Fides News - English

AFRICA/DR CONGO - Chaplain and nuns prevent Bukavu prison from burning down completely

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:49 +0100

Kinshasa - "It is thanks to the chaplain and some nuns that the prison was not completely burned down," reports a source from the local Church in Bukavu, the capital of the Congolese province of South Kivu, which fell into the hands of the M23 militias on February 16 .
"On Saturday, February 15, as the M23 approached, the city was looted by fleeing FARDC soldiers, pro-government Wazalendo militiamen and local youth," reports the source, who asked not to be identified. "The prison was also the target of looting, although it is unclear whether it was by outsiders and/or by the inmates themselves, who set fire to the prison before escaping. Only the intervention of the chaplain, assisted by some nuns, prevented the flames from completely destroying the prison. The prison chapel was also looted, but the priest managed to prevent its complete destruction."
Our source reports that "Bukavu is coming back to life. People have taken to the streets to clear away the garbage left by the looting of the past few days. Business has resumed and schools are expected to reopen next Monday. It is not known when or if the banks will reopen, we are awaiting instructions from Kinshasa. It is hoped that they will be able to reopen soon, as they are essential for trade."
"We are also awaiting the instructions that the 'new authorities' intend to give the population in the next few days," the source continued.
"The city now seems safe. The clashes and looting have stopped.
"The M23 militiamen have little presence in Bukavu; most of their troops are on their way to Uvira, which will probably fall today. The regular FARDC soldiers left the city yesterday. Only the "Wazalendo fighters, who in recent days clashed with the FARDC soldiers who asked them to hand over their weapons, remain in Uvira ."
"Another direction of march for the M23 is west, towards Urega, where gold has been mined since colonial times. They are still about 80 kilometers from the gold mines, but it is only a matter of time before this area also falls into their hands," concludes the Fides source.
Meanwhile, in North Kivu, the M23 is advancing towards Butembo, another important center of the province after Goma, the capital captured at the end of January.

ASIA/HOLY LAND - The Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem back Armenian Patriarchate in the face of threat of confiscation of Church property

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:29 +0100

Jerusalem - " If one member suffers, all suffer together", say the Patriarchs and Heads of the Christian Churches of Jerusalem, quoting St. Paul from the First Letter to the Corinthians, in order to maintain their fraternal bond with the Armenian Patriarchate of the Holy City, after the Municipality of Jerusalem threatened to confiscate and auction the Patriarchate's properties to pay off the tax debts accumulated in recent decades, which, according to municipal officials, have reached "astronomical" figures.
The planned confiscation is perceived as intimidation by the Armenian Patriarchate, which disputes the amount of the sums demanded by the municipal tax officials and the way in which the amounts owed were calculated.
The foreclosure proceedings, which had already been initiated, had been temporarily suspended following a petition from the Patriarchate, but municipal officials claim that the deadline to appeal and reduce the amount demanded has now expired. For its part, the Patriarchate stresses that a large part of the alleged debt is related to Patriarchate properties that are already leased to the Jerusalem Municipality.
A court hearing on the ongoing dispute is scheduled for February 24. If the court rejects the petition and thus paves the way for seizure proceedings, the Patriarchate warns, this will set a dangerous precedent and pave the way for further seizures of property belonging to other church entities.
On Wednesday, February 19, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem issued a joint statement expressing their solidarity with the Armenian Patriarchate “in its pursuit of justice” against what they called an “unjust foreclosure order.” “The measures taken against the Armenian Patriarchate," the statement said, “appear legally dubious and morally unacceptable”.
The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem said: “It is inconceivable that Christian institutions, whose mission for centuries has been to safeguard faith, serve communities, and preserve the sacred heritage of the Holy Land, should now face the threat of property seizure under Israeli administrative measures that disregard due process” and disregard the role of the “governmental committee established to negotiate such matters in good faith.”
The threatened confiscation of property, the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem emphasize, "is an attempt to the right of existence of the Orthodox Armenian Church, depriving it of the necessary economic resources to live and operate and depriving the local Armenian people of the pastoral care of their Church.” And “the targeting of one Church is an assault on all, and we cannot remain silent while the foundations of our Christian witness in the land of Christ’s ministry are shaken."
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches appeal directly to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel and Minister Tzachi Hanegbi “to immediately intervene, freeze all foreclosure proceedings, and ensure that negotiations resume within the above-mentioned governmental committee in order to reach to an amicable solution regarding this issue in the spirit of justice.”

ASIA/INDIA - BJP woman as Delhi Chief Minister: raising expectations among Catholics

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:37:14 +0100

New Delhi - Rekha Gupta is the new Prime Minister of the Capital Territory of Delhi. The Indian People's Party , which also leads the federal government with Narendra Modi, appointed her as head of government of the "National Capital Territory" after the recent electoral victory.
Gupta, who was sworn in and took office today, February 20, is the fourth woman to hold this office. She was student spokesperson, general secretary and president of the Delhi University Students' Union before joining the BJP, devoting herself to active politics and becoming general secretary of the Delhi section of the party. In the last elections for the renewal of the Delhi Parliament, she won a seat in the North-West constituency with 68,200 votes.
With her appointment in Delhi, the BJP also wants to show itself as a party that gives space to women. "In the parliamentary elections, the people of Delhi expressed their desire for change and gave the BJP a majority. The people of the city now expect an improvement in life on various levels," says Father George Manimala, who is responsible for the Holy Spirit Church in the south of the city and coordinator of the diocesan commission for the family, in an interview with Fides. "In a city that is struggling with serious problems such as pollution, traffic congestion, unemployment and extreme poverty, people have put their trust in the BJP and want to see how it intends to govern the city. The election of Gupta seems interesting and should be welcomed without prejudice: one can say that she appears to be a sincere person who has the common good at heart," says the Catholic priest.
The fact that she belongs to the Nationalist Party, he stresses, "does not alter the sympathy of the Catholic faithful, who also look to her with hope, at least in a city like Delhi and at least in the more educated sections of the population, because there are also Catholic and Christian believers in the BJP". "More extremist nationalist fringe groups", he notes, "sometimes adopt a hostile or violent attitude when they gain a foothold among uneducated people or in areas of the country that have yet to see full development". "This is why the key factor for engagement in politics and for citizens' participation in political life is education: and this is precisely one of the areas in which we, as the Indian Catholic community, are most committed at various levels", concludes Fr. Manimala.

AFRICA/NIGERIA - Father Damulak escapes after his kidnapping on February 6

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:26:11 +0100

Abuja - Father Cornelius Manzak Damulak, kidnapped on February 6 , managed to escape from the hands of his kidnappers.
According to the police in the State of Niger , the priest was able to free himself on the evening of February 13 and was rescued by a police patrol the next morning. "On February 14, around noon, a person was found by a police patrol from Chanchaga on the Pogo Paiko highway and immediately taken to safety," says a statement from the police command. "During questioning, the person was identified as Cornelius Damulak , a student at the 'Veritas University' in Abuja." The police statement added: "The victim was kidnapped from his home in Bwari at around 5 a.m. on Thursday, February 6, and taken to the forests. Fortunately, on February 13, Father Damulak managed to escape from the kidnappers and found himself on the Pogo Paiko Highway in Minna, where, after a long walk, he was picked up by one of our patrols."
Father Damulak belongs to the clergy of the diocese of Shendam in Plateau State , but was studying in the federal capital, Abuja, in whose urban area he was kidnapped.

VATICAN/GENERAL AUDIENCE - From Gemelli Hospital the Pope continues his Magisterium: "The the poor and foreigners are invited among the first to meet God made child"

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 18:24:33 +0100

Vatican City – While Pope Francis is being treated for bilateral pneumonia at the Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome, the Holy See Press Office has released the text of the catechism prepared by the Holy Father for the general audience of 19 February 2025.

As part of the cycle of catechisms on the life of Jesus, in the catechism published today, after speaking of the birth of the Son of God, the Pope speaks of the visit of the Magi, "people who do not belong to the people of the covenant ". They are "foreigners, who immediately arrive to pay homage to the Son of God who entered into history with an entirely precedented kingship". After the shepherds, then the Magi. From the Gospels it is clear "that the poor and foreigners are invited among the first to meet God made child, the Saviour of the world".

The Magi, as the text says, " are men who do not stay still but, like the great chosen ones of biblical history, feel the need to move, to go forth. They are men who are able to look beyond themselves, who know how to look upwards".

Once they arrive in Jerusalem, "their naivety and trust in asking for information about the newborn king of the Jews clashes with the shrewdness of Herod, who, troubled by the fear of losing his throne, immediately tries to obtain a better view, contacting the scribes and asking them to investigate". In these lines "the earthly ruler thus shows all his weakness". And not just that of the king.

The experts know the Scriptures and refer to the king "the place where, according to Micah’s prophecy, the leader and shepherd of the people of Israel should be born: little Bethlehem, and not great Jerusalem! Indeed, as Paul reminds the Corinthians, “God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong” . The scribes, "who are able to identify the Messiah’s birthplace exactly, show the way to others, but they themselves do not move! Indeed, it is not enough to know the prophetic texts to tune in to the divine frequencies; one must let them to enter within and allow the Word of God to revive the yearning to seek, the kindle to desire to see God".

Herod asks the wise men who have come from far away to inform him when they find the child. The king, however, acts " as do the deceitful and violent" because "for those attached to power, Jesus is not the hope to be welcomed, but a threat to be eliminated!". But as soon as they leave Jerusalem, "the star reappears and leads them to Jesus, the sign that creation and the prophetic word represent the alphabet with which God speaks and lets Himself be found. The sight of the star inspires an irrepressible joy in those men, because the Holy Spirit, who stirs the heart of whoever sincerely seeks God, also fills it with joy".

So they reached the place where the child was and "they prostrate themselves, adore Jesus and offer Him precious gifts, worthy of a king, worthy of God". Pope Francis describes the reason for this gesture by quoting Chromatius of Aquileia, who in commenting on the Gospel of Matthew, about the Magi, writes: they see "a humble little body that the Word has assumed; but the glory of divinity is not hidden from them. They see an infant child; but they worship God".

"The Magi thus become the first believers among the pagans, the image of the Church drawn together from every language and nation. Let us, too, follow in the footsteps of the Magi, these “pilgrims of hope” who, with great courage, turned their steps, hearts and goods towards the One who is the hope not only of Israel but of all peoples. Let us learn to adore God in His smallness, in His kingship that does not crush but rather sets us free and enables us to serve with dignity", the Pontiff concludes.

AFRICA/DR CONGO - The M23 advance continues and now threatens Uvira

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:52:54 +0100

Kinshasa - The M23 advance in the Congolese province of South Kivu continues after the capture of Bukavu, the capital of this province in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo .
With the recent capture of the cities of Kamanyola and Luvungi, the M23 militiamen have paved the way for the capture of Uvira, the second largest city in the province of South Kivu. Uvira is located on Lake Tanganyika, from which a road leads to Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi. The withdrawal of Burundian soldiers a few days after the fall of the city of Bukavu is said to have facilitated the rebels' advance towards Uvira, where tensions are increasing; the state authorities have meanwhile decided to release prisoners before the arrival of the rebels.
At least 12 people were killed in the town on February 17 in clashes between regular army soldiers and pro-government Wazalendo militiamen. According to Radio Okapi, citing the head of the civil society of Congolese nationalists, Serge Kigwati, the clashes began when the Wazalendo tried to disarm soldiers returning from the northern front to the south of the province. The FARDC's refusal to hand over its weapons led to gun battles between the two sides.
Meanwhile, Ugandan special forces entered Bunia, the capital of neighboring Ituri province. The Ugandan military has long had a presence in the region to conduct the joint "Shujaa" operation with the FARDC against the ADF/NALU jihadists linked to the Islamic State. However, the reinforcement of the Ugandan army in Ituri brings back memories of the joint actions of the Rwandan and Ugandan military during the two previous wars, that of 1996-97 against Mobutu's then Zaire and that of 1998 against then President Laurent-Désiré Kabila. The specter of a regional conflict still looms over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

ASIA/MYANMAR - "I only kneel before God": the last words of Father Martin Ye Naing Win

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:43:25 +0100

by Paolo Affatato

Mandalay - When on the evening of February 14 a commando of ten armed men arrived at the rectory of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in the village of Kangyi Taw , Father Donald Martin Ye Naing Win, a 44-year-old priest of the Archdiocese of Mandalay, fearlessly confronted the ten militiamen who threatened him. They had first threatened and silenced two women, teachers and parish workers, who were on the church premises and were helping the priest to organize classes for the children of the parish's about 40 Catholic families. In the Sagaing region, affected by the clashes between the Burmese army and the resistance forces, the state system has collapsed, there are no public services and education is only guaranteed by spontaneous initiatives such as those of the parishes.
It is the two women who were present at the events and are now in a protected place for security reasons who tell the details of the incident. Their testimony, which Fides has received, has already reached the Ministry of Justice of the National Unity Government in exile, on which the People's Defense Force depends, which controls the territory in the so-called "liberated areas", i.e. those taken from the control of the military junta by the opposition forces.
The men who attacked Father Donald, the women reported, were in an an evident abnormal mental state, either due to alcohol or drugs. They came from the neighboring village. It is not clear why they attacked the priest with such violence, whom the leader ordered to kneel. Father Donald watched them and replied with the gentleness and inner peace that characterize him as a man and priest with an upright conscience: "I only kneel before God". And then he continued quietly: "What can I do for you? Is there a matter we can discuss?".
One of the men responded to his words by striking him from behind with a dagger that was still in its sheath. However, with this weapon he accidentally hit the leader of the armed group. The leader, who was already in a state of drunkenness and rage, which was also due to Father Donald's reaction, pulled out a knife and angrily attacked the priest, repeatedly stabbing him brutally in the body and neck. Father Donald did not utter a word or complain. He endured the senseless violence without reacting, like an innocent man, "like a lamb to the slaughter," as the witnesses report. The other men stood by and watched the murder being carried out. The repeated blows to the throat almost severed the head from the body, which sank in a lake of blood. After the crime, the group of men left the scene.
The women raised the alarm and called the villagers, who, in shock and tears, took the lifeless body with them. The soldiers of the People's Defence Force were then alerted, who tracked down and arrested the attackers. The two women's testimonies were recorded and sent to the Government of National Unity, which stressed in a statement that it was "deeply saddened by the murder of Father Donald Martin, a priest from Mandalay" and that it would "commit itself to punishing the alleged murderers according to the law". "The People's Defence Forces of Shwebo district arrested ten suspects on the same day" and began the relevant investigations, the statement continued. "The accused belong to a local defence group," the text said. "As it is known that they belong to the armed forces, the Government of National Unity and the Ministry of Defence will take legal action", applying the law provided for the military. “The National Unity Government,” it concludes, “strongly condemns attacks on civilians, including religious leaders, by any organization.”
As the Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners explains, in the areas controlled by the resistance - which constitute a kind of “parallel state” - “there is no definitive legal framework to guide governance, administration and legislation.” In some liberated areas, “there is a judicial system with district judges who establish a procedure and, in some cases, apply their own legal framework.”
On the other hand, in the current context, it is difficult to draft and implement completely new laws, so in many liberated areas, national laws are still applied. However, efforts are being made to selectively enforce laws that are "consistent with international human rights standards" enacted and amended by the army for Myanmar in recent years, with a focus on laws enacted by the country's successive military juntas that "give the authorities excessive power and disproportionate punishments". The AAPP points to the need for "comprehensive judicial reform" and a "fair and just system" in which no authority , regardless of their status, "is above the law".
It is pointed out that, meanwhile, anyone accused of a crime must have the opportunity to defend themselves. Currently, in the liberated areas, a district judge has the power to impose the death penalty. If the accused is sentenced to death, he has de facto no right of appeal.

AFRICA/SUDAN - Crisis between Sudan and Kenya after the signing in Nairobi of the constitutive act of an alternative Sudanese government

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:13:46 +0100

Khartoum – A violation of "international law, the Charter of the United Nations, the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide." This is how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sudanese government, led by General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, defined Kenya's decision to welcome the “signing of a political agreement between the terrorist militia Janjaweed, responsible for the ongoing acts of genocide in Sudan, and its affiliated individuals and groups”.
The document, called the “Political Charter for the Government of Peace and Unity,” promoted by the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemeti” Dagalo, together with other Sudanese political and military actors, effectively represents the creation of a parallel government to that led by Al Burhan from Port Sudan. The capital Khartoum is still disputed between the two adversaries, although the military of Al Burhan's Sudanese Armed Forces appears to have regained some important strategic points in the region in recent weeks.
“Since the stated aim of this agreement is to establish a parallel government in part of Sudanese territory, this step promotes the fragmentation of African states, violates their sovereignty and interferes in their internal affairs,” the Sudanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "This is therefore a clear violation of the UN Charter, the founding act of the African Union and the established principles of the modern international order." Meanwhile, the term "Janjaweed" used in the statement evokes sad memories, especially for people in Darfur, the RSF's bastion. The Janjaweed were the militias allied with the Khartoum regime that bloodily suppressed the uprisings in this region of western Sudan in the early 2000s. The RSF is its evolution, which in turn has rebelled against the regular army over the years.
According to the statement, by hosting the event, Kenya is also complicit in the crimes committed by the RSF .
The formation of an alternative government is seen as an attempt by the RSF leader, Dagalo, to gain international legitimacy. Both the Sudanese army and the RSF are subject to international sanctions for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the conflict. However, Al Burhan's government enjoys international recognition that Dagalo's troops do not. Nairobi's decision to host the event should be seen against the backdrop of the renewed relations of the Sudanese government with Russia and Iran. Russia, through the private military company Wagner, had initially supported the RSF and has now decided to support General Al Burhan, who in return has granted Moscow a military base on the Red Sea. Iran, which until 15 years ago had close military relations with the Al-Bashir regime, which were severed by the latter under pressure from the West and some Gulf countries, now sees a new window opened for the resumption of relations with the meeting of the two foreign ministers on February 17, during which Tehran stressed the importance of Sudan's territorial integrity and the end of foreign interference in Sudan.

EUROPE/POLAND - The murderer of Father Grzegorz Dymek confesses

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:10:53 +0100

Czestochowa - It was a traumatic awakening for the faithful of the parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Kłobuck, a small town in northern Poland on the outskirts of Czestochowa: the 58-year-old parish priest Grzegorz Dymek was found strangled in the rectory.

The crime occurred on Thursday evening, February 13. According to the investigators' reconstruction, the alarm was raised around 7 p.m. after screams were heard from the rectory. When the police arrived at the scene, they found the lifeless body of the priest and a man who was trying to escape.

The suspect, a 52-year-old former policeman who had been dismissed from service in 2001 for disciplinary reasons, was immediately arrested and confessed to the murder of the priest, without explaining what had driven him to this brutal crime. The autopsy of the priest's body showed that the cause of death was asphyxiation. The priest had announced during the last masses that donations of about 80,000 zlotys had been collected, which is the equivalent of almost 20,000 euros.

The late priest Grzegorz Dymek had worked in the parish of Our Lady of Fatima since its foundation in 1998, after being entrusted with the task of founding and building a new church. Here he served as parish priest for more than twenty years without interruption.

In a letter, the Archbishop of Częstochowa, Wacław Depo, urged the faithful to "contemplate death with the spirit of Christian hope". What happened to Fr. Grzegorz Dymek was "received with disbelief and sadness by the Presbytery of Czestochowa. The circumstances of the death and the motive are being investigated by the Public Prosecutor's Office and we hope that soon the reasons for this cruel murder will be known".

"In the meantime, I ask everyone to pray for the deceased priest and for the parish community orphaned by Fr. Grzegorz. Let us also pray for the perpetrator. May God show him his mercy and grant him the grace of conversion", concluded the Archbishop, who will preside over the solemn funeral of Fr. Grzegorz Dymek on Friday 21 February at 11 a.m. in the parish founded by the Polish priest. The body will then be buried in the local cemetery.

ASIA/UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - The first training course on ecumenical and interreligious dialogue at the Abrahamic Family House inspired by the Document on Human Fraternity

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 15:45:22 +0100

Abu Dhabi – A week of meetings, dialogues and visits to symbolic places in the Arabian Peninsula to experience and understand how different religions can really live together peacefully in the same place. These are the objectives of the first edition of the course on “Training and Exchanges in the Context of the Human Fraternity Document and its Receptions”, designed for delegates of the Episcopal Conferences who work in the field of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.

As the creator of this initiative, Father Stefano Luca, OFM Cap, Director of the Interfaith and Ecumenical Dialogue Office of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia and Rector of St. Francis Church at the Abrahamic Family House, Abu Dhabi , explains, “after many months of planning, we launched the initiative with a very effective interreligious dialogue methodology: half-day training session at St. Francis Church, followed by half-day of visit of religious sites in order to gain insights from different religions present in the UAE. This enables delegates to acquire theoretical knowledge and to experience on the ground examples of best practices in terms of coexistence and dialogue”.

Fifteen Regional delegates from 11 ecclesiastical regions of the Italian Bishops’ Conference attended the program, along with 5 Delegates of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia that are part of three offices: Christian Formation, School Management, and Interfaith and Ecumenical Dialogue.

The presentations by experts and theologians were followed by several moments of discussions with the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, Bishop Paolo Martinelli. Many topics were addressed: "From the phenomenon of migration - suffice it to say that all the faithful and the clergy of the Vicariate are migrants without exception, of more than a hundred nationalities - to the history of the Catholic Church in the Gulf region," explained Father Stefano. The day dedicated to ecumenical dialogue was attended by Armenian Orthodox Archbishop Mesrob Sarkissian, who spoke about the ecumenical movement that has developed in the region in recent years.

The program continued with a visit to the four sites of the Abrahamic Family House . The group then visited Sikh and Hindu temples, Greek Orthodox, Coptic and Anglican churches, as well as the great mosque of Abu Dhabi named after Sheikh Zayed.
“The special thing is that in all these religious sites, we met religious leaders, and we had the possibility to have interfaith dialogue sessions with them and we learnt about the model of peaceful coexistence implemented in the UAE,” emphasizes the Franciscan.

A very significant visit, says Father Stefano, “was to St. Joseph Catholic Church. Here the delegates immersed themselves in the life of a normal Sunday morning in our parishes. They took part in catechism classes and masses for children and adults. It was, as the delegates themselves said, an incredible experience." And “not just by the number of faithful , but most importantly they were impressed and edified by the joy, enthusiasm, devotion, and faith of the faithful and the children during their participation in the catechism classes and Masses as well. The high level of preparation of the catechists also impressed the delegates."

These were "valuable days for us as a church in the Gulf. Moments of dialogue, encounters, and the exchange of experiences." "We are enriched in hearing about the experiences of those in Italy who are responsible for promoting interreligious and ecumenical dialogue, and on the other hand it is very interesting for us to be able to share the experiences that we have been having for some time now in this part of the world”, commented the Apostolic Vicar, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, who, together with Father Stefano, is already thinking about the future: “Our desire now is to invite other Episcopal Conferences to send their delegates to participate in our path of exchange and formation”.

ASIA/PAKISTAN - Jubilee Year: in the diocese of Multan there is hope for education

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:01:03 +0100

Multan - Among the Catholic population of southern Punjab, in the diocese of Multan, the hope that is nurtured in the Jubilee Year is to have concrete educational opportunities, says Father Jamshed Gill , for many years director of the Pastoral Institute of Multan and now General Councilor for the Asia-Pacific Region of the Dominican Order, to Fides. In one of the largest cities in Pakistan, with more than 1.2 million inhabitants, about half of the more than 80,000 Catholics are destitute and live in the countryside or are among the "poor" who live in the slums on the outskirts of the city. In January, the Catholic community celebrated the solemn inauguration of the Holy Year in the Cathedral of Multan: "It is a Jubilee Year of personal renewal and faith," said Bishop Yousef Sohan. The presence of many young people and students from the diocese's schools at the celebration drew particular attention to education. "To restore hope to people and thus opportunities for development and growth, the first step is to work in the field of education," explained Father Gill, recalling that "the diocese is doing its best to support Catholic schools in the city and in rural villages, but the lack of resources limits the possibilities," he noted. The Dominicans run a school and a boarding school in Bahawalpur, which is part of the diocese. "But many families cannot afford the fees, even though they are low, so the children are not sent to school," he reports. There are also boarding schools that charge higher fees, which is why in this case "only middle-class families, almost exclusively Muslims, benefit from these schools." The disadvantaged are therefore "precisely the poorest Christian families, unable to break out of the vicious circle of economic and also educational poverty," the religious observes. The pastoral plan of the diocese, launched by the new bishop, states that he will give priority to the education of Catholics. Bishop Sohan, who took office two years ago, wants to strengthen the school sector by opening more schools and supporting and improving existing ones. The diocese directly runs 27 schools that provide education to thousands of children and young people in urban and rural areas. "In the Jubilee Year, special attention will be paid to this commitment: to make hope a reality in people's lives, the whole community can try to do more in this area and the faithful, the poorest and most marginalized, will welcome it and recognize it as a gift from the Lord," he concludes.

AFRICA/DR CONGO - Kinshasa: Police thwart threats by supporters of the ruling party against Catholic and Protestant churches

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:51:32 +0100

Kinshasa - The religious services in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo , both in the Catholic parishes and in the Protestant communities of the Church of Christ in Congo , took place last Sunday, February 16, generally without disturbances. Only in the Catholic parish of "St. Theresa" in Nd'jili, a municipality in the Kinshasa district, some demonstrators tried to disrupt the mass, but were prevented from entering the church by the intervention of the police. The Kinshasa police had previously taken measures to ensure the peaceful conduct of the religious services. The measure was taken after activists from the ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress party threatened to attack and vandalize Catholic parishes and Protestant gatherings during religious services on Sunday 16 February. This was in protest against the meetings that the leaders of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Congo and the ECC had with Corneille Nangaa in Goma, in North Kivu province, and with Paul Kagame in Kigali, Rwanda.
Corneille Nangaa is the coordinator of the Alliance Fleuve Congo , the political wing of the rebel movement M23, which has taken control of Goma and Bukavu and is threatening to march on Kinshasa to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi. Paul Kagame is the President of Rwanda, who is considered the sponsor of the M23. The joint delegation of the Catholic and Protestant Churches presented the "Social Pact for Coexistence in the Democratic Republic of Congo" , which aims to help resolve the crisis that has been going on for over 30 years in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

AFRICA/DR CONGO - Behind names like AFDL or M23 lies the Rwandan intervention in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:25:39 +0100

Kinshasa - "Sometimes you have the feeling that the poor are hopelessly lost," reports a Church source from Bukavu, the capital of the Congolese province of South Kivu, which was taken by the M23 troops supported by the Rwandan army . "City after city, village after village, the province of South Kivu is also falling. And they still talk about dialogue, offer themselves as mediators, without having the courage to call things by their name," the source continues. It is not an internal conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but an external aggression. "The country has been under attack for years, and since November 2021, when the M23 took up arms again, the situation has worsened. The M23 is the new name of the Rwandan intervention: Over time, it has operated under different names: AFDL , RCD , CNDP ... Always with the same aim: to give a Congolese appearance to an invasion project that does not dare to admit its true nature", said the source. "
The testimony also describes the recurring pattern of this offensive: “The occupation is always preceded by riots, looting and murder. Then, the invaders arrive, presenting themselves as saviours. They do not impose respect for the law that they themselves have broken, but govern with a stick and a gun. And the inhabitants of Bukavu have already begun to experience this. Today, at a big meeting, they will present the new leaders and the new rules," continued the source.
As a sign of the new "normality", the M23 has today, February 18, reopened the water links between Goma and Bukavu. "In the Ruzizi plain, Rwandan soldiers and M23 forces continue to advance and already have Luvungi in their hands," the source said. According to our source, the population seems to have come to terms with the new situation: "And we will be surprised to see people applaud. Mothers who have seen the tomatoes they sold rot and have heard the cries of their hungry children will applaud. Men and young people who must be careful not to be confused with civilian soldiers or pro-government militiamen will applaud. Perhaps young people without a future will also applaud, who for decades have not been offered any opportunity for work or a decent life." "And perhaps some will say that the people agree. What should an oppressed people do when they have no help, neither from within nor from outside? Must they die for the ideal of a fatherland? No, it will cling to its simple life and that of its children to move forward in a world that has become totally hostile," concludes the source.

EUROPE/LITHUANIA - National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies awarded the Cross of Officer of the Order of Merit Pro Lithuania

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:15:01 +0100

Vilnius - Last Sunday, February 16, Lithuania celebrated the National Day commemorating the proclamation of the Republic of Lithuania in 1918. Following the Act of Restoration of the Lithuanian State, adopted on March 11, 1990 by the Supreme Soviet of Lithuania to declare its independence from the Soviet Union, the Baltic State has resumed the celebrations of its National Day. Traditionally, on this day the President of the Republic awards honors to people who have distinguished themselves and have made a contribution to the welfare of society in various fields.

This year, during the official celebrations, the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, awarded the Order of Merit "Pro Lithuania" with the rank of officer to the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Lithuania, Fr. Alessandro Barelli of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Father Alessandro, an Italian missionary born in Turin in 1969, has been working in the Baltic country for 27 years and was awarded for his significant contribution to Lithuanian society.

The award was given in recognition of his work as parish priest of the parish of St. John Bosco in Vilnius, as editor of the Salesian Bulletin in Lithuanian for 25 years and as National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, and for his numerous initiatives in favor of local youth, with particular attention to missionary work and inculturation.

AFRICA/BURKINA FASO - Mourning in the diocese of Dédougou: two catechists murdered on their way back from a training course

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 13:59:05 +0100

Dédougou - The diocese of Dédougou in Burkina Faso mourns the death of two catechists who were murdered on their way back from a training course. The crime occurred on Saturday, January 25.

As the diocese of Dédougou tells Fides, Mathias Zongo and Christian Tientga were travelling by motorbike with two other catechists. The four pastoral workers of the parish of Ouakara were allegedly attacked by a group of armed men while they were near the town of Bondokuy. The two surviving catechists reportedly managed to escape into the forest. After being alerted, the parish priest found the lifeless bodies of the two murdered people. When the parish priest arrived at the scene, police officers were already on site to begin the investigation.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the two catechists were returned to their families and the funerals took place last weekend.

According to the police, who are continuing the investigation, the events of the end of January are the fourth fatal attack in the same place in a short period of time. There has been an escalation of violence throughout Burkina Faso for some time, also fueled by the presence of various Islamist groups fighting among themselves for control of the territory , which has also led to the flight of about two million people.

AFRICA/DR CONGO - Bukavu in the hands of the M23; the testimony of a local source

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 13:21:30 +0100

Kinshasa - "The shops are still closed, but people are still seen on the streets, albeit few. Since yesterday, February 16, the gunfire has stopped. Bukavu is living in apparent peace after being taken over by the M23 rebel movement and the Rwandan army," reports a Fides source from the local Church in the capital of the province of South Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The city was taken after an advance that started from the neighboring province of North Kivu . The operation first captured the airport of Kavumu, about thirty kilometers from the city, before the fighters advanced on the capital of South Kivu.
"In the days between Friday 14 and Saturday 15 February, I witnessed shootings and looting," said the Fides source, who wished to remain anonymous. "The soldiers of the Congolese Armed Forces who left the city, left behind many weapons and ammunition. Looting took place mainly in Kadutu, the historic district of the old town where the main local market is held. On Sunday morning, February 16, M23 militiamen and Rwandan soldiers entered the city in a row after approaching it on the highway number 2 that connects the city to Kavumu. Some residents greeted them with cries of joy; we think that this behavior is an expression of fear and also the feeling that the wait for a disturbing event that had been looming for days is finally over."
"The authorities had already fled days ago and the population lacked a binding word to get through these moments. Only Archbishop François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo spoke out, asking for Bukavu to be spared from the same fate as Goma, where the invasion of Rwandan and M23 fighters caused a massacre. Civil society turned to the authorities for advice, but to no avail. The general opinion, however, was that, given the unequal balance of power, it was better to welcome the militiamen to avoid a repeat the tragedy of Goma," the source concluded.

ASIA/MYANMAR - Funeral ceremony in the birthplace: ten suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Father Donald Martin Ye Naing Win

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 13:15:22 +0100

Yangon - More than 5,000 people, despite the dangers and general violence, gathered in the village of Pyin Oo Lwin to pay their last respects to Catholic priest Donald Martin Ye Naing Win, who was brutally murdered on February 14 in his parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Archdiocese of Mandalay . The mountain village of Pyin Oo Lwin is the birthplace of Father Donald, where his family lives. There, priests, religious, faithful gathered around the Archbishop of Mandalay, Marco Tin Win, in the Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary to celebrate the funeral mass and offer consolation to Father Donald's family, who attended the funeral mass. The moving participation of the people, according to Fides sources present at the celebration, set the scene for the Mass during which the Archbishop read the message of the Apostolic Nunciature in Yangon and the condolences of the Bishops' Conference of Myanmar, which express deep and sincere solidarity with the local population .
Archbishop Marco Tin Win, who presided over the Eucharist, urged the faithful to wake up, "because violence only brings death and destruction, it is always a defeat", and he made a heartfelt appeal "to all armed groups and actors involved in the conflict to lay down their weapons and take a path of peace and reconciliation". He then entrusted Father Donald, his family and the entire community present to the loving hands of the Virgin Mary: "May Our Lady accompany him to paradise and protect all under her mantle, giving comfort and hope," said the Archbishop.
The local community is asking about the reasons for the senseless murder of a priest who devoted himself with ardour to others. According to local sources, Father Donald was particularly involved in organizing educational work for children and young people in the area around his parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, where he was the first parish priest and where about 40 Catholic families live. Faced with civil war, violence and displacement, schools are closed, there are no teachers and only informal classes given voluntarily by priests, religious and catechists ensure a minimum level of continuity in the education of children and young people.
The area is controlled by the People's Defence Force , which is fighting against the military junta. The leadership of these forces has been asked to investigate the armed groups that attacked and murdered the priest. The militias, meanwhile, have arrested ten men from the village of Kan Gyi Taw, where Father Donald was murdered. The People's Defense Forces, according to Fides sources, are themselves interested in identifying and punishing the culprits and have transferred those arrested to a court set up by the People's Defense Force in the areas currently defined as "liberated areas", that is, not under the control of the Burmese government.

ASIA/MYANMAR - May Father Donald's sacrifice "serve as an offering to put an end to violence": messages from the representative of the Holy See and the Bishops of Myanmar

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 13:09:01 +0100

Yangon - "The Holy See expresses its sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family, the religious communities and the faithful of the Archdiocese of Mandalay," is expressed in a message addressed by Monsignor Andrea Ferrante, Chargé d'Affaires and Representative of the Holy See in Myanmar, to the Archbishop of Mandalay, Marco Tin Win. They pray "for the eternal rest of the priest who was the victim of unjustified violence." The condolence message read to the faithful during the funeral Mass celebrated yesterday, February 16, refers to the death of the Catholic priest Donald Martin Ye Naing Win, murdered on February 14 in his parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Archdiocese of Mandalay .
The text expresses solidarity with the local community wounded by violence and invites priests, religious, missionaries and believers to "continue their mission with zeal, despite all difficulties, following the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd". "Rooted in his love", it continues, "may you be signs of the merciful presence of the Father who welcomes his children and heals their wounds". The text entrusts the faithful suffering from the ongoing conflict to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is described as "the certainty of our hope", so that she "sustains the Burmese people in a spirit of communion, unity and solidarity".
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Myanmar also expressed its deep solidarity with the people of Mandalay: "The Catholic Church throughout Myanmar mourns with Archbishop Marco Tin Win, the priests, religious and faithful of the Archdiocese of Mandalay and the parents and relatives of Fr. Donald Martin Ye Naing Win. May God the Father, the Lord of all life, comfort your and our grieving hearts," reads the message of condolence from the Burmese bishops, who express their deep shock and sadness and hope that "the blood and sacrifices of countless innocent people, together with that of Fr. Donald Martin, may serve as an offering to end the violence that is raging throughout the country". "May the spirit of brotherhood be reawakened from these shocking experiences: we urge an end to violence," write the bishops, calling for peace.
The message, signed by Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, President of the Bishops' Conference of Myanmar, states: "The heinous act committed against Father Donald Martin Ye Naing Win cannot be forgotten. We therefore call on those responsible to take appropriate measures and ensure that justice is done so that such incidents are not repeated in the future."

AFRICA/NIGERIA - The Catholic priest kidnapped on February 12 in southern Nigeria has been released

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 12:52:21 +0100

Abuja - The Catholic priest who was kidnapped on February 12 along with two other people has been released.
The priest is Fr. Livinus Maurice, parish priest of St. Patrick's Church in Isokpo, in Rivers State, southern Nigeria. The priest was kidnapped on February 12 by armed men on the road from Elele to Isiokpo as he was returning from a hospital visit with two other people.
In an official statement, the Diocese of Port Harcourt, on behalf of Bishop Bernadine Anaele, had asked for the priest's unconditional release.
Thanks to the pressure exerted on the kidnappers, Fr. Livinus Maurice and the other two abducted were released on Sunday, February 16. According to a statement by the state police spokesperson, "their release was made following pressure from a mixed security team composed of police officers, soldiers of the Isiokpo Joint Task Force and local security officials. Operations to capture the kidnappers are still ongoing." Meanwhile, another Nigerian priest, Fr. Cornellus Manzak Damulak, who was kidnapped in the early hours of February 6 from his home in Zuma 2 neighborhood in the Bwari Area Council of the capital district, is still in the hands of the kidnappers .

VATICAN - Angelus with Pope Francis in Hospital: "Thank you for the affection, let us continue to pray for peace"

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 21:31:18 +0100

Vatican City - "Thank you for the affection, prayer… I invite everyone to continue to pray for peace in tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and all the Middle East, Myanmar, Kivu and Sudan". These are the words that Pope Francis sent from Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where he has been hospitalized since Friday 14, February for a respiratory infection. Words addressed in particular to the artists gathered in St. Peter's Basilica for the celebration of their Jubilee.

All the Pontiff's commitments scheduled for these days have been canceled with the exception of the Mass that he himself was supposed to preside over in St. Peter's for the Jubilee event dedicated to the world of art and culture. On behalf of the Bishop of Rome, who sends his greetings, Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, presides over the Eucharistic celebration at the Altar of Confession and read the homily prepared by the Pope for the occasion, commenting on today's Gospel passage, that of the Beatitudes, a text that Pope Francis has repeatedly defined as the "Magna Carta" of the Christian.

In "a time when new walls are being erected", artists, the Pontiff emphasizes in the homily read by the Portuguese cardinal - are "guardians of the Beatitudes. As artists and representatives of the world of culture, you are called to be witnesses to the revolutionary vision of the Beatitudes. Your mission is not only to create beauty, but to reveal the truth, goodness and beauty hidden within the folds of history. Let the Gospel of the Beatitudes guide you, and may your art be a herald of a new world. Never cease searching, questioning and taking risks. True art is never easy; it offers the peace of restlessness. And do not forget that hope is not an illusion; beauty is not a utopia. Yours is not a random gift but a calling. Respond, then, with generosity, passion and love".

A reference to the homily is also present in the text that had been prepared to accompany the Angelus prayer, a text released at midday by the Press Office: today's event, it reads, "reminds us of the importance of art as a universal language that spreads beauty and unites peoples, contributing to bringing harmony into the world and silencing every cry of war. I would have liked to be among you but, as you know, I am here at the Gemelli Hospital because I still need some treatment for my bronchitis". In this regard, the Pope expresses his "thank you" for the spiritual support and also asks to pray for all healthcare workers: "Thank you for the affection, prayer and closeness with which you are accompanying me in these days, and I would like to thank the doctors and healthcare workers in this hospital for their care: they do such a valuable and tiring job, let us support them with prayer!"