Pope prays with Asian Catholic students via satellite

The head of the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope Benedict XVI, prayed with Catholic university students in four Asian nations – Hong Kong, India, Pakistan and the Philippines – via satellite linkups, March 10.

Thousands of youth from these four nations as well as those in Europe joined the Pope in prayer during the event titled Intellectual Charity, the Way to Renewed Cooperation between Europe and Asia.

Rome diocese's Pastoral Office for Universities organized the event jointly with local churches with the aim of fostering charity and cooperation between the two continents. The occasion was the 5th European Day for Universities.

The event was hosted from Paul VI Hall in the Vatican.

The program began with Bible readings, sharing and reflections of students from various cities in their own languages. A booklet was provided with printed reflections, some with English translations. At intervals, musicians from the Italian Musical Institute and the Conservatory Choir played music.

During the proceedings, the Pope symbolically passed on to the youth participants Pope John Paul II's apostolic exhortations Ecclesia in Europa (Church in Europe) and Ecclesia in Asia (Church in Asia). These documents feature the conclusions of the two continental synods of bishops.

Although they were separated by great distances, the Pope observed, young Catholics are "linked by their interior quest and the witness they bear." Emphasizing the role of intellectual charity in the formation of young Christians, he said, "The mystery of the Cross is not removed from the theme of intellectual charity, on the contrary, it illuminates it. Christian wisdom is the wisdom of the Cross."

In India, at least 500 young university students took part from the Mother's House in Kolkata, formerly Calcutta. The students, who came from Catholic colleges and parishes of Calcutta Archdiocese, were led by Cardinal Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) and Salesian Archbishop Lucas Sirkar of Calcutta.

Blessed Teresa's successor, Sister Nirmala Joshi, also was present.

Blessed Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity congregation in 1950 to work among the "poorest of the poor." Her life and work was based in the city until her death in 1997. Her tomb is at the congregation's headquarters.

Sister Nirmala Joshi, who now heads the congregation, joined the event. "Our mother, blessed Teresa, had a very special love for youth and students," she said. The "future of the nation and church is up to you," she told the young people.

Cardinal Toppo also addressed the gathering. He expressed his hope that blessed Teresa's "total self–denial may inspire youth of Asia and Europe." The first tribal cardinal from Asia added that blessed Teresa bridged Asia and Europe by "her love for God and service to the poorest of the poor."

Two students read from the Bible in the local Bengali and national Hindi languages. Archbishop Sirkar also read out a prayer in Bengali. The gathering then prayed the rosary in English, Jesuit Father P.J. Joseph, press coordinator for the event, said.

Calcutta Archdiocese was the local organizer.

In Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students, which comprises eight universities and four other tertiary institutes, coordinated the meeting. According to federation pastoral worker Winnie Tam Wing–sze, at least 100 local university students joined Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze–kiun at the event.

Auxiliary Bishop John Tong Hon, Vicar General Father Dominic Chan Chi–ming and some university chaplains also were present for the gathering at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Tam added.

In the Philippines, the event was locally titled Rosario Ni Maria, Kasama ng Santo Papa (prayer vigil with the Holy Father). Father Gerard Francisco Timoner III, program committee chairman, said many Filipino youths and their families gathered at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila in order to participate.

The youths fascinated with chatting and video conversations over the Internet appreciated "praying together with people from different parts of the world," he said.

Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Jaro, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, attended and was the main celebrant and homilist of the Mass while Archbishop Fernando Filoni, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, led prayers after the rosary.

In Pakistan, hundreds of youths gathered with Bishop Anthony Lobo of Islamabad–Rawalindi at the University Chapel of Ave Maria College of Rawalpindi.

Pope Benedict XVI is not the first Pope to use satellite technology to interact with the faithful. His predecessor, Pope John Paul II, reached nearly 1 billion viewers in 1987 in 16 different countries for "A Prayer for World Peace." Later that year, he linked up with American youths in four U.S. cities during his visit to Los Angeles.

The satellite linkup on March 10 also involved youths in seven European cities – Bologna and Turin in Italy; Coimbra, Portugal; Krakow, Poland; Manchester, England; Prague, the Czech Republic; and Tirana, Albania.