News

• 12 December 2005
  ASIA/INDONESIA - Papal Nuncio visits Moluccas in pre-Christmas atmosphere: Catholics help promote reconciliation and spread hope Ambon (Fides Service) - With a message from Pope Benedict XVI who encourages the people of Moluccas and assures them of his prayers, Papal Nuncio in Indonesia and East Timor Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige paid a ...
• 12 December 2005
  AFRICA/SUDAN - Info: Rome ( Fides Service) - Sudan is the largest country in Africa with an area of 2 million 505,000 810 sq. km., and a population of 32,559,000 (density 0.07%). It borders to the north with Egypt, to the west with Libya, C ...
• 12 December 2005
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - After attacks at Sangla Hill, Christians call even louder for elimination of blasphemy law exploited by extremists Lahore (Fides Service) - The anti blasphemy law is indirectly responsible for the December 12 attacks on Christians Sangla Hill, near Lahore where a gang of over 1,000 Muslim fanatics destroyed three churches (one Protes ...
• 10 December 2005
  AMERICA/MEXICO - World Ethics Forum 27 to 29 January in Mexico: reflect on major problems in society in the light of the dignity and transcendent destiny of every human person Madrid (Fides Service) - It was announced on 7 December in the Spanish capital Madrid that a World Ethics Forum will be held from 27 to 29 January in Mexico City and in ten other cities in Mexico involving 80 prominent w ...
• 10 December 2005
  AMERICA/BRAZIL - Learn about and reflect on the situation of persons with a disability in the light of the Word of God and Christian morals to encourage greater fraternity and solidarity in this regard: Brazil’s Fraternity Campaign 2006 Brasilia (Fides Service) - In Brazil the annual Lenten Fraternity Campaign organised for the past 40 years by the Catholic community is always an opportunity for evangelisation since it promotes a sense of brotherhood a ...
• 10 December 2005
  ASIA/JAPAN - Community of the Sisters of Charity of Miyazaki welcome new members in Tokyo Tokyo (Fides Service) - The Sisters of Charity of Miyazaki, a Japanese congregation of pontifical right, celebrated a Mass in Tokyo during which five new Sisters took vows. Three of the women religious made first vows a ...
• 10 December 2005
  ASIA/JAPAN - The Pope appoints new Bishop of Sendai Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on 10 December 2005 appointed Bishop of Sendai (Japan) Rev. Martin Tetsuo Hiraga until now diocesan administrator and former vicar general of Sendai. Rev ...
• 10 December 2005
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI grants special audience to men and women religious: “The Church needs your witness, she needs consecrated persons to face the challenges of the present day with courage and creativity” Vatican City (Fides Service) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican Pope Benedict XVI granted a special audience to about 8,000 men and women religious working in the Rome diocese to whom he expressed his grat ...
• 10 December 2005
  EUROPE/ITALY - 4th European Convention for University Students opens tomorrow: “Christian humanism, path for more intense cooperation between Europe and Africa” Rome (Fides Service) - On Sunday 11 December 2005 the 4th European Convention for University Students will start with a solemn concelebration of Mass at 8pm in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The Convention, held on th ...
• 10 December 2005
  AFRICA/UGANDA - Catholic Bishops of Uganda call for Truth and Reconciliation Commission to solve conflicts in the country expressing concern for proliferation of armed groups Kampala (Fides Service) - In a pastoral letter addressed to Catholics and all Ugandans of good will the Bishops of Uganda have urged the government to establish a “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” to solve the bl ...
• 10 December 2005
  ASIA/BANGLADESH - Islamic radicalism: government warns of danger, local Church calls for prudence Dacca (Fides Service) - The government of Bangladesh has recognised the danger of Islamic radicalism and the serious threat of suicide bombers “most of whom are trained at Islamic schools”. After a series of attacks ...
• 9 December 2005
  VATICAN - Benedict XVI at the Angelus reflection contemplates Immaculate Mary: “May her heavenly purity draw us to God, help us to overcome the temptation to live a mediocre life of compromise with evil and orient ourselves decidedly towards authentic goodness with is the source of joy” Vatican City (Fides Service) -On Thursday December 8th (a bank holiday in Italy and other countries) in his brief address before leading the prayer of the Angelus at midday with people gathered in St Peter’s Square Pop ...
• 9 December 2005
  EUROPE/ENGLAND - The introduction of same sex unions as a legal institution is bound to have a lasting social impact and erode the authentic understanding of marriage say Catholic Bishops of England and Wales London (Fides Service) - In a statement on Civil Partnership issued on December 6th from the Catholic Communications Network Archbishop Peter Smith, archbishop of Cardiff and President of the Commission for Christian res ...
• 9 December 2005
  AMERICA/PANAMA - “We have reflected on the progress of our countries from the pastoral point of view and we find that the social situation continues to deteriorate”: Catholic Bishops of Central American countries stress the need to “build a future of hope” Panama City (Fides Service) - At the end of their annual assembly held in Panama City 22-25 November the Catholic Bishops of Central America issued a message “Building a Future of Hope” highlighting the lights and s ...
• 9 December 2005
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI on the solemnity of Immaculate Mary Mother of God conceived without stain of original sin: “if we abandon ourselves totally into the hands of God we do not become boring and consenting people, puppets of God,; we do not lose our freedom. Indeed only if we trust ourselves entirely to God can we find true freedom, the vast and creative freedom of goodness.” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On the feast of the Immaculate Conception December 8 1965 in Saint Peter’s basilica as he solemnly closed the Second Vatican Council Pope Paul VI declared the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother ...