News

• 8 April 2005
  ASIA/LEBANON - “We will treasure Holy Father’s apostolic exhortation New Hope for Lebanon forever” says President Lahoud of Lebanon Beirut (Fides Service) - At the funeral of Pope John Paul II in Rome Lebanon was represented by its President Emile Lahoud, premier Omar Karame and speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri “We will treasure Holy Father’s ...
• 8 April 2005
  ASIA/IRAQ - Shiite leader Al Sistani sends message of condolence to the Holy See for the death of Pope John Paul II Baghdad (Fides Service)- Iraqi Shiite leader Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani sent messages of condolence for the death of Pope John Paul II to Cardinal Angelo Sodano and the Papal Nuncio in Iraq in which he said: “I wish to e ...
• 8 April 2005
  AMERICA/CANADA - Pope: Pontifical Mission Societies in Canada remember Pope John Paul II Montreal (Fides Service)- “We loved you because you showed us the Body of Christ, and you showed it to the peoples at the four corners of the earth. Following Jesus and the Apostles you were a man of meeting. In the no ...
• 8 April 2005
  AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - Bishops of southern Africa recall Pope John Paul II’s love and commitment for Africa Pretoria (Fides Service)- “By raising many African Catholics to the honour of the altars Pope John Paul II showed that African Catholics are mature in their faith” the Catholic Bishops of Southern Africa said in a me ...
• 8 April 2005
  ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - “He was a strong and affectionate father who spent all his life in leading humanity to harmony and mutual respect, to truth and love”: Catholic Bishops and the President of Korea remember Pope John Paul II Seoul (Fides Service) - “He was a strong and affectionate father who spent all his life in leading humanity to harmony and mutual respect, to truth and love. How can we forget the touching scene when he visited Korea i ...
• 8 April 2005
  ASIA/TAJIKISTAN - The people, mainly Muslims, watch the funeral of Pope John Paul II on television Dushanbe (Fides Service) - The small community of Catholics in Tajikistan learned with sadness of the death of Pope John Paul II and offered Masses and prayers for the eternal repose of his soul. Masses were celebrated i ...
• 8 April 2005
  ASIA/THAILAND - "The Holy Father is known and loved all over the country" Bangkok (Fides Service) - “In Thailand were heard the news of the Pope’s death immediately through the media. Masses are being said for him in all our churches here. The Thai people express their sentiment and respec ...
• 8 April 2005
  AMERICA/VENEZUELA - “Juan Pablo amigo, Venezuela sta con tigo! John Paul our friend, Venezuela is with you!” Venezuelans continue to express love for Pope John Paul II; requiem Masses celebrated in sports stadium to accommodate huge crowds Caracas (Fides Service) - After following with deep concern the worsened condition and death of Pope John Paul II, the people of Venezuela continue to attend Masses and the recitation of the rosary in churches all over t ...
• 8 April 2005
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - National mourning for John Paul II respected substantially in rebel controlled mainly Muslim north Bouake (Fides Service) - National mourning in Côte d'Ivoire for the death of Pope John Paul II coincided with the time of the funeral. Flags were flown half mast and from 6.30am to 11am local time national television br ...
• 7 April 2005
  AFRICA/ETHIOPIA - “Because of the state of insecurity I am unable to commemorate the Holy Father with people in outlying villages” Apostolic Prefect of Gambella told Fides Gambella (Fides Service)- “I want very much to go to Catholics in villages around Gambella to commemorate the Holy Father with them, but it is simply impossible in the present state of insecurity” Bishop Angelo Mores ...
• 7 April 2005
  AFRICA/ZIMBABWE - Serious irregularities took place during the March 31 vote: the Opposition accuses the government of fraud Harare (Fides Service)- “Accusations of fraud were almost to be expected since President Mugabe’s government had complete control of the electoral campaign” said local sources in Harare, Zimbabwe where March 31 ele ...
• 7 April 2005
  AMERICA/ECUADOR - Society is rediscovering the value of the messages left by John Paul II during his visit to Ecuador Quito (Fides Service) - As soon as the humble and simple people who welcomed John Paul II here twenty years ago in 1985, and who have always shown affection and admiration for the Vicar of Christ, heard the news of the P ...
• 7 April 2005
  ASIA/INDIA - The governor of Karnataka: "Pope John Paul was not only a leader of the Catholics, he exercised moral and spiritual influence on the entire world. He belongs to every one”. Bangalore (Fides Service) - An Inter-religious prayer Meeting was organised by the Archdiocese of Bangalore to pay tribute, show love and to pray for the deceased Holy Father John Paul II, National Director of the Pontif ...
• 7 April 2005
  VATICAN - The Rome diocese pilgrim office Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi is busy organising accommodation for pilgrims coming from all over the world to pay homage to the Pope already over one million Rome (Fides Service) - The Rome diocese pilgrim office Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi is busy organising accommodation for prelates and pilgrims arriving in Rome for the funeral of Pope John Paul II. Convents, religious inst ...
• 7 April 2005
  EUROPE/ITALY - A minute of communion Friday 8 April at 10 in the morning Rome (Fides Service) - “If there was ever a moment in which the word communion assumed depth and beyond all measure it was the time which elapsed from Wednesday 30 March, the last appearance of John Paul II at his stud ...