Erdogan’s offensive in Syria halts, domestic repression against Kurds and dissidents continues

On World Mission Day, Francis said that "believers at this time are called to bring everywhere, with new enthusiasm, the good news that mercy overcomes sin in Jesus, hope overcomes fear, brotherhood overcomes hostility.” PIME missionary Fr Alfredo Cremonesi is remembered. Killed in Burma in 1953, he was a tireless apostle of peace and a zealous witness of the Gospel, until his blood was shed.”

Today the martyr's beatification was celebrated in Crema cathedral. Card Angelo Becciu, Crema’s Bishop Daniele Gianotti, and Taungngu’s Bishop Isaac Danu were present at the ceremony. Today is the 95th anniversary of Fr Cremonesi’s first Mass. Participants made a pilgrimage to the places that marked his life. His testimony “is an incentive for young people to reflect on the beauty of the missionary vocation, experienced with enthusiasm and total commitment”.

Out of 12 small groups, five are in favour, four against, three others would leave the decision to the Pope or to a universal synod. There is agreement over environmental problems and the violence endured by indigenous people. The contribution of women to evangelisation must be valued. One proposal calls for an "Amazonian rite".

In the secular and religious media the sense of mission is reduced to things to do, acts of charity, ideological positions. Silence shrouds the "why" a missionary gives his or her life. The passion and the desire that the peoples know the love of Jesus Christ allows a prophetic impulse capable of perceiving and helping the development and destiny of peoples.

The ceremony will be led by Card Becciu in the cathedral of Crema. Fr Cremonesi spent more than 30 years of his life on mission in what was then Burma. He was called "perpetual motion" because of his restlessness and passion for evangelisation. “if I were born a thousand times, I’d go back on mission a thousand times,” he said. The faithful acknowledged his martyrdom right away.

"Today we ask for the grace to be amazed by the surprises of God, not to hinder His creativity, but to recognize and favor the ever new ways through which the Risen One pours His Spirit into the world and attracts hearts making Himself known as the" Lord of all "(Acts 10:36)".

In his message for today's World Food Day, Francis states that having 820 million hungry people live side by side 700 million overweight people shows the need to return to simplicity and sobriety.

There is a call to set up a permanent episcopal body to promote synodality in the Amazon and a permanent observatory for human rights and the protection of the region. The issue of viri probati continues to take centre stage.

“We must learn to accuse ourselves: ‘I did this, I think this way, wickedly ... I am envious; I would like to destroy that ...’. What is inside, ours, and tell ourselves, before God.” “This spiritual exercise is not commonplace, it is not usual, but let us try to do it”.

Bishop Warda is worried about escalating violence in northern Syria, hopes "all the parties" will help protect "innocent civilians". People won’t take another conflict. At least 275,000 people have fled. In Turkey, police arrested four mayors elected with a Kurdish party.

Some 65 Malaysians and "several hundred" Indonesians are still in northern Syria. Before Turkey’s invasion, the Kurds had only 400 men to watch over 12,000 jailed IS fighters. In addition to the latter, there are also some 70,000 family members. Two days ago, 800 of them fled a refugee camp.

The visit paved the way for the signing of 30 agreements and economic and commercial contracts. The Kremlin wants to involve Riyadh for a political solution to the Syrian conflict. The objective of guaranteeing the "stability" of oil on the markets. After the Saudis, today Putin meets the leaders of the Emirates.

The Supreme Council for Radio and Television silences every critical voice of the military operation. Praise for the media that "contribute to national unity". Reporters arrested for broadcasting official statements of the Arab-Kurdish forces. In the country, there has been a targeted blockade of internet access for days. A censorship higher than the post 2016 coup.

Washington promised independence to the Kurds, and now it has abandoned them to their foe. Europe (and the UN) "have done nothing" concrete other than endorse sanctions. The killings during Turkey’s offensive are similar to the massacres by Islamic extremists. Ethnic cleansing is affecting Christians too.