(Vatican Radio/JRS) After more than eight months in captivity, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) announced the release of Fr Alexis Prem Kumar. In a statement published Monday JRS states it is “immensely grateful to the Indian government for its role in achieving his release”.
“The last eight months have been a long and difficult period of uncertainty for Fr Prem’s family, friends and colleagues. You cannot imagine our relief that he is now home, safe and sound. We are aware of the tireless efforts at many levels to achieve his release and we are grateful for the consolation we have received from the prayerful support of countless friends, including those of the school children from the school where he was kidnapped,” said Fr Peter Balleis SJ, JRS International Director.
On 2 June 2014, Fr Kumar was taken by a group of unidentified men in western Afghanistan while on a visit to a JRS-supported school for returnee refugees in a settlement 34km from the city of Herat. The forty-seven year old Jesuit, from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, was about to return to Herat when he was forced at gunpoint into a vehicle by a group of armed men.
JRS has worked in Afghanistan became in 2005. Even during the difficult months of Fr Prem’s captivity, however, JRS continued to run its programmes in the country in order to ensure that Afghan students had continued access to quality education.
“Our role in Afghanistan has been to help displaced persons and their host communities, to offer them education and skills so they can rebuild their lives and those of their communities. We were close to the Afghan people before the abduction of Fr Prem and we will continue to accompany them in any way we can” said Fr Stan Fernandes, JRS Regional Director in South Asia.
Before moving to Afghanistan five years ago, Prem Kumar had worked for the Jesuit Refugee Service, serving Sri Lankan refugees living in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. At the time of his kidnapping, he was the JRS Afghanistan Director.
“Our attention now turns to the welfare of Fr Prem. All of us will do whatever we can to ensure that Prem receives the necessary attention and support from his family, his Jesuit brothers in the Society of Jesus, and his many friends and colleagues in JRS,” Fr Fernandes emphasised.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis and other members of the Roman Curia began their annual spiritual retreat on the first Sunday of Lent (February 22nd).
The retreat is taking place in the town of Ariccia, in the Casa Divin Maestro centre, about 20 miles south of Rome. The Pope is staying there, along with other members of the Roman Curia, from Sunday 22nd to Friday the 27th.
During the retreat Pope Francis will have no public meetings or audiences, including no Wednesday general audience.
The priest who is leading the spiritual exercises is Carmelite Father Bruno Secondin. The reflections will focus on the roots of the Christian faith and the inner strength to live it out consistently. They will also look at embracing an encounter with God and spreading the Gospel.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis said Lent is a time where we struggle against the temptations of Satan and worldliness. His words came at his Sunday Angelus address at the end of which he announced the distribution of 50,000 free copies of a pocket-sized booklet called “Safeguard your Heart” containing reflections on Jesus’ teachings. Many of those distributing the booklets to the pilgrims present in St Peter’s Square were homeless people.
In his Angelus address the Pope recalled how Jesus went into the solitude of the wilderness for 40 days where he successfully overcame temptations in “a hand-to-hand combat” with Satan. And through his victory over Satan, he said, “we have all triumphed but we need to protect this victory in our daily lives.”
He went on to explain how in the wilderness we can listen to God’s voice and that of the tempter. And we listen to God’s voice through his words and that why it’s important to read the Holy Scriptures because otherwise we’re unable to resist the lure of the evil one. The Pope said it was for this reason that he wanted to renew his advice to the faithful to read the Gospel every day and reflect on its meaning, even for just 10 minutes and carry around a copy in one’s pocket or bag every day. The Lenten wilderness, he continued, “helps us to say ‘no’ to worldliness, to “idols”, it helps us to make courageous choices in line with the Gospel and to strengthen our solidarity with our brothers and sisters.”
He concluded by reminding those present that he and other members of the Roman Curia would be beginning their spiritual retreat later on Sunday. Pray for us, he urged, so that in this “wilderness” of the spiritual exercises “we can hear Jesus’ voice and also correct the many defects that we all have and thereby overcome the temptations that attack us every day.”
In his address following the recitation of the Angelus, Pope Francis announced a personal initiative of his which was the distribution of 50,000 free copies of a small booklet to those present in St Peter’s Square. Holding up the pocket-sized booklet which is entitled “Safeguard your Heart,” the Pope explained that it contains several key “teachings of Jesus and the essential tenets of our faith.” These included, he said, “the seven sacraments, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the 10 commandments, the virtues and works of charity.”
Pope Francis said a group of volunteers, including many homeless people, were distributing it to the pilgrims present in St. Peter’s Square. He urged everybody to take a copy of the booklet and carry it around with them to help in their conversion and spiritual growth which always comes from the heart. It’s there, he stressed, that we play out the daily choice “between good and evil, between worldliness and the Gospel, between indifference and sharing.” “Humanity needs justice, peace and love and we can have this only by returning with our hearts towards God who is the source of all this.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has received in audience German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.
A Vatican press release said that the colloquium between the two leaders took place in the Vatican Apostolic Palace.
It also revealed that during the cordial exchange Pope Francis and Chancellor Merkel examined a range of topics including the upcoming G7 Summit which will take place in Bavaria and other issues of international impact such as the fight against poverty and hunger; human trafficking and exploitation and the rights of women; global health challenges and the protection of the environment.
The Vatican communiqué also said Francis and Merkel touched on themes of human rights and religious freedom in some parts of the world, and on the importance of spiritual values for social cohesion.
Concluding, they focused on the situation in Europe and in particular on the commitment to reach a peaceful solution for Ukraine.
After being received by the Pope, Merkel met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State who was accompanied by Archbishop Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Bishop Shlemon Warduni described the grave situation of violent extremism in Iraq and the Middle East as “the struggle of the world.”
In an interview with Vatican Radio, the Chaldean auxiliary bishop of Baghdad said “the situation is always tragic” because the so-called Islamic State fighters “do what they want” and also because “there are obviously many people around the world that are helping them” by selling them arms.
Listen to the report :
The killing that is happening at the hands of Islamic extremists in the Middle East and elsewhere in Africa is a genocide, he said, agreeing with the term used by United States President Barack Obama to describe the ongoing killing.
“The international forces could do something, if they wanted,” said Bishop Warduni.
“We have cried out and we always cry out: do not sell arms,” he emphasized. “There is no need to bomb, but there is the need to stop selling arms and to dialogue.”
He said Christians want to leave the country and the majority of Iraq’s population does not want violence and terrorism. He also said most do not want a fanatical Islam but a moderate Islam, so as to live peacefully and with tranquility.
“We hear that they say: moderate Islam is better; we do not want a fanatical Islam, which makes life hard for everyone, not just Christians or for other religions but also for Islam, because many of them are killed. For this reason, the majority prefers a moderate religion, in order to live peacefully on this earth.”
The bishops of Iraq have repeatedly warned about the dangers of entering into armed conflict, even prior to the war that broke out about 15 years ago, he said.
“War destroys everything. War sows terror, hatred, and no one gains anything,” he said. “Despite all the good counsel at the time from the Holy Father and from people who love humankind, there was war.”
He recalled the two commandments Jesus gave: “Love God and love your neighbour. These can save humankind,” he said.
“Only prayer can do something,” he continued, calling on all Christians this Lent to do all they can to ask God for peace and security in the world.
(Interview by Fausta Speranza; article by Laura Ieraci)
(from Vatican Radio)…