conflict in Las Anod has currently ended .
The tensions in the region at the time, which also involved Puntland, highlighted the fragility of Somaliland's internal and external relations. The outgoing government was criticized for its handling of the crisis, and the population expressed a desire for political change in the current election that would consolidate stability.
Despite some procedural concerns, the international community praised the electoral process for its transparency and fairness. The high turnout of over a million people underscores the commitment of the people of Somaliland to consolidating democracy. Abdullahi, a veteran politician whose career began in 2002 and who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives for nearly 12 years, now faces major challenges, including managing relations with Ethiopia and Somalia and promoting dialogue with Mogadishu. International recognition of Somaliland remains a priority, but will be difficult to achieve without regional and global consensus.
Abdullahi's election marks the beginning of a new era for Somaliland, raising hopes for greater political stability, sustainable economic development and a renewed commitment to peace. But questions remain about how the new leadership will deal with the remaining tensions related to Las Anod, even if the conflict is formally over. The ability of the new president to strengthen dialogue and find a common solution with all parties involved within Somalia will be crucial for the future of Somaliland, both in terms of internal stability and the consolidation of its democratic institutions.

ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Blessed Carlo Acutis is "the first young person to participate in WYD in Korea"

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 07:54:11 +0100

Seoul - Blessed Carlo Acutis will be a source of inspiration and a "true friend" for young Koreans and all those who will participate in World Youth Day 2027 in Korea. With this certainty, the organizers requested a relic of the young Italian Blessed: 16 fragments of Acutis' hair, preserved in a reliquary, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, departed from the Sanctuary of the Spoliation in Assisi , which has now been delivered to the Archbishop of Seoul, Peter Soon-taick Chung.
According to the Organizing Committee, this is "an important occasion, with a view to the preparations for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul".
The Archdiocese of Seoul and the entire Catholic community in Korea "look forward to making known the message of Blessed Charles Acutis in view of the upcoming World Youth Day, so that his journey of faith will resonate deeply in the hearts of young people in Korea and many other nations," says the Committee. What the young Koreans.
What is impressive, according to a statement, is the fact that the blessed, who is known for his deep devotion to Christ and the Church, is called "God's Influencer" because he used the Internet as a means of spreading the faith in Jesus and, among other things, compiled a list of Eucharistic miracles and Marian apparitions on a website. "His innovative approach to evangelization has left an indelible impact on countless young people around the world," the statement said, and "his legacy of unwavering faith and devotion will continue to inspire young people in the future." Archbishop Chung was present at the ceremonial handover of the relics, as were several members of the event committee and a group of young representatives of the Korean community. Symbolically, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of Seoul, "Blessed Charles Acutis is the first young person to visit Korea in the spirit of World Youth Day. His presence will strengthen the Archdiocese in its commitment to involve young people in the next celebration of faith that the Korean Bishops wish to be "not only a gathering for young people of the Catholic faith, but can also involve young people of other religions," so as to become a great gathering that proclaims Jesus Christ and his Gospel in Korea and throughout Asia.
In July 2024, Pope Francis and the Consistory of Cardinals officially approved to canonize Blessed Carlo Acutis. The canonization ceremony will take place as part of the celebrations for the upcoming Holy Year on April 27, 2025.

ASIA/JAPAN - Archbishop Kikuchi: "Without migrants, an ageing society will not be able to survive"

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:34:31 +0100

by Fabio Beretta

Tokyo - "Dialogue is the key to stability". This is what Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi, Archbishop of Tokyo, says, who will be created Cardinal by Pope Francis at the upcoming Consistory on Saturday, December 7.

In a detailed interview with Fides, the future cardinal, who is also President of "Caritas Internationalis", shares realistic and non-conformist considerations on the present and future of Japanese society, which is characterized by an aging process that can only be stopped by the influx of migrants.

The 66-year-old Archbishop of Tokyo, who belongs to the Society of the Divine Word Missionaries, also speaks about the origins of his missionary vocation that led him to spend much of his priestly ministry in Ghana.

In an interview with Fides a few months ago, you said: "To be a good parish priest, I had to listen to people". And to be a good Cardinal?

To do this, I also have to be able to listen to all people, not only members of the Catholic Church, but also the wider community in society.

How did your vocation come about, which led you to join the Society of the Divine Word and become a missionary?

I was born as a son of a catechist and our family was living with a Swiss Missionary in the mission station in northern part of Japan. So I was raised with a foreign missionary and it was very natural that I also wanted
to be like him, a missionary with whom I spent much time together.

Returning from his trip to Asia and Oceania, Pope Francis said that we are used to seeing the Church in a too Western light. Do you agree with this statement?

Catholic Church or Christianity used to be seen as representatives of European culture. People love European culture through paintings, food and music. So the Church was also recognized as one of the provider of such foreign culture to general public in Japan. But these day are gone. Nowadays people have started to recognize the Church as an oasis where to take refuge from everyday problems in their life. Regarding the Pope's words, yes, in many parts of Asia the Church was seen as a representative of Western reality, and the Church itself used to try to be more Western than based on local culture. Our effort for inculturation has not been enough and sufficient.

Among Japanese youth, psychological problems are manifested in impressive forms, and the suicide rate is high. Can the Church do something for them?

To begin with, Japanese society is aging, and there are very few children. The older people try to educate the young based on their experiences, but the social reality today is very different. The economy is experiencing a recession, and in many communities there are no jobs for the young people. The traditional social system that supported them and helped them to develop no longer exists. Young people in Japan today need communities to which they feel they belong. The Church could be one of these communities, to support them and make them feel that they belong to a much larger reality that can accompany them in their lives.

And then there are the migrants... How does the Japanese Catholic community respond to this phenomenon?

Without migrants, an ageing society like Japan will not be able to survive. The government knows the situation but is hesitant to fully accept migrants for fear of entering a new "world" that Japan has never experienced before. Japan has been a very homogeneous country.

But without migrants, today's society cannot sustain itself. And this is a fact. It is true that migrants come with all kinds of visas. But due to the reluctance of institutions, many migrants sooner or later face bureaucratic problems regarding their visa. For the Japanese in general, one could say that migrants are a problem in society. In the Church we also say "migrant problem". We have a number of people assisting migrants, but we ourselves use the term "migrant problem". I think migrants are not a problem, but a hope for the Church. They offer the Catholic community an opportunity to grow with young people and to proclaim the Gospel even in areas where there is no Church. In a way, they give the Japanese Church an opportunity to become more active. And that is a hope for us.

According to the latest data, Japan has approved a 16.5 percent increase in defense spending for 2024. You yourself have said, with regard to nuclear weapons, "They do not provide any real protection, so you are just throwing money in a garbage can." Does it help that this year's Nobel Peace Prize is being awarded to a Japanese anti-nuclear organization?

Yes. Anyone who seriouslt analyzes the political situation in Asia knows that dialogue is the key to stability, not the threat of weapons. Investing more money in weapons, especially nuclear weapons, which nobody wants and which cannot be used to resolve conflicts, is really a waste. These weapons were created to destroy this world, not to solve problems. The Church in Japan, especially in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, will continue to work with some bishops in the United States to demand that both Japan and the U.S. government abolish such weapons as soon as possible.

In a country like Japan, which is at the center between great powers such as China, Russia and the United States, how important is dialogue with these states? And with the two Koreas?

Dialogue is the key to stability. There is no question about it. We have to to talk to each other. Dialogue is not only talking, it is also building relationships. And synodality is needed in this area too.

How is the Holy See's action perceived in Japan in the context of the major crises in the world?

The Holy See's initiatives, especially those of the Pope on issues such as ecology and climate change, are appreciated by many and the Pope is expected to continue to call everyone to action. At the same time, since the Church is an absolute minority in Japanese society, the influence of the Bishop of Rome on international politics is underestimated or not known. In general, here in Japan, many wonder why a religious leader talks about politics. Therefore, not everyone appreciates the initiatives of the Holy See. But this is a normal reaction in many other parts of the world.

AMERICA/PUERTO RICO - VI American Missionary Congress: more than 12,000 participants expected

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:41:07 +0100

Ponce - More than 12,000 people are expected today in the city of Ponce for the official opening ceremony of the VI American Missionary Congress . The opening of CAM6 will take place at 8:00 a.m. local time in the "Juan Pachín Vicéns" Auditorium in Ponce with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, Archbishop Emeritus of Caracas and Papal Legate. About 1,300 delegates from the entire American continent and from all the dioceses of Puerto Rico will participate.
The missionary event, which begins today and includes a dense program of talks, testimonies, moments of sharing missionary experiences, will end next Sunday, November 24, and is the culmination of a journey that began in 2018 with reflection to encourage mission on the continent and in the world. The fundamental tool from which it starts is the fruit of listening, reflection and discernment in a synodal missiological key that took place mainly in the Church of Puerto Rico and in the National Directions of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States and in the Pontifical Mission Societies in Rome, focusing on three themes: "In the Power of the Spirit," "Witnesses of Christ," "To the Ends of the Earth."
"For the first time in 47 years, an American Missionary Congress is being held in the Caribbean, which is a historic event for Puerto Rico," explains the coordinator of CAM6, Father José Orlando Camacho Torres . "These congresses began in Mexico in 1977, are held every six years and the last one was held in Bolivia in 2018."
The theme is “Evangelizers with the Spirit, to the ends of the earth”; the logo is composed of the “torch of faith”, the fire of the Holy Spirit, as the protagonist of the mission; the globe of the earth, which refers to the missionary task “ad-gentes”, the image of the Virgin Mary “Star of Evangelization”, under the invocation of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of America and finally the cross of the sacrifice of salvation in Jesus Christ that embraces all peoples. The opening ceremony will be broadcast live in Spanish, English, French and Portuguese on the official social media channels . The most important moments of the event will also be broadcast on social networks and made available in different languages.

Blessed are the Poor

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 13:50:05 +0100

by Gianni Valente

“Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God,” says Jesus in the Gospel according to Luke. And those who follow Jesus on the path of world history notice and recognize that on this path the poor are facilitated. This is the sign of predilection, of the “preferential option” for the poor that marks the mystery of salvation throughout history.
The poor and the little ones pass more easily through narrow doors and difficult passages. They are facilitated, precisely because they have fewer burdens and weights to carry. They are the first beneficiaries of the “hundredfold on this earth” that Jesus promises to his followers in the Gospel.
And they can radiate a happiness that does not belong to them, that is not the result of their performance. They possess nothing of their own, they are empty-handed. And this is precisely why their happiness is and manifests itself as a free gift, a reverberation of a miracle of predilection.
Gifts that are conditionally more distant for the rich and the great, those with "a ready-made soul" , those who are "self-made". And they cannot buy a drop of additional happiness with all their accomplishments.

The predilection of Jesus, of the Father and of the Holy Spirit for the poor is inscribed in the Mystery and history of Salvation. Pope Francis also refers to this Mystery of predilection when he insistently repeats that "the poor are the flesh of Christ".

It is Christ himself who identifies with them. And salvation can reach everyone through those whom Christ himself chooses. The words of Pope Francis also recall this dizzying dynamic, always recognized and confessed in the Church of Christ.

God gives his happiness and his light to the poor, He privileges them. He prefers them. And through the mystery of charity that animates the Church, even those who are not poor, even the rich can participate in the same joy, if they allow themselves to be embraced by this predilection. Not by an ascetic effort, but by following something that attracts them more than their surplus budgets.

Saint Augustine wrote that Christ, in his work of redemption, wanted to touch the heart of the king starting from the announcement made by the sinful fisherman, and not the other way around. In order to manifest more clearly that his salvation is communicated freely, by grace, and not by pressure, calculation and human effort.

Not so long ago, for the ideological grids of influential ecclesial circuits, it had become suspect to speak of preference and preferential option for the poor. It was said that it was a politicization of the evangelical message.

Today, apparently, this is no longer the case. But even today, under other paradoxical masks, we feel the same impatience, the same unease and the same suspicion in the face of this predilection, when it manifests itself.

All compassionate conservatisms and progressivisms, all the poses of pauperism à la page do not recognize, are structurally incapable and little interested in recognizing the effective and operative predilection of Christ himself for the poor, privileged beneficiaries of the enjoyment of the pledge of his salvation, already on this earth.
They treat the poor, in the end, according to the categories of the world. They treat them as wretches, failures, ultimately passive recipients of the gifts and attentions of others. Amorphous and passive plastic matter, human matter to be modeled, inert matter in which they claim to breathe life through their own strategies of "valorization".

The poor, reduced and neutralized into an abstract category, can become decorative products of neo-clerical choreographies. Choreographies in which every subversive and prophetic impulse of the ecclesial currents that in the last century had recognized and embraced the real power of the multitudes, already exercised historically, is also dissipated and suppressed. They had also recognized that their struggles were potential factors of structural change in the global mechanisms of production and exploitation, of distribution of power and wealth.

In the time of the Church, and starting from the Gospel, from the deacon Saint Lawrence, from Saint Ambrose and from the Fathers of the Church, the poor have never been treated as shadows in search of visibility, eager to beg for their "quarter of an hour of media fame" that today's society grants to everyone, as Andy Warhol prophesied.

The Gospel and the Roman Fides have never said that the poor are without sin and without human misery. But they always maintained the tacit evidence that the poor could more easily enjoy the happiness which the Lord had given them by his free choice and preference. Not only the groaning, not only the cry of the oppressed poor, but also their gratuitous and unimaginable happiness touches and moves the heart of God.

The Fathers of the Church have recognized and attested to this. Great priests of our time, such as Don Lorenzo Milani and Don Primo Mazzolari, or Rafael Tello and Lucio Gera, the best known Argentine representatives of the "Theology of the People", have also repeated it in their own way. For the latter two, it is not ecclesiastical declarations and conjectures that have given dignity to the poor. For Christ himself sacramentally preserves the poor in the memory of their dignity. A dynamic, writes Father Rafael Tello, inscribed and expressed in popular spirituality, that with which the people of God's poor evangelize themselves "better than priests usually do", and whose concern for the baptism of their children is "the most important manifestation": "A sensitive fact, the rite of baptism, explains Father Rafael Tello, perceived as a sign that God takes them for himself. For our people it is like this. He takes the child to baptize him and clothes him in Christ. This is Catholicism, to the end: I bring the child to this, he can live like a wretch, but he is already clothed in Christ".