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“Jesus identifies Himself with the poor and the oppressed and what is done for them is the only binding criterion to qualify for eternal life.”
Thirty-seven priests, nuns and missionaries were killed worldwide in 2009, nearly twice as many as in 2008 and a record high for a decade. Most deaths occurred in Latin and North America, where 23 of the Catholic workers were killed, 11 died in Africa, 2 in Asia and 1 in Europe.
A 13th-century letter from Genghis Khan’s grandson demanding homage from Pope Innocent IV, and another from 20th century Japanese Emperor Hirohito are among a collection of documents from the Vatican’s secret archives that have been published for the first time. The Holy See’s archives contain scrolls, parchments and leather-bound volumes with correspondence dating back more than a thousand years.
The US Postal Service has recognized Mother Teresa’s humanitarian work with a stamp, as part of its 2010 program. Noted for her compassion toward the poor and suffering, Mother Teresa, who was an honorary US citizen, served the sick and destitute of India and the world for nearly 50 years.
In 1960, the “Year of Africa,” when most African states became independent, there was only one city in sub-Saharan Africa with a population of more than 1 million inhabitants (Johannesburg, South Africa). Now, in 2010, it is estimated that at least 33 African cities have over 1 million people.
The world’s tallest building opened its doors in Dubai with a superb show of fireworks and colored lanterns. To the surprise of many, the skyscraper measuring 828 meters that was called “Burj Dubai” during the construction, has been called “Burj Khalifa,” after the head of the federation of the Emirates, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan, Emir of Abu Dhabi.
The largest survey ever conducted of the Catholic Church in mainland China has indicated that the Catholic population has not kept pace with overall population growth. According to the results of the study conducted by the Faith Institute for Cultural Studies (FICS), a Church-run organization based in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, there are now about 5.71 million Catholics in mainland China, served by 3,397 bishops, priests and deacons. A total of 3,268 priests are serving in more than 100 dioceses.
China Travel Service (CTS, a Chinese tourism giant) has announced it has opened negotiations with the city of Dengfeng, Henan, to transform the ancient monastery of Shaolin into a successful brand. The meeting was confirmed by municipal leaders, who have stressed, however, they “have not yet signed any contract with the company.” The Hong Kong branch of the CTS is responsible for the ongoing negotiations.
Climate change, associated with a four-fold increase in natural disasters in the last decade, and the growth of world population, which is expected to reach nine billion by 2050, pose new challenges for aid initiatives like those of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). This warning comes from Gemmo Lodesani, head of the WFP office in Brussels, who is in charge of relations with the European Union and of fund-raising to fulfill the organization’s primary commitment: fighting hunger worldwide.
The Bali Road Map that was expected to deliver a fair, ambitious and binding (FAB) agreement at Copenhagen ended on December 19, 2009, with a mere Accord, which accepts that the average global temperature must not be allowed to rise above 2 degrees Celsius. Many of the 40,000 people who gathered in Copenhagen, and countless millions around the world, had hoped for what was being called a FAB deal. Billboards around the Bella Centre, where the Conference of the Parties (COP15) was held, linked Copenhagen with Hopenhagen. What was achieved holds out little hope as the big boys: the U.S., China, India and Brazil had cobbled together an Accord with none of the FAB elements.
