Latest news with #unity
Malay Mail
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
PBDS eyes comeback at next Sarawak state poll, mulls possible Opposition pact
SIBU, June 29 — Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) is preparing to contest in the next state election by targeting constituencies deemed suitable, based on grassroots support and the aspirations of its members. PBDS president Mejar (Rtd) Moses Ripai said the party is in the process of identifying potential candidates who meet its internal criteria and are capable of serving the people effectively. He said this during the PBDS Ngiling Bidai gathering held at his residence in Taman Permai here last night, which was attended by over 100 members and their families. Among the senior leaders present were deputy president Julius Enchana, secretary Kipli Ayom, Selangau PBDS chief Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, Kanowit chief Datuk Paduka Michael Lias, Saratok chief Dato Linang Chapum, PBDS Orang Ulu representative Dr Elli Luhat and PBDS Bidayuh representative Dr Bayang Teron. 'We have always remained committed to serving the people, even if our efforts are not always publicised. What we do on the ground does not need to be exaggerated, let our actions speak quietly but meaningfully,' said Moses in his address. He called on members to continue fostering unity and mutual understanding within the party, as these values are crucial to strengthening PBDS as it moves forward politically. Touching on potential collaborations, Moses said PBDS remains open to working with opposition parties, provided such cooperation is built on mutual respect and aligned with the party's core values. 'We welcome cooperation with any like-minded parties, as long as there is sincerity and respect for our principles,' he said. The event, held in conjunction with the PBDS 'Ngiling Bidai' Program, featured traditional elements such as the miring ceremony, Ngajat dance and the symbolic cutting of the 'ranyai' tree. The strong turnout by the party's top leaders was seen as a signal of PBDS' intention to revitalise its grassroots network and consolidate its position ahead of the next electoral contest. — The Borneo Post
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diego Luna's final 'Kimmel' monologue hits it out of the park
Diego Luna has had an excellent week. The Mexican actor and Andor star has finished up a guest-hosting spot for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, having delivered powerful monologues about Donald Trump's harsh immigration enforcement policies and sitting down for compelling interviews with icons such as civil rights activist Dolores Huerta. While receiving press praise and enthusiastic online comments, Luna has also faced hateful comments and criticism from the likes of Fox News — and he read out these posts and headlines on the show. On Thursday, for his final round, Luna brought it home by opening the show with mariachi music, giving Kimmel co-host Guillermo an executive producer promotion ("I don't know if I can do that, but I just did,"), and delivering a final must-watch monologue appealing to the audience for unity, not division. "I know there is a lot of focus in your media about the differences between our cultures and the violence south of the border, but I hope this week I was able to open up the dialogue. We should be doing more of that, telling our stories and finding what connects us," says Luna in the clip above. "We shouldn't let our cultural exchange be divided by borders, by ignorance, by fear, or a wall built by your president (that he paid for, by the way). We're going through a hard time. Authoritarian leaders and expressions are on the rise, and it's happening everywhere. Leaders who attack the press, use the military against their own citizens, and claim they have the answer to everything. Does that sound familiar? "But it's in our hands to do something. There are many ways to push back. And one way is by making fun of them every night like Jimmy does. Using comedy to defend freedom, they don't like that shit. And we can't take that for granted, because we, the audience, have to defend spaces like this. Without satire and voices like Jimmy's that question and challenge the abuse of power, democracy doesn't just weaken, it can disappear. And we cannot let that happen." Now, go and watch Luna's opening monologue if you missed it.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Pope Leo XIV appeals for unity within the Catholic Church in Holy Year messages to priests
Pope Leo XIV arrives to celebrate an ordination Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican as part of the Jubilee of Priests, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) ROME — Pope Leo XIV doubled down on Friday on his appeal for unity in the polarized Catholic Church, urging priests to act in communion with their superiors and be models of reconciliation in a world driven by conflicts and divisions. Leo appealed for unity in a triptych of messages to priests who are celebrating a special Holy Year week in Rome dedicated to clergy. He hosted a special meeting on Thursday afternoon, celebrated an ordination Mass on Friday morning and also delivered a written message to priests around the world. During the Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Leo ordained 32 new priests and recalled his appeal for unity during his installation Mass right after his May 8 election. 'Today, I share this desire once more with all of you,' he said. He quoted St. Augustine – the inspiration of his Augustinian religious order – in repeating the words he said on the night of his election: 'For you I am a bishop, with you I am a Christian.' During the meetings that preceded the conclave that elected the first American pope in history, cardinals made clear their hope that the next pontiff would heal some of the divisions within the church that deepened during the late Pope Francis' radical 12-year pontificate. Francis' progressive social justice priorities, his informal style, liturgical looseness and disdain for the capitalist economic system often alienated conservatives, particularly in Leo's native United States, who begged for a new pope who could pacify divisions. Leo's consistent reference to unity in the church suggests he has heard those appeals and is working to respond. In a message to priests around the world Friday, Leo offered encouragement in his appeal for unity, not a browbeating as Francis often gave priests. 'In a world marked by growing tensions, even within families and ecclesial communities, priests are called to promote reconciliation and foster communion,' Leo said. He added that priests should not be afraid of their own weaknesses. 'The Lord does not look for perfect priests, but for humble hearts that are open to conversion and prepared to love others as he himself loved us,' he said. He gave a similar message Thursday to thousands of priests who gathered in a Vatican-area auditorium for a Jubilee rally that ended with Leo giving English-language shoutouts to priests from various parts of the world, including his native Chicago. In the encounter, Leo acknowledged the 'crisis' in priestly vocations, which have been falling consistently in traditionally Christian parts of the world for years even as the overall global Catholic population grows. According to Vatican statistics, there were 407,730 priests globally at the end of 2022, down 142 from the previous year. Europe saw the greatest decline, losing 2,745 priests — a figure that was only compensated for globally by the addition of 1,676 priests in Africa and 1,160 in Asia. 'Thank you for who you are, and remind everyone that it's beautiful to be a priest,' he said. 'We aren't perfect, but we are friends of Christ … and that's enough.' ___ Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope Leo XIV appeals for unity within the Catholic Church in Holy Year messages to priests
ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV doubled down on Friday on his appeal for unity in the polarized Catholic Church, urging priests to act in communion with their superiors and be models of reconciliation in a world driven by conflicts and divisions. Leo appealed for unity in a triptych of messages to priests who are celebrating a special Holy Year week in Rome dedicated to clergy. He hosted a special meeting on Thursday afternoon, celebrated an ordination Mass on Friday morning and also delivered a written message to priests around the world. During the Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Leo ordained 32 new priests and recalled his appeal for unity during his installation Mass right after his May 8 election. 'Today, I share this desire once more with all of you,' he said. He quoted St. Augustine – the inspiration of his Augustinian religious order – in repeating the words he said on the night of his election: 'For you I am a bishop, with you I am a Christian.' During the meetings that preceded the conclave that elected the first American pope in history, cardinals made clear their hope that the next pontiff would heal some of the divisions within the church that deepened during the late Pope Francis' radical 12-year pontificate. Francis' progressive social justice priorities, his informal style, liturgical looseness and disdain for the capitalist economic system often alienated conservatives, particularly in Leo's native United States, who begged for a new pope who could pacify divisions. Leo's consistent reference to unity in the church suggests he has heard those appeals and is working to respond. In a message to priests around the world Friday, Leo offered encouragement in his appeal for unity, not a browbeating as Francis often gave priests. 'In a world marked by growing tensions, even within families and ecclesial communities, priests are called to promote reconciliation and foster communion,' Leo said. He added that priests should not be afraid of their own weaknesses. 'The Lord does not look for perfect priests, but for humble hearts that are open to conversion and prepared to love others as he himself loved us,' he said. He gave a similar message Thursday to thousands of priests who gathered in a Vatican-area auditorium for a Jubilee rally that ended with Leo giving English-language shoutouts to priests from various parts of the world, including his native Chicago. In the encounter, Leo acknowledged the 'crisis' in priestly vocations, which have been falling consistently in traditionally Christian parts of the world for years even as the overall global Catholic population grows. According to Vatican statistics, there were 407,730 priests globally at the end of 2022, down 142 from the previous year. Europe saw the greatest decline, losing 2,745 priests — a figure that was only compensated for globally by the addition of 1,676 priests in Africa and 1,160 in Asia. 'Thank you for who you are, and remind everyone that it's beautiful to be a priest,' he said. 'We aren't perfect, but we are friends of Christ … and that's enough.' ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Pope Leo XIV Appeals for Unity Within the Catholic Church in Holy Year Messages to Priests
Pope Leo XIV reiterated his call for unity within the polarized Catholic Church on Friday, urging priests to work in communion with their superiors and exemplify reconciliation in a world rife with conflict and division. Leo made this appeal for unity in a series of messages to priests celebrating a special Holy Year week in Rome dedicated to clergy. He hosted a special meeting on Thursday afternoon, celebrated an ordination Mass on Friday morning, and delivered a written message to priests worldwide. During the Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Leo ordained 32 new priests and recalled his appeal for unity during his installation Mass following his May 8 election. 'Today I share this desire once more with all of you,' he said. He quoted St. Augustine–the inspiration of his Augustinian religious order–repeating the words he said on the night of his election: 'For you I am a bishop; with you I am a Christian.' During the meetings preceding the conclave that elected the first American pope, cardinals expressed their hope that the next pontiff would heal some of the divisions within the church that deepened during Pope Francis' 12-year pontificate. Francis' progressive social justice priorities, his informal style, liturgical flexibility, and disdain for the capitalist economic system often alienated conservatives, particularly in Leo's native US, who yearned for a new pope who could pacify divisions. Leo's consistent emphasis on unity in the church suggests he has heard those appeals and is working to respond. In a message to priests around the world Friday, Leo offered encouragement in his appeal for unity, not a reprimand as Francis often gave priests. 'In a world marked by growing tensions, even within families and ecclesial communities, priests are called to promote reconciliation and foster communion,' Leo said. He added that priests should not be afraid of their own weaknesses. 'The Lord does not look for perfect priests, but for humble hearts that are open to conversion and prepared to love others as he himself loved us,' he said. He gave a similar message Thursday to thousands of priests gathered in a Vatican-area auditorium for a Jubilee rally that concluded with Leo giving English-language acknowledgments to priests from various parts of the world, including his native Chicago. In the meeting, Leo acknowledged the crisis in priestly vocations, which have been declining consistently in traditionally Christian parts of the world for years, even as the overall global Catholic population grows. According to Vatican statistics, there were 407,730 priests globally at the end of 2022, down 142 from the previous year. Europe saw the greatest decline, losing 2,745 priests–a figure offset globally only by the addition of 1,676 priests in Africa and 1,160 in Asia. 'Thank you for who you are, and remind everyone that it's beautiful to be a priest,' he said. 'We aren't perfect, but we are friends of Christ … and that's enough.'
