Daniele Rocchi

Jubilee of boys and girls

A young person for every slip of paper. Since Friday 22nd tens of thousands have passed by the seven Tents of Mercy set up across seven squares in Rome’s historic centre, each one of which was dedicated to a work of mercy. It was a colourful pilgrimage, sometimes noisy as only youths can be, but […]

Vocations

What is the exemplary priest for the Italian Church? Monsignor Domenico Dal Molin, the CEI National Director for the Pastoral Care of vocations, said in clear terms: “A priest is a man close to the people, a man of the Word, of grace and mercy.” A few days ahead of the 53rd World Day of […]

Ecumenical solidarity

A journey to the lands devastated by war. In Lebanon and Syria, to gain first-hand knowledge of the situation of Syrian refugees in refugee camps. To hear the stories of men, women but especially those of countless children who had to leave everything behind them. To understand the reasons of and sustain those who chose […]

Doors open to the homeless

There are homeless also in the green, vibrant city of Luxembourg. Even amidst the sparkling palaces of the richest Country in EU, temperatures fall below zero, in daytime and night time alike. For those without a home, the best way to have a feeling of warmth is to drink, wherever they are: outside shopping centres […]

Ecumenism

While Europe raises barbed wire fences, closes the borders and, owing to a billion-euro political deal with Turkey, sends back its refugees, the “humanitarian offensive” undertaken by Christian Church leaders is taking off. The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece was the first to release the news: next week Pope Francis, the Ecumenical […]

Humanitarian aid to the refugees

Refugees in Greece are in a state of tension and fear, given the risk of being sent to Turkey as a bargaining chip under the agreement signed with the European Union, which on Monday has given the green light to forced mass repatriations. The first 202 people were brought by ferry from the island of […]

Conflicts in Europe

Red alert in the Nagorno-Karabakh region in the South Caucasus disputed by Armenia and Azerbaijan. In the night between 1 and 2 April tensions rose again and the number of casualties is growing by the hour. Hundreds have already died, unfortunately too many civilians. It ‘s the most violent escalation since, in 1994, the armistice […]

Geopolitics

Fayez al-Serraj arrived in Libya a few days ago to take office as Prime Minister of a national unity government that was formed at the end of one-year-long negotiations between the delegations of the governments of Tripoli and Tobruk, supported by the UN and by the European Union but not officially accepted by the parliaments […]

After the attacks in Brussels

“We stand determined in our common fight against terrorism. As stated by the Heads of State or Government and the leaders of European institutions, this is an attack on our open, democratic society. We will uphold our values also in fighting terrorism.” The firm condemnation of violence, in solidarity with the victims and their families […]

On the border between Greece and Macedonia

“Happy Easter to all the Christians.” Young Mohamed is in the camp of Idomeni, a small village along the border between Greece and Macedonia that has become the symbol of the Balkan Route. He is holding a placard. Despite his traditional Muslim name, Mohamed is Christian. He was born in Syria, on the border with […]