Thousands of Catholics pray in Seoul for reconciliation with the North (photos)

​On the solemnity of Corpus Christi, Pope Francis recalls the Mass and the Eucharistic procession in Casal Bertone, where he will visit in the afternoon.  "From the logic of "every manfor himself" to that of "sharing".  "Let us never become used to" the Eucharist, because "it is Jesus".  A round of applause for the Spanish martyrs Maria Carmen Lacaba Andía and 13 sisters of the Franciscan Order of the Immaculate Conception.

Those who study theology must be encouraged to learn about the great monotheistic religions and the languages ​​in which the sacred texts are written. Theology is not only rationalism, it must be lived in compassion with a heart fixed on the merciful God. The Mediterranean is a bridge "and not a border between the North and the South of the world": Without mercy, "our theology, our laws, our pastoral care, run the risk of collapsing into bureaucratic pettiness or ideology, which of its nature wants to tame the mystery". Francis  in Naples, at a Conference on the theme:" Theology after Veritatis gaudium in the context of the Mediterranean ".

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople sent a message to the ongoing conference in Naples on "Theology after Veritas Gaudium in the Mediterranean context". “We need to carefully examine they ways in which we welcome, why we welcome, but above all how to welcome, respecting the local populations. Reception must become mainly integration, but never syncretism".

This is the first time since 2010 that South Korea sends rice to the North. The government hopes to deliver the aid by the end of September for US $ 107.9 million. Thanks to assistance from abroad, the price of rice drops to benefit all North Koreans.

The agenda of the two-day visit remains secret. Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un will visit the Tower of Sino-Korean friendship, a monument celebrating the 600,000 Chinese soldiers who died during the Korean War. Denuclearization, peace with Seoul and relations with the United States at the center of talks between the two leaders. The video of Xi's arrival in the Korean capital.

On the eve of his trip, the Chinese president pens an article published by a North Korean paper. In it, he says China is ready to play a greater role in negotiations relating to Korean Peninsula issues. For some analysts, he wants to exert influence on the nuclear issue as leverage in trade negotiations with the US.

The UNHCR today released its annual report on the eve of World Refugee Day. It lists 41.3 million internally displaced people (IDPs), 25.9 million refugees, and 3.5 million asylum seekers. Developing nations, not the rich states in the West, bear the brunt of migration. Syria has the largest number of internally displaced people.

In a joint statement, the apostolic administrator of the diocese and the president of the (protestant) Christian council, Eric So, demand an independent inquiry into the clashes between police and protesters, where the police would have used tear gas, sticks, bullets rubber against helpless people.

At the general audience, Pope Francis explains the event of Pentecost, "God’s eruption" like "wind" and "fire". The word of the apostles, inflamed by the Spirit, speaks the "language of truth and love, which is the universal language: even the illiterate can understand it". "The Holy Spirit is the maker of communion, it is the craftsman of reconciliation". He helps the Church "to go beyond human limits, sins and scandal". Greetings to Asian groups and to the Young Messengers of Peace of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Japan).

The Niigata prefecture government says the quake took place at 22.22 yesterday. The victims are resident in the prefectures of Miyagi, Yamagata, Niigata and Ishikawa. The administration issued a tsunami warning, lifted around midnight. After the quake, 9,232 houses remained without electricity. Shinkansen high-speed train stops.

An international conference at the initiative of Asian ambassadors to the Holy See was inspired by the declaration on human brotherhood signed in Abu Dhabi by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb. For Mgr Gallagher, "a certain prejudice [. . .] still exists, above all, in the western world”.

The underground bishop, recently recognized by the government as auxiliary bishop, withdrew his request. In it obedience to the laws of the country was accepted, but not membership of the PA. But the government does not want to publish it, making underground priests believe that they are obliged to join the body that proclaims the independence of the Church. In the Sino-Vatican agreement - also unpublished – membership of the PA is optional.

Xi’s visit to North Korea will be the first by a Chinese president in 14 tears. The trip will take place just before Xi and Trump travel to Japan for the G20 summit. Mgr Lazarus You calls for "building fraternal relations of trust between peoples".

John Man, a 24 year old recent graduate of Hong Kong University and protagonist of the marches against the law on extradition, speaks of government hypocrisy and sadly denounces the "weak" official intervention of the diocese. Msgr. Joseph Ha Chi-shing, auxiliary bishop, has won youth back to the Church and garnered the appreciation of non-believers.