A place of pilgrimage for people from all over Asia, the shrine stands on the spot where, according to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to a farmer from Pangasinan in 1610. Archbishop Villegas: “This celebration reminds us of Mary’s presence alongside the Filipino people: she guides us in times of darkness, strengthens us in our weaknesses and leads us ever closer to her Son.”
An amendment amending the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) has been introduced in the Lower House. Among other things, the bill proposes the establishment of an “authority” tasked with “seizing, managing and disposing of” the assets of the affected organisations. For Fr Thelakkatt, it is “cloaked in rhetoric” about “national security” but is a tool to fuel the “nationalist ideology” of Hindutva.
Archaeological excavations in the Zeravshan Valley, which began in the 1930s, continue to this day, yielding new discoveries about the rich world of this ancient people, who made a significant contribution to world culture.
During the Regina Caeli, Leo XIV spoke about the 1986 nuclear disaster, which “left a lasting mark on the conscience of humanity,” and serves “as a warning regarding the inherent risks of using increasingly powerful technologies.” In his comment on the Gospel, he noted that "thieves" are those who pillage “the earth’s resources” and wage " blood-thirsty wars”.
A solemn celebration led by Cardinal Suharyo commemorated the solemn consecration that took place in 1901. The large neo-Gothic church designed by architect Father Antonius Dijkmans, SJ, was recognised as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2018. “Caring for creation, cultivating faith" is the motto that sums up the spirit of the anniversary.
For Russian philosopher Epstein, a new electronic and digital "Iron Curtain” is upon us. With the collapse of the Soviet totalitarian system, a new, immense and enveloping virtual system has emerged. Today's wall is not easily controlled by a centre of absolute power, but efforts are underway to plug the holes and sever connections. Putin's challenger is no longer Navalny, but Durov, founder of Telegram.
