Catholic bishops in a south-ern Indian state have expressed their condolences to the families of 49 expatriate workers, most of them Indians, killed in a fire mishap in Kuwait. A major fire broke out in a six-story building in the Mafreg area in southern Kuwait on June 12. Nearly 150 people were living in the block when the fire broke out on the ground floor. The cause of the fire is unknown but the presence of more than 20 cooking gas cy-linders in the overcrowded build-ing caused it to spread quickly. Kuwait’s interior ministry has reported 49 deaths. Among them, 42 are Indians and others are from Egypt, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Most victims died due to suffocation while 50 others sustained injuries. “Twenty-four of them were from Kerala state and many of them are Christians,” Fr Jacob Palakkappilly, spokes-person of the regional Kerala Ca-tholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC), told on June 13. “It is really heartbreaking,” the KCBC said in a statement on June 13. The loss their families suffered is be-yond words, the bishops observed. “The Catholic Church shares the grief of the family members,” added the bishops. They were the breadwinners of their families, said Fr Palakkappilly, and added that we are waiting for more details. The Kerala government has announced compensation to each family and has sent its health minister Veena George to Kuwait. The Indian government has rushed federal minister Kirti Vardhan Singh to Kuwait. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condo-lences and announced compen-sation for the victim’s families. “My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured re-cover at the earliest,” he said. Low-paid, blue-collar workers from Asian nations live in over-crowded accommodations in the six Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) nations. Kuwait relies hea-vily on foreign labor in industries like construction. Kerala is known for migrant workers. Among its 33 million people, close to 3 million people are expatriates, according to reports.
Indian bishops tell Modi to make his new term ‘inclusive’
Catholic bishops have appealed to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make his new term “inclusive” by treating all citizens equally and upholding the country’s constitutional values. Modi was sworn in for another five-year term on June 9 after his pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the help of allies, se-cured 293 seats in the Indian parliament. The coalition government was formed after the BJP, accused of following a Hindu-first policy, failed to win the required simple majority of 272 seats in the 543-seat Lok Sabha (lower house). The seven-phased national polls ended on June 1, and results were declared on June 4. The bishops appealed to the coalition government “to work diligently towards upholding constitutional values, ensuring justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity for all citizens.” “It is imperative that the government remains inclusive and committed to the welfare of all sections of society, particularly the marginalized and vulnerable,” said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in a statement on June 9. The bishops said the elections highlighted “the strength of India’s democratic ethos.” The opposition accused Modi, who came to power in 2014, of following policies to turn India into a theocratic Hindu nation in his third term. India witnessed 147 incidents of violence against Christians in 2014, and the number of such incidents spiraled to 599 by 2022, according to records of Christian leaders. Most opposition political parties cobbled together a loose coalition with a slogan to “save constitution” that stresses secularism. But they could win only 234 seats, 38 less than the required number to form a government. The bishops acknowledged “the spirited participation of all political parties” in the elections, which they said exhibited the vibrancy of Indian democracy. “In the ultimate analysis, it is the triumph of Indian democracy. It’s the victory of faceless Indian voters,” said analyst Ashutosh Talukdar from northeast India’s Assam state. In three Christian-majority states in the northeast – Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizo-ram – BJP’s allies were humbled.
3 in 5 children in Middle East suffering severe food poverty
3 in 5 children in the Middle East and North Africa, 34 million in total, are living with severe food poverty. That’s according to a new report by UNICEF entitled Child Food Poverty: Nutrition Deprivation in Early Childhood, which analyses the consequences and causes of food deprivation among the world’s youngest children.
The report notes that around 181 million children worldwide under the age of 5 are experiencing severe child food poverty, making them up to 50 per cent more likely to experience a life-threatening form of malnutrition. The report also highlights the compounding effects of inequality, conflict and climate crises. It says that persistent protracted crises, ongoing conflicts and economic instability have a significant impact on children’s access to nutritious and diverse foods. It estimates that about half of the children in severe food poverty receive only starchy pro-ducts along with dairy or breast milk, reflecting a very poor diet.
Fewer than 10% of these children eat fruits and vegetables, according to UNICEF. Less than 5% of people eat nutrient-rich foods such as eggs, fish, poultry, or meat.
“Children living in severe food poverty,” said UNICEF Director-General Catherine Russell in a press release, “are children on the brink. Right now it is a reality for millions of young children and can have an irreversible negative impact on their survival, growth and brain development.” “Children who consume only two food groups a day, for example, rice and some milk, are up to 50 per cent more likely to experience some severe form of malnutrition.”
Church’s votes ‘no’ to mining permits for religious organisations
Indonesia’s Catholic Church has rejected President Joko Wido-do’s plan to allow religious organisations to manage mining deposits whose concessions have been withdrawn from companies. Last week Jokowi – as the president is known at home – signed a decree to make the proposal official, as a gesture of appreciation for the contribution made by religious groups to Indonesia’s struggle for independence, Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said.
In 2022, the president, whose term will end in October, had announced that he would revoke a number of mining permits because the concessions were being developed too slowly. Bahlil said that religious organisations are given the opportunity to take over the concessions to improve the welfare of the community. But religious organisations do not have the capacity for exploration and exploitation, nor the funds to propose mining investments.
Criticism has come from the Church and various groups in society, including environmentalists. ‘I don’t know how or who others will respond to this issue presented by the president,’ Card. Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmod- jo, Archbishop of Jakarta, said yesterday.
‘But the Indonesia Bishops’ Conference and the Indonesian Catholic Church will never accept the offer to manage mining projects because it is not the domain of the Church.” ‘Our pastoral work in each archdiocese and within the Bishops’ Conference has always been very clear. And there has never been involvement in mining projects,’ the cardinal added, addressing the media as he left the Jakarta office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
There have often been conflicts with large companies that have appropriated land be-longing to local people. And some children have died after falling into abandoned mine shafts.
Christians join global calls for repeal of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws
Some 300 Christians marched on the legislature in Pakistan’s Punjab province, joining global calls for the repeal of the country’s draconian blasphemy laws days after a Christian lynching victim died in hospital. During the protest on June 8 in Lahore, the provincial capital, the protesters condemned the government for failing to stop recurrent Muslim mob attacks based on false alle-gations of blasphemy.
The demonstrators placed lit candles on a table around a pict-ure of Nazir Masih, the 74 year old Christian who died on June 3 days after a Muslim mob attacked and injured him in Punjab’s Sar-godha district. “The government should stop patronizing extremist religious outfits. Minorities are now afraid to sleep fearing some-one will drop blasphemous mat-erial in front of their house. The whole community is punished resultantly,” said Samson Sala-mat, chairman of Rawadari Teh-reek, a group promoting peaceful coexistence among all segments of society, at the rally.
Salamat referred to the case of Masih who was attacked after rumours spread that he burned pages of the Quran on May 25. “We demand new legislation against false and fabricated blasphemy allegations and an independent inquiry into all bla-sphemy incidents and mob attacks on the Christian community,” Salamat said. On June 3, UK-based global Christian group, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), issued a strongly worded statement demanding the end of Pakistan’s blasphemy law.
Climate change exacerbates poverty in vulnerable Asian communities, says Gariguez
“Climate change hits hardest at the poorest communities, fundamentally because they lack the resources to adapt,” said Fr. Edwin A. Gariguez, social action director of the Apo-stolic Vicariate of Calapan, south of Manila. Gariguez was the keynote speaker at the Caritas Asia Regional Conference, which took place in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 11, attended by approximately 100 representatives from 25 Caritas organizations across Asia. The priest said that small farmers, fishers, and indigenous peoples are on the front lines, grappling with the direct impacts of environ-mental changes that threaten their livelihoods and survival. Gariguez emphasized the need for effective policies that could provide immediate relief and long-term sustainability.
Discussing various extreme weather events, including the 2023 humid heatwave across South Asia and devastating typhoons in the Philippines, Gariguez explained that these phenomena “do not just disrupt daily lives–they obstruct long-term development.” Recent scientific data showed the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, under-scoring the urgent need for regional adaptive strategies, according to Gariguez. “The correlation between escalating climate events and the surge in health issues is undeniable,” noted Gariguez, adding that climate change exacerbates health crises, particularly respira-tory and water-borne diseases. “Our faith implores us to see the environmental crisis not just as a physical challenge but as a moral imperative,” Fr. Gariguez remarked.
He said that different Asian communities integrate spiritual beliefs and cultural values into their environmental conservation efforts, showing how these practices can forge strong commitments to ecological stewardship. The priest praised organizations like Caritas Internationalis for their role in blending humanitarian aid with developmental strategies. “By integrating immediate disaster response with long-term development plans, we pave the way for sustainable resilience,” he said.
Christian communities wishing Buddhists well for Vesak
As Buddhists today mark the start of Vesak, their most important holy day, some Christian leaders in Southeast Asia have sent messages of good wishes as a way to promote interfaith dialogue. The Association of Churches of Sarawak (ACS) extended its best wishes to the Buddhist community in the Malaysian state and throughout the Southeast Asian country.
In view of many international crises, wars, and dissensions, as well as aggressions, divisions, and conflicts, the Buddha’s teachings and message of peace, compassion and devotion to humanity are something that must be heard more and more, this according to the Rt Rev Danald Jute, ACS president and Anglican Bishop of Kuching. “In a multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic nation such as Malaysia, it is essential that we respect and celebrate our similarities as well as our differences,” the prelate said. “Let us affirm the good in each one of us. In this way, we can all help to build a more peaceful, respected, and prosperous nation.”
Cardinal William Goh, Catholic Archbishop of Singapore also issued a message for the city-state’s Buddhist community. “As you celebrate the birth, enlightenment, and final nirvana of Gautama Buddha, may your hearts be filled with peace and joy,” he said. “In today’s world, many pursue material wealth while relegating spiritual values and their sense of morality to the back seat. As Buddhists and Christians, our religious principles and moral responsibilities motivate us to help mankind in its search for truth and peace.” According to the cardinal, “Constant care and attention are needed to preserve trust among the different faith communities in Singapore. This is especially important when our world is experiencing increasing levels of geopolitical tension and ethnic and religious polarisation today.” With this in mind, “Let our communities continue to adopt a way of life that seeks truth over falsehood, compassion over hatred, and forgiveness over revenge to ensure lasting peace and prosperity,” he added.
Catholic Archbishop Julian Leow of Kuala Lumpur also issued a brief message to Malaysian Buddhists. “May this celebration inspire us to cultivate greater understanding, kindness, and harmony within our communities. May we also strengthen our commitment to work for reconciliation and resilience.”
Vatican official: Hundreds of millions of Christians ‘face high levels of persecution’
“More than 365 million Christians, approximately 1 in 7, face high levels of persecution for their faith,” Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, said at a conference on religious freedom held in Rome.
The conference, titled “Religious Freedom and Integral Human Development: A New Global Platform,” was jointly organized by the Sovereign Order of Malta, the Atlantic Council, and several universities, including the Pontifical Urban University of Rome and the University of Notre Dame.
In his speech, Gallagher said attacks on churches and Christian properties “increased significantly in 2023, with more Christians than ever before reporting violent attacks.” The prelate went on to describe his concern that “according to some estimates, almost 4.9 billion people live in countries with serious or very serious violations of religious freedom.”
The Vatican diplomat underscored that religious freedom, “although not the only aspect of human rights, is probably the most fundamental,” adding that “the violation of the right to religious freedom has the effect of undermining not only one right but also the entire category of human rights,” he added.
“Religious freedom plays a decisive role in achieving integral human development,” Gallagher continued. For this reason, he added, “the state should exercise a detached neutrality and grant religious groups and all individuals an equal right to the public manifestation of their religious convictions.”
Ukrainian priest: We are tired and losing hope
“As long as a person is alive, there is always hope, a desire to see things change for the better and believe that we can make a difference.” Speaking to Vatican News, Father Roman Ostrovskyy, Vice-Rector of the Greek-Catholic seminary in Kyiv, shares his reflections on the Bull “Spes non confundit,” with which Pope Francis recently proclaimed the upcoming Jubilee Year.
Father Roman is a biblical scholar, having studied biblical theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and now teaches in seminary. “I read the text of the bull carefully,” he says, “and found many beautiful and interesting themes. For example, an important passage is where the Holy Father says that the Christian life is a journey, and the goal of this journey, and also of the Jubilee Year, is the encounter with the Lord Jesus. Catholics and all Christians in Ukraine feel this protective presence of Jesus.”
“However,” he says, “on the other hand, we all see a tremendous growth in discouragement. We are in the third year of war, and people feel it deeply: they are tired, losing hope that things here can change for the better, that our voices will be heard.”
The young priest recounts that when full-scale war broke out in his country, there was much fear and confusion about what was happening. “But,” he emphasizes, “there was hope because Ukraine was defending itself strongly; some-thing was happening.”
“It is really difficult for us to think about tomorrow,” Fr Roman says. “In Ukraine, it is not realistic to plan more than a week in advance. Air raid sirens sound, adults and children hide in shelters… Everyone is waiting for what will happen next, which piece of land will be taken away. And the worst part is that we are not able to oppose it alone. Sometimes, it feels like we are being watched like a computer game, where it is interesting to see what happens, but no one wants to fully participate and help the people in need of simple assistance, and fundamentally, just stop the aggressor.”
Pope to write document on Sacred Heart for a world that ‘has lost its heart’
Pope Francis has announced he is pre-paring to write a document dedicated to that devotion to “illuminate the path of ecclesial renewal, but also to say some-thing significant to a world that seems to have lost its heart.” Speaking during the weekly General Audience – his first in June, the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart – he recalled that last 27 December marked the 350th anniversary of the first of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque’s visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
He said that, on that date, celebrations for this devotion began in many countries across the world, and that they will conclude on 27 June next year. For this reason, the Pope said, he is preparing “a document that gathers the precious reflections of previous magisterial texts and a long history dating back to the Holy Scriptures, to reintroduce today, to the whole Church, this devotion full of spiritual beauty.”
“I believe it will be very beneficial for us to meditate on various aspects of the Lord’s love that can illuminate the path of ecclesial renewal; but also to say something significant to a world that seems to have lost its heart,” he said. Thus, Pope Francis asked believers to accompany him in prayer during this time of preparation, with the intention of making this document public next September.