6 Febbraio 2024
Let’s pray for Sierra Leone, where climate change has intensified risks, trapping more people in human trafficking. The country, among the top 10% most vulnerable to climate change, sees a surge in trafficking linked to those displaced by home destruction. With 60% unemployment and most living on less than USD 3, poverty and climate change worsen the human trafficking crisis. As individuals seek better opportunities abroad, traffickers exploit them with false promises of jobs in the Middle East.
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6 Febbraio 2024
We pray for Mali, where armed groups instigate violence, leading to killings and displacement. Concerns arise over alleged summary executions by Mali’s army and foreign military personnel. Rebel violence, escalating since 2012, recently resulted in 30 civilian deaths in Ogota and Oimbe villages. West Africa has witnessed a surge in violence, with 1800 attacks in the first half of 2023, causing 4600 deaths and severe humanitarian consequences. The situation is uncertain, and human rights groups are investigating the massacre in central Mali where 500 people lost their lives.
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27 Gennaio 2024
Let us pray for Nigeria, where 30 people have been killed and 100 injured in Plateau state. Inter-communal violence has become commonplace in this state, where Muslim nomadic herdsmen and indigenous Christian farmers fight over land. Although a curfew was imposed on Tuesday following several clashes, schools, places of worship and homes have been burned and looted. This situation has led to the displacement of people, forcing the creation of camps for those who have fled the conflict zone.
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27 Gennaio 2024
Let us keep in our prayers all those affected by conflict, war, forced labor, human trafficking and the spread of new colonialisms. Our hearts go out to Gaza, where the death toll has tragically exceeded 26,000, leaving behind shattered lives, crushed dreams and a wounded culture. We extend our thoughts to many other regions, such as Yemen, Myanmar, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Haiti, Ecuador, Mexico, Brazil, Chad, South Sudan, Mozambique, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and countless others.
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27 Gennaio 2024
We express gratitude to individuals worldwide committed to safeguarding our shared home. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes in Kenya received the People’s Choice SDGs Award for their dedicated work with indigenous farmers, promoting sustainable agriculture to address food security and environmental conservation. Faced with challenges of poverty and climate change, the Sisters launched a project on regenerative agriculture, using permaculture during the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative empowered local communities to make a joint journey towards integral ecology, which attracted like-minded partners and financial support, enabling its expansion.
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12 Gennaio 2024
We pray for Ecuador, where an outbreak of violence has taken hold of the streets, instilling fear throughout the entire population. In the aftermath of the escape of two main gang leaders, numerous attacks have unfolded in various cities, including riots in several prisons, an attack on a public TV station, explosions in police stations, and incidents of car fires and robberies across the territory.
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12 Gennaio 2024
Let us pray for Papua New Guinea, where deadly riots have erupted in the country. At least 16 people have been reported dead, and more than 50 others have been injured. In response to the riots and escalating violence, the Prime Minister has declared a 14-day state of emergency in the capital. The unrest began when police and other public servants went on strike last Wednesday due to a pay cut that was initially considered an administrative error.
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12 Gennaio 2024
We thank God for people’s conversion to caring for both humanity and the planet. An Italian engineer, Vito Alfieri Fontana, who used to manufacture landmines, experienced a transformative moment when his son asked him, ‘Dad, are you a murderer then?’ The question pierced Vito’s heart. Before the conversion, Vito was the designer and producer of lethal anti-personnel mines as the head of Tecnovar, a family business. In 1993, during a Pax Christi event, he was invited as a speaker.
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6 Gennaio 2024
We pray for Japan, where a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck on January 1st. The disaster has claimed the lives of around 78 people, and rescue teams are racing against time to find survivors. Over 33,000 people have been evacuated, and 100,000 houses are without water supply and electricity. Buildings have been destroyed, power outages are widespread, and the cold weather is adding to the challenges of the rescue services. Rescue teams are struggling to reach areas where people are feared to be trapped under rubble due to road destruction.
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6 Gennaio 2024
Let’s pray for Iran, where a twin blast killed more than 80 people. The attack occurred in Kerman during a memorial for Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, leaving over 280 people wounded. ISIL (armed group) claimed responsibility for the attack. The Iranian President declared Thursday a National Day of Mourning to pay respect to those killed. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed the evil and criminal enemies for the attack. Several governments, including China, the European Union, Saudi Arabia, and the United Nations, have denounced the bombings.
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