MIL Publishing Engine 1

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Tuesday, 13 May 2025

Avona

Manama (Agenzia Fides) – “For the Church in the Arabian Peninsula, this moment is an encouragement to continue to live and bear witness to the Gospel, often in silent or hidden ways,” said Bishop Aldo Berardi O.SS.T., Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, on the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8. “Amidst our unique reality, the Holy Father’s election is a sign of hope and communion that strengthens our unity with the universal Church. His call for peace, dialogue, and encounter,” Bishop Berardi continued, “resonates deeply in our hearts, especially in this region, where these values are not only desired but vital. We are united with the Holy Father in his mission to build bridges, promote reconciliation, call for dialogue, and proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth.We reaffirm our commitment to be a living sign of communion and to contribute to the universal mission of the Church from our Vicariate in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula.””The election of Pope Leo XIV confirms the gentle and powerful action of the Holy Spirit, who continues to guide the Church through times of renewal and mission. This moment is truly a grace for the People of God, reminding us that Christ always remains faithful to His promise: ‘I am with you always, to the end of the age’ (Mt 28:20). May Our Lady of Arabia, the Star of the New Evangelization, intercede for him, for the Church, and for all the People of God,” concludes the Apostolic Vicar. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 13/5/2025)
Share:

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

PPCRV

Davao (Agenzia Fides) – Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, indicted for crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court, has been elected mayor of Davao, the city on the island of Mindanao where his political career began and where he served as mayor for more than 20 years before being elected president in 2016.Following yesterday’s vote, May 12, in the mid-term elections in the Philippines, which elect the House of Representatives, part of the Senate, and local governments, Duterte was officially declared the winner today, May 13, by the Davao Electoral Council, receiving an overwhelming majority: over 660,000 preferences compared to 80,000 for his opponent, Karlo Nograles, among others, his former spokesman.The position of mayor of Davao is Duterte’s first official post since the end of his term as president. He previously held the office from February 1988 to June 1998, from July 2001 to June 2010, and then from July 2013 to June 2016. The Duterte family has held this office for 34 years, as Duterte’s children succeeded him. Today, his son, Sebastian Duterte, was elected deputy mayor. Duterte’s son entered politics in 2019 and served as mayor from 2022 to 2025. He succeeded his sister Sara, who ran for and was later elected Vice President of the Philippines. She has held the office to this day.The mid-term elections are crucial for the Duterte family, as they consolidate their control over the city of Davao for the next three years. Duterte’s arrest in March was seen as a factor that could have either a negative or positive impact on the family’s image. Duterte’s victory was a testament to his continued popularity among the Filipino people, both locally and nationally. It is worth noting that at least five candidates backed by the Duterte dynasty are running for 12 Senate seats, and according to initial projections, they appear to have a chance of winning.The outcome of the Senate election will be crucial in the case of Vice President Sara Duterte, against whom the Lower House of Parliament has voted to impeach on a range of charges, including misuse of public funds and conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos.The Senate will be asked to confirm or reject the charges in a vote scheduled for next July. Sara Duterte is considered a serious candidate for the 2028 presidential race, but if the Senate confirms the charges, she will be permanently barred from public office. The official results of the mid-term elections will be announced in a week. Meanwhile, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Elections, a monitoring body born within the Catholic Church in the Philippines, actively monitors and oversees electoral transparency at the service of citizens and the entire nation. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 13/5/2025)
Share:

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Yaoundé (Agenzia Fides) – “Father Mbaibarem is still in the hands of the kidnappers. From time to time, they contact some locals to demand a ransom for his release,” Archbishop Faustin Ambassa Ndjodo of Garoua in northern Cameroon told Fides. Father Valentin Mbaibarem, parish priest of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Madingring, was kidnapped on May 7, on the road between Guidjiba and Tcholliré.”The road between Guidjiba and Tcholliré is a dangerous stretch of road, as there have been several cases of kidnappings with the aim of extorting travelers, but this is the first time a priest has been kidnapped on this road,” said Bishop Ambassa Ndjodo. Northern Cameroon has been plagued by kidnappings for years (see Fides, 5/1/2024). According to local newspapers, several teachers were taken hostage on this road a few days before Father Mbaibarem’s kidnapping.The gendarmerie began a search of the area, which led to the release of a hostage who had been kidnapped on May 10 in a village near Garoua. As a sign of solidarity and spiritual support, the Archbishop asked all parishes of the archdiocese to offer a special prayer for Father Mbaibarem on Sunday, May 11. He also invoked the intercession of the Virgin Mary for the priest’s speedy release. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 13/5/2025)
Share:

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Tuesday, 13 May 2025

LG

Kupang (Agenzia Fides) – After more than fifteen years of missionary presence, the Camillian religious in Indonesia are a tangible sign of charity and social commitment. Their work, inspired by the charism of Saint Camillus of Lellis, patron saint of the sick and health workers, has been expressed over time through numerous pastoral, health, and educational activities, especially for the benefit of the most vulnerable sections of the population.After the establishment of the first Saint Camillus Social Center in Maumere, on the island of Flores, in 2018 (see Fides, 2/6/2018), the Camillians inaugurated a second center on May 10 in the city of Kupang, capital of the province of East Nusa Tenggara, on the island of Timor.The inauguration ceremony was attended by the local Bishop Hironimus Pakaenoni, the provincial governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, and numerous civil and religious authorities, who expressed their deep admiration for the courage, dedication, and vision of the Camillian missionaries. The initiative was enthusiastically welcomed by the population, who see it as a concrete opportunity for growth and support, especially for young people.The center, built with the support of the Italian Bishops’ Conference and the contributions of numerous donors, is an important response to the educational and social needs of the region. The new facility has 43 rooms for student accommodation, a conference room, several meeting rooms, a dining room with a kitchen, and other spaces that make it an ideal venue for meetings, seminars, and training activities. With this, the Camillians reaffirm their commitment not only to the sick, the poor, and the needy in the area of healthcare, but also to young people, offering them not only hospitality but also the opportunity for human and spiritual growth, thus responding to the most urgent needs of local communities. The new “St. Camillus Social Center” thus sees itself as a point of reference for the local community, a place of encounter and hope, where we can build a better future together. (LG/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 13/5/2025)
LG

Share:

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Abu Dhabi (Agenzia Fides) – “To Mary, Our Lady of Arabia, we entrust the new Pope Leo XIV,” said Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, at the end of his homily at the Holy Mass in Abu Dhabi following the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new Bishop of Rome and Successor of Peter on Thursday, May 8.The day after the papal election, Friday, May 9, Masses were celebrated in all the churches of the Apostolic Vicariate with special prayer intentions for the new Pope and his ministry. Bishop Martinelli, a Capuchin, presided over the evening Eucharist at the parish of St. Joseph in Abu Dhabi, a celebration in which hymns and songs inspired by the figure of St. Peter and Christ the Good Shepherd were sung.”After days of mourning the death of our beloved Pope Francis,” Bishop Paul said, “the Lord has given us a new successor to the Apostle Peter: Robert Francis Prevost, who has taken the name Leo XIV.” “Last night,” he added, “we were all deeply moved to see him appear on screen and address his first words to the People of God.”In his brief homily, Bishop Martinelli recalled that in his first words from the central loggia of the Vatican Basilica, Pope Leo greeted the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square with the words of the Risen Christ: “Peace be with you,” adding, “A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering.” Bishop Martinelli, who presides over an ecclesial community of migrants, emphasized that Pope Leo “is the son of migrants, and this is one of the reasons why we feel particularly close to him. Although he was born in Chicago, he has Italian, French, and Spanish roots,” highlighting some essential characteristics of the new Pontiff’s personality, such as his long experience as a missionary in Peru and his affiliation with the Augustinian Order. “Pope Leo,” Bishop Martinelli continued, quoting his words during his homily as the new Bishop of Rome on Friday, May 9, during Mass in the Sistine Chapel, when he said, “we are called to bring Jesus to others and to proclaim him. We must in a certain sense put ourselves aside so that Jesus can shine; we are called to be signs of his presence. This is the path of witness that we too are called to follow in this part of the world.” He then recalled that the episcopal motto of the new Bishop of Rome “is a saying of Saint Augustine: In Illo unum uno, which means: ‘In the one Jesus we are all one.'” Bishop Martinelli added, “This beautiful expression reminds us that we Christians, although many and diverse, are united in Christ Jesus, as Saint Paul himself writes in his Letter to the Ephesians: ‘Make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.'” (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 13/5/2025)
Share: