Detention camps across India hold hundreds of Rohingya refugees. Some detainees have been confined for over a decade. One couple had to bury their child while handcuffed—emblematic of the cruelty inflicted on this population.

The Church should not be a subculture in conflict with society. Instead, it must infuse today’s world with the Gospel through inculturation. Opposition to modernity has only deepened secularisation and alienated key groups from faith, including the young and the working class.

Aquinas and Augustine once offered frameworks to distinguish justified conflict from sin. Today, those teachings face new scrutiny as leaders weigh morality against national security in acts like the U.S.-Israel strike on Iran.

Church history, Halík argues, should be seen not as decline but resurrection in motion. Christianity is still unfolding, and the “ever-greater Christ” continues to build an expansive church—not by numbers or land, but by stretching minds and hearts.

A global study reveals that 67% of adults surveyed were raised Christian, yet only 41% still claim that identity. This widening gap signals that modern societies—particularly younger and more educated demographics—are redefining their spiritual paths outside of organised religion.

Across Europe, North America and the Middle East, African migrants are bringing not only their culture but their churches. Once receivers of the Gospel, they are now church planters and missionaries, reshaping Christianity’s global map from the margins to the mainstream.

Pope Leo XIV arrived not only in white robes but with a personal Facebook account along with ‘friends’, and a viral video of himself on horseback—marking a first in the long history of papal introductions.

Jesuit Hans Zollner defends Francis’ personal empathy but says real change depends on bishops worldwide. “Overprojecting superhuman powers on the pope” hinders accountability, he said, calling for broader leadership responsibility.

Mercy and the joy of the Gospel are two key words for Pope Francis. “Build bridges, not walls” was an exhortation he repeated many times, during his service of faith as Successor of the Apostle Peter which was always linked to the service of humanity in all its dimensions.

We know the next pope will not be a woman. But will the new pope take Francis’ slow steps toward change even further—or pull back?