Fides News - English

AMERICA/BRAZIL - Nazareno Lanciotti, missionary and martyr, will be proclaimed Blessed

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 20:43:38 +0200

São Paulo – "We have come to kill you because you bother us too much." These were the last words Father Nazareno Lanciotti heard before he was shot dead in his rectory in Jauru, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, in February 2001. Twenty-four years later, Pope Francis, during an audience with the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, recognized his martyrdom.

The missionary of Roman origin, who for thirty years dedicated himself to proclaiming the Gospel in the forests and poorest regions of Brazil, and especially to protecting young people from the forms of slavery inflicted on them by pimps and drug traffickers, will therefore be proclaimed blessed.

Ordained a priest on June 29, 1966, at the age of 26, he held various pastoral roles in several parishes in Rome for five years. In 1972, after discovering Operation Mato Grosso, he chose, along with other young Italians, to dedicate himself to the mission. He left for South America and was entrusted with the care of the parish of Jauru, in the young diocese of Caceres, located in western Brazil, on the border with Bolivia.

"A difficult reality," as Father Enzo Gabrieli, postulator of the cause for canonization of Father Lanciotti, told Fides , because it was "made up of many communities scattered in the forest." He did not lose heart and on the back of a mule he reached what would become, thanks to his passion and faith, a garden city around the parish church of Our Lady of Pilar. His deep devotion to the Virgin Mary, the centrality of the Eucharist in his missionary work, and his devotion to the Pope were at the origin of his work in Jauru, which quickly became the center of diocesan activities.

Among his first actions, Father Nazareno decided to build a sanatorium: Jauru was a very poor village, and the missionary noticed that many mothers died during childbirth and many children lost their lives due to common illnesses. The nearest hospital was 200 kilometers away, but over time, this sanatorium became a true Catholic hospital that today operates within the national network.

To caring for the body, Father Nazareno added care for the spirit, beginning the construction of a parish center and several chapels in the forest to assist the many faithful scattered throughout the villages. Next to the parish church, several "peripheral cells" were created where prayers were held every day, even in the missionary's absence.

In 1987, he joined the Marian Movement of Priests and was appointed its national Director for Brazil the following year. In this capacity, he made frequent trips throughout Brazil to organize prayer cenacles with the Priests and families of the Movement.

In addition to building a home for the elderly, a school for younger people, and a minor Seminary , Lanciotti worked to curb the drug trade and prostitution. When the authorities decided to build a new dam to meet electricity needs, workers from all over Brazil and neighboring Bolivia flocked to the area. Drug and prostitution outlets proliferated. Every Saturday evening, he organized activities to entertain the young people and warn them of the dangers: "Eucharistic adoration, the rosary, and devotion to the Virgin will save you." These were words he also addressed to the workers who traveled daily to the dam construction site, passing through areas where drug traffickers ruled.

During those years, as the website of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints states, "strong tensions arose among members of a Masonic lodge, opposed to Father Nazareno's actions."

He had also met with his young people on the afternoon of February 11, when he was killed in odium fidei. He was aware of the danger he was facing, and that evening, as it was raining, he said: "These are the tears of Heaven for me." In one passage, with a veil of sadness, almost of premonition, he said to those who were with him: "When you look for me, you will always find me at the foot of the tabernacle." And that is precisely where he was buried after his death.

The martyrdom took place shortly after 9 p.m., when two men with covered faces burst into the rectory where the missionary was dining with his collaborators and some guests. Pointing a gun at those present, they demanded money and asked where the safe was. They threatened everyone to stage a robbery gone wrong. Father Nazareno reassured them; he had offered to help, and those present had laid everything they had on them on the table. But the killers had only one goal.

They themselves revealed that they had been sent by certain local figures who were annoyed by the actions of the Church and the missionary. They staged a game of Russian roulette, but the bullet exploded against Father Nazareno by surprise.

The two killers fled, leaving the money on the table. The local police, whose headquarters were a few hundred meters from the rectory, did not arrive on the scene until the next day. Father Lanciotti was first taken to the hospital in Cuiabá, then to the Syro-Lebanese Hospital in São Paulo, where he died on February 22, 2001, at the age of 61.

His last words were to forgive his killers. It was around 6:00 a.m. on February 22, 2001, when Father Nazareno Lanciotti died after ten days of agony. His murder, far from being an unsuccessful robbery, "proves to have been premeditated. There was a perverse system in place prior to the murder, to which his pastoral work was hindering," states the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, according to which "his murder immediately benefited from a solid and widespread reputation as a martyr, as well as a clear reputation for signs."

AFRICA/SOUTHAN - Assault on the Zamzam camp hosting more than 500,000 displaced people

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:14:18 +0200

Khartoum – “We have taken control of Zamzam to protect civilians and medical personnel and we are ready to receive convoys of humanitarian aid,” the militiamen of the Rapid Support Forces said in a statement announcing that they had captured the Zamzam refugee camp in North Darfur yesterday, 13 April.
Zamzam, which according to the United Nations is home to more than 500,000 refugees, is one of three large camps for displaced persons on the outskirts of El-Facher, the region's capital, which is under army control but has been surrounded by the RSF for two years.
According to a spokesman for the Sudan Liberation Movement , an armed group aligned with the SAF, led by Minni Arko Minawi, at least 450 people were killed in the assault on the camp, while other sources claim that at least 70,000 displaced people fled Zamzam.
The International Relief Organization , which manages the Zamzam camp, said the RSF attacked the camp perimeter on the evening of 11 April after shelling it for hours. According to the IRO, the militiamen destroyed hundreds of houses and the main market before attacking the field hospital, killing nine staff members, including a doctor. The Sudanese Doctors Network confirmed the killing of 10 members of the medical staff in North Darfur in the past two days, six of whom were killed by RSF forces in Zamzam camp, in addition to the killing of the director of the hospital in Um Kedda, another town attacked by the militants.

AFRICA/LIBERIA - Medical support for people with disabilities or in situations of extreme poverty

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:08:42 +0200

Foya - For some years now, the parish of St. John Vianney in Foya, a remote strip of land in Liberia, with the formation of a charitable group, has begun to support the medical expenses of those who are unable to do so, especially the disabled and people in extreme poverty. Fr. Lorenzo Snider, a priest of the Society of African Missions has been taking care of the community for the past few years and has launched a project that provides, among other things, medical visits and basic medicines for people with physical disabilities or in extreme poverty; supplies of basic medicines for people with epileptic disorders and treatment for other mental illnesses; powdered milk and peanut paste for malnourished children; and support for emergency surgery.

“From treatment for malaria, to infections, prenatal visits,” says the missionary, who is parish priest of St John Vianney. As we started to help, new scenarios opened up: people with epileptic seizures, unable to pay for their therapy of 20 cents a day, then malnourished children, due to the death of the mother because of post-natal problems or other situations. There are also those who present themselves to the parish with neglected sores due to poverty, which they have suffered perhaps for years or in some cases decades.”

If all goes well, explains Fr. Snider, 500 people a year will benefit from this support at the Foya Health Centre, followed by the SMA fathers, , at the hospital in Borma or the one in Gueckedou ; 20 people with epileptic disorders, 20 families with malnourished children.

ASIA/MYANMAR - Palm Sunday and Holy Week among the rubble: “Christ is among the displaced”

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:57:16 +0200

Mandalay - In Mandalay, Palm Sunday was celebrated among the rubble “as a sign of resilience and Christian joy in the midst of devastation and suffering,” says Fr. John Kyaw Thu Ya, parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, a historic church in the municipality of Yamethin, in the diocese of Mandalay, completely destroyed by the earthquake of 28 March. The parish priest wanted to gather the community and celebrate the Eucharist right in front of the rubble of the church, as a sign of faith and hope: “The church has been destroyed, but the faith of the baptised is firm, it is like the house founded on the rock”. It was a touching moment in the parishes wounded by the earthquake. Outside the churches, the priests of Mandalay tell Fides, the rites of Holy Week will be celebrated. The celebration of the Palms, full of ‘hosannas’, joy and acclamation to the ‘King of kings’ was a moment in which the faithful, all displaced, were able to find themselves, gather and renew their faith in Christ, both in the diocese of Mandalay and in the other affected areas.
As Fides learns, in the diocese of Myitkyina, capital of the state of Kachin, Bishop John Mung Ngawn La Sam, celebrated Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of St Columbun, encouraging the faithful “not to despair, not to seek the praise of men, but the will of God”. “Remember that the difficulties and adversities of today,” he said, “are the cross we bear with the Lord Jesus, who is a blessing”. “If we commit ourselves to walking according to God's will, we receive the grace of victory with the Lord Jesus at Easter. Not only will we receive a hundredfold blessings on earth, but we will also receive heavenly treasures.” “Whenever we see and carry the cross,” he continued, “let us remember that the Lord Jesus is on the cross and that in the midst of our suffering, the Lord Jesus is always with us. Christ is with us in the midst of our suffering in Mandalay, Sagaing and the pain of war. The Lord Jesus is with the internally displaced persons suffering today”.
In Yangon, an area less affected by the earthquake, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, during the celebration of the Eucharist on Palm Sunday in the cathedral, recalled that this celebration “expresses peace, joy, humility and hope”, inviting the faithful to “rejoice for the gift received from the Lord, salvation”.
The Cardinal dwelt on the figure of the lamb, “a humble creature, obedient to God's will: the people of Myanmar are called to take an example from that lamb,” he said. “Today, in a context of 'polycrisis' afflicting our country, we cry out to God and ask: why this suffering? Lord why do you not answer us? We do not know God's times, his mysterious plans. However, we know by faith that God's answer for us is the resurrection. We cling to Him amidst difficulties and uncertainty. We pray for unity and a future full of light”.
Melvin Aung, a Catholic youth from St Augustine's Church in Yangon recounts: “I went to church and prayed to the Lord Jesus that, as we raised our palms in remembrance of his entry into Jerusalem, he might enter into our lives, our hearts and our hopes. A light rain and a cool breeze made the moment of the Palm procession even more meaningful, as if nature itself joined in the peace of this holy day. We remembered in prayer all the people of Myanmar, tormented by struggles and difficulties. We prayed for peace and for the healing of our nation”.

AFRICA/CONGO RD - In war-torn Kivu the Bishop of Butembo-Beni urges the faithful not to lose faith

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:30:52 +0200

Kinshasa – “We must never lose faith, whatever happens to us. Even when everything seems dark, God never abandons us,” urged Msgr. Melchisédech Sikuli Paluku, Bishop of Butembo-Beni, during Palm Sunday Mass.
Msgr. Sikuli expressed his compassion for the often forgotten victims of the war in Kivu and called on Christians to become witnesses of hope, stating that “evil will not have the last word in history”.
The area of Butembo and Beni in North Kivu is still in the hands of the Congolese government, after M23 rebels captured the provincial capital, Goma .
The war in North and South Kivu continues sowing death and destruction. At least 50 people died in Goma on the night of 11-12 April in a series of fighting that affected some neighbourhoods in the western part of the city.
The M23 and the Congolese army accuse each other for the massacre of civilians. According to local sources, the fighting erupted when a group of Wazalendo attempted a raid to regain control of the city.
The problem of the control of the Wazalendo militiamen is also felt in the neighbouring province of South Kivu, whose capital, Bukavu, was conquered by the M23 in mid-February .
According to a report sent to Fides by the local civil society association ACMEJ in the areas of South Kivu not occupied by the M23, the inhabitants are worried by the indiscriminate shooting carried out by Wazalendo militiamen and government soldiers who have come to protect them from the rebels. The problem is especially felt in the Ruzizi and Uvira plains. “ACMEJ facilitators have contacted a number of sources in the Ruzizi and Uvira Plain: all of them say that firing by security forces or security officers must first be banned, while M23 and its allies and Rwandan soldiers have not yet arrived,” the report states. The shootings originate from disputes between the different forces that should be allies in fighting the M23. The ACMEJ makes two observations in this regard. The first is that there is a need to harmonize the different self-defence groups that have come to the area from other parts of the province. The second is that mutual mistrust between the defenders persists due to proven cases of defection especially among regular army soldiers in favour of the M23.

VATICAN - Palm Sunday, the Pope: like Simon of Cyrene, he who carries the cross of Christ shares his redemptive love

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 11:23:36 +0200

Vatican City – "Faced with the appalling injustice of evil, we never carry the cross of Christ in vain; on the contrary, it is the most tangible way for us to share in his redemptive love." Under a gray sky, in St. Peter's Square filled with pilgrims, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals, gave voice to the Pope by reading Pope Francis' homily for Palm Sunday, the day that marks the beginning of Holy Week.

The Pope, who is entering his fourth week of convalescence after being hospitalized for bilateral pneumonia, was absent from the ceremony, which began, as is tradition, with the blessing of olive and palm branches at the foot of the ancient obelisk in the center of St. Peter's Square. From there, the procession continued to the square, decorated with olive trees.

As last Sunday, at the end of the celebration, the Pope appeared unexpectedly on the square, greeted by long applause. "Happy Palm Sunday! Happy Holy Week!" These were the words spoken by the Pope, who, before returning to Casa Santa Marta, stopped to greet the Cardinals present and the authorities who had participated in the rite.

In his commentary on today's Gospel, that of the Passion according to Luke, Pope Francis, in the homily read by Cardinal Sandri, focused on the figure of Simon of Cyrene, the man who "while coming in from the countryside" was seized by the soldiers who then "laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus."

The Pope described this action of carrying the cross as "ambivalent" because the man from Cyrene "was forced to carry the cross: he did not help Jesus out of conviction, but out of coercion."
On the other hand, "he then becomes personally involved in the Lord’s passion," so that "Jesus’ cross becomes Simon’s cross. He was not the Simon, called Peter, who had promised to follow the Master at all times.

That Simon disappeared on the night of betrayal, even after he had exclaimed: “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death”. Yet the Master had clearly taught: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me”. Simon of Galilee spoke but did not act. Simon of Cyrene acts but does not speak. Between him and Jesus, there is no dialogue; not a single word is spoken. Between him and Jesus, there is only the wood of the cross."

"The cross of wood that Simon of Cyrene bore is the cross of Christ, who himself bore the sins of all humanity," the Pope emphasized, recalling that Christ carries the cross "for love of us, in obedience to the Father, he suffered with us and for us. It is precisely in this unexpected and astonishing way, Simon of Cyrene becomes part of the history of salvation, in which no one is a stranger, no one a foreigner."

And when "we see the great crowds of men and women whom hatred and violence are compelling to walk the road to Calvary, let us remember that God has made this road a place of redemption, for he walked it himself, giving his life for us. How many Simons of Cyrene are there in our own day, bearing the cross of Christ on their shoulders! Can we recognize them? Can we see the Lord in their faces, marred by the burden of war and deprivation?

Faced with the appalling injustice of evil, we never carry the cross of Christ in vain; on the contrary, it is the most tangible way for us to share in his redemptive love." Jesus’ passion "becomes compassion whenever we hold out our hand to those who feel they cannot go on, when we lift up those who have fallen, when we embrace those who are discouraged."

"In order to experience this great miracle of mercy, let us decide how we are meant to carry our own cross during this Holy Week: if not on our shoulders, in our hearts. And not only our cross, but also the cross of those who suffer all around us; perhaps even the cross of some unknown person whom chance — but is it really chance? — has placed on our way. Let us prepare for the Lord’s paschal mystery by becoming each of us, for one another, a Simon of Cyrene," the Pope concluded.

In the text of the reflection prepared for the recitation of the Angelus, released for the ninth consecutive Sunday only in written form, the Pontiff thanks all the faithful for their prayers on his behalf: "At this time of physical weakness, they help me to feel God's closeness, compassion and tenderness even more. I too am praying for you, and I ask you to entrust all those who suffer to the Lord together with me, especially those affected by war, poverty or natural disasters."

The Bishop of Rome then turned his thoughts to Santo Domingo: "May God receive in His peace the victims of the collapse of a building in Santo Domingo, and comfort their families." Then the appeal for peace, beginning with Africa: "The 15th of April will mark the second sad anniversary of the beginning of the conflict in Sudan, in which thousands have been killed and millions of families have been forced to flee their homes. The suffering of children, women and vulnerable people cries out to heaven and begs us to act. I renew my appeal to the parties involved, that they may end the violence and embark on paths of dialogue, and to the international community, so that the help needed may be provided to the populations.
And let us also remember Lebanon, where the tragic civil war began fifty years ago: with God's help, may it live in peace and prosperity."

"May peace come at last to martyred Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, the Democratic Republic of Congo, to Myanmar, to South Sudan. May Mary, Mother of Sorrows, obtain this grace for us and help us to live this Holy Week with faith," is the plea at the end of Pope Francis's text.

AFRICA/ETHIOPIA - A journey of hope in the East of Bale

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 15:47:29 +0200

Robe - "It all began when in Robe we saw how many people were fleeing the persistent drought in eastern Bale. Interested and concerned, we set out to find out what was happening there. We found an area where the climate scenarios were very different from those in the greener areas around Robe," said Teresa Zullo, a missionary from the Missionary Community of Villaregia, who, along with other missionaries from the Apostolic Prefecture of Robe, west of Bale, set out for the eastern part of the region.

"This area belongs to the Apostolic Prefecture of Robe, whose Apostolic Prefect is Fr. Angelo Antolini, Ofm Cap, and is equivalent to a third of Italy, although there is still no ecclesiastical presence there. We are close to the Somali region of Ethiopia; poverty is particularly serious here, exacerbated by the lack of roads, the isolation of many villages, and the difficulty of obtaining water and basic necessities," the missionary explained.

"In 2022, we began to explore this vast region of Ethiopia, located an average of 6-7 hours by car from the city of Robe, where, as mentioned above, there is virtually no Catholic presence. While there are occasional Orthodox and Protestant communities in the provincial capitals, the majority of the population is Muslim. Upon returning from our first trip, we felt a strong call to 'be' with this people and to offer not only material assistance, but a closeness based on listening, respect, and love," emphasizes Teresa Zullo.

"Our adventure began in March 2023, when we visited some villages in Seweyna province, bringing small quantities of essential goods to help combat the famine," Teresa continues. "Despite the many difficulties and limited aid, we were immediately welcomed with curiosity and sympathy by the village leaders and families. For us, this was a sign that we were on the right path: becoming neighbors and building fraternal relationships. In June 2023, the turning point came: Seweyna's Women and Children's Office asked us for help in combating 'barmatilee' , including female genital mutilation, which sadly affects more than 90% of the female population, and early marriage, which occurs in approximately 60% of cases. We immediately set to work, collecting and compiling materials, illustrations, and testimonies to prepare a training course in the Oromo language, initially aimed at village administration representatives. Thanks to the expertise of some friends and the Ethiopian Muslim Development Agency in Addis Ababa, we were able to further deepen our understanding of the Islamic perspective on these practices and discovered that they are not mentioned in the Quran or in the main Islamic sources, while they are called upon not to harm God's creation. We then further enriched our content by adapting it for secondary school girls and boys."

The missionaries reported that to date, four such training sessions have taken place in high schools: two in Gololcha Province and two in Laga Hidha Province. In addition, there are seven training sessions for administrative heads of some villages: three in Seweyna Province, two in Laga Hidha Province, and Dawe Sarar Province. "When word got out about our training sessions," Teresa adds, "the women's and children's offices in other provinces began to contact us: first Laga Hidha, which borders the Somalia region, then Gololcha, which is closer to Robe. With each new request, we improve the material and bring it to the public." Along with the training, they also brought some symbolic gifts: food, hygiene kits for the women, and exercise books for the children, especially at the beginning of the school year."

The report on this initiative continues with a visit to the Dawe Sarar province, which also borders the Somali region. "The situation here is even more complex. Some villages can only be reached by crossing part of the Somali region, which is why neither NGOs nor public institutions can easily access them," says Teresa. "However, the local social services asked us to reach out to these more remote areas. Guided by the desire to meet the people, we made friends with three villages, where we offered training to the representatives. In one of these villages, Hantutu, we stayed overnight for two days and were welcomed with great warmth by the residents: They even cooked a special meal for us. Among other things, they asked us for help with health insurance for some refugees who had settled on the outskirts of the village. It was a moving experience that gave us a better understanding of the receptiveness of these people, but also of the complexity of life in this area."

"Recently, Gololcha Province also asked us to visit 11 villages, including the village of the Warra Dubee, an indigenous people living along the Wabe Shebelle River, which forms the border of our prefecture and where such practices are widespread," the missionary continues. "Laga Hidha has also contacted us again: they want more training and more material support for the women . We are currently working primarily in the provinces of Dawe Sarar, Gololcha, and Laga Hidha, and we would like to further deepen our knowledge of this context and our activities. Of course, there are problems: the long distances, the lack of roads, the cost of fuel and vehicle maintenance, language barriers, limited funds and resources. But each time we return from a trip, the desire to build bridges of fraternity and solidarity grows within us."

Teresa concludes by emphasizing the special significance of the initiative. "Our journey in East Bale is not measured solely in numbers or statistics, but above all in relationships: men, women, and children who feel that someone is close to them, bringing them not only the bare necessities but also transmitting values such as respect, justice, and peace. When we see the smiles of the girls and boys who learn the importance of protecting their integrity, when we hear how the village leaders are working to change practices harmful to girls, we realize that this is the true miracle: a change that comes from the heart, even before the organization."

"East Bale is a place that touches the heart: we think of every person we have met, every handshake, every look of hope. The Lord leads us 'to the East' and teaches us each time how precious even the smallest step in fraternity is," the missionary concludes.

ASIA/INDIA - Erection of the ecclesiastical province of Calicut, India, and appointment of first metropolitan archbishop

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 15:30:59 +0200

Vatican City - The Holy Father has erected the ecclesiastical province of Calicut, India, elevating the see of Calicut to a metropolitan Church and assigning to it as suffragans the diocese of Kannur and Sultanpet, until now belonging to the ecclesiastical province of Verapoly.
The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal, until now bishop of Calicut, as metropolitan archbishop of the same See.

Link correlati :Statistical data of the new ecclesiastical province

ASIA/INDIA - Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Dumka

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 15:26:50 +0200

Vatican City - The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Sonatan Kisku, until now vicar general of the diocese of Dumka and parish priest of Saint Mary’s, as auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Dumka, India, assigning him the titular see of Zarna.
Msgr. Sonatan Kisku was born on 15 May 1969 in Kaudia, in the diocese of Dumka. He was ordained a priest for the same diocese on 15 April 2002. After attending Saint Paul’s Minor Seminary in Lucknow, he carried out his studies in philosophy at the Morning Star College in Calcutta, and in theology at the Papal Seminary in Pune. He was awarded a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Urbaniana University of Rome.
He has held the following offices: deputy parish priest of Torai , director of the Diocesan Vocation Centre , diocesan bursar , diocesan chancellor , chargé for legal affairs , chargé for the pastoral care of the Christian communities of Gopikandar , chargé for young priests , chargé for elderly and sick priests , vicar general , director of the Social Development Centre , secretary of Saint Joseph’s English Medium School , regional director of the Basic Ecclesial Communities of the region of Jharkhand and the Andaman Islands . Since 2023 he has served as parish priest of Saint Mary’s in Dumka.

ASIA/INDIA - Resignation and appointment of bishop of Simla and Chandigarh

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 15:24:40 +0200

Vatican City - The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Simla and Chandigarh, India, presented by Bishop Ignatius Loyola Ivan Mascarenhas.
The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Sahaya Thatheus Thomas, until now rector of the Holy Trinity Major Seminary in Jullundur, as bishop of the diocese of Simla and Chandigarh, India.
Msgr. Sahaya Thatheus Thomas was born on 6 November 1971 in Chinnavilai, in the diocese of Kottar, Tamil Nadu. After his formation at Saint Paul’s Minor Seminary, Lucknow, he studied philosophy and theology at the Holy Trinity Major Seminary in Jullundur. He obtained a licentiate in theology and a doctorate in sacred scripture at the Universität Wien, Austria. He was also awarded a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Punjab, in Patiala, and a master’s degree in human rights from the Indian Institute of Human RIghts in New Delhi.
He was ordained a priest on 13 May 2001.
He has held the following offices: parish assistant of Little Flower, in Panchkula , vice rector of the diocesan major seminary in Kauli , director of the Diocesan Commission for the Media and the Diocesan Bible Enquiry Centre , deputy parish priest in Schwechat, Austria , deputy parish priest in Retz in the metropolitan archdiocese of Vienna , and parish priest of Little Flower in Sangrur, Punjab . Since 2019 he has served as rector of the Holy Trinity Major Seminary in Jullundur.

Cardinal Parolin: A Christian perspective on the encounter between the Gospel and China

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 15:16:23 +0200

by Cardinal Pietro Parolin*

Vatican City - We publish Cardinal Pietro Parolin's preface to the book by the missionary and priest Antonio Sergianni, "The journey of the Gospel in China. In the footsteps of Father Matteo Ricci" . The book is a precious and passionate testimony to the adventure of Christianity in China, which was also born out of personal encounters with Chinese bishops, priests, and Catholic laity.
Father Sergianni , a spiritual son of Father Divo Barsotti, entered the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions as a young man and was ordained a priest in 1965. From 1980 to 2003, he served as a missionary in Taiwan, visiting several provinces of mainland China for long periods. He then worked for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, now the Dicastery for Evangelization, where he was responsible for the affairs of the Catholic Church in China.

***

There are many ways to look at China. And for a Christian, it is legitimate to look at China "in the light of the Word of God." Thus writes Father Antonio Sergianni, priest and missionary, at the beginning of this book, hinting at the source of the unique and incomparable power that permeates its pages.

Faith in Jesus Christ, as the Orthodox theologian Olivier Clément used to say, 'is not an anxious pietism of life.' Nor is it an idealism dedicated to imagining and building alternative worlds. Just as it recognizes that the Kingdom of God 'is not of this world, whose form is passing' , faith in Jesus Christ can, almost as a 'side effect,' out of grace and humility, also make our view of worldly affairs clearer and more penetrating. It can lead us to realistically grasp dynamics ignored by geopolitical analyses, factors disregarded by economic interpretations, which usually do not take into account the expectations of greatness and goodness that mysteriously vibrate in the history and life of peoples.

Dynamics and factors that today seem even more hidden and distant due to the global flow of media and communication in which we are all involved.

With his faithful gaze, Father Antonio captures the human greatness of the Chinese people's and Chinese civilization's journey through time, helping us grasp it in all its breadth. A dizzying greatness, a kind of mystery of History, with a continuity spanning more than a thousand years, which seems to cross and overcome the caesuras between historical epochs. A human entity without equal in its writing and forms of social organization, which has always assigned its authorities the task of mediating and ensuring the balance between human society and the natural order. This is a reality that inherited from the Confucian tradition the conviction of its universal mission, of the centrality and attraction of its civilization, and which now appears with renewed prominence on the world stage, arousing diverse reactions ranging from admiration to anxiety, from hostility to sympathy.

With the gaze of faith, Father Sergianni in his book glimpses a possible overlap between the Chinese reality, which pervades history as an unprecedented mystery, and another reality linked to a mystery of a different kind: the mystery that came into the world with the birth of Christ and gave birth to a people who pervade history until the end of time.

With the gaze of faith, Father Antonio traces all the historical periods that have marked the encounter between the proclamation of Christ and China, from the arrival of the monks of the ancient Church of the East on Chinese soil in the first centuries of Christianity to the present day. With historical clarity and, at the same time, moving compassion, the author traces the golden thread of the encounters between the "mystery" of China and the Christian mystery that have so often occurred during this long adventure. This golden thread mysteriously interweaves failures and new beginnings, missed opportunities and new beginnings, tribulations and moments of grace. Each passage seems like a deposit and promise of something great that will soon unfold. Already now, and yet not yet.

In the final stretch of the journey of the last decades, the gaze of faith with which Father Sergianni looks at history, at China, and at faith in China, becomes above all the gaze of a witness. One can say that the power, the intimate strength of this book, comes from the fact that it is, first and foremost, a testimony of Christian love. The pages in which he casually recounts his encounters and his long-standing bond with Chinese brothers and sisters in faith - bishops, priests, nuns, lay men and women - allow the reason and source of this love to shine through. Along his life's journey, his love for Christ was strengthened and embraced by encounters with Chinese Catholic brothers and sisters. His love for Jesus was grateful, even to the point of shedding tears, when he saw what Jesus himself was doing among them. Among people who performed simple tasks during the time of tribulation and carried bricks down the river for years. Like the priest who told him how he was mistreated because he did not know how to "clean the toilets," and how, precisely in such moments, he "felt the risen Jesus Christ at my side, a great peace, and the desire to sing."

Because of this vision of faith and his love for Chinese Catholics, Father Antonio also appropriately and objectively documents the concern of the Popes and the Apostolic See for the affairs of the Church in China. His account of the papal interventions regarding the proclamation of the Gospel in China, from Benedict XV to Pope Francis, testifies to the consistency of the criteria followed by the Bishops of Rome in various circumstances, who have always acted in fidelity to the apostolic nature of the Church, preserving the treasure of communion even in times of trial.

The documentation compiled by Father Sergianni in the appendix to this volume is a valuable and useful tool for all those who wish to retrace, in an objective yet passionate way, the most important stages of the unparalleled journey of the Chinese Catholic community in recent decades, beginning with the proclamation of the People's Republic of China.

With his book, Father Sergianni clarifies what Pope Francis said: Even in times of patience and trial, "the Lord in China has preserved the faith of the People of God on this journey." And today, Chinese Catholics, fully Catholic and fully Chinese, "in communion with the Bishop of Rome, are moving forward in the present age. In the context in which they live, they also bear witness to their faith through works of mercy and charity, and in their witness they make a genuine contribution to the harmony of social coexistence, to the building of our common home" .

In the daily life of the "small remnant" of Chinese Catholics, with all their human limitations and poverty, this encounter takes place between the mystery of Christ's efficacious grace and the historical events of Chinese reality, which Father Antonio describes in his book. From this interconnectedness, gifts can be released for all. This encounter, too, can mysteriously contribute to ensuring that the breath and longing for greatness of the Chinese people and all other peoples do not become closed in on themselves and fuel fears with endless wars, but are channeled toward paths of peace that promote encounters and paths of fraternity, of fraternal coexistence between different peoples.

For all these reasons, we must thank Father Sergianni for the gift of this book.

*Vatican's Secretary of State

ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Farewell to Bishop René Dupont. 71 years on mission "With joy and without shame"

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:55:56 +0200

by Pascale Rizk

Andong – René-Marie Albert Dupont, Bishop Emeritus of Andong and missionary of the Society for Foreign Missions of Paris for 71 years in South Korea, has died at the age of 96. His passing occurred at 7:47 p.m. on April 10 in a hospital in Andong, located about 190 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in the province of North Gyeongsang, where he had been hospitalized following emergency surgery for a stroke that had occurred a few days earlier.

Born in Saint-Jean-le-Blanc in the Loiret department, in the Centre-Val de Loire region, on September 2, 1929, Dupont was the second of five children, and the priesthood had been one of his dreams since childhood. Growing up in a farming family, farmers' welfare and rights were always very important issues for him, and he undertook numerous initiatives during his decades of pastoral service in the Diocese of Andong.

After studying in France, he entered the seminary of the Foreign Missions in Paris and arrived in Rome in 1950 to continue his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Ordained a priest on June 29, 1953, he completed his studies in Rome before being sent to Korea as a missionary on October 27, 1954, approximately one year after the end of the Korean War. Upon arriving in Korea, as was customary, he adopted the Korean name 두봉 .

His pastoral service began in the Diocese of Daejon, where he remained from 1955 to 1967. Alongside his position as vicar of the Daejeon Cathedral Parish, Bishop Dupont served as chancellor of the diocese for several years. He later became Regional Superior of the MEP in Korea, a position he held for one year.

When, on May 29, 1969, Pope Paul VI established the Diocese of Andong - in northern Gyeongbuk Province - by dividing it from the Archdiocese of Daegu, he appointed René Dupont, then 39 years old, as its first bishop. He led this diocese for 20 years. His resignation was accepted on the fourth attempt, in 1990, at which time he retired to Haengju, a parish in the Diocese of Neunggok, on the outskirts of Seoul.

In 2004, he returned to live in the Diocese of Andong, dedicating his time to preaching at spiritual retreats and giving lectures both in parishes and with various non-denominational organizations, while also rekindling his love of gardening.

Among the various awards he received during his life are: Chevalier of the Legion of Honor of France in 1982, the Manhae Prize in 2012 in Korea, the Diploma of Honor from the President of the Republic of Korea, and the Baegnam Prize for his commitment to human rights in 2019.
His main writings are: "The Compassion of Human Beings" and "The Most Wonderful Life" .

Since his arrival in Korea in 1954 after the end of the war, Monsignor Dupont was a great inspiration for his authentic and encouraging presence in Korea. He has lived through the country's most difficult and darkest times, characterized by economic poverty, a series of political and social ups and downs, and also by great changes. He worked for social justice with great dedication and pastoral commitment, sharing the suffering of the people.

In 2019, despite the country's policy against dual nationality, he was granted Korean citizenship, as a sign of the high esteem in which the country held him.

On April 14, at 11:00 a.m., the Mokseong-dong Cathedral in the Diocese of Andong will host a final farewell to the last Korean bishop of French origin who served from 1969 to 1990 in the region, recently affected by devastating fires.

Although at the time of his consecration, Bishop Dupont had not chosen a motto or coat of arms because it was not mandatory, he will always be remembered as a simple and humble man who served his mission land, South Korea, with great love "with joy and without shame"; words that summarize the spirit with which he accompanied, protected, and fostered the growth of his diocese.

AFRICA/SUDAN - First hearing before the International Criminal Court on allegations of genocide in Darfur

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 12:12:32 +0200

Khartoum – The government of the United Arab Emirates described as a "campaign of lies and slander" the accusations made yesterday, April 10, by the Sudanese government at the first hearing before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, alleging that the Emirates is complicit in the genocide committed by the Rapid Support Forces against the Massalit population in West Darfur .
On March 6, 2025, Sudan filed a lawsuit against the United Arab Emirates before the International Court of Justice, accusing it of violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide by supporting the RSF.
"The genocide is directed against the Massalit ethnic group in the west of our country. The Massalit are a non-Arab African ethnic group. The genocide against the ethnic Massalit is being perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces , composed primarily of Arabs from Darfur and supported by the United Arab Emirates," said Muawia Osman Mohamed Khair, the acting Minister of Justice, representing the Sudanese government, in his opening remarks at the hearing.
The accusations of the government led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan center on cargo plane flights from UAE airports to Chad.
According to the Sudanese, they are transporting military equipment for the RSF; according to the UAE, they are carrying humanitarian aid for the Sudanese population .
To support their accusations, the Sudanese have also circulated images of weapons and ammunition allegedly originating from the arsenals of the United Arab Emirates and owned by the RSF.
Regarding the accusations of genocide against the ethnic Massalit, it should be taken into account that the RSF is part of the so-called Janjaweed militia, a pro-government militia that was involved in the conflict in Darfur in the early 2000s in support of the regular army and has already been blamed for atrocities against the non-Arab population of the region .
As the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan "Hemeti" Dagalo, these militias initially joined forces with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's SAF in 2021 to carry out the military coup that brought an end to the transitional civilian government .
Subsequently, Dagalo and al-Burhan quarreled over the division of power, igniting open conflict on April 15, 2023 . A war in which both sides committed atrocities. The SAF is also accused of war crimes, in particular the indiscriminate bombing of civilians and the arbitrary detention of individuals.

ASIA/MYANMAR - Catholic Church in Chin State destroyed by airstrike

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 11:13:32 +0200

Hakha - Airstrikes by the Burmese army have destroyed the Catholic Church of Christ the King in the town of Falam, in the Diocese of Hakha, part of the Burmese state of Chin, in northwestern Myanmar. According to Fides sources in the Diocese of Hakha, in an area where electricity and telephone lines are down or interrupted, the roof of the church and its interior are devastated, while the walls of the building are still standing.
The church was a new structure, built with painstaking effort and sacrifice in recent years to meet the needs of the approximately 1,000 faithful Catholic community in the area. It was finally consecrated in November 2023 last year, replacing the small chapel that had existed for 75 years. The community rejoiced to have found a place to pray and celebrate the sacraments in the midst of the civil war, an oasis of spirituality amidst the violence. "There is now great sadness in the community, but also a desire and determination to rebuild," the source said.
The April 8 bombing of the church was part of the clashes over the town of Falan, which has been the subject of nine months of fighting between the army, which controls the town, and the Chinland Defense Force , a local militia that emerged in Chin State in opposition to the military junta. CDF fighters surrounded the town, forced the army to flee after fierce fighting, and took control of Falan. At this point, as in so many other conflict scenarios in other Burmese regions, the army began bombing the town from the air or with artillery, and these bombings indiscriminately hit homes, public buildings, and places of worship, including the Church of Christ the King.
In the same context, a 36-year-old Protestant Christian pastor and two children were killed by shelling in Pwi, in the municipality of Mindat. Another man and a woman were among the victims. Nine other people were injured in the attack, and 10 buildings, including the village's Christian church, were destroyed.
Last February, the Burmese army carried out an aerial attack and damaged the Catholic Sacred Heart Church in Mindat, also in Chin State . The church was to become the cathedral of the newly founded Diocese of Mindat, established by Pope Francis on January 25 of this year.
According to the Human Rights Organization of Chin State, at least 107 religious buildings, including 67 churches, were destroyed in Chin State in 2021 by army bombing during the civil war.

ASIA/KAZAKHSTAN - “We have to be a bit like children”: Sister Irena’s mission in the villages around Almaty

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 18:04:58 +0200

Almaty - "First saints, then missionaries," Saint Giuseppe Allamano, founder of the Congregations of the Consolata Missionaries and Missionary Sisters, used to say. And that is the first gift we should ask for every day, says Sister Irena Candida De Alberto Solomone, originally from Africa, who, for three years, has been proclaiming the Gospel with four other sisters in the outskirts of Almaty, Kazakhstan's most populous city.

Kazakhstan, a crossroads of peoples and cultures in the heart of Asia, is a young country, as young as its Catholic community. A small flock that coexists peacefully with other faith communities .

The current parish in Kazakhstan "is a parish composed primarily of the descendants of immigrants from Europe. But gradually, people born here are also asking to become part of the community".

Sister Irena is originally from Mozambique, where her vocation matured, as she tells Fides: "It is difficult to explain exactly how my vocation was born. Since childhood, when I attended catechism classes and, above all, prepared for the sacrament of Confirmation, I understood that Jesus is a person to be loved. With Confirmation, one becomes an active part of the Church, and every baptized person must assume responsibility. That is why, immediately after my Confirmation, I became a catechist in my parish."

At the time, Irena was 16 years old and had realized that "the Church is the place where one can fully live one's faith. Like the other girls, I went to school, played basketball, and practiced dancing. But I felt a growing desire to give my life to God. After high school, at the age of 19, I decided to join the Consolata Missionary Sisters. In 1993, at the age of 24, I became a nun."

During these years, Irena also made the decision to go as a missionary "far from home, outside of Mozambique."

The Congregation of the Consolata Missionary Sisters provides for a period of several years before receiving the mandate: "My first destination was Italy, then I received the mandate and was initially destined for the United States of America. I lived there for 17 years." In 2017, her destination changed: Asia. Sister Irena lived in Afghanistan for several years, then in 2022 she moved to the steppes of Kazakhstan: "I did not expect this. The Congregation's project is to expand the missions, that is, to spread the Gospel where Christ is not yet known, where the Church is not yet developed."

But what does it mean to proclaim the Gospel in a country where the vast majority of the population belongs to another religion? For Sister Irena, it is "a precious opportunity," because the charism of the Consolata Missionary Sisters is precisely to "reach those places and people where the Church's presence is lacking, where there is a need to hear the Good News."

"The best attitude," adds the missionary sister, "is to have an open heart and an open mind. Since arriving here, we have realized that we have to be a bit like children. That means we have to start our lives a little bit anew: from studying the local language to exploring the places and culture of this country. This already leads us to the encounter with the Kazakh people. A people made up of many ethnic groups, but all with open hearts and open minds." All activities "must take place on the church grounds. But they allow us to keep our facilities open. And that is a blessing in itself."

The community of sisters to which Irena belongs is also multi-ethnic, like the context in which the sisters are called to live their missionary vocation: Sister Irena lives with Sister Claudia from Colombia, Sister Dorota from Poland, and Sister Argentina from Mozambique. They are accompanied by two priests, Father Simon from Poland and Father Ladislaus from Korea.

There are a total of seven villages around the city of Almaty where the Consolata Missionary Sisters work. And in Almaty, according to Sister Irena, "the government organizes many interfaith meetings. Father Simon often participates in these events so that we can maintain peaceful relations with everyone."

The Diocese of Almaty covers a total area of 711,600 km² and has 11 parishes. Of the 7,350,240 inhabitants, 42,000 are Catholics . In the village of Janashari, "we have a playground and a facility that can accommodate about 20 people." And even this playground, where people of other religions come together, becomes a place of encounter and dialogue for us."

"And today," adds the missionary sister, "we have some seminarians who will soon be ordained deacons." And the veneration of saints or the Virgin Mary "has also begun to spread. That is beautiful, and we are only at the beginning."

AFRICA/SUDAN - General al-Burhan launches full-scale diplomatic offensive

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:14:50 +0200

Khartoum – As the war in Sudan continues, the diplomatic activism of the government headed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sudanese Armed Forces , is intensifying. This April 10, the International Court of Justice is holding a session to hear the appeal filed by Sudan against the United Arab Emirates . The case revolves around alleged violations of the Genocide Convention, particularly with regard to the Masalit ethnic group in West Darfur.

According to al-Burhan's government, the Emirates are complicit in the crimes committed against civilians by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces , led by Mohamed Hamdan "Hemeti" Dagalo, by providing them with logistical and financial support.

As part of international efforts to halt the conflict that erupted on April 15, 2023, the United Kingdom will host a diplomatic conference in London on April 15. This conference will be attended by some twenty countries and international organizations—including France, Germany, Kenya, and the UAE, but not the two parties in conflict. This exclusion has been harshly criticized by Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Yusuf, who sent a letter of protest to his British counterpart, David Lamy, calling it an "obstacle to peace efforts." He also questions the participation of countries such as Chad and Kenya, which he called "actors involved in the conflict."

Despite the tensions, General al-Burhan met on April 9 in Port Sudan with the British Special Envoy for Sudan, Richard Crowder, who assured him that the conference's objective is to promote peace and alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people, without "imposing external solutions."

This was not the only significant diplomatic meeting for the Sudanese leader in recent days. Al-Burhan also received the heads of the intelligence services of Egypt and Mali. At the same time, Minister Ali Yusuf participated in a ministerial meeting of the Khartoum Process in Cairo on April 9, where he reaffirmed the country's commitment to the fight against illegal immigration. Launched in 2014, the Khartoum Process promotes international cooperation against human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and has expanded its scope to include initiatives for legal migration, development, and regional peace.

Finally, according to Sudanese press sources, Lieutenant General Sadiq Ismail, al-Burhan's special envoy, made a secret visit to Israel last week. The objective was reportedly to improve al-Burhan's image with the new US administration and to coordinate actions with Israeli officials in the face of the growing tensions between the UAE, al-Burhan, and the SAF. The envoy reportedly stressed that the recent resumption of relations with Iran responds to the urgent need for military support, given Sudan's international isolation.

AFRICA/ETHIOPIA - Apostolic Vicar of Harar: "We have no news of Father Habtewold, who was kidnapped on March 23, and my priests and I are very worried"

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:06:04 +0200

Harar - "None of the kidnappers ever contacted me or my priests, and as far as I know from what my priests have told me, the kidnappers contacted the family the day after the kidnapping," Bishop Angelo Pagano, Ofm Cap., Apostolic Vicar of Harar, told Fides about the news circulating about Father Habtewold's kidnapping.

"What I can say," the prelate continued, "is that on March 23, when he returned to the rectory, he was reportedly kidnapped with other people. I learned this personally from one of my priests. To date, he has not returned home."

"The bishop has not paid any ransom. I do not know how much the kidnappers demanded and how much the family managed to collect and hand over, because I repeat, no one has contacted me. The only thing I know for sure is that the priest has not yet returned to his usual place of residence, and both my priests and I are very worried," the Apostolic Vicar concluded.

VATICAN/GENERAL AUDIENCE - Pope Francis: Jesus' love is free

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 13:42:43 +0200

Vatican City - Eternal life is not "an inheritance, something that is obtained by right", but Jesus' "free love." Pope Francis recalled this during his third week of convalescence at Santa Marta in the Vatican. He published the text of the catechesis prepared for the General Audience that the Pontiff was supposed to preside over today.

Continuing the cycle of catecheses dedicated to the life of Jesus, read in the light of Jubilee themes, the Bishop of Rome continued the series of reflections on the encounters that took place between Christ and the figures of his time narrated in the Gospels, focusing today on the encounter with the rich young man. This is, we read in the text of the catechesis, a person who "has no name. The evangelist Mark presents him simply as “a man” who has observed the commandments ever since his youth but who, despite this, has not yet found the meaning of his life. He is searching for it."

The Pope compared the choices made by this person to a ship about to set sail for the open sea: "It can be a wonderful ship, with an exceptional crew, but if it does not pull up the ballast and the anchors that hold it down, it will never manage to depart. This man has made himself a luxurious ship, but he has stayed in the port!!".

Yet it is he who "runs to meet" Jesus. But in the dialogue, the Pontiff observed, the verbs he uses are linked to duty: "What is striking is that this man does not know the vocabulary of gratuitousness! Everything seems to be owed. Everything is a duty. Eternal life is for him an inheritance, something that is obtained by right, through meticulous observance of commitments. But in a life lived in this way, although certainly for good purpose, what space can love have?".

In the face of "his fine resume", the verb that the evangelist Mark uses "is very significant: “looking at him”. Precisely because Jesus looks within each one of us, He loves us as we truly are. Indeed, what will He have seen inside this person? What does Jesus see when He looks within every one of us and loves us, despite our distractions and our sins? He sees our fragility, but also our desire to be loved as we are". Jesus’ love is gratuitous: exactly the opposite of the logic of merit that has beset this person", the Pope added.

"The proposal Jesus makes to this man is to change his way of living and relating with God" because "he recognizes that inside him, as in all of us, something is lacking", or "the desire we carry in our heart to be loved. There is a wound that belongs to us as human beings, the wound through which love passes". And to overcome this lack, the Pontiff noted, "we do not need to “buy” recognition, affection, consideration: instead, we need to “sell off” everything that weighs us down, to make our hearts freer. There is no need to continue to take for ourselves, but rather to give to the poor, to provide, to share."

The other invitation is "not to stay alone. Jesus invites him to follow Him, to be within a bond, to live a relationship. Indeed, only in this way will it be possible to emerge from his anonymity. We can hear our name only within a relationship, in which someone calls us. If we remain alone, we will never hear our name spoken, and will continue to be that “man”, anonymous. Perhaps today, precisely because we live in a culture of self-sufficiency and individualism, we find ourselves more unhappy because we no longer hear our name spoken by someone who loves us freely." And yet "this man does not accept Jesus’ invitation and stays alone, because the ballast of his life keeps him in the port. His sadness is the sign that he has not managed to leave. At times, what we think are riches are instead only burdens that are holding us back", he concluded.

AFRICA/ANGOLA - Missionaries in the Terreiro community: "We must break existing patterns"

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 13:17:32 +0200

Bengo - "We have been without electricity for a month. ...The generator only works for a few hours in the evening," says Father Martino Bonazzetti of the Society of African Missions.

"But even amidst obstacles and unforeseen events, there is always hope and joy, because the most important thing is not to give up," writes the missionary, who lives and works in the parish of Desvio da Barra do Dande and returned to Italy a few days ago for a short period.

"We are currently finishing the cistern on the roof of the church, which will be fed by rain and will be used for the kindergarten and community activities in Terreiro. We have launched a cooking and baking class to motivate women and young people. One thing leads to another..." These are some of the various projects carried out by the missionaries in the community in Terreiro, "inspired by faith but also by ingenuity." "The schools are also being visited by children and young people who have not been able to attend classes until now," the missionary continued.

"Now is a time of pause for me," the missionary continued. "The fact of returning to Italy pushed me to finish several things. For example, we are in the process of completing the mill house for maize and cassava flour. Everything is finished, and we hope to harvest the maize later, as it has hardly rained this year. The mill is here, and we hope it works! A young man working as a bricklayer on the construction of the mill told me that a group of women has already asked when it will be operational. This means that we no longer have to travel all the way to Desvio to make flour... and that means we save money because we do not have to pay for the trip! It exists, so it should work."

"In Angola, we are moving forward with experience, breaking with rigid and existing patterns. And there is always something that surprises us," Father Martino concludes, "and the most important thing is the faith of the common people."

AFRICA/NIGERIA - Resignation of bishop of Port Harcourt

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 13:06:42 +0200

Vatican City - The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, presented by Bishop Camillus Archibong Etokudoh.Il Santo Padre ha accettato la rinuncia al governo pastorale della Diocesi di Port Harcourt presentata da S.E. Mons. Camillus Archibong Etokudoh.