News

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  1 March 2026
  VATICAN - English-language training course for the National Directions of the Pontifical Mission Societies begins on March 2 Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Participants from Africa, North America, Asia, and Europe are attending the English-language missionary training course for the National Directions of the Pontifical Mission Societies, whic ...
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  28 February 2026
  Faith according to Joseph Ratzinger: “Like a child in his mother’s arms” by Cardinal Pietro Parolin* We are publishing excerpts from Cardinal Pietro Parolin’s preface to the volume “La fede del futuro, il futuro della Chiesa” (“The Faith of the Future, the Future of the Church”) ...
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  28 February 2026
  ASIA/BAHRAIN - Explosions in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. "Churches closed, all activities suspended," the Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia asks for prayers for peace Awali (Agenzia Fides) – “At the moment, we don’t know much; we have suspended all activities. I have invited the priests of the Vicariate to gather this evening at 7:00 p.m. local time for a Mass for Peace,” Bis ...
• 28 February 2026
  AFRICA/GUINEA - Resignation and succession of metropolitan archbishop of Conakry Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Conakry, Guinea, presented by Archbishop Vincent Coulibaly. He is succeeded by Archbis ...
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  28 February 2026
  ASIA/INDONESIA - Mineral water, ice cream, pizza: three "San Camillo Dreams" come true by Luigi Galvani* Kupang (Agenzia Fides) – Among the many dreams that fill a missionary's heart are those of conversions, vocations, works of charity… and others, simpler and more practical, that carry the scent ...
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  27 February 2026
  ASIA/PAKISTAN -"Open war" between Pakistan and Afghanistan; "Terrorist attacks and the expulsion of Afghans have increased hostility" Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – Hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated into “open war,” Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared. Mutual attacks and military escalation between Pakistan and Af ...
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  27 February 2026
  EUROPE/ITALY - The number of Italian "Fidei Donum" priests who leave on mission continues to decline Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Of approximately 31,000 Italian priests, 227 are currently serving as "Fidei Donum" missionaries abroad. Updated data published by the National Office for Missionary Cooperation of the Churches o ...
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  27 February 2026
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Catholic Church in Southeast Nigeria set on fire Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – The Catholic Church of St. Mary in Katchuan Irruan, in the local government area of Boki, in northern Cross River State, southeastern Nigeria, was attacked and set on fire. The attack occurred ...
• 27 February 2026
  AFRICA/COTE D'IVOIRE - Appointment of bishop of Agboville Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) -The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Assandé Darius Ekou, until now rector of the parish-sanctuary Saint Famille de Nazareth and director of the Saint Kizito d’Abengourou diocesan C ...
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  26 February 2026
  EUROPE/AUSTRIA - "The spirituality of the Pontifical Mission Societies" at the center of the meeting of European Directors Vienna (Agenzia Fides) - The European national directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies are meeting this week in Heiligenkreuz, near Vienna. Thirty-two participants attended this event, organized by the Pontifical N ...
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  26 February 2026
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Bishops on American military aid: “The security and fate of our nation lies in our hands” Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – “We support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s measures to address the security crisis, but more needs to be done,” the Nigerian bishops declared in a joint concluding document presented at the ...
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  26 February 2026
  ASIA/SRI LANKA - Father Fernando on the Easter attacks: "We want nothing more than justice" Colombo (Agenzia Fides) – Sri Lankan police have arrested former intelligence chief, retired General Suresh Sallay, in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks of April 21, 2019. The coordinated attacks on three luxur ...
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  25 February 2026
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - A bill to protect religious minority property in Punjab Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - A bill entitled "Protection of Minority Community Properties Bill 2026," intended as a comprehensive measure to protect the property of religious minorities throughout Punjab province, has been s ...
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  25 February 2026
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - A sixth man suspected of participating in the Pentecost massacre has been arrested Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – A sixth man suspected of involvement in the attack on St. Francis Xavier Church in Owo (Ondo State, southwestern Nigeria) on Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 2022 (see Fides, 6/6/2022), has been arres ...
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  25 February 2026
  AMERICA/PERU - Bishops after floods and landslides in the Arequipa region: “Mutual support is essential to address these painful realities” Arequipa (Agenzia Fides) – A severe wave of bad weather has battered the Arequipa region in recent days, destroying homes and vehicles. Families have been forced to evacuate their houses. More than 4,782 people have be ...