Fifteen priests and one deacon ordained in the dioceses of Tanjungkarang and Jakarta (photos-Video)

The meeting of the joint working group concluded at the Vatican.  The Vietnamese delegation received by Pope Francis.  In a joint statement released today, there is also talk of the establishment "as soon as possible" of the non-permanent papal representative in Vietnam.

Students from the dioceses of Mỹ Tho, Phú Cường and Phan Thiết took part in the initiative undertaken by the St Joseph Major Seminary. The group attended some courses on social work theory, practice and methodology. Participants helped take care of hungry children as well as children with HIV and cancer. For Mgr Joseph Đỗ Mạnh Hùng, “We must pray for ourselves to face this huge demand.”

The Indian-born TV preacher is thought to have inspired the 2016 Dhaka massacre. Malaysian police received more than a hundred complaints about racially motivated statements attributed to him. Naik has questioned the loyalty of Malaysia’s Hindu minority and claimed that ethnic Chinese people are guests in the country.

At the general audience in the Paul VI hall, Pope Francis highlights the practice of sharing and helping the poor, typical of the first Christian communities.  The positive example of Barnabas;  the negative example of Ananias and Sapphira, marked by hypocrisy.  "A life set only on profiting and taking advantage of situations at the expense of others inevitably causes inner death".  The little girl who played in front of the pontiff.

In the north of the region, violent skirmishes between government troops and militias of the Northern Alliance.  The cities of Naung Cho, Kyaukme, Lashio, Kutkai and Theinni are now deserted.  Humanitarian organizations fear the rise of displaced people, so far given refuge in Buddhist monasteries.  The price of rice skyrockets.

The Court of Appeal of three judges dismissed the appeal by 2 to 1. He remains in prison, serving a sentence of six years.  Card. Pell's lawyers plans to appeal to the High Court.  The note from the Vatican.

Abdul Somad’s sermon goes viral online. He later claimed that “The Quran reciting session was held in a closed Mosque”, “for Muslims” only. Christians are urged not let emotions prevail. Extremists are increasingly resorting to hoaxes, fake news and controversy over religion to feed divisions.

Tensions rise in Sorong, Jayapura and Manokwari. Protesters attack and set fire to some public buildings. Two days ago, 43 Papuan students were arrested for not celebrating Indonesian independence.

Myanmar authorities will accept up to 300 people a day in two camps for displaced people. The first attempt at voluntary refugee repatriation failed in November 2018. For the Bishop of Pyay, some "stress that the humanitarian crisis guarantees generous profits”. Repatriation raises fears of possible ethnic tensions.

At the Angelus, Pope Francis explains that "the fire" that Jesus came to ignite, pushes disciples "to abandon every attitude of laziness, apathy, indifference".  Christianity has spread "overcoming every division between individuals, social categories, peoples and nations".  It is urgent to live in "adoration of God" and in the "willingness to serve others".  One cannot "combine Christian life and worldliness", "superstitious practices" and "a hostile attitude to one's neighbor".

The Archbishop of Yangon released a letter in which he expresses "the deep concerns of the Church about the challenges facing the people of Myanmar”, including military interference in the country’s political life. He calls on the army and the government to respect their respective roles, and warns against the growing religious intolerance in the country and Asia.

Today the president made his State of the Nation speech before parliament. “A capital city is not just a symbol of national identity, but also a representation of the progress of the nation,” he said. For the president, minerals, palm oil and fisheries are resources Indonesia should process more at home to increase their value.

At the Angelus, Pope Francis explains the words used by Mary in the Magnificat: Magnify and rejoice.  "If we want our life to be happy, God must be placed first, because he alone is great".  Closeness to the peoples of South Asia affected by the monsoons.  The rosaries blessed by the Pope will be distributed to Syrian families.

Arrested in 2011, Hòa was an active member of the Diocese of Vinh and worked with a news agency run by Redemptorist fathers. For the regime, he is part of a group of young Catholics and Protestants engaged in activities “aimed at overthrowing the people’s government”. The prisoner of conscience still has five years to serve in prison followed by as many under house arrest.