Jakarta Catholics join drive to protect environment
More than 1,000 Catholics from Jakarta Archdiocese took the streets of the Indonesian capital on Sunday to support the government's new push against plastic waste. The government on Sunday directed modern retailers to charge customers 200 rupiah (less than US$1) for each plastic bag, in a trial policy that aims to improving peoples’ awareness regarding protecting the environment by reducing the use of plastic bags. "In Jakarta, one problem related to environmental destruction is waste. We have a responsibility in this case," Father Alexius Andang Listya Binawan, told UCANEWS. The priest who coordinated the Catholic response to the country's National Waste Awareness Day, hoped they would be able to transmit their concerns to others. During the four-hour programmme, Catholics wearing headbands that read, "Brave to Care," walked the streets around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to collect waste.
Pope offers "spiritual medicine" to pilgrims at Angelus
(Vatican Radio) It’s time for another dose of the “spiritual medicine” Misericordin. Following the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis offered the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square the gift of a small box, designed to look like a box of medicine, containing a small Rosary and an image of the Merciful Jesus.
Russia denies creating massive wave of Syrian refugees
(Vatican Radio) Russia has denied that it is targeting civilians in Syria amid fresh accusations that Moscow's military intervention in that country has displaced more than half a million Syrians since September, while 2016 is expected to see even more Syrians flooding Europe than the record numbers seen last year. Turkish and American leaders have accused Russia of using refugees from Syria as a geopolitical tool to further undermine stability in Turkey, the European Union, and the NATO military alliance.
