Recent events in my country, Jordan, whose people repeatedly have shown their resilience and steadfastness in the eye of the storm and their generosity to those less fortunate, serve only to highlight that now is the time for change.

Despite the plethora of complex formulae, economic models and hours of debate, many of our Arab nations still struggle to achieve the levels of development that will meet all our people’s needs. For while development requires economic growth, that alone is no guarantee of the social and economic progress that true development entails.

A dark cloud that keeps darkening with time seems to have descended on the Arab world since the landing of Napoleon Bonaparte in Egypt in July, 1798. It is even darker and more ominous than it was during the nearly two and a half centuries of the Crusader era, eight centuries previously. At least during those times, the two sides, though bitter enemies, viewed each other as humans.

Following is an interview with Father Jean-Jacques Pérennès, director of the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem:

The document for the Synod on the Amazon: denunciation of neocolonialism and of the “extrattivist” mentality. The cry of thousands of communities deprived of the Eucharist for too long: to find new paths to guarantee the sacrament to everyone. Hypotheses of official ministries for women.

The Eucharist unites us to Christ directly; this physical union is the same for all who partake of His Body and Blood. However, it does not produce the same effects in everyone. This is so true that the Sacrament may even become a cause of damnation for those who approach it unworthily: “Whosoever shall eat this bread or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily,” says St. Paul, “eateth and drinketh judgment to himself” (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).

The Dicastery for the Laity’s document denounces the four challenges for sporting activities: debasement of the body, doping, corruption and uncontrolled cheering,

The Polish archbishop had carried out a pastoral survey on behalf of the Pontiff. Now he will be in charge of accompanying the faithful on a permanent basis but without entering into matters relating to the authenticity of the apparitions.

There is still no pronouncement regarding the supernatural nature of the Marian apparitions that have followed one another over decades, but a significant decision that shows Francis’ priorities: the accompaniment of the many faithful who go to Medjugorje from all over the world.

Stories of coexistence between the faithful of the two religions. Journey to a town in the African country inhabited by six Christians and 40 thousand Muslims.

Sister Bruna Menghini belongs to the Congregation of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. She is 81 years old and has spent 50 years in North Africa. She currently resides in the north-west of Tunisia, in Ain Draham, a mountain town marked by poverty and unemployment. Bruna, her four fellow sisters and a priest are the only Christians present in the area: all the other inhabitants, about 40 thousand, are Muslims.

How do we bring about forgiveness, peace, healing, mercy and justice? We imitate Christ.

The Earth seethes with outrage, with demands for vindication against injustices both old and new, for retribution for all pains, past and present. The people of all nations cry out for healing, for health, for justice, for mercy, for peace, for kindness, for patience, for forbearance, for something other than the constant anxiety and rage, fear and wrath that dominates our news, our societies, and the not-so-quiet places of our hearts and minds.

First stage of the pilgrimage. The emotional moment for detainees and operators. Symbols and human experiences. And an invitation to hope. For everyone;