The Pope Video: Francis urges the Christians of Asia to encourage dialogue and peace

 In the latest edition of the The Pope Video from the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, the Holy Father prays for coexistence and mutual understanding among Christians and followers of other religions in Asia.

(Vatican City, November 3rd, 2017).- In The Pope Video of November, Francis highlights the importance of promoting coexistence and mutual respect among believers of different religions. His exhortation has special relevance on a continent with more than 141 million Catholics in its 48 countries, but where there are still regions where being Catholic implies the risk of persecution.

“Let us pray that Christians in Asia, bearing witness to the Gospel in word and deed, may promote dialogue, peace, and mutual understanding, especially with those of other religions,” the pope urges. “On this continent, where the Church is a minority, the challenges are intense.”

Among the countries with a high percentage of Christians, East Timor and the Philippines are notable, with a 93% Christian population. There’s also Lebanon with 40%. As well, various of these nations have given us saints of the Catholic Church, such as the martyrs of Indochina in Vietnam, St. Peter Calúñgsod, St. Lorenzo Ruiz and St. Jacobo Kyushei in the Philippines, St. Andrew Kim, St. Anna Pak Agi and companion martyrs, St. Peter Agueda Yi and Seung-hun Yi in South Korea.

“The most striking feature of Asia is the variety of its peoples who are ‘heirs to ancient cultures, religions and traditions,’” Francis states. “We must promote dialogue among religions and cultures. Dialogue is an essential part of the mission of the Church in Asia.”

Jesuit Father Frédéric Fornos, International Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network and its youth branch, the Eucharistic Youth Movement, remarked: “Already St. John Paul II had noted that Asia was the continent where God decided to reveal and realize his project of salvation; but today, it presents us with the immense challenge of building a present and a future of dialogue and peace. “For this, I think that the Pope decided that we should work on this intention, and that we should pray for this great continent, so rich in cultures and traditions.”

The intentions are entrusted each month to the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network and The Pope Video is produced by La Machi Communication for Good Causes with the support of the Society of Jesus, IndigoMusic, GettyImagesLatam, Doppler Email Marketing and the collaboration of the Vatican Television Center. It also has Aleteia as a media partner. Since its launch in January of 2016, it has had more than 19 million views on its networks.

The Pope Video is made possible thanks to the support of many people. You can donate at this link.

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About The Pope Video

The Pope Video is a global initiative developed by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer) to disseminate the monthly intentions of the Holy Father concerning the challenges facing humanity. The videos seek to unite people in praying with Pope Francis for those challenges. The Project has the support of the Vatican Television Center (CTV), sole owner of the rights. For more information: http://www.thepopevideo.org.

About the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer)
For over a century, the Apostleship of Prayer has been publishing to the world the prayer intentions entrusted to them by popes. Now, in its process of recreation, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network emphasizes its role of communicating the prayer intentions and leveraging new media and tools. Its mission is to unite people in prayer and service in response to the challenges facing humanity which the Holy Father expresses in his monthly intentions. Those who participate in this network are encouraged to become apostles in daily life through a spiritual path called “Way of the Heart,” transforming those who take that path in the service of the mission of Jesus Christ. Founded in 1844 and present in over 98 countries, the Apostleship of Prayer unites more than 35 million people in its network, including its youth branch, the Eucharistic Youth Movement. For more information: //www.popesprayer.va/.

About La Machi
The Pope Video is an idea of La Machi, a creative boutique specializing in communication to advance good causes founded in 2012, with offices in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, and Rome. Its mission is to help companies, NGOs, and religious institutions communicate their philanthropic purposes. It specializes in strategic communication, creative advertising, digital development, and fundraising. La Machi has been recognized as a “Friend of Project Red” (RIIAL) and won the 2015 & the 2016 Mercury Prize for Best International SME of Marketing, awarded by the Argentinian Association of Marketing. For more  information: http://www.lamachi.com/en.

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