Which African countries are most vulnerable to the coronavirus?
As the coronavirus continues to spread beyond mainland China, the medical journal The Lancet has released a study ranking the vulnerability of African countries to the highly contagious respiratory disease. The study models the risk of Covid-19 exposure based on air travel from areas in China with active transmissions, and the capacity of individual African […]
Pope’s Message for Lent 2020: “The experience of mercy”
During this season of Lent, Pope Francis invites the faithful to fix their eyes on the crucified Lord, and allow ourselves “to be saved over and over again.” In his message for Lent, Pope Francis writes: “Putting the paschal mystery at the centre of our lives means feeling compassion towards the wounds of the crucified […]
Reflection from the Philippines: why is there so much inequality in the world?
There is extreme poverty in the world, 1% of rich people have more money and wealth than the combined wealth of 4.6 billion people who have almost nothing. Worldwide there are about 735 million people in extreme poverty. In the Philippine there are an estimated 6 million people in extreme poverty. Why is there so […]
Cameroon: peace talks to bring an end the conflict
Catholic Bishops from around the world have signed an open letter to the Cameroonian president asking that he participate in proposed peace talks meant to bring an end to conflict between the government and Anglophone separatists. “We are motivated by our concern about the suffering of unarmed civilians, and the stability and prosperity of Cameroon,” […]
Huge locust outbreak in East Africa reaches South Sudan
The worst locust outbreak that parts of East Africa have seen in 70 years has reached South Sudan, a country where roughly half the population already faces hunger after years of civil war. The locusts have been seen in Eastern Equatoria state near the borders with Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. All have been affected by […]
Nigeria: Catholic Bishops denounce violence against Christians
“Human beings are being slaughtered regularly by terrorists who are suspected to have targeted the Christians. Security of life and property can no longer be guaranteed in Nigeria,” said Mons. Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, Bishop of Awka, State of Anambra, in southern Nigeria. The Bishop of Awaka is the latest of Catholic bishops to denounce violence, […]
Philippines: On the side of the underdog
A Benedictine theologian, activist, missionary and intellectual, Sr. Mary John Mananzan speaks of the Philippines of the past and of today. From the former dictator Ferdinando Marcos to the President now in power, Rodrigo Duterte. The Church has always offered resistance and will continue to do so, taking the side of the poor. “The Church […]
Zimbabwe: Street children in Harare
Hundreds of children roam the centre of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, living in inhumane conditions. Many of them are second generation victims: their poverty is a consequence of being orphans. Their parents died from HIV and now they are all alone without family, living on the street and, in some cases, in a foreign […]
Oral Literature: the three questions
There was once a chief whose mind was troubled. He was troubled because he wanted to know the answers to three questions. The first question was this: when is the most important time? The second was: who is the most important man? The third was: what is a man’s most important action? The chief thought […]
Bangladesh: the mission of dialogue
After 45 years of missionary work in Bangladesh, Fr Bob McCahill continues pedalling on his bicycle to find and bring help to rural disadvantaged people. He tells us his story. After my ordination in 1964, I was assigned to the Philippines. For 11 years, I lived in remote areas, travelling often by motorcycle where there […]