Scores have died in Israeli attacks in the south of the country, including across the Litani River. Israel aims to expand the territory it controls by up to 30 kilometres. So far, the capital, Beirut, has been spared, since the United States has designated it “off-limits”. A new round of talks is scheduled for 2 and 3 June in Washington, where the Lebanese delegation will insist on the need for an immediate and simultaneous cessation of hostilities.
In his encyclical, Pope Leo XIV singles out Pakistan's first female prime minister as a public figure who promoted the greatness of humanity. A Muslim, she was assassinated in 2007 in Rawalpindi. Pakistani Catholics expressed gratitude towards her for being a “bridge between our national identity and our faith”, and for the Income Support Programme she created, which is still “supporting millions of women”.
Announced yesterday, the body includes Cardinal David, bishop of Kalookan, former International Criminal Court Judge Pangalangan, and a prominent medical doctor. It will assist survivors and grieving families in their quest for the truth about one of the most painful chapters in the country’s recent history. Reports and recommendations on its work will be published every six months.
Andrew “Cosi” Costello, a popular Australian radio and television presenter, founded “Cows for Cambodia”, a project that lends pregnant cows to the most vulnerable rural families. The initiative, launched following a trip to a country still marked by poverty and the legacy of the Khmer Rouge, aims to foster economic independence.
The biennale of the Starry Starry Night Foundation – which in China promotes the artistic creations of people with disabilities by raising public awareness of their potential – has made a stop in Florence. This project reflects the significant progress made in recent years in the People's Republic on school inclusion.
On 24 May, more than 400 faithful from Chinese Catholic communities across Italy gathered in Padua to mark the Day of Prayer for the Church in China, established by Pope Benedict XVI. At the same time, at the Marian shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan in Shanghai, many of the faithful took part in Mass despite heavy rain. The celebration was presided over by Bishop Shen Bin, with prayers offered for peace and prosperity in the country.
