Attacks against Christians in this part of Indonesia have historical, geographical and economic roots. Arab merchants settled on the coast; the Dutch Protestant missionaries evangelized the plateau; different ethnic groups have often clashed with each other. At the turn of the year 2000, the arrival of jihadists from the Philippines stocked tensions in the region. Islamist terrorism resists, but the people seem to desire to live in peace.
Central Sulawesi: The killers of four Christians are East Indonesia Mujahidin terrorists
by Mathias Hariyadi | INDONESIAChristian family killed and beheaded in Central Sulawesi; fire set to six chapels
by Mathias Hariyadi | INDONESIANGOs and activists call for a stop to military operations against Papua rebels
by Mathias Hariyadi | INDONESIAFrancis sends a message to the Ecumenical Patriarch on the feast day of Saint Andrew, teh Patriarchate’s patron saint. The "primary duty" of Christians is to offer an example of dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation to a world where war will end when people realise that they are brothers and sisters.
During the Angelus, Pope Francis noted that "The Lord never abandons us" and this can help overcome "fear and discouragement" along with "pessimism, closure, and apathy" at this time of pandemic. The pontiff urged the faithful to pray for the new cardinals.
Commentary (in Italian) on the Gospel of the Sunday before Advent B (Mark 13:33-37).
At the Altar of the Chair in St Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis celebrated Mass with the new cardinals created in yesterday’s consistory. “[W]hy should we be caught up with earthly concerns?” “Why should we look for ‘patrons’ to help advance our career?” “Some people seem to think that being compassionate, helping and serving others is for losers. Yet these are the only things that win us the victory”. “When the Church worships God and serves our neighbour, she does not live in the night. However weak and weary, she journeys towards the Lord.”
During the consistory held at the Altar of the chair, Pope Francis placed the biretta on 13 new cardinals. Those from the Philippines and Brunei were absent due to problems related to the pandemic. All the cardinals wore masks and stood at a distance from each other. One of the new cardinals, Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, delivered the opening greetings.
The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life is launching a campaign to invite young people to spread the "virtual hugs" exchanged with the elderly online with the initiative "The elderly are your grandparents".
At the general audience, Francis recalls that the Church it consists of listening to the teaching of the apostles, custody of shared communion, the breaking of bread and prayer. If these "coordinates" are missing, there is no ecclesiality.
The Central Office of Church Statistics looked at the evolution of the number of priests in the world between 2013 and 2018. Over this period, the number dropped by 0.3 per cent to around 414,000. The number of diocesan priests rose by + 0.5 per cent, whilst the number of religious priests dropped by around 2 per cent.
Francis asks young economists and entrepreneurs for a "pact" for a new economic model, because "we can't go on like this". Three days of discussion in Assisi.
"The art of choosing well, especially today, means not seeking approval, not plunging into a consumerist mentality that discourages originality, and not giving into the cult of appearances." The young people of Panama “passed” the WYD cross to the young Portuguese. The diocesan celebration of WYD will take place on the Sunday of Christ the King.
At the Angelus, Francis warns that "the Lord, at the end of the world, will judge His flock, and he will do so not only as shepherd, but also as oneof the sheep, with whom He identified himself. And He will ask us: 'Have you been a bit of a shepherd like me?' ".
Pandji Wisaksana is 95, but for him age is but a number. COVID-19 prevents him from going to the gym, but he is still active in his daily chores with his 90-year-old wife and still handles his business affairs. His father went blind in a mine, inspiring him to help restore the eyesight of the poor. Since it was founded more than ten years ago, his charity has paid for at least 6,000 free cataract operations.
A message on the occasion of World Fisheries Day, which is celebrated tomorrow 21 November, recalls that the sector employs about 59.5 million people. “Strikingly one out of two workers is a woman. Asia has the highest number of workers, in this sector, and contributes some 85 percent of the world total labor force."
The meeting of economists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers under 35 began with live streaming today. It includes 27 webinars in 12 areas: work and care, management and giving, finance and humanity, agriculture and justice, energy and poverty, profit and vocation, policies and happiness, CO2 inequality, business and peace, women and the economy, businesses in transition, life and lifestyles.
