Fides News - Englishhttps://www.fides.org/Fides Agency NewsenContent on this site is licensed under aASIA/PHILIPPINES - "State of food emergency" while the country is in electoral campaignhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/76008-ASIA_PHILIPPINES_State_of_food_emergency_while_the_country_is_in_electoral_campaignhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/76008-ASIA_PHILIPPINES_State_of_food_emergency_while_the_country_is_in_electoral_campaignManila - The state of “food emergency” declared by the Philippine government to counter the “rice crisis” - due to an “extraordinary” increase in the price of the country's staple food - “is an economic problem, but it also has political implications: we are in the electoral campaign, with a view to the elections in May, and the rice issue will influence this period. It will be used by politicians to capitalize on the consensus for or against President Marcos”, underlines Antonio Ledesma, Archbishop Emeritus of Cagayan de Oro on the island of Mindanao, in an interview with Fides. <br />“In Mindanao”, says the Jesuit, “there is discontent at the moment, but people can still buy rice at the market. Of course, this is an important issue and we are in a precarious balance”. "There are farmers who have a low income from growing rice for sale," the Archbishop continued. "Their situation overlaps with the problem of imports, since domestic demand in the Philippines cannot be met by local production. Making the country self-sufficient in rice needs and finding measures to achieve this is an open and protracted problem. <br />These are all issues that affect the common good, but they are now entering the electoral campaign and are in danger of being instrumentalized," he explains. <br />The declaration of rice food emergency was signed on February 4 and allows for the release of rice stocks from the National Food Authority to stabilize prices "and ensure that rice, a staple food for millions of Filipinos, remains accessible to consumers," said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. A release of 300,000 tons of rice, about 30,000 per month, is planned for a period of 10 months to stabilize the market through lower prices. The NFA will start selling its rice stocks in selected markets to government-controlled companies at a price of 36 pesos per kilo, while rice currently sells between 50 and 60 pesos per kilo. This will benefit both consumers and local farmers as rice will be available at a lower price. The food safety emergency will remain in effect until it is lifted by the department. In this regard, Laurel stressed that food prices have remained high despite the decline in global rice prices and the reduction of tariffs on imported rice in July 2024. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority , rice inflation reached 4.2 percent at the end of 2024, with a steady increase. In this situation, welfare programs for the sale of cheaper rice in centers and outlets under the "Rice for all" program were launched to help the country's citizens, especially from the poorer sections of the population. In the Catholic communities, to support the food security of the poorest, the "Pondo ng Pinoy" program is active, an anti-poverty initiative that was first launched in the Diocese of Manila in 2004 and has now spread to 30 dioceses. The basis of the program is the formula "a little for many", in which as many people as possible are invited to donate 25 cents every day as a gesture of charity towards those in need. <br />Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:40:01 +0100ASIA/ARAB EMIRATES - Jubilee in the Vicariate of Southern Arabia, Bishop Martinelli: our being a "Church of migrants" helps us to place all our hope in Christhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/76007-ASIA_ARAB_EMIRATES_Jubilee_in_the_Vicariate_of_Southern_Arabia_Bishop_Martinelli_our_being_a_Church_of_migrants_helps_us_to_place_all_our_hope_in_Christhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/76007-ASIA_ARAB_EMIRATES_Jubilee_in_the_Vicariate_of_Southern_Arabia_Bishop_Martinelli_our_being_a_Church_of_migrants_helps_us_to_place_all_our_hope_in_ChristAbu Dhabi - The Church in the Vicariate of Southern Arabia is a "Church of migrants", where the common experience of being migrant is to feel that there is always "something missing or lacking", starting from their homeland and their distant loved ones. But this perception should be “an opportunity”, first of all for us to open up to each other, and, at the same time, “this condition” brings out the source and the dynamism of Christian hope, “a hope that does not disappoint us because it is rooted in the love of Christ, an irrevocable love, a love forever”. <br /><br />This is what Capuchin Franciscan Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, writes in his pastoral letter addressed to the Catholic communities present in the Vicariate of Southern Arabia, which includes Oman, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates, on the occasion of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Catholic Church. <br /><br />Bishop Martinelli points to the characteristic factors - pilgrimage and hope - that characterize the Jubilee period, highlighting the many things that migrants and pilgrims have in common: “Today we are called to be pilgrims of hope” because “a pilgrim goes through the adversities of life knowing that God never abandons him or her. Being pilgrims, reminds us that we are migrants. And like a pilgrim, a migrant is also always on the move”. <br /><br />“We live in this part of the world, far from our homes and our countries of origin. We are a Church of migrants, we come from over a hundred different nations. Our life here depends on the condition of our jobs and on many circumstances that are not in our control. Precisely in these situations of being migrants, we are called to live with a greater passion, the role of being the pilgrims of hope”, said the Bishop, citing the Bull "Spes non confundit" , in which the Pope calls for “signs of hope for migrants who leave their homelands behind in search of a better life for themselves and for their families. Their expectations must not be frustrated by prejudice and rejection”. <br /><br />Being a migrant, continues Martinelli, “always means dealing with limitations”, such as the absence of families. “Even if we have a lot of help, we cannot have everything that we have in our countries of origin” and this makes us all understand “the temporariness of life”. <br /><br />“I I invite you to live your reality of being migrants in this land of Arabia as part of your pilgrimage, towards the Kingdom of Heaven, continually supported by Christian hope. We are made for eternal happiness; let us not be deceived by the temporary goods,” the Apostolic Vicar continued. <br /><br />“Mass migration,” the Apostolic Vicar wrote, “is changing the face of societies and face of the Church. Being aware of this epochal change, being migrants and pilgrims of hope leads us to live intensely and in harmony, our being a Church composed of people who come from many different countries and at the same time promote peace and solidarity in social life. In this way, united in diversity, we can be a prophetic sign of the Kingdom of God.” <br />Bishop Martinelli also recalls that this year marks 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which gave us “the Creed, which we recite every Sunday. It is still recognized today by all the Churches and denominations of Christianity. Celebrating the Nicene Creed has a great ecumenical value, it pushes us to work for the promotion of unity among all Christians”. <br /><br />“I invite you to live with great vigor this Holy Year of hope. I encourage you to participate in the programs and the events of our vicariate, especially in the churches declared as shrines for the jubilee and in some of the international events planned in Rome”, concluded the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia. <br />Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:37:56 +0100AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Bishops on the serious crisis in the country: "We must not let ourselves be deprived of hope"https://www.fides.org/en/news/76006-AMERICA_COLOMBIA_Bishops_on_the_serious_crisis_in_the_country_We_must_not_let_ourselves_be_deprived_of_hopehttps://www.fides.org/en/news/76006-AMERICA_COLOMBIA_Bishops_on_the_serious_crisis_in_the_country_We_must_not_let_ourselves_be_deprived_of_hopeBogota - "We are seriously concerned about the requests for help and the needs of the populations and communities that are seriously affected," write the Colombian Bishops gathered in Bogota for the Plenary Assembly. <br />"It is urgent to pay special attention to migrants, displaced persons, returnees, victims of the increasing violence in the country's rural areas." The Colombian Bishops are referring to the region of Catatumbo, where violence has been raging for some time, plunging the region into the most serious crisis since 2002 . <br /><br />During the Plenary Assembly, which began on February 3, the Bishops' Conference drew attention to the President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro, after a controversial cabinet meeting broadcast live on national television. "The country is in a serious crisis," warned the bishops, calling for "effective responses" to the "profound, urgent and painful problems that afflict the nation." <br />"We declare our solidarity with Catatumbo and other regions of the country," they declared. <br /><br />"In addition, the problem remains latent, not only of deported migrants, but also of those displaced and expelled due to the violence in the regions," the bishops said. They therefore strongly appealed to the national government and all state institutions to work in a coordinated manner and focus on the good of the nation, "in order to realize the united and peaceful country that we all long for." <br /><br />"Today more than ever, let us not lose hope, but let us concentrate our efforts and support the initiatives that are being carried out in the communities," the bishops said. <br />Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:44:46 +0100AFRICA/NIGERIA - Catholic priest kidnapped.https://www.fides.org/en/news/76005-AFRICA_NIGERIA_Catholic_priest_kidnappedhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/76005-AFRICA_NIGERIA_Catholic_priest_kidnappedAbuja - A Catholic priest was kidnapped yesterday morning, February 6. He is Fr. Cornellus Manzak Damulak, who studies at Veritas University in Abuja, the federal capital. According to the diocese of Shendam, to which the priest belongs, "Fr. Damulak was kidnapped in the early hours of February 6 from his home in Zuma 2, Bwari Area Council of the capital district." <br />"We call on all believers in Christ and all people of good will to pray for his speedy and safe release from the hands of his kidnappers. We entrust our brother, Fr. Cornelius Manzak Damulak, to the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother, and all the saints, to give him strength and bring him back to us," the diocese concluded. <br />The diocese of Shendam is a suffragan of the diocese of Jos, in Plateau State . The Bwari region, where the priest was kidnapped, is one of the regions most affected by kidnappings. Many residents of the area, especially farmers, were kidnapped and large sums of money were demanded for their release. <br />The way in which the priest was kidnapped, namely by bandits who attacked him in his home, is not new either. At the end of January, an entire family was kidnapped by bandits armed with Kalashnikovs who entered their home in Chikakore, a town on the outskirts of Kubwa , about 30 kilometers from the center of Abuja. <br />Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:30:26 +0100VATICAN - Appointment of Monsignor Sangalli, Adjunct Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelizationhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/76000-VATICAN_Appointment_of_Monsignor_Sangalli_Adjunct_Secretary_of_the_Dicastery_for_Evangelizationhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/76000-VATICAN_Appointment_of_Monsignor_Sangalli_Adjunct_Secretary_of_the_Dicastery_for_EvangelizationVatican City - The Holy Father has appointed the Most Reverend Monsignor Samuele Sangalli, Adjunct Secretary and Administrator of the Dicastery for Evangelization , as Archbishop. He has given him the titular see of Zella.<br />Samuele Sangalli was born in Lecco on September 10, 1967. He entered the seminary of the Archdiocese of Milan at the age of 14 and was ordained a priest on 8 June 1996 in the Archdiocese of Milan by Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini. <br />First as a deacon and then as a priest, from 1992 to 1997 he was spiritual director of the "Alleluia" community for the rehabilitation of addicts, run by the Camillian Fathers in Milan. During the same period, he taught Catholic religion at the "Liceo Classico B. Zucchi" in Monza and was a pastoral assistant in the parish of "Beata Vergine Assunta" in Bruzzano . <br />From 1997 to 1999 he held the role of Parish Vicar in the Parish of Santa Maria del Rosario, in Milan. <br />With the mandate of the Superiors, from 1992 to 2006 he was a Member, with the Jesuit Fathers, of the team of spiritual assistants of the Ignatian movement of CVX . In 2000 he was a Visiting Scholar at the Faculty for Divinity of the University of Cambridge and collaborated in the local Catholic parish of "Our Lady and the English Martyrs".<br />After moving to Rome in 2001, he was spiritual director at Villa Nazareth College until 2009.<br />Based on the spiritual journey he took with some young university students from Villa Nazareth and the subsequent encounter with young people and families he met while teaching at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the “LUISS Guido Carli” in Rome, he founded the Oikia community in 2010. From 2004 to 2012 he worked first with the young people of Villa Nazareth and then with the Oikia community on feast days in the parish of “S. Benedetto” in the Ostiense area of Rome. <br />He has been a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem since 2005 and a member of the Franciscan Secular Order since 2014.<br />He holds a degree in Educational Sciences from the University of Roma Tre; a Doctorate in Philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome; a Doctorate in Spiritual Theology from the Pontifical Theological University and the Pontifical Institute of Spirituality "Teresianum" in Rome. <br />He is currently an Associate Lecturer at the Institute of Anthropology, and Director of the “Sinderesi” School of training for active citizenship at the Alberto Hurtado Center, of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He is also a professor of the free courses on professional Ethics at the Faculty of Law and Global Governance through Interreligious Dialogue at the Faculty of Political Science of the "LUISS Guido Carli" University in Rome. <br />Already an official of the Congregation for Bishops, Samuele Sangalli was appointed by Pope Francis on April 25, 2023 as Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches. On October 1, 2024 the Pope appointed him as Adjunct Secretary with the role of head of the administration of the aforementioned Dicastery, in the same Section. <br />Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:06:11 +0100AFRICA/BURKINA FASO - Appointment of the Bishop of Tenkodogohttps://www.fides.org/en/news/76002-AFRICA_BURKINA_FASO_Appointment_of_the_Bishop_of_Tenkodogohttps://www.fides.org/en/news/76002-AFRICA_BURKINA_FASO_Appointment_of_the_Bishop_of_TenkodogoVatican City - The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Fr. David Koudougou, of the clergy of Tenkodogo, until now Diocesan Administrator of the same Diocese, as Bishop of the Diocese of Tenkodogo. <br />His Exc. Msgr. David Koudougou, was born on 1 August 1972 in Tenkodogo and completed his studies in Philosophy and Theology at the Saint Jean Baptiste de Wayalghin Major Seminary in Ouagadougou. <br />He was ordained a priest on 14 July 2001. <br />He has held the following positions and completed further studies: Parish Vicar of the Sacred Heart in Garango ; Parish Vicar of Boussouma ; Professor of Canon Law and Homiletics at the Saint Pierre Claver de Koumi Major Seminary ; Doctorate in Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome ; Parish Vicar of Saint Paul of Moaga, Official of the Metropolitan Tribunal of Koupèla; member of the College of Consultors of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Koupèla, Secretary General of the Episcopal Commission for Ecclesiastical Tribunals and Legal Affairs of the Episcopal Conference, Episcopal Delegate to the Diocesan Council of Catholic Education of the Diocese of Tenkodogo . <br />Since 2023 he has been an Official of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal and member of the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Tenkodogo and Diocesan Administrator of Tenkodogo. <br />Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:42:51 +0100ASIA/INDONESIA - Possible amnesty for political prisoners in Papua: Franciscans call for "initiative for a in-depth dialogue"https://www.fides.org/en/news/76001-ASIA_INDONESIA_Possible_amnesty_for_political_prisoners_in_Papua_Franciscans_call_for_initiative_for_a_in_depth_dialoguehttps://www.fides.org/en/news/76001-ASIA_INDONESIA_Possible_amnesty_for_political_prisoners_in_Papua_Franciscans_call_for_initiative_for_a_in_depth_dialogueJayapura – In order to manage the armed conflict that has plagued the Indonesian region of West Papua for decades, the Indonesian government, led by the new President Prabowo Subianto, is considering an amnesty for the independence rebels in Papua. The Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Immigration, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, described the proposal as "under study" and said that the government is working out the details of the amnesty plan, which would only be granted to those who swear allegiance to the Republic of Indonesia. The measure is "intended as part of the effort to resolve the conflict" and still needs the approval of the House of Representatives. Prabowo's amnesty proposal follows a similar initiative by former President Joko Widodo, who pardoned political prisoners from Papua in 2015. <br />Meanwhile, among the population of Papua, there is a certain skepticism about the central government's proposal. Father Alexandro Rangga , Friar Minor and Director of the "Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation" Commission in Papua, stressed to Fides: "It is true that the release of some prisoners imprisoned for political reasons could mean some relief for the families". However, he recalls that "the prisoners released in the past are no longer the same: they have suffered deep trauma, some no longer speak, perhaps because of the mistreatment they suffered. It will therefore be necessary to verify the condition of the released prisoners". In addition, there is a fundamental problem: "The government measure risks being an inadequate step if it is not embedded in a broader plan of 'holistic' dialogue, that is, at all levels, which fully takes into account the situation in the region and the suffering of the local population," the Franciscan priest notes. "The people of Papua fear that this is only a consolation and that fundamental issues remain unresolved," he notes. "We therefore call for an initiative for in-depth dialogue and the empowerment of all actors involved in order to get to the root of the problems and achieve peace," he says. <br />The Franciscan recalls what happened to the inhabitants of five villages in the Oksop district of central Papua, the territory of the diocese of Jayapura . They fled to other areas at the end of November due to the deployment of military units in the area. According to the Commission of the Friars Minor, 300 people have been displaced to other villages and many others have hidden in the forest, "but according to the army and other officials, these reports are not true," he notes. "For this reason, our Commission for Justice and Peace is now preparing a detailed report with a list of the displaced and the problems they face; we intend to present it to the Indonesian President together with the bishops and religious leaders of Papua”. According to Father Rangga, “the real problem in Papua remains open, namely the military action of the Indonesian central government to promote its policies and projects in the territory. This approach leads to suffering on the ground and a feeling of violent imposition”. Papua, the easternmost region of Indonesia, which forms the western half of the island of New Guinea, has been a place of tension since its controversial incorporation into the Republic of Indonesia by military force in 1969. Inhabited by people of Melanesian origin and rich in natural resources, the region saw a separatist uprising in the early 1970s. Despite its wealth of resources, Papua remains one of the poorest regions in Indonesia, with high rates of poverty and illiteracy. <br />Thu, 06 Feb 2025 13:49:47 +0100VATICAN - Pope's Message for World Mission Day 2025: The Church prolongs the mission of Christ by offering life for allhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75988-VATICAN_Pope_s_Message_for_World_Mission_Day_2025_The_Church_prolongs_the_mission_of_Christ_by_offering_life_for_allhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75988-VATICAN_Pope_s_Message_for_World_Mission_Day_2025_The_Church_prolongs_the_mission_of_Christ_by_offering_life_for_allVatican City - "The Church, a community of Christ's missionary disciples", is today "sent to revive hope in a world over which dark shadows". "Despite facing persecutions, tribulations and difficulties, as well as her own imperfections and failures due to the weakness of her members, the Church is constantly impelled by the love of Christ to persevere, "prolongs" the mission of Jesus" offering her life for all in the midst of the nations". <br /><br />This is the essence of Pope Francis' message for World Mission Sunday 2025, which will be celebrated on October 19. <br /><br />The Document is dated January 25, the Feast of the Conversion of the Apostle Paul, and is published today, February 6, the liturgical memorial of Saints Paul Miki and his companions, a group of 25 Japanese martyrs, eight of whom were priests and religious of the Society of Jesus and the Order of Friars Minor, European missionaries or those born in Japan, and seventeen lay people. All of them were arrested and, as the Roman Martyrology reports, “seriously mistreated and sentenced to death. All of them, including the young ones, were crucified because they were Christians.” <br /><br />These dates are not accidental, considering the themes addressed in the message entitled “Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples” <br /><br />At the heart of the message, divided into three paragraphs, is the theme of hope, the theological virtue that is also at the heart of the Ordinary Jubilee that the Catholic Church is currently celebrating. The theme – explains the Pope – was chosen because it “reminds individual Christians and the entire Church, the community of the baptized, of our fundamental vocation to be, in the footsteps of Christ, messengers and builders of hope”. <br /><br />Hence “the desire” of the Bishop of Rome to “recall some relevant aspects of our Christian missionary identity, so that we can let ourselves be guided by the Spirit of God and burn with holy zeal for a new evangelizing season in the Church”. And first of all to “keep our gaze fixed on Christ, the centre of history”, “the fullness of salvation for all”, as well as “the supreme model of all those down the centuries who carry out their own God-given mission, even amid extreme trials”. <br /><br />“Through his disciples, sent to all peoples and mystically accompanied by him, the Lord Jesus continues his ministry of hope for humanity”, bending over “all those who are poor, afflicted, despairing and oppressed, and pours «upon their wounds the balm of consolation and the wine of hope»”, writes the Pope, quoting the Preface “Jesus the Good Samaritan”. <br /><br />The Pope's thoughts also go to the missionaries ad gentes who “following the Lord’s call”, “have gone forth to other nations to make known the love of God in Christ. For this, I thank you most heartily! Your lives are a clear response to the command of the risen Christ, who sent his disciples to evangelize all peoples. In this way, you are signs of the universal vocation of the baptized to become, by the power of the Spirit and daily effort, missionaries among the nations and witnesses to the great hope given us by the Lord Jesus”. <br /><br />The horizon of this hope, the Pope points out, “transcends the passing things of this world and opens up to those divine realities in which we share even now.” The Bishop of Rome then cites Paul VI, who fifty years ago, in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntandi , wrote that the salvation offered by Christ is not only “immanent, meeting material or even spiritual needs… completely caught up in temporal desires, hopes, affairs, and struggles. Rather, it exceeds all such limits in order to reach fulfilment in a communion with the one Absolute, which is God. It is a salvation both transcendent and eschatological, which indeed has its beginning in this life, but is fulfilled in eternity.” <br /><br />Hence the invitation to put into practice the actions suggested in the Bull Spes Non Confundit, living above all in “personal contact” with brothers and sisters, “with particular attention to the poorest and weakest, the sick, the elderly and those excluded from materialistic and consumerist society. They are the ones who teach us how to live in hope. Through personal contact, we will also convey the love of the compassionate heart of the Lord”. In fact, all the baptized, continues the Pontiff, quoting the speech he himself gave in June two years ago to the General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies, are “have been sent to continue this mission: to be signs of the heart of Christ and the love of the Father, embracing the whole world”. <br /><br />To this end, Pope Francis stresses, “we need to be renewed in the Easter spirituality experienced at every Eucharistic celebration and especially during the Easter Triduum, the centre and culmination of the liturgical year”. Moreover, “missionaries of hope are men and women of prayer, for “the person who hopes is a person who prays”, in the words of Venerable Cardinal François-Xavier Van Thuan, who was himself sustained in hope throughout his lengthy imprisonment thanks to the strength he received from faithful prayer and the Eucharist . Let us not forget that prayer is the primary missionary activity and at the same time the first strength of hope”. <br /><br />“So,” urges the Pope, “let us renew the mission of hope, starting from prayer, especially prayer based on the word of God and particularly the Psalms, that great symphony of prayer whose composer is the Holy Spirit. The Psalms train us to hope amid adversity, to discern the signs of hope around us, and to have the constant “missionary” desire that God be praised by all peoples”. <br /><br />In the third and final paragraph, the Bishop of Rome describes evangelization as a “communitarian process,” which “does not end with the initial preaching of the Gospel and with Baptism, but continues with the building up of Christian communities through the accompaniment of each of the baptized along the path of the Gospel. In modern society, membership in the Church is never something achieved once for all. Therefore, the missionary activity of handing down and shaping a mature faith in Christ is “paradigmatic for all the Church’s activity,” he adds . <br /><br />“I would emphasize once more the importance of this missionary synodality of the Church, as well as the service rendered by the Pontifical Mission Societies in promoting the missionary responsibility of the baptized and supporting new Particular Churches. And I urge all of you, children, young people, adults and the elderly, to participate actively in the common evangelizing mission of the Church by your witness of life and prayer, by your sacrifices and by your generosity,” concludes Pope Francis. <br /><br/><strong>Link correlati</strong> :<a href="https://www.fides.org/en/attachments/view/file/MESS_GMM_2025_ENG_002_.docx">Pope's Message for World Mission Day 2025 - Full text</a>Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:31:10 +0100AFRICA/SUDAN - Turning point in the Sudanese conflict? The Sudanese Armed Forces advance in Khartoumhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75999-AFRICA_SUDAN_Turning_point_in_the_Sudanese_conflict_The_Sudanese_Armed_Forces_advance_in_Khartoumhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75999-AFRICA_SUDAN_Turning_point_in_the_Sudanese_conflict_The_Sudanese_Armed_Forces_advance_in_KhartoumKhartoum - The advance of the SAF soldiers continues to regain control of Khartoum, the Sudanese capital disputed with the RSF militiamen. <br />The offensive of General Abdel-Fattah Burhan's men began in early January in the State of Jazira, whose capital Wad Madani was conquered on January 11. A conquest marked by violence against civilians, also of South Sudanese nationality . This city, although located 200 km from Khartoum, is an important crossroads of roads leading to the federal capital from different directions. In recent weeks, the SAF has advanced from Wad Madani along the banks of the Blue Nile, capturing towns and villages in the north of the state and in the south of Khartoum State, and then attacking RSF positions in Khartoum from several sides. A spokesman for the Sudanese Armed Forces said yesterday, 5 February, that the troops had captured Al-Rumaila district, a medical depot, an industrial area and the State mint in southern Khartoum. The capture of Al-Rumaila brings General Burhan’s military closer to the centre of Khartoum, the stronghold and command centre of the SAF led by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo. <br />On the eastern axis of the Nile, the army has managed to control the Green Valley and the Sheikh Al-Fadani area, located about 7 kilometres from the Soba Bridge, which connects the Eastern Nile to the city of Khartoum. If the RSF militiamen were to retreat, they could fall back on Giad, a vast complex of factories and warehouses located 45 km southeast of the center of Khartoum, where they seem to be preparing their resistance. Unless they decide to fight house to house in the center of the Sudanese capital, thus exacerbating the already serious humanitarian crisis, with civilians subjected to bombing from both sides in the fight. <br />Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:20:01 +0100AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - Local health authorities forced to suspend HIV & AIDS program in Yambio: thousands of lives at riskhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75997-AFRICA_SOUTH_SUDAN_Local_health_authorities_forced_to_suspend_HIV_AIDS_program_in_Yambio_thousands_of_lives_at_riskhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75997-AFRICA_SOUTH_SUDAN_Local_health_authorities_forced_to_suspend_HIV_AIDS_program_in_Yambio_thousands_of_lives_at_riskYambio – The suspension of the HIV & AIDS program in Yambio has placed thousands of lives at risk. Healthcare workers, patients, and local authorities are now calling for urgent intervention to restore funding and ensure continued access to life-saving treatment. <br /><br />Following the decision to halt the activities of the United States Agency for International Development for 90 days, which makes the United States the main country for providing humanitarian aid, the Western Equatoria State Ministry of Health has confirmed the suspension of the HIV & AIDS program in Yambio due to funding cuts from the United States, leaving thousands of vulnerable individuals uncertain about their future.<br /><br />“The program was halted following decisions from the United States. I spoke with the program director of CMMB Yambio, and they assured me that discussions are ongoing. We expect to receive further updates soon,” said Health Minister James Abdallah Arona to the local press. <br /><br />The Minister expressed concern about the impact of the decision, emphasizing that the program was heavily reliant on international donors, including USAID and Sweden. “If funding stops, people will suffer. I urge the national government and our partners to engage donors to ensure continued support for our vulnerable population,” said Arona. <br /><br />According to reports, the HIV/AIDS prevalence in Western Equatoria is 6.8%. This is higher than the prevalence in the other states of the greater Equatoria region, which are Central Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria . <br /><br />“We were instructed to halt all ongoing services. Before closing, we informed all county health departments about the development,” said the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission clinician from CMMB Yambio, Henry Biata Nzari. “The government must act swiftly to prevent further suffering. The community is highly vulnerable, and the impact of this suspension could be devastating,” he stressed. <br /><br />USAID was founded in 1961 with the aim of fighting global poverty, providing humanitarian assistance to countries affected by conflict or health emergencies, and supporting the development of democratic societies by improving their potential. Since the 1980s, USAID has worked in the areas of food security, the right to education and humanitarian assistance, focusing on combating the spread of pandemic threats and diseases such as HIV and malaria, as well as supporting maternal and child health. <br />Wed, 05 Feb 2025 13:31:10 +0100VATICAN/GENERAL AUDIENCE - Pope Francis: memory, mercy and promise are key words for the action of God in historyhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75994-VATICAN_GENERAL_AUDIENCE_Pope_Francis_memory_mercy_and_promise_are_key_words_for_the_action_of_God_in_historyhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75994-VATICAN_GENERAL_AUDIENCE_Pope_Francis_memory_mercy_and_promise_are_key_words_for_the_action_of_God_in_historyVatican City - Memory, mercy, promise: these are the three key words for those who, like the Virgin Mary, recognize the action of God the Father in the history of humanity, said Pope Francis during today's general audience in the Paul VI Hall. <br /><br />The Pope, who had a cold, did not read the text of the catechesis himself: "I apologize," explained Pope Francis, "because with this severe cold it is difficult for me to speak." A member of the Secretariat of State read the address for the Pope, which dealt with the themes "Blessed is she who believed," the Visitation and the Magnificat. <br /><br />When the Virgin Mary visits Saint Elizabeth, the Bishop of Rome said, "it is above all Jesus who visits his people in the womb of his mother... Mary sets out, she does not choose to protect herself from the world, she does not fear danger or the judgment of others, but goes out to meet people." Because "when you feel loved, you experience a strength that carries love forward. As the Apostle Paul says, 'the love of Christ compels us' , it pushes us, it moves us." <br /><br />The meeting of the two women, Mary and Elizabeth, "has an astonishing effect: the voice of the 'full of grace' who greets Elizabeth provokes a prophetic movement in the child in her womb and causes Elizabeth to pronounce a double blessing . And a beatitude . "In the face of the recognition of the messianic identity of her Son and her own vocation as a mother, Mary does not speak of herself but of God. She raises a hymn full of faith, hope and joy, a song that resounds daily in the evening prayer of the Church: the Magnificat," said the Pope. <br /><br />This praise "is permeated with biblical echoes, a sign that Mary does not want to 'fall out of line' but rather to harmonize with the Fathers and to praise God's mercy for the humble." The strong presence of the Easter motif makes the Magnificat "also a song of redemption. The verbs are all in the past," explained the Pope, because they are "permeated by a loving memory that fills the present with faith and illuminates the future with hope: Mary sings of the grace of the past, but she is also the woman of the present who carries the future in her womb." <br /><br />And while the first part of the canticle “praises the action of God in Mary, who, as a microcosm of the people of God, follows the covenant perfectly”, the second part expands “to the work of the Father in the macrocosm of the history of his children” and “unfolds around three key concepts: memory – mercy – promise”. <br /><br />God has indeed “saved his people, beginning with the Exodus, and has let a continuous stream of merciful love flow over his covenant people ‘from generation to generation’, and now reveals the fullness of salvation in his Son, whom he sent to redeem his people from their sins. From Abraham to Jesus Christ and to the community of believers, Easter appears as the key hermeneutical dimension to understand each subsequent liberation, up to that accomplished by the Messiah in the fullness of time”, the Pope concluded. <br /><br />Only at the end of the audience, during the greetings in Italian, did the Pope take the floor again to repeat the appeal for peace in the clearest possible terms: "Let us think of the countries where war is raging: the tormented Ukraine, Israel, Sudan, so many countries that are suffering there. Let us think of the displaced people in Palestine and let us pray for them," said the Pope. Shortly before, in the greetings in Polish, Don Giroli read another prayer intention of the Pope for peace: "I encourage you to pray for the priests and consecrated men and women who carry out their ministry in poor and war-torn countries, especially in Ukraine, the Middle East and the Democratic Republic of Congo. For many, this presence is proof that God is thinking of them." <br />Wed, 05 Feb 2025 13:03:13 +0100ASIA/INDIA - Food and “certain hope” for the poor, in the spirit of the Jubilee: the Capuchin mission in Tamil Naduhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75996-ASIA_INDIA_Food_and_certain_hope_for_the_poor_in_the_spirit_of_the_Jubilee_the_Capuchin_mission_in_Tamil_Naduhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75996-ASIA_INDIA_Food_and_certain_hope_for_the_poor_in_the_spirit_of_the_Jubilee_the_Capuchin_mission_in_Tamil_NaduDindigul – The “Assisi Free Food Support” initiative aims to offer food to the neediest students in rural areas, those who cannot afford even one meal a day, as well as to those who share this situation of deprivation. This initiative is launched today, February 5, at Anugraha College , a center run by the Capuchin Fathers in the diocese of Dindigul, in Tamil Nadu, and is presented as a prophetic gesture for the Jubilee Year. “We intend to demonstrate in a concrete way our closeness to the poorest, in the spirit of the Jubilee that announces hope to those in need,” says Father George Bernardshaw Jesudass OFM. Cap, director of the school, which houses 900 young people between 18 and 23 years old. The centre, dedicated to guiding students from rural families in their formation and higher education, is affiliated with the Kamaraj University of Madurai. “We are happy and receive support from both the friars of the Mary Queen of Peace Province and others, since any kind of help is prescious in order to generate a positive impact in the lives of our students and ensure the basis of food security necessary for study,” adds the friar, who is also Provincial Vicar. The initiative reflects the inclusive approach of the Indian Capuchins, especially in favour of the most disadvantaged in rural areas, without ethnic, cultural or caste distinctions. “When we are in heaven, the doors will be open to all, regardless of culture, language, social status or caste,” recalls Father Bernardshaw. “The caste mentality persists in society and even in some hierarchical structures of the Church, which represents a danger for the Catholic community. We, as Capuchin friars, do not impose barriers or hierarchies in our relationship with our neighbours; we are close to everyone and our doors remain open,” he says. The director reports that the province, made up of 150 Franciscan religious, is committed to various areas of the apostolate: “from aid and solidarity towards the needy, psychological and social counselling, the management of homes for abandoned elderly people and the mentally ill, to assistance to victims of addictions, especially among young people addicted to drugs or alcohol, without forgetting the important field of education, through schools that accompany the growth of students from rural families. This apostolate allows the friars to stay close to the people and to be widely appreciated.” <br />“In the name of Francis of Assisi, we also try to give people that ‘certain hope’ that he preached,” explains the provincial father, Fr Arockiadoss Savarimuthu. The Capuchin friars have been present in India for almost 400 years. Their journey in the country is divided into four phases: at first, they were directly linked to the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide ; later, their missionary activities were promoted through provinces of other nations ; then, with the birth of the “Commissariat of India”, Capuchin provinces were developed throughout the country ; and, finally, the Indian Capuchins were consolidated and spread in their own land, also carrying out missions ad gentes . During almost 400 years of mission, the friars have baptized thousands of people, founded various dioceses, contributed to the formation of the local clergy and erected 13 cathedrals, which remain a clear testimony of their dedication to the mission and to the Church in India. It is common for Capuchin convents to have annexes as charity centres, centres for social development and apostolic activities, also in the cultural field, through the publication of works of Franciscan theology and spirituality in the local language. Among the significant dates of this long history, the beginning of the Capuchin mission in India in 1632 stands out, marked by the landing of Brother Ephrem de Nevers, from France, in Madras, in the south of the country; and, later, in 1703, the missionary landing in Tibet and Nepal by Italian Capuchins from Le Marche area. In 2021, the friars celebrated the centenary of the opening of the first novitiate in India. <br />Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:47:18 +0100ASIA/TAIWAN - Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Taipeihttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75998-ASIA_TAIWAN_Appointment_of_auxiliary_bishop_of_Taipeihttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75998-ASIA_TAIWAN_Appointment_of_auxiliary_bishop_of_TaipeiVatican City -The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Peter Chao Yung-Chi, of the clergy of the diocese of Chiayi, until now episcopal chancellor and parish priest of the Cathedral of Saint John in Chiayi, as auxiliary bishop of Taipei, Taiwan, assigning him the titular see of Rusgunie.<br />Msgr. Peter Chao Yung-Chi was born on 28 March 1973 in Taichung City, Taiwan. He was awarded a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and in theology at the Saint Robert Bellarmine Faculty and a licentiate in religious studies from the Department of Religious Studies of Fu Jen Catholic University.<br />He was ordained a priest on 3 February 2001, for the diocese of Chiayi.<br />He has held the following offices: parish priest of the Cathedral of Saint John, Chiayi , deputy parish priest of Our Lady of Sorrows, Chiayi , vice rector of the regional seminary of Taiwan , parish priest of Immaculate Conception and of Saint Catherine, Dalin , and chaplain of the Anna Nursing Home and the Chung-Jen Junior College of Nursing, Health Science and Management, Chiayi . Since 2016 he has served as chancellor of the diocese of Chiayi and, since 2023, parish priest of the Cathedral of Saint John, Chiayi. <br /><br /><br />Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:31:10 +0100AFRICA/GHANA - A debate in Parliament revives the question of the incompatibility between the Catholic faith and membership in Freemasonryhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75995-AFRICA_GHANA_A_debate_in_Parliament_revives_the_question_of_the_incompatibility_between_the_Catholic_faith_and_membership_in_Freemasonryhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75995-AFRICA_GHANA_A_debate_in_Parliament_revives_the_question_of_the_incompatibility_between_the_Catholic_faith_and_membership_in_FreemasonryAccra – Since the end of January, various statements have been made by bodies of the Catholic Church in Ghana, aimed at reaffirming the incompatibility between the Catholic faith and membership in Freemasonry. The issue arose during the parliamentary hearings for the appointment of the Minister of Youth Development and Emancipation, George Opare Addo. During the debate, minority leader, Afenyo-Markin, asked if Opare Addo was a Freemason, to which he responded by openly acknowledging his membership in Freemasonry. <br />The admission generated mixed reactions, and the Archdiocese of Accra reiterated, in a note issued on January 26, that Catholics cannot associate with Freemasonry. In response, Afenyo-Markin, who professes the Catholic faith, indicated that he had not received official communication from the Church regarding his membership in Masonic organizations. <br />"My Archbishop Palmer-Buckle has not written any letter to me," Afenyo-Markin said in an interview on January 29. "I have been seeing letters flying around, but nobody has written to me personally," the leader of the parliamentary opposition said. The Ghana Bishops' Conference intervened in the matter through a statement released to the press on January 31, in which it reaffirmed the official position of the Church on the incompatibility between the Catholic faith and Freemasonry. Referring to the teachings of various pontiffs – since the Bull of Clement XII, dated April 28, 1738 – to the provisions of the Code of Canon Law and to the declarations of the then Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the note reminds “the faithful that, according to the doctrine of the Church, membership in Masonic organizations is a grave matter that can lead to spiritual harm. Those who may be involved in such associations are strongly encouraged to reconsider their membership to live fully in the light of the Gospel.” <br />“The position of the Catholic Church with regard to Freemasonry is that it is a religion in its own right, with doctrines that are irreconcilable with Christian doctrines.<br />Freemasonry also promotes a form of universalism that ignores the unique role of Jesus in the salvation of mankind. In many cases also, it offers a syncretistic view of religion that undermines the exclusive claims of the Christian faith.” <br />In reaction to these statements, a senior Masonic dignitary, John Edusei, Assistant Provincial Grand Master of the North of the Grand Lodge of Ghana, responded to these latest statements. Edusei, who also professes to be a Catholic, recalls the official statements of the United Grand Lodge of England , which read: “Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. There is no separate Masonic god, and there is no separate proper name for a deity in Freemasonry.” To avoid confusion between Freemasonry and Catholic orders of chivalry, the Knights of St. John International and Ladies' Auxiliary of Ghana have issued a clarifying note. In it, they emphasize that it is "a renowned Catholic association that operates under the auspices of the under the auspices of the Catholic Church worldwide and that firmly maintains the position of the Church against Catholics' membership of the Freemasonry." <br />Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:20:42 +0100ASIA/UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Cardinal Tagle: Dialogue as an antidote to distrust and hostility towards the religious dimensionhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75993-ASIA_UNITED_ARAB_EMIRATES_Cardinal_Tagle_Dialogue_as_an_antidote_to_distrust_and_hostility_towards_the_religious_dimensionhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75993-ASIA_UNITED_ARAB_EMIRATES_Cardinal_Tagle_Dialogue_as_an_antidote_to_distrust_and_hostility_towards_the_religious_dimensionAbu Dhabi - In a world where secularization is advancing more and more, "the only antidote to this is encounter and dialogue marked by friendship and respect between persons of different religious traditions". This "can help us to overcome a further suspicious attitude which sadly we see increasingly in highly secularized societies, namely the suspicion or even hostility directed not only towards particular religious traditions, but toward the religious dimension as such", said Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization - Section for the First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches - in his speech in Abu Dhabi at the inauguration of the ceremony for the award of the "Zayed Award for Human Fraternity". The Award was created in 2019, following the signing of the Document on “Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together”, signed on 4 February of that year in Abu Dhabi by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb. <br /><br />Six years after this historic signature, in the “Abrahamic Family House”, a structure also born following the publication of the document, Cardinal Tagle, as representative of the Holy See, assured those present that the Catholic Church recognizes and upholds the “value of promoting friendship and respect among men and women of different religious traditions ” and, at the same time, how important these elements are today, “since, on the one hand, in a certain sense the world has become “smaller” than ever before, and, on the other, because the phenomenon of migration has increased contact between persons and communities from various traditions, cultures and religions”. <br /><br />"In various parts of the world", said the Pro-Prefect of the Missionary Dicastery, "there are situations in the world where coexistence is difficult, to say the least, where political or economic motives exploit cultural or religious differences, playing upon past misunderstandings or mistakes, and resulting in a climate of suspicion and fear". Hence the invitation to reflect on dialogue as "the only antidote to this". <br /><br />"Indeed, whenever we take that route, the path outlined by the Document on Human Fraternity, we become ever more authentically human", emphasized the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, recalling that in secularized societies, where "religion is looked upon as something useless or even dangerous, and it is frequently thought that coexistence is only possible if people relegate their own religious affiliation to the purely private sphere or meet in “neutral” spaces, devoid of any reference to the transcendent" dialogue is in fact the only viable solution. <br /><br />“It is impossible to think of fraternity as being “born in a laboratory”. Naturally, it is necessary that everyone respect the sincere convictions of others, including unbelievers, but we must have the courage and patience to do so by holding true to who we are and what we believe,” concluded the cardinal, stressing how “the recognition and proclamation of the fundamental right of religious freedom in all its dimensions is essential for world peace and living together ”. <br /><br />Since its inception , the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, has so far been awarded to 16 recipients, including 11 individuals and 5 organizations. Moreover, 66 countries have been involved in the nomination process. This year's winner was the World Central Kitchen, a humanitarian organization that provides food to communities affected by crises and conflicts. The Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, was also honored for her commitment to the fight against climate change. Another award went to the Ethiopian-American inventor Heman Bekele, who, at the age of just fifteen, developed a low-cost soap that prevents and cures early-stage skin cancer. <br />Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:28:54 +0100AMERICA/PARAGUAY - Appointment of new director of the Pontifical Mission Societieshttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75992-AMERICA_PARAGUAY_Appointment_of_new_director_of_the_Pontifical_Mission_Societieshttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75992-AMERICA_PARAGUAY_Appointment_of_new_director_of_the_Pontifical_Mission_SocietiesVatican City - On January 2, 2025, Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization , appointed Sister Justina Santander, SSPS, as national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies of Paraguay for the period 2025-2030. <br />Sister Justina Santander, 66, and of Paraguayan nationality, has more than 40 years of religious and missionary life in the Missionary Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit. For 33 years, she worked as a missionary abroad, mainly in Botswana. She has a diploma in spirituality and pastoral care from The Milltown Institute in Ireland, where she also studied English. She obtained a degree in religious education and another in educational management from the University of South Africa, and has participated in numerous specialization courses, including one on sign language and inclusive education. <br />Last year, she took part in leadership and spiritual development at the Mater Dei Pastoral Center in South Africa. Her pastoral duties include her work as director of the St. Arnold Primary School in Tonota , coordinator of the HIV/AIDS program at St. Joseph School, superior in the community of Gaborone, and teacher of religious and Christian education at St. Joseph Kale School, where she developed a pastoral program for orphanage students with specific needs, among other tasks. In addition, she worked at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Desert in Francistown and is a member of missionary animation at the Society of the Divine Word, in Paraguay. <br />Tue, 04 Feb 2025 15:04:15 +0100AFRICA/DR CONGO - Bishop of Goma: "The ceasefire is holding, but people are afraid. Hospitals and refugees are the most worrying situations"https://www.fides.org/en/news/75990-AFRICA_DR_CONGO_Bishop_of_Goma_The_ceasefire_is_holding_but_people_are_afraid_Hospitals_and_refugees_are_the_most_worrying_situationshttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75990-AFRICA_DR_CONGO_Bishop_of_Goma_The_ceasefire_is_holding_but_people_are_afraid_Hospitals_and_refugees_are_the_most_worrying_situationsKinshasa - "The city is calm, but people are still afraid to leave their homes because security is not fully guaranteed," reports Willy Ngumbi Ngengele, Bishop of Goma, speaking to Fides from the capital of the Congolese province of North Kivu, which was taken over by the rebel movement M23 on January 27 . <br />"Schools are still largely closed, also because many school buildings were damaged or destroyed in the fighting," reports Msgr. Ngengele. "The worst situation is in the hospitals, which are receiving a large number of wounded and are in difficulty due to the lack of medicines and equipment." "Internet connections are still difficult, people have to make do with makeshift solutions to stay connected with the outside world," continues the bishop. About a million internally displaced people from rural areas in North Kivu province, which were first affected by the fighting, live in Goma. Their situation is currently uncertain because, as Bishop Ngengele reports, "the refugee camps have been closed and those among the displaced who still have a home are returning to their home village. Those who cannot remain in precarious conditions in Goma." <br />Yesterday, February 3, the M23 declared a ceasefire "for humanitarian reasons" which came into force today. "For the moment, the ceasefire is holding, but people are still afraid to venture out because they do not feel completely safe," says the bishop. In an effort to find a peaceful solution to the crisis, a delegation from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Congo was received yesterday in Kinshasa by President Félix Tshisekedi. <br />During the talks, the Head of State was presented with a reconciliation plan drawn up by CENCO together with the "Église du Christ au Congo" . <br />"The two churches have taken the initiative to develop this project to get out of the crisis. We presented it today to the Head of State, who received it with great attention; he appreciated it very much and encouraged us. It is a praiseworthy project," said Msgr. Donatien Nshole, spokesman for CENCO, at the end of the audience that lasted more than an hour. <br />Tue, 04 Feb 2025 11:55:52 +0100ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Bishops' Letter for the Jubilee period: "There is hope for the nation"https://www.fides.org/en/news/75991-ASIA_PHILIPPINES_Bishops_Letter_for_the_Jubilee_period_There_is_hope_for_the_nationhttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75991-ASIA_PHILIPPINES_Bishops_Letter_for_the_Jubilee_period_There_is_hope_for_the_nationManila - "Hope gives us courage and freedom," says the Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, distributed and read in churches on February 2 at the conclusion of the Plenary Assembly of the Bishops. The letter, signed by the President of the Bishops’ Conference and Bishop of Caloocan, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, focuses on the theme of hope, a virtue, and makes a reference to the most burning issues of the nation: from the demand for transparency and accountability - in view of the mid-term elections scheduled for May 2025 - to the desire to "become a more missionary and synodal Church". The bishops declare that they are engaged in "communal discernment on the current realities affecting our nation". The letter quotes the Letter to the Romans: “Hoping against all hope” and states that the Filipino people "struggle with hopelessness, striving to find hope amidst adversities". <br />"In the sphere of morality, we sense widespread confusion, indifference, apathy, and helplessness because of murderous attacks against life, particularly against innocent ones. The culture of impunity, self-entitlement, and loss of sense of sin are alarming," it says. Added to this are the traumas "of disasters and tragedies due to climate emergencies". In the area of economy, "the increase in poverty, manifested by the rise of unemployment and the price of commodities and services", which widens the gap between rich and poor. In the political realm, "the misuse of public funds and resources", "the culture of patronage and mendicancy are truly disturbing", and also in the field of communications, "falsehood, misinformation, and disinformation are weaponized against the truth". <br />In the face of this reality, it is necessary "to pursue the path of personal, institutional, and ecclesial conversion in order to rediscover hope. This is the opportunity that the Jubilee Year provides us,” the pastoral letter says. <br />Recalling that “hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts” , the bishops proclaim that Christ is the Savior and that “God’s love penetrates our suffering, our misery and death, saves and transforms us.” “Love piercing through darkness reveals glimpses of hope” that can be seen “in principle-driven leaders who champion good governance.” “We see sparks of hope,” the bishops continue, “in the idealism of young people and responsible citizens who do not sell their idealism and patriotism,” and “in the spontaneous collaboration among NGOs, civic, and religious organizations” or “in ordinary laborers committed to sincere service even without recognition or reward.” They continued: “We see sparks of hope in those who stake their reputation, even lives, to fight corruption and pursue justice” and “in the Filipino spirit of resiliency, and in those who dedicate themselves to genuine service despite being overwhelmed by their own need.” “We, your spiritual leaders,” the bishops said, “share the pain brought about by these wounds of affliction. We, too, feel the deep disturbance and seeming paralysis that plague many who are dragged into the pit of hopelessness.” Therefore, “in this Jubilee Year of Hope, together we hold precious, the gift of hope sparked by the Holy Spirit. This hope is not simply optimism or a positive feeling. These are glimpses of the gift of hope that comes from the Holy Spirit urging us to act.” "Any action of hope is sourced from the Holy Spirit," the Pastoral Letter says. "We therefore ask you, dear people, to allow the hope within you to be rekindled. May it become a flame of hope." "Let the Holy Spirit renew the face of the earth and breathe transformation into the dark spaces and places of our lives and our nation," the bishops say. "The grace of the Holy Spirit is a gentle breeze that spurs us to continue" and by promoting a "spiritual revolution of hope" and walking together "on a Pilgrimage of Hope towards the Father’s Kingdom." <br />"There is hope! May Pag-Asa!", the bishops write in the local language, Tagalog. They conclude with the advice of Saint Paul: "Let us not grow weary of doing good" . <br />Tue, 04 Feb 2025 13:07:57 +0100ASIA/MYANMAR - Jubilee in exile: Catholics in Loikaw do not want to lose hopehttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75987-ASIA_MYANMAR_Jubilee_in_exile_Catholics_in_Loikaw_do_not_want_to_lose_hopehttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75987-ASIA_MYANMAR_Jubilee_in_exile_Catholics_in_Loikaw_do_not_want_to_lose_hopeLoikaw - Displacement, hunger, cold, the fatigue of a daily life in refugee camps or in makeshift settlements in the forests cannot stop the Catholic faithful of Loikaw, a diocese in the Burmese state of Kayah in the east of the country, from celebrating the Holy Year. As Fr. Paul Pa, diocesan representative for the Holy Year 2025, tells Fides, the Catholic community of Loikaw, with about 90,000 members scattered in an area marked by clashes and fighting between the army and the opposition forces, is striving for unity and has found the spiritual strength to celebrate its "Jubilee in exile" since the Christ the King Cathedral and the Pastoral Complex in Loikaw were seized and occupied by the military in November 2023.<br />It is a deep wound for the local church, which, however, "does not lose hope," says the priest: "Since we could not use the cathedral church as the Jubilee church, we have designated the Mother of God parish church in Sondu, where our Bishop Celso Ba Shwe currently resides, as the co-cathedral," he says. "This church is one of our Jubilee pilgrimage centers, together with the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Yusamoso, St. Joseph's Church in Hoya, the Sacred Heart Church in Dorokhu and the church in the Mese region." All were provided with the "guide" for the celebration of the Jubilee, the pilgrimage and the petition for indulgence by the "itinerant priests" from Loikaw, who are constantly traveling in the area.<br />At the opening service of the Jubilee, the bishop encouraged the faithful to "hold on to hope" because "the Lord is with us, he supports us, he is the source of our hope." "Moreover," he continued, "hope comes from solidarity and mutual charity in this time of desert, darkness, suffering, displacement," "a time of exile when everyone longs to return home but cannot because of the widespread violence."<br />Like the other priests and religious of the diocese, Father Paul Pa is constantly on the move, visiting the Jubilee churches and refugee camps, noting the piety of the pilgrims who "arrive after long marches on foot, stop to pray, are moved, ask God for help, receive the sacraments, gain indulgences." The priest stresses that the service of the priests of Loikaw "today is above all a service of consolation and support for the afflicted." In the midst of this painful condition, the faithful also sing songs of praise, as they have been provided with a “Jubilee song” and a special prayer that they recite with faith. The ministry of priests in Loikaw has become, above all, a ministry of consolation: “We say to the faithful: may a special shower of graces be upon you all, and we bless you,” the priest recounts.<br />In addition to human and spiritual consolation, it is also about providing humanitarian aid to those most in need, especially displaced persons, children, the elderly and the sick, in a situation in which even the private health centers and clinics of the Catholic Church are facing serious difficulties and shortages. <br />Mon, 03 Feb 2025 19:58:12 +0100AFRICA/DR CONGO - “In Bukavu, young people are joining self-defense militias”https://www.fides.org/en/news/75986-AFRICA_DR_CONGO_In_Bukavu_young_people_are_joining_self_defense_militiashttps://www.fides.org/en/news/75986-AFRICA_DR_CONGO_In_Bukavu_young_people_are_joining_self_defense_militiasKinshasa - "The situation in Bukavu is calm at the moment, but young people are flocking en masse to the recruitment centers of the self-defense groups of the so-called 'Wazalendo' militias," report Fides sources from the capital of the Congolese province of South Kivu, which is now also threatened by the advance of the rebel movement M23, after it has already taken Goma .<br />"The M23 seems to have stopped its advance on Bukavu," say the observers. "So we are living from day to day without really knowing what to expect. The army has also launched a campaign to recruit civilians to join self-defense groups. Many young people have answered the call of the authorities and are now strengthening the ranks of the so-called 'Wazalendo' militias." The observers report that "life is slowly recovering in Goma too. Electricity has returned to some neighborhoods and, since yesterday evening, internet connections have also been restored. Schools have reopened today, at least those that were not intended to accommodate displaced people." "As for the displaced people, the various refugee camps around the city have meanwhile been dismantled; those who were able to do so have returned to their places of origin; the others have been forced to take shelter in schools and other public buildings," the observers continue.<br />According to the Congolese Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization , the health situation in the city is very serious. "Several health facilities are working beyond their capacity: there is a lack of beds, medicines, medical equipment, emergency kits, blood donations, fuel, surgical supplies and other equipment," says a report dated January 30, sent to Fides. "The morgues are overflowing ". According to the report, 2,800 injured people are in the city's hospitals. Many of the injured remain at home without adequate medical care, while the risk of epidemics remains high.<br />At the political level, the Heads of State of the member states of the Southern African Development Community reaffirmed their "unwavering commitment to continue to support the Democratic Republic of Congo in its efforts to preserve its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity" at the end of their extraordinary summit on 31 January in Harare . There is therefore a fear that the conflict will expand into a confrontation that goes beyond the Great Lakes region, as the President of Burundi explained in a video published on his YouTube channel: "If there is no peace in eastern Congo, there will be no peace in the region. The conflict does not only affect Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, but the entire region". <br />Mon, 03 Feb 2025 19:48:04 +0100