China: Lantern Festival
Religion, philosophy, legends, imperial politics, and folklore – these are the ingredients of one of the most popular celebrations in China associated with the New Year of the Asian giant. The Lantern Festival. This year’s Chinese New Year begins on Sunday, January 22 with the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit. It will continue […]
Asia 2023: A Year of Uncertainty
In 2023, Asia will be a continent of global uncertainties, regional trends and attempts at recovery. Four general elections. It will be the year of India. The first elections are scheduled in Thailand on 18 June which will design the new National Assembly, or rather the bicameral Parliament. In fact, only the 500-member House of […]
Africa’s Hotspots in 2023
The outbreak of war in Ukraine showed that a conflict could begin in any moment. The crisis had actually been going on for some time, and it simply got worse. There are in Africa different crises due to insecurity that are ongoing and could degenerate in 2023. We will examine some of these crises moving […]
Africa political forecast 2023
Elections in the most populated country of the continent, Nigeria, and the expansion of jihadism are some of the main challenges expected this year. Many elections are scheduled this year in Africa but several are likely to be postponed. In West Africa, parliamentary elections scheduled for 8 January 2023 in Benin should be more open […]
The Youth Corner: Life-Giving Dreams
“Don’t be afraid to take Mary with you” (Mt 1: 18–25) These are the words that the angel says to Joseph. From Mary, in fact, he will receive Jesus, the Son begotten of the Spirit, the God-with-us. This account clearly answers the two questions that open the previous passage, the genealogy of Jesus: who is […]
World Council of Churches: Christmas Message 2022
At the recent WCC Assembly in Karlsruhe, which reflected on the love of Christ that moves the world to reconciliation and unity, the moving and challenging question of a Muslim guest who addressed the delegates remained deep in my heart: “Is the love of Christ for Christians alone or it is also for me?” The […]
Bolivia: Apacheta, a Symbol of the mystery of Life
The Nativity, a crossroads that unites the divine and the human. The journeys and pilgrimages that people frequently make in the Andean countries include long journeys to meet other people, to respond to social, political and work responsibilities, etc. However, you also walk a lot to go to celebrate holidays and special ceremonies. The routes […]
Bolivia: The Amerindian Dance that Welcomes The Child Jesus
In Bolivia, it is the Chuntunqui musical rhythm that leads the celebration of Christmas Eve. A way to help Mary’s birth, to express joy and to reflect on the difficulties of life. Christmas is a feast where the joy of the people and the gospel meet. It is God made a man-child; embodied in the […]
Reflection: The Simplicity Of Christmas
Like the crib, the whole mystery of Christmas – Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem – is extremely simple, and because of this, it is accompanied by poverty and joy, and therefore not difficult to understand by those who have the eye of faith. The crib is something very simple that all children easily understand. It may […]
The Youth Corner: Becoming a “Good Samaritan” every day
“We are called to put people at their ease, making them feel joyfully welcomed, appreciated and forgiven”. The priesthood is not a career but a vocation, a lifestyle not a profession, a total and perpetual commitment, not a temporary job or assignment. One may wonder what the identity of a priest or a religious should […]