The decade-long restoration of Notre Dame has been completed. The installation coincides with the feast of St. Joseph. For Bishop Zalewski, they are “a sign of faith placed in the heart of the city.” Last year, over 200 churches, ecclesiastical buildings, and other structures related to pastoral work were constructed nationwide.
A statement from all the bishops of the state where the Archdiocese of Mumbai is located, which has become the thirteenth to adopt the regulations sought by Hindu nationalists against “forced conversions.” The complaint: “Direct and unjustified interference in the legitimate religious practices of the Catholic Church, particularly in its program for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.”
President Tokayev secured the endorsement he sought with the usual “Soviet-style” vote margins. He now faces the challenge of truly making Astana a model for the region, with a political system capable of balancing the strength of the state with popular consent. The first test will be the parliamentary elections scheduled for this summer.
The Philippines depends almost entirely on the Persian Gulf for its oil needs. Today's severe crisis is forcing Manila to seek an agreement with Beijing for relief on fuel and fertiliser supplies. Yet both countries are loggerheads over the sovereignty of an area of the South China Sea rich in untapped oil and natural gas.
The bishops will meet between 9 and 15 April to choose a new patriarch. The former head will not participate nor vote so as not to "influence" the decision. This ancient Eastern Church, rooted in Mesopotamia, is currently experiencing a period of difficulty due to the exodus and war. The challenges of the last decade include the Islamic State group and the revocation of the presidential decree.
The Arab states in the Gulf region, which are home to millions of Asian workers, are the main targets of Iranian attacks. In Bangladesh some families are unable to contact their relatives, unable to leave because of flight cancellations, while Arab countries are trying to be flexible with visas and tax rules.
