Maronite Bishop Guy-Paul Noujaim’s nonprofit has aided more than 6,600 Lebanese men and women, both Christian and Muslim, since its founding in 1989.
*****
When a heroin addict approached Maronite Father Guy-Paul Noujaim, in Sarba, Lebanon, asking for help, the priest gathered a small team of laypeople, including some of the addict’s friends, to commit to saving the young man’s life.
Francis’ moving encounter with the refugees who fled from persecution in Myanmar: “I ask you for forgiveness for the indifference of the world. Let us continue to help them, let us not close our hearts, let us not look away”
In his address to the authorities in Dhaka, Francis spoke of the displaced people in the Burmese region of Rakhine, “It is imperative that the international community take decisive measures to address this grave crisis”
Francis’ message to the Burmese bishops: “May you enable the Catholic community to continue to play a constructive part in the life of society by making your voices heard on issues of national interest, particularly by insisting on respect for the dignity and rights of all”
*****
In his first address to Aung San Suu Kyi and the authorities of the country, Francis did not pronounce the word with which the ethnic group of Islamic religion is called, and hopes for a peace based on the “rule of law” and a democratic order that would allow everyone, “none excluded to offer its legitimate contribution to the common good”.
*****
"If an international figure is desperately and rightly needed to help resolve the crisis [in Myanmar], which has resulted in 600,000 Rohingya Muslims distressingly fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh, that person is possibly Pope Francis."
*****
Pope Francis is now in Myanmar where he is making what is widely seen as the most challenging foreign visit of his papacy. Yet, it’s probably what this Southeast Asian nation needs most in order to overcome the great turmoil and challenges it is currently facing.
Before leaving for the capital on Tuesday, November 28, where he will meet the political authorities of the country, Pope Francis greeted the religious leaders.
“If we argue, we shall do it as brothers and sisters.” This is what Francis said in the informal meeting at 10 a. m. this morning in the refectory of the Archiepiscopal residence of Yangon. The meeting lasted 40 minutes.
After a brief introduction by the Catholic bishop Hohn Hsane Hgyi, the Buddhist, Islamic, Hindu, Jewish representatives and the two Christians, Anglican and Catholic ones, took the floor.
The meeting was arranged to take place in Yangon on the morning of November 30. Francis received them in the palace of the archbishopric and talked about their role in the transition process.
It was supposed to be a day of rest, some hours before tomorrow’s tour de force - Tuesday 28 November - with the scheduled institutional meetings and the speech before the political authorities of the country. But Francis accellerated the times and this afternoon in the palace of the Archbishopric of Yangon he met with the Burmese military leaders.
For the first time, a Beijing government official spoke about the “diplomacy of art” favored by Pope Francis with the Asian Country, while he denies Chinese tourists being fined for visiting the Holy See.
Sunday, November 26, is the Solemnity of Christ the King. Mass Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17; Psalms 23:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28; Matthew 25:31-46.
This Sunday is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. That might sound a little old-fashioned and triumphalist. It might seem that, by proclaiming Christ as King, Catholics want to rule the world, stepping over the benighted masses who have no relationship with the great King.
