News

• 4 April 2006
  ASIA/THAILAND - Elections marked by abstention while popular protest continues. Religious leaders call for national unity to avoid political chaos Bangkok (Fides Service) - Out-going premier Thaksin Shinawatra wins the elections but the opposition continues to call for his resignation. In a divided country on the edge of social, economic and political crisis religi ...
• 3 April 2006
  AFRICA/BURKINA FASO - The Pope accepts resignation of Bishop of Diébougou and appoints Successor Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, on 3 April 2006, accepted the renunciation of the pastoral government of the diocese of Diébougou (Burkina Faso), presented by Bishop Jean-Baptiste Som ...
• 3 April 2006
  ASIA/HONG KONG - “A thrilling dream forty years old”: Study Seminar on the impact of the Second Vatican Council on the life of the Church to help young Catholics deepen their faith Hong Kong (Fides Service) - “A thrilling dream forty years old - the transformation of the Church brought by Vatican II” was the theme of a study seminar organised by the Catholic Students Association of the Catholic ...
• 3 April 2006
  ASIA/HONG KONG - 2,400 Catechumens in various parishes ready to be Baptised, Confirmed and receive First Holy Communion on Easter night Hong Kong (Fides Service) - Hong Kong’s Catholic communities are preparing to welcome 2,400 new members who will receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion during the Easter Vigil Mass on ...
• 3 April 2006
  ASIA/VIETNAM - First official visit to Vietnam of Minister General of the Friars Minor Ho Chi Minh City (Fides Service) - Irradiate the charisma of St Francis, encourage the Friars, the Poor Clare Sisters and lay Franciscans in pastoral work and show affection and concern for the local Catholic community w ...
• 3 April 2006
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI at the Angelus recalls John Paul II: “He announced Christ always, proposing Him to everyone as Vatican II had done, as the answer to human expectations, expectations for freedom, justice and peace” - A call to join Iraqi Bishops’ fast and prayer for peace in Iraq and the rest of the world Vatican City (Fides Service) - “On April 2 last year, a year ago today, our beloved Pope John Paul II was living the last stage of his earthly pilgrimage of faith, love and hope which left a profound mark on the histor ...
• 3 April 2006
  VATICAN - Thousands gather in St Peter’s Square for prayer vigil to mark first anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II. “He is still present in our minds and in our hearts, he still communicates to us his love for God and his love for humanity” says Pope Benedict XVI Vatican City (Fides Service) - To mark the first anniversary of the death of the servant of God Pope John Paul II Rome diocese organised a Rosary Prayer in St Peter’s Square in the evening of Sunday 2 April. Tens of th ...
• 3 April 2006
  EUROPE/SPAIN - “The human embryo has less legal protection than certain species of protected animals”: Bishops statement on new Fertility Treatment Law Madrid (Fides Service) - At the end of its 86th plenary assembly the Spanish Bishops’ Conference issued a statement “Some Advice on the unlawfulness of artificial human reproduction and unjust practices authorised by ...
• 3 April 2006
  AFRICA/BENIN - Elections: a test for a democracy which the Church helped build enlightening consciences Cotonou (Fides Service)- “Contrary to all forecasts the election was proof the good health of Benin’s democracy compared to situations in other countries of Africa” says Fr Jean-Raphaël Marie Tonoudji of the congr ...
• 3 April 2006
  ASIA/INDIA - “Continue your mission to render the figure of the Good Shepherd present everywhere”: papal nuncio ordains two new bishops in the travailed region of north east India Shillong (Fides Service ) - On Sunday 2 April as he prepared to ordain two new Bishops for two new dioceses in the travailed region of north east India Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana papal nuncio to India told those pre ...
• 3 April 2006
  AFRICA/TUNISIA - “Charity is still the most beautiful language” says former Bishop of Tunis with regard to Christian/Muslim relations Tunis (Fides Service)- “We are all foreigners from no less than 44 different countries but prayer builds us into one family” says Bishop Fouad Twal, for 13 years Bishop of Tunis and now Coadjutor of the Latin Patriar ...
• 1 April 2006
  EUROPE/ITALY - “Journalists take courage”: A book containing Pope John Paul II's messages to journalists Rome (Fides Service) - A book containing a collection of 27 messages to journalists written by Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the annual World Communications Day was presented a few days before the first anniversar ...
• 1 April 2006
  AFRICA - Alarm for Africa’s forests essential for daily subsistence and reduction of poverty: 20 million hectares lost in five years 2000/2005 Maputo (Fides Service)- Every year between 2000 and 2005 Africa lost 4 million hectares of forest mainly for conversion of forest land into farmland. Forestland in that period was reduced from 655,6 million hectares to 6 ...
• 1 April 2006
  AFRICA/CHAD - United Nations High Commission condemns forced recruitment of Darfur refugees N’Djamena (Fides Service)- The United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR firmly condemns forced recruitment of Sudanese refugees from Darfur by various armed groups in some of the camps run by UNHCR in eastern ...
• 1 April 2006
  ASIA/CHINA - Year of Evangelisation in Shang Hai diocese: pilgrimage of the Cross in parishes promotes evangelisation and commemorates 500th anniversary of the birth of St Francis Xavier Shang Hai (Fides Service) - A wooden Cross 2 metres high, the symbol of the year of evangelisation which Shang Hai diocese has undertaken in 2006, is visiting several parishes to promote evangelisation and strengthen lo ...