Fides News - English

ASIA/CHINA - New church in Yiwu named after Saint Joseph: Home to the world's largest wholesale market

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:36:50 +0100

by Marta Zhao

Beijing - The new church, recently inaugurated in Yiwu, in the diocese of Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, is named after Saint Joseph, Patron Saint of missions in China. And the mission entrusted to the local parish is unique, considering the location of the new parish. Indeed, Yiwu is home to the world's largest wholesale market for small goods. It is also the starting point for many of the devotional objects sold in churches, parishes, and religious shops around the world, including those around the Vatican. Chinese merchants and businessmen from all over the world can now also visit the new church to pray, receive the sacraments, or perhaps experience the Christian proclamation for the first time. The new church was consecrated by Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang of Hangzhou on March 18, the eve of St. Joseph's Day. The following day, the Feast of the Spouse of the Virgin Mary, the bishop administered the sacrament of Confirmation to approximately 40 adults of the new parish. More than 2,000 faithful participated in the ordination liturgy, celebrated by 23 priests from Hangzhou, the Diocese of Wenzhou, and Ningbo, together with the bishop.
Retracing the parish's history, Bishop Joseph Yang recalled that "the church is a home, a place of love and affection," and thanked St. Joseph, who intercedes for the local Church as Patron of the mission in China. The city of Yiwu is located 300 kilometers from Shanghai. According to local statistics, there are more than 1,000 Catholics and nearly 20,000 Christians of other denominations. In addition, baptized businessmen, both from China and abroad, come to the city to work.
Until 2001, there was no Catholic place of worship in this international hub. With the region's economic growth, Chinese and foreign Catholics who do business, run factories, study, and work in Yiwu began to gather for prayer in private homes. In 2007, 500 Catholics gathered to celebrate Christmas together. On June 14, 2008, a Catholic church was opened in Yiwu that could accommodate approximately 200 people. Gradually, a faithful and vibrant community has emerged in this center of global trade, welcoming those who come from far away to work in the city. The diocese has sent three priests to oversee the pastoral care of the local community, which can now also count on the new St. Joseph's Church to fulfill its mission of proclaiming the Gospel to the merchants at the Yiwu wholesale market.
Masses are already being celebrated in Chinese, English, and Korean in the new church. Yiwu is a county-level city in Zhejiang Province and belongs to the Diocese of Hangzhou. In 2005, the United Nations, the World Bank, Morgan Stanley, and other international financial agencies jointly published the report "Shocking the World of China's Numbers," which described the Yiwu market as "the world's largest wholesale market for small goods."

AFRICA/SUDAN - Army recaptures presidential palace in Khartoum: a symbolic turning point, but no end to the war in sight

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:39:14 +0100

Khartoum - After two days of fighting, the Sudanese Armed Forces today, March 21, recaptured control of the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum from the Rapid Support Forces militias. The latter had captured the palace, a symbolic target, at the beginning of the war that broke out in April 2023.
The recapture of the presidential palace marks another turning point in the army-led military operations in the capital. The Rapid Support Forces now only control a bridge over the Nile connecting Khartoum to western Sudan, through which they can receive supplies and reinforcements or leave the city. However, late this morning, RSF representatives stated that they had not yet abandoned the area near the presidential palace and that the fighting was not over. It is difficult to say whether the recapture of Khartoum by the Sudanese army under the command of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan will bring an end to the war. The Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, still control the Darfur region in the west of the country, considered their stronghold. The RSF has also declared a "parallel government" , making a peaceful solution to the conflict difficult. The Sudanese war has led to the world's largest humanitarian catastrophe, without a single ceasefire since the fighting began. RSF bombings, Congolese army airstrikes, hunger, and disease have claimed at least 61,000 lives in Khartoum state alone.

ASIA - Ten Years of "Laudato Si'": Bishops call for action against "ecological debt" and "ecological conversion"

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:28:31 +0100

Bangkok - The upcoming tenth anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis's encyclical "Laudato Si'" on Care for Our Common Home coincides with the Jubilee Year of Hope: therefore, the pastoral letter published by the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences at the end of its recent plenary assembly in March 2025, addressed to the local Churches in Asia, calls for "ecological conversion" and includes a concrete request for debt relief at the international level. Indeed, there is an "ecological debt" of industrialized countries, or countries of the Global North, towards countries of the Global South regarding the exploitation of natural resources, which contributes to both environmental degradation and the lack of essential social services for development, such as education and health.
The document, signed by Indian Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, President of the FABC, Philippine Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, Vice President, and Japanese Cardinal Isao Kikuchi, SVD, Secretary General of the Federation, recalls in detail the main problems of the "common home" that are widespread in Asian countries: deforestation and loss of biodiversity, rising sea levels and the displacement of coastal populations, water insecurity, air pollution and health consequences for the population, more intense and frequent extreme weather events, agricultural crises, and food insecurity.
But the pastoral Letter also cites "signs of hope" and recognizes the action of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Asian churches in attitudes such as: the resilience of local communities and indigenous peoples; the flourishing of ministries and the spread of training courses on themes from the encyclical "Laudato Si'"; the growing active participation of young people; and collaboration between religious congregations and with civil society in the common defense of our common home; the inclusion of the care of creation in the Church's mission; and the commitment of communities in the Holy Year, with the care of creation among its main themes.
In the pastoral Letter, published ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference COP 30, which will take place in November this year, the Asian bishops outline concrete actions to address the ecological crisis: supporting stronger commitments to close the gap between national climate targets and the global goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius; demanding more funding from governments to help populations adapt to climate change; lobbying for national and international legislation to protect our "common home"; and promoting a debt cancellation campaign during the Holy Year, taking into account the extent of existing "ecological debt" recognized by scientists, in order to promote "economic justice" and change unjust structures that limit sustainable development in the Global South.
The FABC encourages local churches in Asia to participate in the preparatory phase of COP 30, which will take place in Belém, Brazil, in the fall of 2025. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the publication of the encyclical "Laudato Si" and the Jubilee Year of Hope, the FABC invites local churches to give special importance to the "Season of Creation," which runs from September 1 to October 4, 2025, by engaging parishes in ecological responsibility, promoting a simpler and more sustainable lifestyle, and fostering a spirituality that deepens humanity's relationship with God, with our fellow human beings, and with creation.
"Let this Lenten season be an opportunity to examine our consciences and humbly acknowledge our sins against God's creation. It should give us an opportunity to respond to God's call to ecological conversion," the Letter concludes. Caring for our common home, it is recalled, requires "simple daily gestures in which we break the logic of violence, exploitation, and selfishness" and is manifested "in every action that seeks to build a better world."

AFRICA/DR CONGO - Home of the Missionary Sisters of Santo Domingo in the municipality of Kimbanseke, in Kinshasa, attacked

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 11:38:58 +0100

Kinshasa - The home of the Missionary Sisters of Santo Domingo in the municipality of Kimbanseke in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was attacked. The events date back to the night of March 18-19, when men armed with machetes, commonly referred to as "kuluna," entered the sisters' home by breaking through a wall before threatening them and stealing money, telephones, computers, and other valuables. "We wish to express the outrage of Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa, over the attack on the community of the Missionary Sisters of Santo Domingo in the parish of Kimbanseke," reads the statement signed by Father Clet-Clay Manvemba, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa. "The Cardinal expressed his solidarity with the religious who were victims of this barbarism and encouraged them to resist and be guided by the light of hope. He took the opportunity to call on the various congregations to increase their vigilance without giving in to panic or fear." Meanwhile, a police report was filed against an unknown person, while the judicial vicar of the archdiocese went to the scene. The attack once again highlights the growing insecurity in the Congolese capital, where criminal gangs operate and target both civilians and religious institutions. The term "Kuluna" was first used in the 1990s to describe urban youths from the southwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo who had illegally migrated to Angola from the north in search of diamonds. Since 2000, it has become a general term for criminals. From the outskirts of Kinshasa, where the police dare not enter, the gangs gradually spread to the central districts. From Kinshasa, the phenomenon of "Kuluna" gangs spread to other cities. To combat the criminal gangs, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo conducted extensive raids and arrested hundreds of suspected criminals, many of whom were sentenced to death after the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo reintroduced the death penalty.

ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Camillians in the Philippines for 50 years: witnesses of hope in a world that often experiences desperation and suffering

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 11:18:35 +0100

Cubao - "I have just returned from the Philippines, where the Camillians celebrated their 50th anniversary. I myself spent more than 30 years there, and my experience was beautiful and rich in many initiatives that taught me the great value of Providence," Father Luigi Galvani told Fides upon his return to Maumere, on the island of Flores, where he has been working for over 15 years.

March 8, 2025, was a historic day for the Camillians in the Philippines, who celebrated their 50th anniversary in the Asian country. "It began almost by chance, when three young Italian students, missionaries in Taiwan, were temporarily sent to Manila to study theology," writes Father Luigi. "Their presence and the possibility of flourishing vocational development convinced the Superiors to establish a new mission in this country. This decision, surely inspired by Providence, has produced truly encouraging and positive results in just 50 years."

"Since their humble beginnings , a total of 68 priests have been ordained within 50 years, and there are currently nine religious communities, two of which are engaged in formation and the others in hospital pastoral care and in their own health facilities. They have not only grown in number but have also spread the charism of Saint Camillus toward the sick, the elderly, the poor, and the laity by establishing various health facilities of their own, including three hospitals, three outpatient clinics, a nursing home for the elderly, and a pastoral center to promote training courses for chaplains and health personnel."

Father Galvani explains that the missionary dimension is another characteristic that characterizes and inspires the Philippine Camillian mission. "In fact, some of its religious are already serving as missionaries in Australia, Taiwan, South Korea, Italy, Germany, and the USA. Furthermore, the courageous opening of the Camillian mission in Indonesia and Pakistan was another sign of the missionary spirit that inspires them. Due to their numerical growth, they were legally recognized by their Major Superiors as a Philippine religious province a few years ago."

"The values that inspired and sustained them on this historic journey were, above all, goodwill and the courage to take initiatives, faith in Providence, and concrete dedication to the call of social and pastoral service. Their presence was full of challenges, but it was also not lacking in abundant blessings. Today, we are certain that they look to the future with a renewed commitment to bear witness to St. Camillus toward the sick and the poor, to always be 'witnesses of hope' in a world that often experiences despair and suffering," said Father Galvani.

"Here in Indonesia, too, even after years, the enthusiasm remains, with the desire to continue doing good," concludes Father Luigi, who today serves as a Camillian pioneer on the Indonesian island of Flores. The anniversary celebration program began with a solemn thanksgiving presided over by Bishop Elias Lumayog Ayuban in the Cathedral of the Diocese of Cubao, followed by a video presentation of the Philippine Mission with testimonies of the pioneers and various greetings from guests, including that of the Superior General of the Camillian Order, Pedro Tramontin, in the theater of the Camillian Seminary in Marikina.

AFRICA/EGYPT - On a mission between Ramadan and Lent

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 13:55:17 +0100

Cairo – "Ramadan Karim" and "Som Mubarak": these are the two expressions used to wish a good fast, the first for Muslims, the second for Christians. "March 1st marked the beginning of the Muslim fast of Ramadan, and a day later, the fast for Coptic Christians. Days of fasting and prayer that, we hope, make us more like brothers and sisters," writes Father Anselmo Fabiano of the Society of African Missions to Fides.

"Indeed, daily life is marked above all by Ramadan. Our Muslim friends fast from dawn to dusk, so life takes place much more at night than during the day," continues the missionary, who is currently in the village of Kom Ghareeb. "During the day, business and various activities start very late, and in the morning it is very difficult to find anyone. Muslim children and families stay in their homes and spend a lot of time watching the numerous television series that are broadcast at all hours precisely for this period. At night, around 4 a.m., the children are tasked with singing and drumming in the streets, waking everyone up so they can eat before dawn and the start of the fast. It is a great adventure to move around after sunset, because on the streets you will find people offering you food and drink to share the joy of the end of the day."

"For Christians, however, this Lent is characterized by a completely vegan diet, meaning no foods of animal origin, and lasts from midnight until Mass, which is usually held at noon, for 50 days," the Italian missionary continued. "Lent allows us to relive the experience of Jesus' fasting in the desert and strengthen our relationship with God. Lent is synonymous with silence, prayer, and almsgiving. It is a precious time to enter into a close relationship with the Lord, in which we abstain from something, such as food, to rediscover the essential presence of God in our lives. A privileged time that leads us to experience with enthusiasm the Easter joy of the Risen Christ."

"In this perspective, the activities of pastoral life continue with great joy, with so many experiences and so many encounters, especially catechesis for adolescents and young people and the Mass in the Coptic Rite, which is becoming increasingly familiar to me," affirms Father Anselmo. "It is a great joy for me to be able to speak Arabic better than before and to connect with people, listen to them, and share their joys and problems. Children are my favorite teachers, and I am continually amazed by their willingness and openness to form relationships and friendships."

Father Anselmo concludes his report by describing the constant exchange he maintains with young and old alike. "In the mornings, I sometimes go to the parish kindergarten, which is attended by Christian and Muslim children, so I have become part of the family. Spending the mornings with them, I improve my Arabic and teach them some English. I breathe the beauty of this thriving life, a village with so many children, and try, in my humble way, to be a witness to the Gospel for them. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to return to Cairo for a few days to participate in some meetings and run some errands. It was a great joy for me to see the small Catholic community of Shoubra again and share with them the joy of the Eucharist."

AMERICA/ARGENTINA - “To have come out of hell, and to proclaim that Christ is risen”. The Familia Grande Hogar de Cristo network and the new mission of Father Charly

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 13:43:49 +0100

by Monica Poletto

Buenos Aires - A great celebration accompanied the seventeenth ‘anniversary’ of the Familia Grande Hogar de Cristo in Buenos Aires, which was founded when Jorge Mario Bergoglio was Archbishop of the city. That was in 2008, and the presence of priests in the poorest neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, the Villas Miseria, had been spreading for some time. From this – ironic – name for these poor areas, the curas villeros took their name: priests who began to participate in the lives of the poorest, caring firsthand for the great needs they encountered and sharing this commitment with others, thus becoming the center of communities that were born and multiplied.
The true beginning of the "Familia Grande" is dated to Holy Thursday 2008: On that day, Archbishop Bergoglio washed the feet of young people who had embarked on a path out of drug addiction and inaugurated the first "Hogar," summarizing its method as "taking life as it comes," in a work "body to body" with the brothers and sisters one encounters.

On Sunday, March 16, 2025, the Basilica of Lujan fwas illed with many joyful people. From all parts of the country, and even from Ecuador and Paraguay, people from the Hogares of the Familia Grande gathered for Mass to give thanks for the embrace they had received over the years and to pray for their beloved Pope Francis.
But there was another reason, another occasion for prayer. The ever-popular Father Carlos "Charly" Olivero, who was part of the first group in the history of the Familia Grande when he arrived at Villa 21 as a seminarian, was called to an important task.
Father Pepe Di Paola announced this in his homily, and Bishop Oscar Ojea—former president of the Argentine Bishops' Conference and father figure to many Curas villeros—affirmed before blessing him: "Father Charly will live in Bogota and work on behalf of CELAM to spread the Familia Grande method throughout the continent.
Bishop Ojea, with the pride and tenderness of a father, recalled a passage from the Aparecida Document: "Knowing Jesus is the best gift a person can receive." Having met him is the best thing that could have happened to us in our lives. Making him known through our words and deeds is a great joy for us". He also recalled that "to entrust the mission of the 'Hogar de Cristo' to Father Charly means to entrust him with the power, the ministry, the mission of proclaiming the Resurrection of Jesus"; for "every member of the 'Hogar de Cristo' proclaims the Resurrection. He was in hell and came out of it; he proclaims this and brings it to the world. This is the proclamation of the Gospel, to convey that Jesus is life, the true happiness that man has."
Bishop Ojea blessed Father Charly and his new mission "to bring to all of Latin America this very rich experience of the Gospel that he has had over so many years, in which he has known the Virgin, consecrated himself to her, and come to know Jesus." The entire Familia Grande unites around Father Charly and prays that "the brothers and sisters of great Latin America may be enriched with this wonderful gift that Jesus and the Virgin have entrusted to us."
On Sunday, a new stage in the history of the "Familia Grande" began in the Basilica of Lujan. "There is a need," Father Charly himself said in a video from "Pastoral Villera," "for this unconditional embrace."

ASIA/MYANMAR - In the war zone, among the Kachin, a life of suffering, displacement and faith

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:37:57 +0100

Banmaw - "There is crying and despair in the diocese of Banmaw folloowing the destruction of St. Patrick's Cathedral, set on fire by the Myanmar army . I have seen many faithful cry and suffer. We can only take refuge in the Lord. In this time of Lent, people gather in prayer in the forest, the faithful celebrate the Stations of the Cross and hold processions in the mountains, and thus, with faith, they join in the suffering of Christ", a local priest in the Catholic community told Fides, who asks for anonymity for security reasons. The fire at the cathedral is the latest in a long series of Catholic places of worship attacked, damaged, or destroyed by soldiers of the regular Burmese army. "Sometimes the pretext is that they are hiding places for the resistance forces. Other times, buildings are occupied by soldiers and then, once abandoned, they are destroyed out of pure contempt, leaving scorched earth behind," the priest explains. "Tatmadaw soldiers are often young people without education or culture, recruited and manipulated by their commanders. They commit cruel acts and do not understand the gravity of their actions," he adds.
The territory of the diocese of Banmaw, in northern Myanmar, is located in the Kachin State, on the border between Myanmar and China, where the Kachin ethnic minority lives. A people who have been demanding autonomy for over 60 years and have organized an army, the "Kachin Independence Army". In this area, the Catholic Church is organized into two dioceses: Myitkyina and Banmaw . The almost entirely mountainous territory is currently a war zone, where the population faces displacement and exodus. Entire communities have been uprooted by the conflict. Families, many of them Catholic, live in refugee camps. Young Kachin people see no hope for the future, with limited or no opportunities for education or employment.
The Kachin Independence Army , which is fighting for self-determination in the state, is among the best organized ethnic militias, active for decades, and have joined the resistance against the current ruling military junta. In recent weeks, clashes have erupted in the town of Banmaw, where the Catholic cathedral was destroyed and most of the inhabitants fled. "In the last two years," the Fides source tells Fides, "the conflict has affected nine of the thirteen parishes in the diocese, increasing the number of refugees."
In early March, the pastoral center of the St. Michael Catholic Church complex in Nan Hlaing, a rural area of the Diocese of Banmaw, was hit and destroyed by bombing by the Burmese army . In this situation of precariousness and widespread violence, Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam is currently transferred to the parish in the city of Leiza, on the border with China, which is firmly in the hands of the Kachin army.
The first traces of faith in the Banmaw area date back to the mid-19th century, with a much-loved missionary bishop, Paul Ambrose Bigandet MEP. The bishop then sent the first French missionaries to the Banmaw area, where they came into contact with the animist Kachin people and began missionary work. Between 1872 and 1939, 31 French priests served the population of the Banmaw area, along with some catechists. In 1936, the Irish missionaries of Saint Columban arrived, reinvigorating evangelization. In 1939, the Holy See officially established the Apostolic Prefecture of Banmaw. After being interrupted by World War II, with the resumption of apostolic activities in 1961, the Apostolic Prefecture became the Diocese of Myitkyina. Banmaw was part of the Diocese of Myitkyina until 2006, when Pope Benedict XVI created the new Diocese of Banmaw, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Mandalay, appointing Monsignor Raymond Sumlut Gam as the diocese's first bishop.

AFRICA/DR CONGO - Despite peace declarations, the war continues in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:24:02 +0100

Kinshasa – Although a possible peace negotiation has been initiated, the war continues in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where yesterday, March 19, the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels captured the center of the town of Walikale, in the province of North Kivu.
The advance of the pro-Rwandan forces came the day after a meeting between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo, in Doha , in the presence of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
At the end of the meeting, a statement was issued stating: "The Heads of State reaffirmed the commitment of all parties to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as agreed at the joint EAC-SADC Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on February 8, 2025." The statement continued: "The Heads of State subsequently agreed that the talks initiated in Doha must continue in order to lay solid foundations for a lasting peace, as envisaged by the Luanda/Nairobi Process." In addition to Qatar, Angola is also involved in mediating efforts to restore peace in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo .
Despite the negotiation efforts, the war continues, with successes for the M23 rebel movement and its allies. According to the local civil society organization ACMEJ , the M23 militias have made no significant progress in the Congolese province of South Kivu, where the local self-defense militias known as "Wazalendo" are holding their own. Meanwhile, in North Kivu province, according to the ACMEJ, the M23's recent territorial gains have been facilitated by the fact that some "Wazalendo" units have joined the pro-Rwandan forces.
Meanwhile, the M23 has also appointed new administrators for the recently conquered territories in the two Congolese provinces, according to the organization, to strengthen financial and mining administration and ensure transparency in the areas under its control.
Meanwhile, the high-level meetings of the joint delegation of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Congo and the Church of Christ in Congo continue, presenting their initiative for the Social Pact for Peace and Coexistence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes Region . Yesterday, March 19, the delegation was received by French President Emmanuel Macron, who declared his full support for the initiative: "To overcome the current crisis in the east of the country and allow the restoration of Congolese sovereignty, France supports dialogue."

VATICAN - Cardinal Tagle consecrates Bishops Sangalli and Sarrió Cucarella: Like Saint Joseph, be 'silent' heralds of the Word of God

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 11:55:49 +0100

Vatican City - Bishops are called to be "silent" heralds of the Word of God. They do their work well when, without being protagonists, they become humble "guardians of the active presence of God in his Church". And if their projects do not progress, it is better to "sleep" like Saint Joseph and "dream the dreams of God," said Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle in an address to Samuele Sangalli and Diego Ramón Sarrió Cucarella during the liturgy of their episcopal ordination in the Vatican Basilica on the afternoon of March 19, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph.

Samuele Sangalli, Adjunct Secretary and Head of the Administration of the Dicastery for Evangelization , was appointed Archbishop and Titular Bishop of Zella by Pope Francis on February 6 . Diego Ramn Sarrió Cucarella, former President of the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies , of the Missionaries of Africa, was appointed by the Pope as the new Bishop of Laghouat, Algeria, on January 25.

More than 30 bishops and Cardinals participated in the solemn ordination liturgy at the main Altar in St. Peter's Basilica. Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Missions and Principal Consecrator, had as co-consecrators Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio of Lombardy and Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization .

On the Solemnity of Saint Joseph and exactly 12 years after the solemn inauguration of Pope Francis's Petrine Ministry , Cardinal Tagle turned his attention to the Spouse of Mary in his homily to offer the two new bishops valuable inspiration for their new journey as Successors of the Apostles. According to the Second Vatican Council, they are called "to care for the flock of which they are shepherds in God's place, as teachers of doctrine, priests of worship, and ministers of the government of the Church", and "to be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with the blood of his own Son," as Saint Paul says. "Beautiful teachings," remarked the Filipino Cardinal, "which make even bishops tremble. How can a bishop live up to such a great responsibility? Surely only by the grace of God."

"Saint Joseph too," Cardinal Tagle emphasized, "accepted God's call in faith." Faith "is the source of Joseph's courage and creativity, who always subordinates his project to God's, even when it is incomprehensible and uncomfortable." Similarly, the ordained ministry of priests and bishops must be "rooted in a response of faith in God and exercised as a response of faith." Often, Cardinal Tagle noted, "we plan and expect God to carry out our plans." In reality, however, "we are not the planners, and God is not the executor of our plans." And "if your vision and your plans do not seem to be moving forward," he added, addressing the new Bishops, "sleep like Saint Joseph." For "when we sleep, we are vulnerable, have less control, and are therefore more receptive and open. Sleep and dream the dreams of God. Wake up to realize the dreams of God with obedience and zeal."

Saint Joseph, according to the Pro-Prefect of the Missionary Dicastery, is also considered a "silent saint." Not a single word of his is recorded in the Gospels. Nevertheless, "he accompanies, nurtures, and preserves the Word of God, made flesh in Mary's womb, the most important Word." And "every thought, every heartbeat, and every action of Joseph speaks of one Word: Jesus. It is the only thing that matters. His own words pale before the greatest Word. He can remain silent." Following in the footsteps of Saint Joseph, "deacons, priests, and bishops must also remain 'silent' when proclaiming the Word of God." For "it is not our word that counts and must be preserved for posterity, but the Word of God." And "if our thoughts, plans, decisions, and actions do not speak of Jesus, we could be "like resounding brass or a clanging cymbal."

Furthermore, Saint Joseph is "a reliable guardian of Jesus." And while carrying out his mission to guard the Son of God, "Joseph knows that Jesus belongs to his Father's house. Joseph's house in Nazareth has value only if it remains a shadow of the Father's house, from which he must draw light." Along these same lines, Cardinal Tagle noted: "Deacons, priests, and bishops are also called to be guardians of God's active presence in his Church." Because "bishops are not substitutes for the eternally living God nor competitors of the Redeemer." And like Saint Joseph, they are called to be “authentic signs of God’s presence in the Church” with a “discreet visibility of the shadow that depends on the light.”

Precisely, imitating the "sober and essential style of Saint Joseph," at the end of the solemn liturgy, Archbishop Sangalli read a few simple "words of thanks." They were addressed primarily to the "Providence of God, which has granted this afternoon full of grace" and to Pope Francis, "who has called us to be bishops and to whom we renew our affection and our prayers for a complete recovery as Head of the Church."
The new bishop's thanks were also directed to the three consecrators, "who truly express the universality of the Church, and to all the other concelebrating cardinals and bishops, for whose service we were admitted to the College of Bishops through the gift of the 'Spiritus principalis,' the Spirit who governs and guides the Church." This Spirit, Archbishop Sangalli added, "I received from the Church" and "from the good example of my dear parents, who today are already in eternal Life." Finally, the new Archbishop's thanks also went to the "brothers and family members who have accompanied, supported, and encouraged my journey," as well as to the clergy and "the Ambrosian people of Lecco and the Seminary of Milan, with my former companions."

Archbishop Sangalli also thanked "the communities and associations I served, not least the Sinderesi Foundation," as well as the academic communities of the Pontifical Gregorian University and the various universities where Sangalli was a student and professor.

The gratitude of the new Archbishop was also expressed towards the Dicastery of Bishops, where Sangalli served for 20 years and lived "in contact with the vibrant heartbeat of the building of the local Churches and the election of their pastors." The new Archbishop's final words of thanks went to "the great family of the Dicastery for Evangelization, which opens the whole world to the richness of different traditions and cultures, each capable of sharing and transmitting the Gospel in its own singular way."

AMERICA/HAITI - A network of paths for human and economic development in Pourcine Pic Makaya

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 20:15:28 +0100

Pourcine - In Pourcine Pic Makaya, the sowing season is coming to an end. The next two months will be difficult for the people awaiting the harvest. They have "put everything they have in the form of money into the ground," that is, they have used it to prepare the land and sow.

"In the coming weeks, agricultural work will decrease significantly; the Community will be able to work on repairing some roads and paths that connect the village plateau with other towns," writes Father Massimo Miraglio, a Camillian missionary in Haiti, to Fides.
“With a salary for the people, organized into work teams, we can help several families in a very difficult economic time. The results we seek are twofold,” continues the Camillian parish priest of Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours in Pourcine: “to improve the usability of some roads and to financially assist more than 200 families with a small financial contribution from their work.”

The village of Pourcine Pic Makaya is located on a plateau at an altitude of approximately 1,000 meters and surrounded by rugged mountains, where numerous hamlets are connected by difficult and steep paths. Just under 300 families live in Pourcine, with a total of almost 1,500 people; the hamlets, about 15 in number, are home to around 2,000 people. The village is the center of all the area's inhabitants, and a market is held every Wednesday, the center of the area's economic activity. In Pourcine, there are two schools, one public and one parish, and a small parish clinic. Paths lead from the plateau to all the other villages and to the three main tracks that connect Pourcine to the rest of the region: the first to the town of Beaumont, the second to the adjacent Castillon valley, and the third to the valley floor and Jérémie.

“This entire network of mountain roads plays a fundamental role,” explains Fr. Miraglio, “allowing people to travel from the center to the villages, to the land they cultivate, to the markets for local produce, and to the neighboring towns in the region. Unfortunately, due to the terrain, heavy rainfall, and poor maintenance, this network of roads is in poor condition and, especially during the rainiest periods, is often impassable. Rural roads in particular, which are especially valuable because they allow the transport of products on mule and ensure connections to neighboring areas, are in poor condition. On rare occasions, the local community organizes, with the limited resources at its disposal, to clear the roads and improve their viability.”

To help the population, Father Máximo is working on a project to "rehabilitate and maintain the roads and mule tracks that connect the villages of the Pourcine-Pic Makaya mountain community." This project will enable the population to travel more safely and quickly, using the mules available to transport more local products and essential goods for the community's life. The project also aims to foster the economic and social development of the area, counteracting depopulation and promoting a participatory and sustainable work model.

“The direct beneficiaries of the project will be 268 people,” reports the Camillian, “who will be directly involved in the cleaning and maintenance of the trails, while the indirect beneficiaries will be the entire population of Poucine Pic Makaya, who will be able to benefit from the improvements to the trail network. In particular, the children who daily walk the trails leading from the various villages to the plateau where the school is located will be able to travel more safely and quickly. The direct beneficiaries, men and women , will be chosen from among the residents of the most remote areas who most need these income-generating activities at a particularly difficult time for the farmers in the area.”

OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA - Resignation and succession of metropolitan archbishop of Mount Hagen

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:04:49 +0100

Vatican City - The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea, presented by Archbishop Douglas William Young, S.V.D.
He is succeeded by Archbishop Clement Papa, until now Coadjutor Archbishop of the same See.

His Exc. Msgr. Clement Papa was born on 22 February 1971 in Mount Hagen, Western Highlands, .
He studied philosophy at the Good Shepherd Seminary in Maiwara, Madang, and, after a pastoral and spiritual experience, he studied theology at the Holy Spirit Seminary and the Catholic Theological Institute in Bomana, National Capital District. He was ordained a priest on 3 December 1999 for the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mount Hagen.

He has held the following positions and continued his studies: Assistant Parish Priest of Fatima ; Parish Priest of Kol-Ambulua ; Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome ; Chaplain at Holy Trinity Teachers College ; Dean of Studies at Good Shepherd Seminary in Mt. Hagen ; Doctorate in Theology at Melbourne College of Divinity ; Lecturer at Good Shepherd Seminary ; Rector of Good Shepherd Seminary ; Member of the Finance Committee and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Archdiocese ; since 2023 he has been the interim Director of the Spiritual Year at the Good Shepherd Seminary.

AFRICA/CONGO RD - Appeal by Butembo university students: “Enough 30 years of war imposed on us to plunder our country's resources”

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:50:15 +0100

Kinshasa – “We have been living in war for more than 30 years. The war was born before our generation. It has produced misery, millions of internally displaced people, millions of dead” say the university students of Butembo-Beni, in North Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Since January, vast portions of territory in the provinces of North and South Kivu have been conquered by the M23 guerrilla movement with the support of the Rwandan army, including the two capitals, Goma and Bukavu.
In their appeal, sent to Fides, the members of the Student Council of the Catholic University of Graben in Butembo-Beni complain that “the international community has had a passive attitude”. “The conflict endangers the sovereignty of the DRC and our right to life. Children, women and men are exposed to atrocities and all kinds of violence and human rights violations”.
The students raise ‘a cry of alarm’. “Aware of the challenges and problems related to peace and security in the world, we express our and the Congolese people's great weariness. For too long we have been attacked, massacred, killed, deprived of fundamental freedoms, stripped of human dignity. We need peace”. The Butembo-Beni university students remind us that at the root of the war imposed on the Congolese population, there is no ‘ancestral’ conflict, but topical economic and strategic interests: “There is no longer any need to prove that economic and expansionist reasons lie behind this tragedy. Material interests make us prey: our mineral resources, necessary for the technological and energy transition, are among the most coveted by world powers. But to access them, is it really necessary to kill us, condemn us to misery, destroy our cities, our homes, our environment?”. An example of this predation is given by the 10 tonnes of strategic minerals taken in mid-February by M23 militiamen from a plant in South Kivu .
This is why the students demand that “our riches benefit the daughters and sons of the DRC. We want the powers to negotiate directly with the DRC partnerships conducted in a fair and peaceful manner, in the interest of all peoples. Our resources must not be extorted through illicit exploitation, at the cost of our lives. Together we must find ways to share them with respect for all human rights and the principle of sovereignty of states”.
“We therefore launch an urgent and pressing appeal to all actors on the international scene, so that they play their role correctly. They must work to ensure that the world finds peace and security, to ensure that all the peoples of the world finally have a peaceful life. We have neither weapons production industries nor nuclear weapons laboratories. Why impose war on us? We want peace and security, without conditions”, they conclude.

ASIA/INDONESIA - A ‘common vision’ for humanity and peace: Interview with the Indonesian Ambassador to the Holy See on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:05:11 +0100

by Paolo Affatato

Rome – “Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia and the signing of the Istiqlal Declaration last September were a crowning achievement of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the Holy See,” says Michael Trias Kuncahyono, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Holy See, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the official establishment of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the Holy See on March 13, 1950. Fides Agency asked him some questions

- Ambassador, can you recall the historical and political context in which the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Indonesia took place, 75 years ago?

Indonesia had recently completed the journey to gain independence from the Dutch colonizers: Indonesia proclaimed itself independent in 1945. But at that time, however, there were still colonial pressures from European powers, in the specific case of the Dutch. It was then the first native Indonesian bishop, Monsignor Albertus Sugiyopranoto who called on the Vatican to recognize Indonesian independence. Not only because of the assertion of the independence of the State but also because many missionaries were still imprisoned by colonial forces. This fact could have been a good push to get Indonesia's recognition.

- Was the personality of Albertus Sugiyopranoto therefore decisive?

A bishop since 1940, he also made an important contribution during the occupation by Japanese forces in 1942, who had arrested priests and nuns. Bishop Sugiyopranoto took a very clear position. When Dutch forces attacked the Indonesians in 1947, he made an impassioned radio address urging Catholics to defend the homeland. He was an advocate for the involvement of Catholics in the independence movement. Meanwhile, he made contact with the Holy See, which sent one of its delegates in December 1947 and initiated direct relations with President Sukarno. Then the Apostolic Delegate, in agreement with Indonesian Vice President Mohamed Atta, dialogued to establish formal relations. Thus on March 13, 1950, the Holy See began diplomatic relations with Indonesia with the status of Apostolic Internunciature, which later became Apostolic Nunciature on December 6, 1966.

- What were the respective goals on the two sides in establishing such relations?

We know that the Holy See's diplomacy is different from all other diplomacies in the world. The Vatican ambassador, today the Apostolic Nuncio, is sent to a State not only with the role of an intermediary between states but also to keep in connection and relationship the Church of Rome with the local Church, in the country in which it is located. At that time in Indonesia there was a great growth of the Catholic community, a phenomenon that aroused interest in the Holy See. So there was a need to facilitate the pastoral work and the life of the local Church. There was a need to follow and deepen the apostolic work in Indonesia. The goal of the Holy See is always to take care of the Catholic Church, and the Delegate was the Pope's representative in this process.
Indonesia, for its part, wanted to establish diplomatic relations because, as a very young country, it needed to be recognized in the international community. The international recognition by the Holy See was of immense value: the Holy See was the first European entity to recognize the Indonesian State. This then led other European States to follow the example. It was a decisive step.

- Was the Catholic Church then already established in Indonesia? In what forms and with what configuration?

The Catholic religion in Indonesia was already a well-established community, mainly thanks to some missionaries and "spiritual fathers" of the community, such as the Jesuit Franciscus Van Lith, who had been very involved in the apostolate of education, opening schools in Java, a work that was highly appreciated by Indonesian society at the time. The first Indonesian Bishop Sugiyopranoto was one of Father Van Lith's students. Further east in the Flores area, then, a Catholic presence was already established thanks to the Portuguese. Let us remember that Christianity had arrived as early as the 7th century, and then in the 16th century several missionaries from Portugal had landed in Indonesia including Francis Xavier, passing through the Moluccas on his way to China.
In addition, the fact that Indonesia, at its birth in 1945, was founded on the “Pancasila” the charter of five principles, one of which was faith in God; and that it adopted the principle of “diverse but one”: this made the Holy See realize that there was fertile ground in which all religions had a chance to flourish.

- Was the “unity in diversity” approach a crucial point?

That principle was the catalyst in diplomatic relations. But others, such as equality and brotherhood, are also in harmony with Christian values. The founding fathers were quite far-sighted in considering that a nation so rich in different cultures, ethnicities and religions could only survive by staying true to the motto “unity in diversity.” Pope Pius XII already appreciated this and Pope Francis also reiterated it, saying that the model should be taken as an example, especially in countries where there is great pluralism and it is difficult to remain united: we are different but we are brothers.

- In Indonesian history, in designing the architecture of the Republic, the choice was made not to build a mono-religious state...

It was: the first of the five founding principles was “faith in one God,” then that phrase should have continued by saying “in the Islamic way.” There was a great debate about it, then it was decided to leave only “faith in one God.” Mohammad Atta, the vice president, who was a Muslim and came from Padang a strongly Islamic city, pointed it out clearly because, he said, “we have to remain united.” It was a forward-looking vision.

- What common points do you see between Indonesia and the Holy See today in their respective political and cultural approaches?

Politically, Indonesia and the Holy See find themselves in a policy that is always in favor of humanity. The Holy See does not work for the maintenance of temporal power but for the development of man, his dignity and rights. I think Indonesia also has the same approach, as the Pancasila and our Constitution say, promoting equality, freedom, democracy as well as peace. These are points that Indonesia and the Holy See have in common.

- Is there a common vision also in the use of the instrument of diplomacy?

In the instrument of diplomacy, the aspect we have in common can be seen in the founding principles, such as freedom from colonialism and the promotion of peace: we see this in scenarios such as the Middle East, Ukraine, Myanmar. The “diplomacy of hope,” mentioned by Pope Francis in his recent address to the Diplomatic Corps, we understood it as diplomacy that wants to improve the world in a harmonious and comprehensive way. Hope must start from trust, which is the basis of relations between states. Hope for peace in the various conflict scenarios is generated on the basis of trust between the interlocutors.

- What did Pope Francis' trip to Indonesia in 2024 mean?

Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia and the signing of the Istiqlal Declaration last September was a crowning achievement of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the Holy See. Not all countries with which the Holy See has relations are visited by the pontiff. And three Popes have visited Indonesia - Pope St. Paul VI , Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Francis .
The trip was not perceived as a trip reserved for the Catholic community, but was perceived as a visit to all Indonesians, who welcomed the Pope with great warmth. The Pope became a model of a leader to follow: he was easy-going, showed himself in a non-luxury car, was always very humble, and stopped to greet everyone. Indonesia showed its true face, a plural face, composed of people of different cultures and religions who welcomed the Pope warmly and enthusiastically. Today, at the time of his illness, so many write to me, not only Catholics but also Muslims, saying: let us pray for him.

- What do you hope for the future?

We want to strengthen more and more the relations between Indonesia and the Holy See: and, since there is no political and economic aspect, to do it through culture. We intend to make the pluralism of Indonesian culture and its peaceful face better known. The Holy See is, for us, also a gateway to the rest of the world. Another field of fruitful cooperation is that of interreligious dialogue, according to the vision of Pope Francis. These are the paths for future relations.

ASIA/CHINA - Two churches dedicated to Saint Joseph reconsecrated and reopened in the diocese of Shanghai

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 13:24:46 +0100

Shanghai – “Since the visible temple has been rebuilt, we must now also make the interior temple of our heart more spiritually alive”. This is the exhortation addressed by Joseph Shen Bin, Bishop of the diocese of Shanghai to the baptized Catholics of his diocese on the occasion of the reconsecration and inauguration of two churches dedicated to Saint Joseph in view of the solemnity dedicated to the Holy Spouse of the Virgin Mary and putative father of Jesus, on March 19.

On Sunday, March 16, the second Sunday of Lent, Bishop Shen Bin consecrated the church in Tianma, Songjiang district. At the liturgy attended by more than a thousand people, Bishop Shen Bin also conferred the sacrament of Confirmation to more than two hundred adults. During his homily, Shen Bin also thanked all the priests, nuns and lay people of the parish for their dedication and commitment in supporting the restoration of the church, and also the civil authorities for their logistical support. “May this temple of God’s grace,” the Bishop hoped, “be a welcoming house of faith for all, so that we can walk together towards holiness under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”

The fervent devotion to Saint Joseph, Patron Saint of China, has been handed down among Chinese Catholics from generation to generation, and is revived every year in March, the month dedicated to the Saint. In China, many churches, ecclesiastical structures, seminaries, national and diocesan religious congregations, charitable institutions and schools are dedicated to Saint Joseph. Chinese shrines dedicated to the Saint welcome pilgrims and devotees from all parts of China and abroad.

On Saturday, March 15, Bishop Joseph Shen Bin had already presided over the consecration of another church in Beitaowan, in the Baoshan district, also dedicated to Saint Joseph. On that occasion, thirty diocesan priests concelebrated Mass in front of more than 300 faithful, and the sacrament of Confirmation was administered to 17 parishioners.

The Beitaowan church in the Baoshan district was built in 1650 during the Qing dynasty, and rebuilt around 1875. A primary school attached to the church was built in 1949. On March 10, 1989, it was restored and reopened to the faithful, becoming the first Catholic church to be reopened for worship in the Baoshan district.

The Tianma church, in the Songjiang district, was built in 1850. A hospital run by the Canossian nuns was also attached to the church. It was reopened for worship on 16 December 1989. Today, a public hospital stands on the site of the former hospital.

ASIA/MYANMAR - Banmaw, fire destroys St Patrick's Cathedral

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:34:30 +0100

Banmaw - The Cathedral of Banmaw, a town in the state of Kachin, in Myanmar, was destroyed by fire on Sunday 16 March, on the eve of the feast of St Patrick, the Saint to whom it is dedicated.

The Cathedral was allegedly set on fire during operations conducted in the area by soldiers of the SAC , the military junta that currently holds power in Myanmar.

The fire, according to testimonies sent to Fides, broke out at 4 in the afternoon on Sunday, 16th March. The priest's house, the three-storey building that houses the diocesan offices and the high school had already been set on fire on 26 February.

The diocese of Banmaw, established in 2006 and led by Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam, borders China to the east and covers a largely mountainous area of 10,741 square kilometres. Before the current conflict situation it was inhabited by a civilian population of more than 407,000 , belonging to different ethnic groups.

AFRICA/NIGERIA - After the March 3 kidnapping: Seminarian murdered, while the priest kidnapped with him is released

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:30:22 +0100

Abuja - The seminarian who was kidnapped along with a priest on March 3 in southern Nigeria has been murdered, while the priest was released. According to the Diocese of Auchi, "Fr. Philip Ekweli was released by the kidnappers on Thursday, 13th of March, 2025 close to Amughe village, a few kilometres from Okpekpe town, North Ibie in Etsako East LGA of Edo State."
"Unfortunately, however, the 21-year-old major seminarian, Andrew Peter, who was kidnapped along with Fr Ekweli, was gruesomely murdered by the abductors," the statement added, signed by Fr. Peter Egielewa, Director of the Diocesan Media Relations Office. Father Ekweli and seminarian Andrew were kidnapped from the rectory of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Iviukhua-Agenebode, Etsako East County, Edo State, at approximately 9:30 p.m. on March 3, when armed men entered both the rectory and the church. The two were taken to nearby forests.
The diocese appeals to security forces to protect the people of Edo State from the ongoing kidnappings: "The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, expresses gratitude to all for the prayers and moral support received while Fr Ekweli and the Seminarian were held in captivity. He calls on the government at all levels and the security agencies to stop the deteriorating security situation in Edo North in particular and other parts of Edo State, which has now become a safe haven for kidnappers, who can operate with impunity, while the people feel helpless and abandoned." "People are not safe on the roads, in their farms and even in their homes. This is unacceptable when there are elected officials whose duty it is to protect the people. The bishop is grateful to the Edo State Government for their sincere efforts in seeing the victims rescued, but expresses dissatisfaction with the response of the police in particular in the rescue efforts, urging them to put in place better measures to rescue kidnapped victims rather than leave the entire rescue efforts solely in the hands of family, friends and acquaintances of kidnapped victims."
Father Egielewa recalls that "in the past decade, six of its priests had been kidnapped and tortured before release, three were attacked but escaped, and two—Fr. Christopher Odia and Seminarian Andrew Peter—were murdered." "May the souls of Seminarian Andrew Peter, Fr Christopher Odia and all those killed by kidnappers in Nigeria through the mercy of God rest in peace," the statement concludes.

AFRICA/MOZAMBIQUE - "Closely connected to the community": Catholic University in Beira inaugurates academic year and celebrates its 30th anniversary

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:15:53 +0100

Beira - "Since its founding in 1995, the Catholic University of Mozambique has responded to educational challenges with seriousness and innovation, with the firm desire to educate citizens of integrity," said the Rector, Fr. Filipe Sungo. "We seek not only well-prepared and qualified professionals in their field, but also leaders committed to the common good."

Three decades of history have enabled the UCM to realize an educational project that today stands out at the national level for its academic rigor, innovation, internationalization, and, last but not least, its human value. This is affirmed by the medical aid organization "Doctors with Africa Cuamm," which carries out numerous initiatives in collaboration with the university and was represented at the opening event of the academic year on Friday, March 14, in Beira by its director, Don Dante Carraro, accompanied by Professor Alberto Mantovani, internationally renowned immunologist and scientific director of "Humanitas," as well as other priests and supporters from the Diocese of Padua.

"An institution closely linked to the community," is how Don Dante defines the UCM, emphasizing that science, research and expertise must not forget to serve the poorest and most vulnerable. "The future begins right here, where knowledge is built and shared," said Professor Mantovani, who has been a visiting professor in Beira several times over the years.

"The university is certainly a place where science is cultivated with seriousness, but it is also a place where hearts and minds are formed not only for academic excellence but also for generous service to humanity," said Bishop Claudio Dalla Zuanna of Beira, who attended the ceremony, echoing the words of Pope Francis. "The university must not be a self-contained ivory tower, but must be able to listen to society, accept challenges, and provide answers."

The UCM is now the country's second university campus, located about 1,500 km from the capital, Maputo. A few years after its founding, the Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Mozambique was opened, not least at the urging of "Doctors with Africa Cuamm" and thanks to decades of collaboration between the aid organization and the city's health authorities. Since the first courses in anatomy, surgery, and internal medicine, launched by CUAMM physicians in 2004, the commitment to the UCM Medical School has never stopped, but has actually grown over time. On August 25, 2007, the first aspiring doctors graduated in Beira. "A historic date for the entire country," as the university's rector, Father Alberto Ferreira, called it. They were the first students to be trained outside the capital, Maputo, in the north-central part of the country, where there was barely one doctor per 100,000 inhabitants .

Angelus - Pope Francis from the Gemelli Hospital: "I join with so many brothers and sisters who are sick: Our bodies are weak but, even like this, nothing can prevent us from loving and praying"

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 09:16:11 +0100

Rome - In the Transfiguration, "Jesus shows the disciples what is hidden behind the gestures He performs in their midst: the light of His infinite love," reads Pope Francis's text for the Angelus prayer, published by the Vatican this Sunday, referring to the Gospel for the second Sunday of Lent.

"I am sharing these thoughts with you," the Pope writes, "while I am facing a period of trial, and I join with so many brothers and sisters who are sick: fragile, at this time, like me. Our bodies are weak but, even like this, nothing can prevent us from loving, praying, giving ourselves, being for each other, in faith, shining signs of hope."

"How much light shines," the Bishop of Rome continues in his reflections, "in this sense, in hospitals and places of care! How much loving care illuminates the rooms, the corridors, the clinics, the places where the humblest services are performed! That is why I would like to invite you, today, to join me in praising the Lord, who never abandons us and who, in times of sorrow, places people beside us who reflect a ray of His love."

The Pope, whose condition is slowly but steadily improving according to medical reports, thanks "everyone for your prayers" and, he writes, "those who assist me with such dedication. I know that many children are praying for me; some of them came here today to “Gemelli” as a sign of closeness. Thank you, dearest children! The Pope loves you and is always waiting to meet you."

In the morning, around 500 children gathered in the square forecourt of the Gemelli Hospital, where the statue of John Paul II stands. This was a delegation of children of many nationalities, supported by UNICEF and the Caritas office of the Diocese of Aversa, who expressed their affection for the Pope in this way.

From the hospital, Pope Francis asked again to continue "to pray for peace, especially in the countries wounded by war: tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo".

ASIA/HOLY LAND - Way of the Cross of the Catholic schools in Jerusalem, praying for peace and for the Pope's health

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 10:22:23 +0100

by Dietrich Bäumer*

Jerusalem - "God, our Father in Heaven, to you we raise our prayers for all the sick, especially for Pope Francis," read the placards carried by the boys and girls of the Catholic schools in Jerusalem during the Way of the Cross on Friday, March 14, 2025, through the streets of the Holy City. Under the motto "Pilgrims of Hope," chosen by Pope Francis for this year's Jubilee Year, about 700 boys and girls in the Old City of Jerusalem retraced the paths Jesus took on his way to the Golgotha Calvary and also prayed for the health of the Bishop of Rome.

The Way of the Cross of the Catholic schools in Jerusalem takes place every year during Lent and was led by Father Francis Patton, Custodian of the Holy Land, and Father Ibrahim Faltas, Vicar of the Custody and Director of the Franciscan School in the Holy Land.
At the beginning of the Way of the Cross , Father Ibrahim reminded everyone that special prayers would be said for the recovery of Pope Francis and Father Ayman Bathish, who had been seriously injured in an accident two days earlier.

Many students had prepared posters for the Way of the Cross bearing the word "Hope" in various languages, as well as prayers for the healing of all the sick, especially for Pope Francis. Teachers and parents of students from the 13 Christian schools in East Jerusalem also participated in the procession through the Old City of Jerusalem.

Stations 8-14 traditionally concluded in the Franciscan Church of the Redeemer near the New Gate. This year, too, the final blessing with a relic of the cross, given by Custodian Father Francesco Patton to the packed church, marked the end of the procession. All participants wore white stoles bearing the Arabic inscription "Al Rajaa'" . The prayers were inspired by the Holy Year and the prayer intentions of Pope Francis.

In his closing remarks in the Church of the Redeemer, Father Ibrahim thanked everyone for the broad participation in the Stations of the Cross. "We are in difficult times, but it is a time of prayer and forgiveness, without which there would be no new beginning," said the Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land.

As every year, the shared Stations of the Cross were an expression of deep solidarity with Christians around the world and a sign of hope for the students of the Christian schools in Jerusalem.

The Schmidt Catholic School in Jerusalem will express its special closeness with Rome and the Holy See with a Jubilee pilgrimage, which will take students, teachers, and staff to the Eternal City from November 23 to 30, 2025. The students look forward to the planned meetings in Rome and with Pope Francis and pray for his recovery.

*Principal of the Schmidt German Catholic School in Jerusalem