During the celebration marking the start of the 52nd Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Francis said “It is a grave sin to belittle or despise the gifts that the Lord has given our brothers and sisters, and to think that God somehow holds them in less esteem. When we entertain such thoughts, we allow the very grace we have received to become a source of pride, injustice and division. And how can we then enter the promised kingdom?

Malaysia bans Israeli athletes from next July’s Paralympic Swimming World Championships. The Muslim majority nations does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. Kuala Lumpur claims it is "Fighting on behalf of the oppressed" Palestinians.

Social workers and diocesan Caritas volunteers are committed to end social discrimination. Trained in the basics, "community volunteers" help the poor and abandoned find work and fit in the workplace. For Vicar of Thủy Yên, volunteers “are a sign of God's love and the Church’s presence”.

In its New Year message, the group founded by Xu Zhiyong calls for the end to Xi Jinping’s dictatorship. The latter is accused of amending the Chinese Constitution, monopolising resources, and governing everything. The movement’s only "weapons" are truth, courage, and hope.

Suicide is a real scourge in the country. Competition, stress at work and at school, and loneliness push hundreds of people to take their own lives every year. The data also show a worrying rise among young women.

The cardinal led the ordination Mass of the new archbishop of Mosul and auxiliary of Baghdad in St Joseph cathedral. He asked Mgr Najij to rebuild trust with Muslims as well as the social and ecclesiastical fabric of Iraq’s largest northern city, once a stronghold of the Islamic State group. He appealed to the faithful to support their bishops in their mission.