Asia

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  17 March 2016
  ASIA/HONG KONG - More than 3,000 catechumens will be baptized during the Easter Vigil Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - "You have not only found the light, you also have to transform into light that illuminates the world", said Cardinal John Tong Hon, Bishop of Hong Kong, to the catechumens on the fourth Sunday ...
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  17 March 2016
  ASIA/THAILAND - The tragic odyssey of Pakistani Christian refugees in Thailand Bangkok (Agenzia Fides) – The escape of thousands of Pakistani Christians that left their homeland seeking refuge in Thailand continues. They escape from pressures, harassment, threats and reprisals. Due to the Pakista ...
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  17 March 2016
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - The Bishops: "Justice for the massacre in Lahore" Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – To bring to justice the perpetrators of the massacre that on 15 March 2015, following the explosion of two bombs in front of two churches in Youhanabad, Lahore district, killed 21 people and in ...
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  17 March 2016
  ASIA/QATAR - "Religious" TV channels are multiplying all over the Middle East Doha (Agenzia Fides) - The number of religious broadcasters throughout the Middle East has risen by 50 percent in just three years from 2011 to 2014, rising from 50 to 75 religious channels "free to air" (not encrypted). ...
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  17 March 2016
  ASIA/YEMEN - Bishop Hinder: still no news of the priest kidnapped after the massacre in Aden Aden (Agenzia Fides) - Almost two weeks after the massacre perpetrated by a terrorist commando in the nursing home in Aden (see Fides 04/03/2016), where four Missionaries of Charity along with 12 others were killed - the ...
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  16 March 2016
  ASIA/INDIA - The Day of the martyrs of Orissa will be celebrated on August 30 Bhubaneswar (Agenzia Fides) - The Church of the state of Orissa (Central India) will celebrate "Martyrs' Day" on August 30 every year. As Fides learns, this was established by the Regional Conference of Bishops of Orissa ...
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  16 March 2016
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Attacks on churches in Lahore: still no guilty Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - At what stage are the investigations into the attacks that a year ago marred two Christian churches in Lahore? On the first anniversary of the explosion in front of the Catholic church of St. Joh ...
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  16 March 2016
  ASIA/JORDAN - The Catholic Bishops of the Holy Land discuss the agreements still suspended between Israel and the Holy See Amman (Agenzia Fides) - There are also the relations between the Holy See, the local Churches and civil authorities in the list of topics on the agenda of the Assembly of the ordinary Catholic Bishops of the Holy Land (A ...
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  15 March 2016
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Anniversary of the attacks on churches in Lahore: faithful pray for peace Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - Faithful Christians, Catholics and Anglicans, recalled the first anniversary of the attacks, March 15 of 2015, against two churches in Youhanabad district, Lahore with liturgical celebrations. T ...
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  15 March 2016
  ASIA/MYANMAR - Still too many children recruited by armed forces Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - In 2012, Burma had agreed with the United Nations not to recruit minors among the militias. However, according to the local media, the Armed Forces of the Country did not respect the agreement. T ...
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  15 March 2016
  ASIA/MYANMAR - New President and Christian Vice president elected by Parliament Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - The Burmese Parliament elected U Kyaw Htin, historic leader of the "National League for Democracy" as the new President of the country, with 360 votes: U Kyaw Htin, trustworthy man of leader Aung ...
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  15 March 2016
  ASIA/IRAQ - Chaldean Patriarchate disavows the "Babylon Brigades": no armed militia is linked to the Church Baghdad (Agenzia Fides) - The Chaldean Church "has no connection, either direct or indirect, with the so-called Babylon Brigades, nor with any armed militia that presents itself as Christian". This was declared by Chalde ...
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  14 March 2016
  ASIA/IRAQ - Burning of Christian books in Mosul Mosul (Agenzia Fides) - The jihadists of the Islamic State (Daesh) have released via the internet a short video documenting the burning of Christian books in the area of Mosul. The images show a militant jihadist who thr ...
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  14 March 2016
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - New Mission of PIME in the suburbs Manila (Agenzia Fides) - St. Therese of the Child Jesus, a holy missionary, is the Patroness of the new Mission launched by the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) in the Philippines. The chosen location is ...
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  14 March 2016
  ASIA/SYRIA - Pax Christi International: fasting, prayer and concrete actions to be close to the Syrian people Brussels (Agenzia Fides) - The international movement Pax Christi International invites groups, communities, parishes and Christian families around the world to hold a day of solidarity with the Syrian people, to be expr ...