According to the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), almost two thirds of children who have not been immunised with basic vaccines live in countries that are either partially or entirely affected by conflict. Of all the countries undergoing conflict, South Sudan has the highest percentage of unimmunised children, with 61 percent not receiving the […]

Religious institutions all over the world are committed to raising awareness about human trafficking. They inform against traffickers and protect victims. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), nearly 21 million people – often the poor and the most vulnerable – fall victim to trafficking

According to Luis Antonio Tagle, the Archbishop of Manila, the Church in Asia must operate through dialogue with culture, religions, and the poor. The Christian community in Asia, the most populous continent in the world, is a tiny minority – just a small flock. Half of the Christian population of Asia is concentrated in the

At the heart of Pope Francis’ message during the Jubilee Mass for Teens, celebrated on Sunday 24th April, was quite simply one word: love. The Pope told the thousands of 13-16 year-olds gathered in St Peter’s Square that “love is the Christian’s identity card, the only valid ‘document’ identifying us as Christians. If this card

Pope Francis will make two trips to the Caucasus region in the coming months. He will be in Armenia June 24-26, and in Georgia and Azerbaijan from 30 September – 2 October. Bishops Raphael Minassian and Giuseppe Pasotto have described the atmosphere in these countries, where Catholics are a small minority. The Caucasus region is

“It is important to realize who an ancestor is, and so understand how he can and will influence our lives.” Mwanza and Shinyanga, two regions south of Lake Victoria in Tanzania, are home to the Sukuma people. Comprising about 17% of the population, the Sukuma are the largest ethnic group in Tanzania; and they are

A statement issued by the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) outlines the Commission’s view of the implications of the refugee crisis for Europeans. A benchmark moment; a moment that will definitely influence the future; an example for Europe, which must respond to the refugee crisis:  COMECE’s description of Pope Francis’

At least 587 people are now known to have died in the earthquake that struck the coast of Ecuador on Saturday 16th April. A religious sister and five postulants from the “Siervas del Hogar de la Madre” community in Playa Prieta are among the victims. The streets of Portoviejo are steeped in the smell of

According to a recent report published by the Abring Foundation, a Brazilian charity campaigning for the rights of children and adolescents, more than 3 million underage children in Brazil are involved in child labour. According to the report, titled “Childhood and Adolescence Overview – 2016”, 44% of children in Brazil live in poverty, and 17%

The Lindalva Centre in Cambodia was founded by missionaries to support families and women who work like slaves in the country’s textile factories. At quarter past eleven, a number of pregnant women leave through a small door next to the entrance of the Hansoll textile company, a Korean firm located in the industrial area of