From the steps of St Peter's Basilica, the pontiff greeted the faithful from Ukraine, telling them to “Bring home the embrace and prayer of this square”. The apostolic letter ‘In unitate fidei’ is published to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, before the papal trip to Turkey. “Christians have been called to walk in harmony,” Leo explained. He also said that he was “deeply saddened” by abductions in Nigeria and Cameroon.

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the initiative by local Catholic communities dedicating the last Sunday of the liturgical year to the relationship between the faithful and Sacred Scripture. According to some statistics, 36 per cent of Catholics regularly read and meditate on the Bible (half the rate of Protestants). South Korean dioceses offer many online programmes, catering to young people as well as senior citizens.

With the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 400 in several parts of the capital, the Delhi government has ordered the suspension of outdoor sports activities in schools until December. Various measures have been in place since mid-October due to worsening pollution, a problem that resurfaces in the autumn.

Pakistan lacks the infrastructure needed to dispose of its ever-increasing waste, which includes an estimated 270,000 tonnes of textile waste produced each year. Poverty and inflation are pushing millions of Pakistanis to rely on second-hand clothing. In 2021, the EU exported about 1.4 million tonnes of used textiles or unwanted clothing worldwide.

Scandals in Kyiv are increasingly intertwined with frequent discussions about Zelensky's departure from power. Justice, transparency, “purity”, and the punishment of the guilty appear to be the priorities under the mounting rubble of war.

Alarm bells are ringing in South Korea after tensions rose between China and Japan following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statements regarding possible military action in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. Seoul fears being dragged into a geopolitical confrontation between its two neighbours. At the same time, it is trying to keep a fragile balance between the United States (which is demanding a more active role on the Taiwan issue) and China, which remains its largest trading partner and a key player in managing the North Korean threat.