Fr. Cedric Prakash, SJ

If he were alive today, he would have reiterated those words from his address to the UN General Assembly in 1965, "No more war, and war never again! Peace, it is peace which must guide the destinies of people and of all mankind."

Pope Leo XIV has echoed this call. In a recent Angelus message, he said peace is not achieved through threats or weapons, but through “reasonable and responsible dialogue.”

On February 27, 2002, the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express, travelling from Faizabad to Ahmedabad, was set on fire near Godhra railway station, killing 59 people.

On Feb 20, the world will observe the ‘World Day of Social Justice’. Each year, leaders and politicians speak eloquently about the urgent need for justice, equality and dignity for all. Yet, more often than not, those who possess the power to ensure justice fail to act. Words are plentiful; political will is scarce.

Reaching the age of two hundred is a rare achievement for any institution, and even more so for a school. Antonio De Souza (ANZA) High School, located in Byculla, South Mumbai, has reached this remarkable milestone, completing two centuries of continuous service in education.

When God, our Creator, created the world, the Holy Bible tells us he said, “Let there be Light…sky, water, earth, fish, animals….” He finally created man (Adam and Eve).

The Great Pilgrimage of Hope (GPH) will take place in Penang, Malaysia, from 20–27 November 2025, with a focus on exploring “new paths, narratives, and dynamics that are rooted in our Catholic identity and resonate with Asia's rich cultural tapestry through collaborative dialogue and shared wisdom.”

Pope Leo said, “We must work together to set humanity free from the encircling gloom of nihilism, which is perhaps the most dangerous malady of contemporary culture, since it threatens to ‘cancel’ hope.

The Catholic Church observes ‘World Mission Day’ on Sunday, 19 October. There is added significance this year because it is the Jubilee Year, and the focus is on becoming ‘pilgrims of hope’.

In the current scenario of division and discord both in the church and in the world, the story of St Ignatius of Antioch, whose feast day we celebrate on October 17, comes as a breath of fresh air.