Catholic News 2
MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared a unilateral cease-fire with communist guerrillas effectively immediately Monday and asked the rebels to do the same to end decades of deadly violence and foster the resumption of peace talks....
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Verizon is buying Yahoo for $4.83 billion, marking the end of an era for a company that once defined the internet....
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- A shooting at a Florida nightclub early Monday morning killed two people and wounded at least 17, police said. The attack apparently occurred at a teen party, billed as a "Swimsuit Glow Party," at Club Blu in Fort Myers, according to local media....
(Vatican Radio) The future of Christianity in China has been the focus of a four day conference which concluded in Hong Kong on Saturday.Organised by the Ecclesiological Investigations International Research Network, the meeting brought together a wide range of theologians from different denominations and many national or ethnic backgrounds to discuss the challenges facing the different Christian Churches and communities in China today.Philippa Hitchen has been following the conference and sends this final report: Officially there are five faiths recognised by China’s ruling Communist party today: Buddhism and Taoism, the growing Islamic community, plus Christianity – meaning the many Protestant denominations – and the Catholic Church. Protestants and Catholics are required to register with the two state-run patriotic church organisations and in the past, Catholics who have refused and declared their loyalty to the Pope in clandestine house churches have risked p...
(Vatican Radio) The future of Christianity in China has been the focus of a four day conference which concluded in Hong Kong on Saturday.
Organised by the Ecclesiological Investigations International Research Network, the meeting brought together a wide range of theologians from different denominations and many national or ethnic backgrounds to discuss the challenges facing the different Christian Churches and communities in China today.
Philippa Hitchen has been following the conference and sends this final report:
Officially there are five faiths recognised by China’s ruling Communist party today: Buddhism and Taoism, the growing Islamic community, plus Christianity – meaning the many Protestant denominations – and the Catholic Church. Protestants and Catholics are required to register with the two state-run patriotic church organisations and in the past, Catholics who have refused and declared their loyalty to the Pope in clandestine house churches have risked persecution and long prison sentences.
But, at least in the rapidly developing towns and cities of China today, attitudes are changing, even though rights groups continue to report violations of the right to religious liberty and freedom of expression, with the persecution of activists on the grounds of enhanced national security. But as one Jesuit theologian, with long time ties to China, told the conference, there is a growing will among Chinese leaders to resolve the conflict between Beijing and the Vatican over the appointment of Catholic bishops – a key to improving conditions for the estimated nine to twelve million Catholics in the vast country today.
Other Asian experts agreed there are increasing expectations of an agreement that would see Pope Francis offering rapprochement – within this year of mercy - to eight bishops consecrated without Vatican approval and the setting up a system of new nominations acceptable to both Beijing and Rome. This would most likely reflect the practise elsewhere in Asia, or nearer to home in the Swiss city of Basel, where local Church leaders nominate bishops whose names are forwarded for approval by the Holy See. That could lead to a resumption of diplomatic relations, 65 years after all missionaries were expelled and the communist crackdown on religion began.
In the meantime, I discovered much work is being done to engage ecumenical and interfaith partners to show how much religious faith can contribute to common good. Caritas services to the poor and needy or Catholic social teaching, though documents like the ‘Vocation of the Business Leader’, recently translated into Chinese, highlight practical ways in which the Church offers insights and experience to tackle the many crises facing Chinese society.
I also heard a compelling study of the way Pop Francis’ encyclical ‘Laudato Si’, both echoes the ancient wisdom of Buddhist, Tao and Confucian philosophy and points the way towards resolving the environmental disaster overshadowing China’s huge economic development.
As the Pope himself remarked in an interview marking the Chinese New Year in February, “the great richness of the country’s future lies in “the memory of its cultural past.” Recalling the work of 16th century Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci, he insisted it’s vital to enter into dialogue with China, which he described as “an accumulation of wisdom and history”.
(Vatican Radio) The final preparations are underway in Krakow for World Youth Day which begins on the 26th of July. While the city prepares for Pope Francis, the finishing touches are being made to many of the areas the Pope will visit over the course of the celebration. Dorata Abdelmoula is the spokesperson for World Youth Day (WYD) in Krakow and spoke to Lydia O’Kane.Listen: Preparations“All over Krakow we can already see that World Youth Day is approaching”, Dorata says, adding that everything is almost ready at Campus Misericordia where Pope Francis will celebrate the final Mass. She says, “it’s not very sophisticated because we’re trying to maintain the spirituality of Pope Francis, it’s a pretty simple construction but a I think a beautiful one.” Another theme, she notes which is very much in evidence is the Divine Mercy “and the spiritual heart of this World Youth Day will be the Shrine of the Divine Mercy.&r...
(Vatican Radio) The final preparations are underway in Krakow for World Youth Day which begins on the 26th of July. While the city prepares for Pope Francis, the finishing touches are being made to many of the areas the Pope will visit over the course of the celebration. Dorata Abdelmoula is the spokesperson for World Youth Day (WYD) in Krakow and spoke to Lydia O’Kane.
Listen:
Preparations
“All over Krakow we can already see that World Youth Day is approaching”, Dorata says, adding that everything is almost ready at Campus Misericordia where Pope Francis will celebrate the final Mass. She says, “it’s not very sophisticated because we’re trying to maintain the spirituality of Pope Francis, it’s a pretty simple construction but a I think a beautiful one.” Another theme, she notes which is very much in evidence is the Divine Mercy “and the spiritual heart of this World Youth Day will be the Shrine of the Divine Mercy.”
Registration
Young people are coming from all over the world to participate in this youth event and Dorata says apart from the registrations they have already received, they are expecting a last minute influx into the city.
“Up to now we have got more than 560,000 registered pilgrims who have declared their presence. For the opening Mass we expect about 500.000 pilgrims…and then the number will increase, we expect about 800,000 for the Way of the Cross on Friday, about 1 million pilgrims for the vigil of the Holy Father at Campus Misericordia and between 1.5 million and 1.8m pilgrims for the final Mass.”
Security
The terrible events recently in Nice as well as in Brussels and Paris have highlighted the need for vigilance at major events. The WYD spokesperson stresses that security is a top priority and vetting procedures have been thorough for World Youth Day. “From the very beginning we are also preparing all the World Youth Day events as well in the diocese as here in Krakow with the great help of our government, of the local authorities of all the national and international security services.” She goes on to says that, “after all those tragic events in Europe, not only the number of pilgrims didn’t decrease, but also we have felt more solidarity among young people. We have received so many heartwarming declarations from all over the world that young people feel even more invited to gather to testify their faith…”
Information and assistance for pilgrims
Regarding information and assistance for those who are coming as tourists as well as pilgrims, help is at hand in the form of many volunteers giving their time during the event. “Volunteers are eager to help and eager to give all the logistic and practical information,” says Dorata, and she adds that “almost every single diocese has got an account on social media but also a website. In Krakow itself there is an app available and there will be many information points throughout the city run by volunteers.”
World Youth Day runs from the 26-31st July 2016
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