Fides News - English

AFRICA/CHAD - Chad unexpectedly ends military cooperation agreements with France

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 13:09:54 +0100

N'Djamena - "A move yet to be interpreted that in any case has taken everyone by surprise" local sources in N'Djamena, the capital of Chad, told Fides after the announcement that the local government intends to end the military treaty with France.
"The government of the Republic of Chad informs national and international public opinion of the decision to end the defence cooperation agreement signed with the French Republic, revised on 5 September 2019," says the statement from the Chadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published last night, 28 November. A symbolic date given that it is the Feast of the Proclamation of the Republic and just a few hours before the visit of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, to Chad. A decision "taken after deep reflection" that "marks a historic milestone," underlines the statement. “After 66 years since the proclamation of the Republic of Chad, the time has come for Chad to assert its full and complete sovereignty and to redefine its strategic partners in accordance with national priorities.” The fate of the thousand or so French troops stationed in the country is currently unknown. “Chad, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, undertakes to respect the conditions laid down for its termination, including the notice period, and to cooperate with the French authorities to ensure a harmonious transition,” says the government of N'Djamena.
Finally, the Chadian authorities assure that they wish to continue to maintain “constructive relations with France in other areas of common interest.” A formulation that seems to exclude the defense sector, which until now was the cornerstone of the relationship between N'Djamena and Paris. Chad was the last bastion of the French military presence in Sahelian Africa after the expulsion of the French military by the military juntas of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The N'Djamena government, which received support from the French military to repel rebel offensives in 2008 and 2019, has initiated defence contacts with other powers, including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Russia. The United States has also long maintained important military relations with Chad. It also plans to send at least 200 soldiers to help Chad control its borders. In the same hours of the Chadian announcement, the president of Senegal , Bassirou Diomaye Faye, declared to Agence France Press that the presence of French military bases on the territory of his country is incompatible with national sovereignty.

ASIA/MYANMAR - Record number of landmine victims: children and civilians among the most affected

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 12:49:18 +0100

Yangon - Myanmar has become the country with the highest mortality rate in the world from landmines and unexploded ordnance, with more than 1,000 victims recorded in 2023 alone. According to studies carried out by UNICEF and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, an NGO that specifically monitors and deals with the problem of landmines around the world, this figure exceeds that of any other nation in conflict.
Sources from the Catholic community in Myanmar have pointed out to Fides: "It is above all the civilian population, not involved in the conflict between the army and the Popular Defense Forces, that is paying the highest price. Among the victims there are many children, whose future is marked by disability."
The extensive use of anti-personnel mines by the regular army, as a strategy to weaken the resistance forces, has exacerbated this humanitarian crisis. Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur for Myanmar, has denounced serious human rights violations in the country: for example, civilians are forced to walk through potentially mined fields to clear the way for military units. In addition, victims are denied access to vital medical aid, including prosthetics and specialist care.
The impact of mines is particularly severe among children: figures published by UNICEF reveal that more than 20% of the 1,052 civilian casualties recorded in 2023 were children. This represents an alarming increase compared to 2022, when 390 incidents were documented. Mines placed near homes, schools and agricultural areas expose them to constant risks.
According to the “Landmine Monitor 2024”, a report released in recent days by the “International Campaign to Ban Landmines”, Myanmar’s military forces have increased the use of banned anti-personnel mines that indiscriminately kill and injure people across the country. In the past year, landmine casualties have been documented in all 14 states and regions of Myanmar, affecting nearly 60% of the country’s cities.
In addition to the record reached in 2023 , the rate has continued to rise, with 692 civilian casualties in the first six months of 2024, of whom approximately one third were children. At the Fifth Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty, taking place from 25 to 29 November in Siem Reap, Cambodia, the issue of landmine use in Myanmar came to the fore, and calls were made to support victims. In particular, the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority reaffirmed its commitment to communicate with Myanmar and assist in its demining efforts, regardless of political, social or religious status.
Although Myanmar is not a State Party to the “Ottawa Convention” , it has offered to assist in the country’s demining activities. In Myanmar, landmines are actively used by both the regular army and non-state armed groups, which manufacture landmines, often improvised, by collecting mines collected in the field. The Junta's Military Industrial Directorate, known as "KaPaSa", produces at least five types of anti-personnel mines, which are regularly supplied to military units.
According to a source reported to Fides in Kayah State, "soldiers often enter a village and force its inhabitants to flee into the forest. They then place landmines in the village, on farms, in rice and corn fields around the military camp. The villagers, when it is time to harvest rice and corn, go to these fields to survive and expose themselves to risks. The military intentionally harm the villagers because for them these villagers are the enemy or support the enemy."

ASIA/SYRIA - The humanitarian crisis in Aleppo worsens, once again under siege by jihadists

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 12:24:29 +0100

Aleppo - The city of Aleppo is facing a new and fierce offensive that is plunging its population into an alarming humanitarian crisis.

A jihadist attack of rare intensity, which began in recent days, has caused more than 200 civilians and soldiers dead in recent days.

The offensive has led to the capture of dozens of villages and the closure of the highway between Aleppo and Damascus, vital for the transit of humanitarian aid and the connection with the rest of the country.

Local sources, contacted by Fides, describe a situation that is rapidly worsening: the sound of machine guns resounds in the city center, while workplaces remain deserted. In several areas, there has been no electricity for two days, and the jihadists are now only 10 kilometers from the heart of Aleppo, while the victims of the clashes increase by the hour.

The inhabitants of the city are reliving the terror of the hardest years of the Syrian civil war, which began in 2012, when Aleppo was isolated and the scene of intense attacks.

"In this time leading up to Christmas we ask for a very strong message of hope. We also ask for the gift of peace, and we do so together with our families and the families who pray for us, those who help us: our family members, friends, benefactors, both spiritual and material," Father Hugo Fabian Alaniz, missionary priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, reports to Fides.
"Let us ask the Lord of Peace" continues the priest "to grant us the gift of peace. We ask the Child Jesus to give us the strength to always remain in hope, that hope to which we have been called. Let us not allow all these sufferings and trials to kill the hope in our hearts."

AFRICA/DR CONGO - The young customs officer, killed for opposing corrupt officials who wanted to import a shipment of bad rice, will be beatified

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 15:42:29 +0100

Kinshasa - The young Congolese civil servant assassinated for opposing corruption will be beatified. Floribert Bwana Chui Bin Kositi, a young civil servant from the Democratic Republic of Congo, had refused to give in to corruption to allow the importation of a shipment of bad rice from Rwanda.
On 25 November, Pope Francis authorized the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree concerning the martyrdom of the Servant of God Floribert Bwana Chui Bin Kositi, a lay faithful, born on 13 June 1981 in Goma and killed in that city in hatred of the faith on 8 June 2007.
Floribert was employed in the Goma office of the Congolese Control Office , the public body responsible for controlling the quality, quantity and conformity of goods. Quality control consisted of verifying the conformity of products with national and international regulations, through physicochemical and microbiological analysis of the samples taken.
In the course of his duties, he opposed the passage of a shipment of spoiled rice from Rwanda, destined for the Congolese market, with serious consequences for the health of consumers. Despite offers of bribes from crooked traders, Floribert stubbornly refused to let the cargo pass. The offers of money then turned into threats, but the young civil servant did not give in. On July 7, 2007, unknown assailants forced him into a car. On July 9, his lifeless body was found in a vacant lot not far from the scene of the kidnapping. It was established that Floribert was tortured and beaten before being killed. Known for his devotion to God and the Catholic Church, Floribert Bwana Chui was linked to the Community of Sant'Egidio. He distinguished himself by his religious fervor and his desire to live daily according to the teachings of the Gospel. His sacrifice is compared to that of Blessed Isidore Bakanja, another Congolese martyr beatified in 1994 by Pope John Paul II.

AFRICA/UGANDA - “Rebuilding the lives of refugees”: the theme of the Salesian mission in Palabek

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 15:00:32 +0100

Palabek – Teenage pregnancies account for almost a fifth of all births that occur each year in Uganda and 32,000 cases monthly.

To help these young Ugandans, the Salesian missionaries have launched a program at the Don Bosco Palabek center based on the theme: "Rebuilding the lives of refugees". Uganda hosts approximately 2.5 million refugees, mostly from different African countries. The settlements are mainly made up of children and young people, who represent around 86% of the refugee population, while these have a significant number of single mothers.

During their pastoral work in the Palabek refugee camp, the Salesians have identified the difficulties faced by many adolescents who, due to abuse or lack of information, have assumed motherhood before reaching adulthood. “They are brave young women who have decided to have children and take care of them, despite the difficult circumstances that surround them,” says a note released by the missionaries.

“Almost all the teenage mothers in Palabek have fled the war,” explain the Salesians, stressing that these young women have not had opportunities to develop or strengthen their self-esteem. They also do not have the necessary knowledge to take care of their children or even themselves. “They need training and information, not only to be mothers, but also to rebuild their lives,” explain the Salesians.

The missionaries also highlight the psychological and social impact of this situation: “They do not have dreams or hopes appropriate to their age. Their priority is their children, which leads them to neglect themselves, generating serious consequences for both themselves and their children. However, we see that they have a great desire to learn and improve. They are willing to invest time in their education and long to build a future with their children.”

According to educational regulations in Uganda, pregnant or breastfeeding students are not allowed to attend school, which prevents many of them from completing their education. For many young mothers, stopping breastfeeding is not a viable option, as they have no alternatives to feed their babies. Faced with this reality, the Sons of Don Bosco propose the creation of safe spaces where children can be cared for while their mothers attend school.

This approach seeks to guarantee the educational continuity of young girls and provide the little ones with the food and care necessary for their development.

ASIA/OMAN - Major Archbishop Thattil visits Syro-Malabar communities in the Arabian Peninsula

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 14:42:54 +0100

Muscat – After completing his visit to the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, Raphael Thattil, who took up his post at the beginning of this year, has arrived in Oman. In the capital, Muscat, he began his pastoral journey through the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia. Accompanied by Bishop Paolo Martinelli, OFM Cap, he was welcomed in the parishes of Ruwi and Ghala, where he met the Syro-Malabar communities and presided over the Holy Qurbana, the solemn Eucharistic liturgy of the Syro-Malabar rite.

The two prelates then travelled to Abu Dhabi to meet the Syro-Malabar faithful living in the parishes of the United Arab Emirates. In the Arabian Peninsula, Catholic communities are mainly made up of migrant workers from various parts of the world, especially from India and the Philippines. These communities, although following different rites, are united under the same local Church.

An example of Catholicity that Pope Francis, during his visit to Abu Dhabi in 2019, described as a “joyful polyphony of faith”: “You who are here know the melody of the Gospel and follow its rhythm with enthusiasm. You are a choir made up of many nations, languages and rites; a diversity that the Holy Spirit loves and wants to harmonize more and more, to make a symphony. This joyful polyphony of faith is a witness that you give to everyone and that builds up the Church.”

The first resident Syro-Malabar priest arrived on the peninsula over thirty years ago. To date, there are about sixty priests in the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia alone, of whom thirteen belong to the Syro-Malabar rite. Five of them serve as parish priests in various parishes. The Syro-Malabar faithful represent about 5% of the Catholic population in this Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia.

ASIA/PAKISTAN - Protests suspended: situation in Islamabad remains tense

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 12:52:13 +0100

Islamabad - "Calm seems to have returned, the protests of Imran Khan's supporters have been suspended, but fear and tension are still felt among the people of Islamabad. It is like a fire smoldering under the ashes. One must think above all of the ordinary people who are already struggling with economic problems and are struggling to survive. The wave of protests and the lockdowns are exacerbating these difficulties. The situation in the city has not yet fully returned to normal, there is still fear and the police are on duty, while schools are still closed today", said Father Asif John Khokhar, Vicar General of the Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Pakistan, to Fides. The priest recalls that, given the massive popular demonstrations that lasted several days, "last Sunday, with a certain bitterness, we were unable to celebrate the Feast of Christ the King in Islamabad as usual: the city was under lockdown, the streets were blocked, the internet was down, schools were closed. People could no longer leave their homes."
"The Feast of Christ the King is a very important feast for our Catholic community," the priest continued, "and unfortunately we had to celebrate it without believers in the church. This situation also affected community life. We now hope that we can celebrate the first Sunday of Advent in peace. The Catholic community in Pakistan will pray for the common good of the country."
Pakistani police said they arrested around a thousand people during three days of protests following a march on the capital Islamabad in which protesters and activists from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party demanded the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been in prison since August last year. The protesters were dispersed from the city centre in a major operation by security forces, who used tear gas and batons.
Imran Khan, 72, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022, claims to be the victim of a conspiracy to prevent him from political activity and denies all allegations. Since February last year, after elections marred by irregularities, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has staged a series of demonstrations against the current government. The demonstration on November 26 in Islamabad was attended by more than ten thousand protesters who defied the lockdown and ban on rallies despite a massive presence of around 20,000 police officers.
Ali Nasir Rizvi, the chief inspector of Islamabad police, confirmed that a total of 954 protesters were arrested between Sunday and Tuesday, while one police officer was killed. PTI activists announced on social media that the protest was suspended "until further notice".
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke of "extremism", while the PTI lamented the "brutality of repression". Meanwhile, calls for dialogue are increasing, both from civil society organizations and political and religious leaders: "The country needs peace and stability," stresses Father Asif John Khokhar, "there are many families who are victims of the economic crisis and live in poverty.
On these issues, it would be important for all politicians to enter into dialogue and for legislators to make appropriate decisions to meet the needs of the poorest. The path of dialogue is always the right path."

AFRICA/CAMEROON - In the heart of Africa, missionaries consecrate a new Shrine dedicated to John Paul II

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 12:10:22 +0100

Yaoundé - "Evangelization today must be renewed in the sense that the rapid development of society brings with it new challenges similar to those experienced by some Churches in ancient times. It is therefore necessary to carry out, with often very limited means, a determined pastoral work that responds to this new type of problem," emphasized Pope John Paul II forty years ago during his Apostolic Visit to Cameroon. These words seem more prophetic today than ever when we consider the story of a group of Polish Marian missionaries, who have been working in Cameroon since 1999.

Inspired also by the words of their compatriot, in 2014 the Polish missionaries arrived in Minkama, a town in the diocese of Obala, where they first built a small chapel, the third of the Marians in Cameroon. The first was in Atok, the second in Ngoya, where the Congregation also opened a seminary.

Ten years after the construction of the first small church in Minkama, the Bishop of Obala, Sosthène Léopold Bayemi, was able to read the publication of the decree elevating the new church to the status of a sanctuary at the end of the rite of consecration of the altar of the new church dedicated to Saint John Paul II on the solemnity of Christ the King. The Marian Missionaries, who arrived in this part of Cameroon ten years ago, will manage the new structure.

The solemn consecration of the altar was attended by, among others, the Apostolic Nuncio in Cameroon, Archbishop Damase Zinga Atangana, the Bishop of the Diocese of Kribi, José Avelino Bettencourt, and Paul Lontsie-Keune, Bishop of the Diocese of Bafoussam. Also present were the Superior General of the Congregation of the Marians, Father Joseph Roesch , the Superior of the Polish Province of the Order, Father Eugeniusz Zarzeczny and several priests representing the Polish parishes that supported the construction of the new church.

The construction work was carried out, literally, by the parishioners themselves. Many of them work in a construction company. In the future, the premises will also be used by young people. Every year, during the holiday months, about 400 young people from the two large areas into which the huge parish area is divided come together to pray, take part in catechism and help where they are needed.

In recent years, thanks to the work of the missionaries, numerous social services have been launched in the parish, from helping single mothers to supporting people with low level of education.
To date, the parish, which covers an area of 1,100 square meters, has a total of 3,000 baptized Catholics.

Last Sunday's celebration, attended by dozens of people and preceded by moments of prayer and meditation, was also an opportunity for thanksgiving, as it marked four important anniversaries: 350 years since the foundation of the Congregation of the Marian Clerics of the Immaculate Conception, 25 years of their presence in Cameroon, the 10th anniversary of the canonization of Saint John Paul II and, as already mentioned, the 10th anniversary of the foundation of the parish of Minkama.

VATICAN/GENERAL AUDIENCE - Pope Francis: “Saint Philip Neri preached the Gospel through joy, be like him!”

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 10:57:41 +0100

Vatican City - A Christian should be like Saint Philip Neri, who was “in his time, a true evangelizer through joy”. This is what Pope Francis said during today's general audience, Wednesday, November 27.

The Pope continued the cycle of catechesis on the Holy Spirit and, having already dealt with sanctifying grace and the charisms, today he devoted himself to a “third reality” “linked to the action of the Holy Spirit: the “fruits of the Spirit”: the “fruits of the Spirit” listed by Saint Paul in the Letter to the Galatians : “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” .

Unlike the "charisms, which the Spirit gives to whom He wants and when He wants for the good of the Church, the fruits of the Spirit are the result of cooperation between grace and our freedom. Not everyone in the Church can be an apostle, not everyone can be a prophet, not everyone can be an evangelist, not everyone; but all of us, without distinction, can and must be charitable, patient, humble workers for peace, and so on," explained the Bishop of Rome, who then particularly emphasized joy.

The Pope quoted his Apostolic Exhortation "Evangelii Gaudium" several times and emphasized that "the joy of the Gospel, unlike any other joy" which does not last long, "can be renewed every day and become contagious. It is the dual characteristic of joy as fruit of the Spirit: not only is it not subject to the inevitable wear of time, but it multiplies when it is shared with others! A true joy is shared with others; it even spreads!", said Pope Francis.

In this context, Pope Francis recalled Saint Philip Neri, who lived in Rome and went down in history as the "Saint of Joy": "Saint Philip Neri had such love for God that at times it seemed his heart might burst in his chest. His joy was, in the fullest sense, a fruit of the Spirit. He was, in his time, a true evangelizer through joy."

" The word “Gospel” means glad tidings. Therefore, it cannot be communicated with a long face and sombre countenance, but with the joy of those who have found the hidden treasure and the precious pearl." Before the final blessing, Pope Francis announced that from next Wednesday the summary of the catechisms of the general audience will also be presented in Chinese, and the Pope concluded with an appeal for peace: "Let us not forget the tormented Ukrainian people," said Francis. "They suffer a great deal. And you children, young people, think of the children and young Ukrainians who suffer at this time, without heating, in a very hard, very severe winter. Pray for the Ukrainian children and young people. And let us also pray for peace in the Holy Land: Nazareth, Palestine, Israel… May there be peace. The people are suffering a lot. Let us pray for peace, all together".

AFRICA/DR CONGO - General tries to prevent the Archbishop of Lubumbashi from celebrating the Mass of Christ the King: "An illegal act against the Constitution"

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 13:41:23 +0100

Kinshasa - "An illegal order that the Archbishop of Lubumbashi did not follow," said the Archdiocese of Lubumbashi in a statement regarding the ban imposed by General Eddy Kapend Yrung, Commander of the 22nd Military Region, on the President of the Episcopal Conference of Congo and Archbishop of Lubumbashi, Fulgence Muteba Mugalu, from celebrating the Mass of Christ the King in the parish of "St. Sebastian" in the military camp of Vangu.
"The Archbishop was not intimidated by this illegal order, which is symptomatic of a blatant abuse of office, and went to St. Sebastian as planned for several days," the statement reads.
Archbishop Muteba was greeted by an "enthusiastic crowd of believers at the entrance to the church," the statement continued. The Archdiocese of Lubumbashi believes that the general's actions "violate the respect for religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution and the Framework Agreement between the Holy See and the Democratic Republic of Congo." This is already the second episode of tension between the Archdiocese of Lubumbashi and the Congolese military following the kidnapping of a seminarian in the interdiocesan seminary "Saint Paul" in Lubumbashi on November 18. The young man was taken away by soldiers under the command of a colonel in the courtyard of the seminary. The seminarian was released on the evening of the same day. According to the archdiocese, these incidents are linked to a land rights dispute over the concession of the seminary, which is repeatedly expropriated. "These acts are neither accidental nor the work of ordinary gangs, but are linked to the maneuvers of those who want to illegally appropriate Church land," said Archbishop Muteba, who recalled that the Church's rights to these properties have been recognized in several judgments since 1976.

VATICAN - The Pope's General Audience will also be in Chinese starting on Wednesday, December 4

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 13:36:22 +0100

Vatican City - The Chinese language will also resonate between the columns of St. Peter's Square or under the vaults of the Paul VI Hall on Wednesday mornings. Pope Francis has announced that starting from next Wednesday, December 4, the biblical passage and the summary of the catechesis will be read in Chinese to the crowd gathered to participate in the General Audience.

“Next Sunday Advent begins; it is a time of preparation for Christmas. And next week, with the Advent, the Chinese translation will also be here in the audience,” announced the Pontiff.

The decision announced today by Pope Francis demonstrates for the umpteenth time the affection and sensitivity of the Pontiff towards the Chinese people and the Church. Chinese Catholics are following the Pope's Magisterium with emotion and gratitude, broadcasting his homilies, speeches and catechesis on their websites, and will now be able to listen to and understand "in real time" the content of the Catechesis given by the Pope during the General Audience.

The Holy See wants to continue the constructive dialogue for the good of the Church and the Chinese people, as demonstrated by the provisional agreement that came into force in 2018 for the appointment of bishops. The agreement was extended for four years a month ago.

"I’m pleased with the dialogues with China. The results are good. Even for the appointment of bishops, things are progressing with goodwill. And for this reason I’ve spoken with the Secretariat of State, and I’m happy with how things are going," said the Pope on the return flight from the Apostolic Journey to Asia and Oceania speaking to journalists.

"As for China, I see China as an “ilusión” , meaning I would like to visit China. It’s a great country, and I admire and respect China. “It’s a country with an ancient culture, a capacity for dialogue to understand each other that goes beyond the different systems of government it has had,” he added on that occasion, stressing: “I believe China is a promise and a hope for the Church.”

For the Pontiff, in fact, the Chinese are a people of “great faith” and also “teachers of hope,” as he described them during an interview given to the Press Office of the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus. On that occasion, the Bishop of Rome reiterated his desire to go to the Shrine of Sheshan, near Shanghai: “In front of my office in the Casa Santa Marta I have the image of Our Lady of Sheshan.”

And not only that: in China, the Pope would like to “meet the local bishops and the people of God, who are so faithful. They have lived through so many things and have remained faithful. China is a great people that must not squander its heritage.”

On the contrary, “it must continue its heritage with patience.” Chinese is added to the seven other languages into which the Pope’s catecheses are already translated during the Wednesday Audience: French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Polish.

Fides Agency, founded in 1927 as a missionary information agency within the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, launched the first Catholic missionary bulletin in Chinese in May 1998, on the occasion of the opening of the continental synod on Asia. In August of the same year, the editors handed over to John Paul II the first bulletin printed in Chinese ideograms.

AFRICA/TOGO - Walking together in hope: new aspirants at the seminary of Lomé

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:51:04 +0100

Lomé - "I cannot give up my fetishes, but I want all my children to become Christians." Taking up the words of a priest of the traditional divinities in Akrassikro, Ivory Coast, Father Silvano Galli, who recently returned to the seminary of Lomé, where he is in charge of the year of preparation to enter the Society of African Missions, tells Fides about his approach to the new seminarians.

"This year there are seven aspirants - he writes -. They arrived on October 31 and I had the opportunity to meet them. Some aspects of their path have impressed me. Some of them have parents who follow the traditional religion, but have accepted that their son follows this new path. Several of these young people on the way were accompanied by diocesan priests. And it was these diocesan priests who referred them to the Society of African Missions, stressing the esteem, consideration, trust and appreciation that the SMA enjoys in the diocese and in the country.

“All the young people have a university education,” notes the missionary. “Some are already graduates, others have agreed to interrupt their university course to begin their new journey with our community.”

“Therefore, we are together on the journey. As the SMA basic document on formation underlines, we have in mind the four fundamental areas: the human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral dimensions. We want to prepare missionaries who have a strong and personal experience of God, with a secure identity, capable of dialoguing with the world of today, in all areas, without prejudice or fear.”

AFRICA/NAMIBIA - Namibia elects new Head of State and parliament

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:36:44 +0100

Windhoek - Namibia is holding elections for a new president and parliament today, November 27. The favorite for the highest office in the State is outgoing Vice President Ntumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, appointed by President Hage Geingob, who died suddenly in February this year. Nandi-Ndaitwah joined the ruling party in the early 1970s, the historic liberation movement WAPO , which fought for the country's independence from South Africa. A party that has governed the country since independence in 1990, but which now seems to have lost an important part of its electorate. In the last elections in 2019, SWAPO candidate Hage Geingob had received 56.3% of the vote, a sharp drop compared to the 2014 election, in which he had received 86.7% of the vote. The decline in support is linked to the strong economic and social inequality, the highest in the region and surpassed only by that of South Africa. Despite its wealth of natural resources, Namibia has high rates of poverty and unemployment , which mainly affects young people. And it is precisely these people who have turned their backs on SWAPO by voting for one of the twenty opposition parties that submitted lists for the parliamentary elections .
In addition to the Popular Democratic Movement , which emerged in 2017 from the pre-existing Democratc Turnhall Alliance, SWAPO's historical opponent , most of the other major opposition parties were also founded by politicians who emerged from SWAPO. These are the Landless People's Movement , founded in 2017 by Bernadus Swartbooi, which puts land reform at the heart of its programme, and the Independent Patriots for Change , founded in 2020 by Panduleni Itula, who ran as an independent candidate in the 2019 presidential election and came second with 29.4% of the vote. And finally, the left-wing formation Affirmative Repositioning Movement , which, like the Landless People's Movement, puts land reform and access to arable land at the heart of its programme, in a country where 70% of the agricultural land is in the hands of the white minority . In the run-up to the November elections, the Namibian bishops published a pastoral letter in May urging the faithful to vote. "Elections in constitutional and multiparty democracies such as Namibia offer citizens the opportunity to freely and democratically elect their representatives who according to the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia ‘shall regard themselves as servants of the people of Namibia and desist from any conduct by which they seek improperly to enrich themselves or alienate themselves from the people'," the bishops had warned. They called on politicians to address the country's pressing challenges such as unemployment, poverty, gender-based violence and corruption, stressing that their electoral programs should include concrete strategies to improve living conditions and promote the common good.

ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Cardinal Advincula's appeal: Prayer and sobriety to face political tensions

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:12:33 +0100

Manila - A heartfelt appeal for prayer and moderation in a political and social phase marked by tensions that could lead to a "political storm" in the Philippines comes today, November 27, from the Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal José Advincula, who expresses his deep concern that growing political tensions are diverting attention from the needs of the most vulnerable, especially the victims of the recent typhoons. The Cardinal called on the faithful to pray for the country's leaders "so that moderation may prevail in our country and that political issues and self-interest do not divide the nation". "We pray", he continued, "that politicians have the humility to listen to each other with respect and act together for the good of the country". In light of the events that are now seeing the clash at the top of the country and institutions between the political dynasties of Marcos and Duterte - allies until yesterday - the Archbishop of Manila also appeals to the leaders of civil society organizations to "work to prevent the escalation of political and personal conflicts". "Let us all pray for forgiveness and reconciliation and never doubt God's grace and love for his people," he added.
In his appeal, the Cardinal refers to the confrontation between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, which is heating up the political landscape of the Philippines and extending to the supporters of the two most powerful political families in the country. The Philippine Congress, composed mostly of members of the parties loyal to Marcos, has officially opened an investigation into alleged corruption related to the expenses of Sara Duterte in her capacity as Vice President and Minister of Education . Another investigation is looking at the thousands of killings linked to the so-called "war on drugs" against drug traffickers and addicts implemented during the presidency of Sara's father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. The escalation was also verbal: In mutual public accusations, Vice President Sara Duterte threatened to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. killed "if she herself is eliminated."
According to observers, the former president's daughter, who enjoys strong popular support, has sought to escalate the political confrontation in view of the mid-2025 midterm elections. Meanwhile, the rector of the Shrine of Saint Mary Queen of Peace, on Epifanio de Los Santos Avenue , Father Jerome Secillano, has recorded a massive and extraordinary influx of people to the important Marian shrine in recent days. The shrine has particular historical significance: it was built on the street where the non-violent popular revolution was organized in 1986 that deposed the dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., father of the current president. The many people who visited the shrine stayed for hours inside the shrine, often attending Mass twice in a row, some wearing white clothes. According to the rector, these are probably not "spontaneous visits", but there was a specific invitation to appear in front of the shrine, although it is not clear who promoted and organized this initiative.
"Whatever caused this sudden increase in the number of visitors to the shrine," said Father Secillano, he hopes that it will be done with "the utmost simplicity, prudence and spiritual depth."

VATICAN - Cardinal Ayuso Guixot dies: a life marked by mission and dialogue

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 10:52:57 +0100

Rome - The life of Spanish Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, who has died at the age of 72 in the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where he had been treated for cancer for some time, was marked by mission and dialogue.

His life was entirely dedicated to the mission. Ayuso Guixot lived and worked as a Comboni missionary in Egypt and Sudan and was the first missionary of the Congregation founded by Saint Daniel Comboni to be made a cardinal. After a long period of study and cultivating friendships with men and women of other religions, in 2019 he was appointed head of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

A Dicastery that he knew very well, having already been appointed Consultor to the Pontifical Council in 2007. In the same year, Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran was appointed President. Five years later, Benedict XVI appointed Ayuso Guixot to succeed Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata as Secretary of the Pontifical Council. At the end of the same year, he was appointed Representative of the Holy See to the Council of Parties and Founding Observer with the creation of the "King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue" , based in Vienna.

When the health of the then President of the Pontifical Council worsened, Pope Francis appointed Ayuso Guixot Titular Bishop of Luperciana in 2016 and consecrated him bishop in St. Peter's Basilica. Since then, Ayuso made a number of trips to all parts of the world, including on the many papal flights that have taken the Pope to countries where Christians are few and the majority belong to other religions.

"The most important thing is the will to dialogue. We should not be naive. It is a matter of gradually bringing dialogue into people's minds in order to build relationships," Ayuso said in an interview with the French magazine La Croix in 2020.

Cardinal Ayuso's vocation to dialogue has borne many fruits, especially in dialogue with Islamic communities. It is also thanks to the work and commitment of his dicastery that the Holy See was able to overcome the rupture with Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the authoritative academic-theological center of Sunni Islam. This was the beginning of a path that culminated in the historic "Document on Human Fraternity", signed in Abu Dhabi in February 2019 by Pope Francis and the Grand Iman Ahmed al-Tayyeb.

The reconciliation between the Holy See and Al-Azhar is also thanks to the personal commitment of Ayuso Guixot, who traveled to Egypt in February 2016 to bring the Grand Imam an invitation to visit the Vatican and meet with the Pope, and so, as Ayuso himself said in an interview with Fides published at the time, "to express our sincere desire to resume the cooperation that has never been interrupted on our part and to emphasize the importance of our collaboration for the common good of all humanity. We have also invited the Grand Imam to Rome for a meeting with the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, who will accompany the Grand Imam to a private audience with Pope Francis. Without insisting too much, we hope that such a meeting will take place soon". A few months later, Imam al Tayyeb flew to Rome and met the Pope on May 23. The rest is history.

Cardinal Ayuso Guixots’ funeral will take place on Wednesday 27 November in St. Peter's Basilica and will be presided over, as usual, by the Dean of the College of Cardinals in the presence of the Pope, who will preside only over the rite of the Ultima Commendatio and the Valedictio. The Cardinal's remains will then be transferred to Spain, to Seville, the city where he was born and raised, and will be buried there in the family chapel.

ASIA/IRAQ - Patriarch Sako appeals to all the "heirs" of the Church of the East: "Unity is the only way to face the current challenges"

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 15:11:38 +0100

Baghdad - "Even if we are facing different waves, we are all in the same boat," said the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church, Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, in a renewed call for unity to the four Eastern Churches: the Chaldean Catholic Church, the Assyrian Church of the East, the Ancient Eastern Church and the Assyrian Protestant Evangelical Church.

"Unity is the only solution to face the current challenges," stressed the Patriarch in an appeal published through the official communication channels of the Chaldean Patriarchate. “In the profession of its faith,” the text says, “the Church of the East continues for centuries and to this day to pray, despite the divisions: ‘I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church,’ because it is essentially ONE .”

For the cardinal, “the schism is against the will of Christ.” Indeed, “words cannot describe the magnitude of the consequences of the division of the Church of the East into four Churches,” and it is not excluded that “new Churches may emerge in the future.” For now, however, the first three “so-called separate” Churches “have a common history, a common tradition, a common rich heritage, a common beauty of art, language and liturgy, and they are close to each other, living in the same geographical area.”

But unity, Patriarch Sako emphasizes, "is not a return to what we were, but a focus on what we should be!" And in order to "heal the wounds of schism and pave the way" to "full communion", at least between the "three Churches", the Cardinal proposes six "ideas for study" for a "new vision" of the Church of the East.

"First and foremost", the Cardinal says, "a comprehensive and practical understanding of the unity sought is needed in order to direct all energies towards the realization of Christ's will to have one Church". "In this sense, we recall the joint declaration of the Roman Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East thirty years ago , which aims primarily to create a 'suitable environment' to strengthen dialogue on the path to full communion and full agreement in the doctrine of the faith," said Cardinal Sako, who noted the importance of keeping a distinction between matters concerning faith and morals and those concerning the disciplinary and administrative sphere, so to speak "between faith and morals."

Thirdly, "it is necessary to know the just and complete historical reasons for this division, with all its painful consequences," in order to approach the issue "with openness" and "far from preconceived judgments." The fourth proposal of the Patriarch is to open their own churches and places of worship to the brothers and sisters of the other ecclesial structures that have emerged from the Ancient Church of the East, "so that they can participate effectively in the sacraments recognized by the Catholic Church, since there are no dogmatic questions that stand in the way of unity."

The penultimate point is an invitation to the laity not to be guided by ethnic and nationalist identification, while the last point is an invitation to reflect on the "decline of the Christian population in Iraq." The events, Patriarch Sako stresses, "urge us to act together with evangelical zeal against atheists, the lack of interest in the practice of the faith and the scandal of ecclesial divisions."

"We were proud to be a synodal Church even then," able to "walk together and share responsibility for its mission," the Cardinal concluded, "unlike our situation today! That is why we should look to unity as the only solution to today's challenges."

AFRICA/UGANDA - Appointment of Bishop of Nebbi

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:52:34 +0100

Vatican City - The Holy Father has appointed the Rev. Fr. Constantine Rupiny, of the clergy of the diocese of Nebbi, currently Rector of the Uganda Martyrs’ National Major Seminary of Alokolum, in the Archdiocese of Gulu, as Bishop of the Diocese of Nebbi.
His Exc. Msgr. Constantine Rupiny was born on 10 November 1974 in Parombo, in the Diocese of Nebbi.
He studied philosophy at the Uganda Martyrs' National Major Seminary in Alokolum , and theology at the St. Mary's National Major Seminary in Ggaba .
He later obtained a licentiate in philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome and a Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology from the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Poland .
He was ordained a priest on August 28, 2004.
He has held the following positions: Parish Vicar of Kango ; Parish Priest of Akanyo ; Formator and Professor at the Uganda Martyrs’ National Major Seminary in Alokolum ; Vice President of the Presbyteral Council of Nebbi ; Vice Rector of the Uganda Martyrs’ National Major Seminary in Alokolum and, since September 2023, Rector of the eminary.

AFRICA/NIGERIA - Feast of Christ the King procession: two people die in stampede

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:45:16 +0100

Abuja - A tragic accident marked the feast of Christ the King in the southern Nigerian state of Aba.
The accident occurred on Sunday 25 November during the annual Christ the King procession at the Christ the King Catholic Church , when a stampede occurred, sweeping several people away. Two elderly women lost their lives while others were injured. On the occasion of the feast of Christ the King, many believers from all over the diocese of Abia gather at the Christ the King Parish to take part in the procession. According to witnesses, security forces had blocked the entrance to the church, causing the stampede, which caused several people to fall to the ground. An investigation into the tragic incident has now been launched.

AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - President Kiir meets bishops: "There is hope for peace"

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:22:20 +0100

Juba - There is hope for peace in South Sudan. This was announced by President Salva Kiir Mayardit during a meeting with a delegation of the country's bishops, which took place yesterday, November 25, at the end of the celebrations of the Eucharistic Congress and the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Church in South Sudan and Sudan.
"We know that the President is a man of peace and he informed us about the 'Tumaini' peace initiative," said the Archbishop of Juba, Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla. "He reiterated that the government delegation is now ready to travel to Nairobi to negotiate in order to achieve lasting peace in the country". The Tumaini Peace Initiative is a memorandum of understanding signed by the transitional government and the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance . These agreements stipulated that general elections would be held this year, but have been postponed to February 2027. At the end of its plenary assembly, the Bishops' Conference of Sudan and South Sudan expressed its concern about the progress of the peace process in South Sudan .
In a meeting with the bishops, President Kiir addressed their concerns and assured them that he would work for peace in South Sudan. The President and the bishops also addressed the crisis in neighboring Sudan, where the conflict between the warring parties has caused enormous human and material damage. Both President Kiir and the Catholic bishops called on the warring parties in Sudan to end the conflict and work towards a lasting peace.

ASIA/LEBANON - The Choir of Lea and war orphans: "Singing is our prayer for peace"

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:13:35 +0100

by Gianluca Frinchillucci

Beirut - Lea Akoury, widow of a soldier who died in 2007 during an anti-terrorism operation, has transformed her grief into strength and charity and founded an association that brings together Lebanese orphans, children of fallen soldiers, to express a message of peace and friendship.

"I was born in a Christian village surrounded by Muslim villages. When I met my husband, an officer in the Lebanese army, I discovered an extraordinary bond among his colleagues: what mattered was the person, not his religion," says Lea. After the death of her husband, she decided to help the families of these soldiers, not only Christian ones, by creating a community based on love and mutual aid.

"Our religion teaches us to love and help all people," she emphasizes, and "that is the message we want to convey, what the Church has taught us and what Pope Francis embodies: faith, hope, welcoming others. In this time, we need the presence of his voice for peace."

Since 2015, Lea has led a choir that was originally founded to remember the fathers of children and young people on Father's Day in Lebanon. Through singing, these young people overcome the trauma of loss and tell their story to the world. The choir project, which initially began with 80 children and young people singing in Arabic, has grown with the support of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the choir has also performed in France and Italy. The interdenominational choir brings together young people from different faiths and now sings in Arabic, Italian, English, French and Spanish.

In recent weeks, the choir is preparing for a trip to Italy, where 15 young people from different regions of Lebanon will perform at concerts in a Roman hospital and in Forlì. The choir is supported by Alessandro Salvi of the Order of the Knights of Malta, who has supported Lea's association for years and, among other things, enables Lebanese orphans to study in Italy.

"This trip is a symbol of resilience," explains Lea. "The children will travel dangerous roads to get to the airport, but the enthusiasm of those who are waiting for us in Italy gives us strength."

With the help of the Italian army, the children and young people have expanded their Italian repertoire, which represents not only an artistic challenge for them, but also a cultural bridge. "The Italian soldiers have become reference persons for the young people, a bit like the fathers they have lost," emphasizes Lea.

"In these times, it is more important than ever to sing for peace and say: Enough is enough! We deserve to live in peace. We have made so many sacrifices, experienced wars and suffering. Now it is time to rebuild our country with a strong state where everyone is equal before the law,” she stresses.

At one of the last concerts, Lea said: “Singing is our prayer for peace. Despite the pain in our hearts, we want to show that it is possible to bring a positive message to the world. Our children and young people not only sing, but also tell of their lives and the sacrifices of their fathers through music.”

Lebanon, once called the “jewel of the Middle East,” is today in a deep crisis.

“We live in fear and uncertainty and rely on providence,” admits Lea. “We are trapped in a dark tunnel, but we remain in our country with resilience.” Lea has experienced the tragedy of loss herself: her husband died in a clash with terrorists in a refugee camp, leaving her with four small children. "Singing helped us overcome the pain and turn it into a message to the world: we want peace!"

Singing, she says, "is like a prayer. It is our way of raising our voice and sending a message to the world: we have made so many sacrifices to live in peace. This is our wish and our prayer."

"Lebanon is a small country, but full of beauty and hospitality. We hope that our friends around the world can be our voice to help this country finally live in peace," says Lea.

The choir also brings with its music a strong testimony of friendship, resilience and faith that will hopefully radiate beyond borders and inspire hope for the future of Lebanon and the world.