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Herald Malaysia
12 hours ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Papua New Guinea receives funds to continue bringing spirit of Laudato si' to life
Boasting more than 5% of the world's biodiversity on 1% of land area, Papua New Guinea receives payment to continue its work of conserving its forests and reducing CO2 emissions. Jul 25, 2025 National Forest Inventory Botany team members tag and record plant specimens collected the previous day at the NFI camp near Kupiano, Papua New Guinea. (© UN-REDD Programme) By Kielce GussieAt the beginning of July, Papua New Guinea (PNG) became the first small island developing State in the world, and only the second country in Asia and the Pacific after Indonesia, to receive a results-based payment for the country's work in halting deforestation and conserving forests. This payment is part of the initiative REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus), which is focused on encouraging and rewarding developing countries for their effort in this area. In an interview with Vatican News, Serena Fortuna, Senior Forestry Officer at the FAO, explained Papua New Guinea's work, its importance, and how the country's mission to protect the planet ties into Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si' . Small but (bio)diverse Papua New Guinea is a nation consisting of the mainland and around 600 offshore islands. Despite being roughly the size of California, the country boasts one of the highest rates of forest cover in the world - 78%. As Fortuna described, the island nation is a hotspot for ecological variety, housing 'over 5% of the planet's biodiversity, but on less than 1% of the Earth's total land area', as well as 'more than 13,000 documented plant species.' Since it's home to an important treasure trove of biodiversity and untouched green spaces, Papua New Guinea, in recent decades, has become a leading voice on forests and the fight against climate change. Together with Costa Rica, PNG first proposed the concept of a global initiative that rewards developing countries for efforts to stop deforestation. Preservation for the future REDD+ was created as a result of this proposal. The initiative is a chance to increase discussion across different sectors and encourage participation from different groups of people—local communities, indigenous peoples, governments—to reach their national climate and forest goals.--Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
2 days ago
- Herald Malaysia
Bringing the hopes of young South Africans to the Jubilee
A bishop and young person from South Africa share how young people have been preparing to attend the Jubilee of Youth in Rome from July 28 to August 3, despite challenges and issues. Jul 24, 2025 Young people in the Archdiocese of Pretoria, South Africa By Isabella H. de Carvalho'We've already started packing our bags, we can't wait to travel!'. Gladness Mashumbuka Lobina's excitement is palpable over the phone, as she speaks to Vatican News at the end of July, a week before she is due to travel to Italy. The 35-year-old Youth Commission Chairperson, from the Archdiocese of Pretoria, is one of almost 160 young people coming from South Africa, Botswana and Eswatini to attend the Jubilee of Youth, taking place in Rome from July 28 to August 3. Despite 70% of sub-Saharan Africans being under the age of 30, making Africa the continent with the youngest population in the world, many young people had difficulties raising money to be able to fund the pilgrimage to Rome. Nonetheless, the dioceses have been organizing many activities and events for people to experience this Holy Year locally and the youth who are coming are taking the dreams and aspirations of their cohort with them and hope to return to their respective countries with a newfound energy. 'The youth has prepared well during this Jubilee Year', Bishop Siphiwo Paul Vanqa of Queenstown, South Africa, told Vatican News in an interview. As the Liason for Youth of the Southern African Bishops' Conference (SACBC) - which covers South Africa, Botswana and Eswatini - he has seen the preparations for the Jubilee up close. 'The jubilar theme 'pilgrims of hope' has very much been taken on in the dioceses of southern Africa', he explained, adding that between 2000 and 3000 young people attended a local youth pilgrimage earlier in the year. Organizing events to prepare for the Jubilee Year Gladness has seen the same level of enthusiasm in her own diocese, where the Youth Commission launched the initiative 'A Road to the Youth Jubilee' featuring different activities and projects. These included masses, rosaries and other spiritual events centered around 'pilgrim symbols' that travelled around the Archdiocese of Pretoria, novenas and social media campaigns focusing on the Holy Year, and monthly meetings with discussions on different topics from the perspective of the theme 'pilgrims of hope'. These subjects ranged from reflecting on what it means to be a pilgrim, to focusing on serious issues that affect South Africa, such as gender-based violence and femicide. During those events for example 'we would also hold special prayers, as pilgrims of hope, to remember those who lost their lives because of gender-based violence and femicide. We would pray for them and their loved ones but also for the conversion of the perpetrators', Gladness said. Some parishes have also launched their own initiatives to prepare for the Jubilee, such as helping the elderly as part of living the Holy Year concretely. 'It has been quite an amazing journey, young people are excited', she continued. 'It is so refreshing to see the youth wanting to do more for the Church'. Taking the hopes of their cohort with them Gladness and her travel companions will be in fact taking with them the aspirations of their fellow young South Africans who will not be able to attend. During one of the preparatory events in the Archdiocese 'we had this hope room where the young people could write down their dreams and aspirations on a 'hope cloth'. At the Mass with the Holy Father we will carry this cloth with the intentions of our fellow young people here in South Africa to pray for them', she explained. 'We hope that God will indeed grant them their aspirations, their dreams and their hopes'. These different initiatives are also a way to help whoever can't travel to Rome to live the experience of the Jubilee locally. 'We're trying to encourage the young people and show them that, even if you can't afford to go to Rome, in your own space you can be a 'pilgrim of hope',' Gladness said. The challenges faced In fact, in a country like South Africa where over half the population lives below the poverty line and wealth inequalities are stark, many could not gather enough funds to come to Rome. 'There are some dioceses that aren't sending anyone because they couldn't fundraise enough', Bishop Vanqa said, highlighting that even his own diocese was unable to send pilgrims to the event due to economic limitations. Gladness echoed similar issues. 'Finances have been one of the major challenges as most of our pilgrims come from modest families', she said. However, she underlined that several young people did organize fundraising initiatives to raise money, such as making and selling rosaries. For her, another stressful aspect of this trip was visa application processes as 'they were quite lengthy, with tight timelines and some backlog'. About half her group was still waiting on their visas a week before their trip. Gladness' positivity is, however, unshakeable: 'the logistics just require a lot of dedication and teamwork, but we are winning, regardless of the challenges. This is what gives us the reassurance that God has been with us from the start of the process up until now'. A young and energetic population despite the issues Gladness acknowledges that being a young person in South Africa is not easy. 'It's challenging considering the socioeconomic issues of our country. Our unemployment rate is very high, which affects our young people', she explained. The youth unemployment rate in the first half of 2025 was 46%, according to the South African Department of Statistics. Gladness also highlighted other problems such as gender-based violence or mental health issues. However, she also insists that there are a lot of opportunities. With the median age in the country being 30-years-old, young people are very 'energetic and full of life', she said. She for example highlighted that many young people in the Church are active in trying to organize career events or other initiatives that can help respond to the needs of the youth. 'We also have democracy and freedom of rights, we can express ourselves and practise our faith freely', she underlined. 'There are challenges that as young people we find ourselves exposed to. But I believe, as we are pilgrims of hope, we will continue to be hopeful as hope does not disappoint', she said, citing St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Coming back with a new energy This type of energy is what Bishop Vanqa has seen young people take back to their countries after other pilgrimages and he hopes this Youth Jubilee will produce the same effect. 'They come back from these trips rejuvenated and re-energised', he said. 'They can always help us to give that spark to others to love and work for the Church. […] The young people can also share with others their experiences'. 'I'm looking forward to participating in the mass with the Holy Father and doing a pilgrimage to the Holy Doors, to pray at the tombs of Sts. Peter and Paul', Gladness said. 'For our young people, most of us, we're just looking forward to our faith being renewed'.--Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
5 days ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Pope Leo: Welcome the Lord who knocks at our door
In his Angelus message on Sunday in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo invites us to welcome the Lord who knocks at our door asking permission to enter. He underscores the importance of listening to and welcoming others, while also allowing ourselves to welcomed. Jul 21, 2025 VATICAN: Recalling the Old and New Testament readings of today's liturgy on the theme of hospitality as shown by Abraham and his wife Sarah, and then later by the friends of Jesus, Martha and Mary, the Pope reflected on the interplay of giving and receiving hospitality. Humility in offering and receiving hospitality Kindness, attentiveness and openness are part of what hospitality is about, but so too and especially is humility, the Pope noted. He recalled how the Gospel reading recounts how Martha is overwhelmed with serving, being the good and generous person she was, but she risked missing out on the joy of the encounter being with the Lord and hearing his words. Openness to something greater than ourselves Attentiveness has importance, as "our lives can only flourish if we learn to be open to something greater than ourselves" that brings "happiness and fulfillment", the Pope explained. And Mary, Martha's sister, recognized the importance of that encounter in not only welcoming, but listening to the Lord. Slowing down and listening In conclusion, the Pope encouraged us to follow Mary's example by slowing down and listening so that we do not "fail to choose the better part." And we can always improve on our learning the art of hospitality, he suggested, and this "includes both welcoming others and allowing ourselves to be welcomed", since "we have much to receive, not only to give." It's about recognizing how every genuine encounter is freely offered, "whether it is an encounter with God, with others or with nature." 'Let us pray to Mary Most Holy, our Mother, who welcomed our Lord, bore him in her womb, and together with Joseph gave him a home. In her, we see the beauty of our own vocation, the vocation of the Church, to be a home open to all and in this way to welcome her Lord, who knocks at our door and asks our permission to enter.'--Vatican News
The Journal
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Young man injured in Israeli attack on Catholic church in Gaza says ‘love is stronger than war'
A YOUNG MAN who was seriously injured in an Israeli attack on Gaza's only Catholic parish has said he hopes he can 'start his life again after the attack'. On Thursday, an Israeli tank attacked the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, which the late Pope Francis called daily. Over 600 people, both Christians and Muslims, are sheltered in the parish within its church and school – the majority are children and 54 have additional needs. Image of the damaged Holy Family Catholic church in Gaza Three people were killed and ten others were injured in the attack, including the parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli. Suhail Abo Dawood, a young Catholic student from Gaza, was also seriously injured. From Gaza, he contributes to L'Osservatore Romano with his column: 'I write to you from Gaza.' L'Osservatore Romano is the daily newspaper of Vatican City. His most recent column on 8 July was titled 'Love Is Stronger Than War'. In a video message from his hospital bed, he repeated this message to L'Osservatore Romano's Jerusalem correspondent, Roberto Cetera. Suhail is a young Catholic student from Gaza, seriously wounded in the Israeli attack on the Holy Family parish on Thursday. He writes a column for L'Osservatore Romano, the Holy See's newspaper. Although Suhail sustained shrapnel wounds to his internal organs during… — Vatican News (@VaticanNews) July 19, 2025 He sustained shrapnel wounds to his internal organs during Thursday's attack, but the shrapnel has now been removed and his condition has improved. He said he is feeling 'much better than yesterday' and thanked people for their prayers and messages. 'I hope I can start my life again and continue my vocation in Italy.' He added: 'As always, love is stronger than war.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret for the deaths, which he blamed on a 'stray' round after a phone call with US President Donald Trump. Advertisement However, the top Catholic official in the Middle East questioned whether is was a mistake. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, told Vatican News the IDF claimed that the strike by a tank was 'by mistake'. However, he added: 'We are not sure about this, they hit the church directly.' Catholic media outlet The Pillar reports that a tank was allegedly involved in the attack, and reporters in Gaza have reported that a drone strike had also taken place. Cardinal Pizzaballa told The Pillar that he is 'not sure' whether the attack was entirely accidental. In a social media post, Israel claimed it 'never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians'. Cardinal Pizzaballa also said the church compound had been a 'sanctuary' where people hoped to escape the 'horrors of the war'. El párroco argentino Gabriel Romanelli fue herido luego de que atacaran la iglesia Sagrada Familia en Gaza. El bombardeo dejó a dos muertos y cuatro heridos. 📹 Vía: @CatholicArena — Corta (@somoscorta) July 17, 2025 Yesterday, he brought with tonnes of food aid, first aid kits and medical equipment for the Holy Family Church community and other families in need. He also assisted in evacuating people injured in the attack. Pope Leo XIV spoke to Netanyahu on the phone yesterday morning and is said to have 'repeated his appeal for a renewed push for negotiations, a ceasefire and an end to the war'. 'He again expressed his concern about the tragic humanitarian situation for the population of Gaza, whose children, elderly and sick are paying an agonising price,' said the Holy See press office. The late Pope Francis had been in daily contact with the Holy Family Church since 9 October, 2023, two days after the bombings began in Gaza. Francis continued to hold these calls during his extensive hospitalisation prior to his death in April. The late pontiff described the parish community as 'very courageous' and he used his final public address to call for an end to the 'deplorable humanitarian situation' in Gaza. Francis also described some Israeli actions in Gaza as 'terrorism' in his memoir. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 58,765 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Gaza. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Gulf Insider
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Netanyahu 'Regrets' Deadly Attack On Gaza Church After Terse Trump Call
Thursday witnessed another Israeli strike on a church in Gaza, which killed three people and injured at least six others. Among the wounded was the parish priest. Hundreds of Palestinians were sheltering at Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City when the church roof was hit around 10:10am local time, church officials describe. Shrapnel and debris came down through the roof and went flying, killing and wounding Christians inside. While most circulating reports say an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tank directly fired on the church, a spokesman for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem initially said it was unclear whether the munition was launched from an airplane or a tank. The neighborhood and area were coming under heavy Israeli gunfire at the time. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who oversees the church, clarified in a statement to Vatican News, 'What we know for sure is that a tank, the IDF says by mistake, but we are not sure about this, they hit the Church directly, the Church of the Holy Family, the Latin Church.' He indicated that more victims might succumb to their injuries: 'There are four people seriously wounded, among these four, two are in very dramatic conditions and their lives are in serious danger,' Pizzaballa said. Pope Leo XIV has called for 'an immediate cease-fire' in Gaza in a statement. His predecessor, Pope Francis, was known to have personally phoned Holy Family Catholic Church on a nightly basis to see how the community was faring, even when he was in the hospital. Dozens of others had been killed in the Gaza City area on Thursday. Netanyahu's office issued a statement specifically on the church attack, saying: 'Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza's Holy Family Church. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the faithful.' Israel is calling it a 'mistake' – but this reportedly came only after President Trump phoned the Israeli Prime Minister and put pressure on him, according to Times of Israel and the NY Times: President Trump called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to express 'not a positive reaction' to the attack on the church, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said at a news briefing. This comes after the October 2023 IDF attack on the Church of Saint Porphyrius, an ancient Orthodox church in Gaza City, which resulted in the deaths of at least 18 Palestinian Christian civilians. In the early 20th century, many villages and cities across what is now Israel and Palestinian territories were actually majority Christian (Bethlehem and Ramallah being prime examples), or at least had very sizeable Christian minorities. For example Jerusalem at one point was up to one-third Christian in identity. This goes back to Byzantine times, and the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem remains a significant landholder in Israel. Steady migration out of the region, as well as persecution by both Jewish and Muslim fanatics, and at times the Israeli government – has led Christian numbers to steadily decline. One regional Middle East Christian website, for example, summarizes, 'historically a Christian town, Ramallah has seen mass migration to the West as a result of Israeli occupation. It retains a significant Christian minority, determined to maintain a Christian presence in the land of their ancestors.'
