Vatican

• 5 January 2006
  VATICAN - At midnight on 24 December, in St Peter’s Basilica the Holy Father Benedict XVI presided a solemn mass for the Nativity of Our Lord: “Christ gives himself to us and, in doing so, gives us his peace. He gives it to us so that we can carry the light of peace within and give it to others. He gives it to us so that we can become peacemakers and builders of peace in the world”. Vatican City (Fides Service) - At midnight on 24 December, in St Peter’s Basilica the Holy Father Benedict XVI presided a solemn mass for the Nativity of Our Lord. In his homily the Pope explained the connection betwe ...
• 30 December 2005
  THE NAMES OF THOSE KILLED WHILE ON MISSION IN THE YEAR 2005 Vatican City (Fides Service) - Once again this year Fides has the sad task of issuing the names of pastoral workers who died a violent death in 2005. According to the information collected, 26 Catholics were killed on mi ...
• 21 December 2005
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI at general audience: “While a certain modern and consumerist culture tends to remove Christian symbols from the celebration of Christmas may we all strive to retain the value of Christmas traditions which are part of the heritage of our faith and our culture, to transmit them to the new generations” Vatican City (Fides Service) - The mystery of Christmas was the theme of the catechesis given by Pope Benedict XVI at the general audience in St Peter’s Square this morning: “in this last week of Advent the liturgies ...
• 19 December 2005
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI at the Angelus says "Let us be ‘infected’ by the silence of St Joseph: in this time of preparation for Christmas let us give priority to inner recollection so we may let Jesus come and stay in our life”. Vatican City (Fides) - Saint Joseph who “in perfect harmony with his wife welcomes the Son of God made man and watches over his human development”, can help us prepare for Christmas and “live this great mystery of ...
• 17 December 2005
  VATICAN - “Light a Christmas star with 5 Euro”: Pontifical Council for Pastoral care of healthcare workers organises collection in aid of poor sick people Vatican City (Fides Service) - On the occasion of Christmas Cardinal Javier Lozano Barrágan, President of the Pontifical Council for the pastoral care of healthcare workers launched a proposal for sensitisation of eccle ...
• 17 December 2005
  VATICAN - With her hidden and humble life Madre Casini had the intuition of sustaining the mission of priests: “even little gestures, signs and stories help to build the history of the Church and the world” Vatican City (Fides Service) - Can an apparently ordinary life such as that of Madre Maria Teresa Casini (Frascati 1864-Grottaferrata 1937), unknown and humble, in a period of great political and social upheaval, be of i ...
• 17 December 2005
  VATICAN - 18 December: World Migrants Day. The migratory experience “is also an opportunity for evangelisation and mission” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On the occasion of World Migrants Day on Sunday December 18, we recall two recent documents on the theme. First of all a Joint Letter on the Pastoral Care of Human Mobility addressed to D ...
• 16 December 2005
  VATICAN - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI meets Rome’s University students: “We must rediscover the beauty of having Christ as our Master of life and so in freedom and awareness renew our profession of faith in Him.” Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Continue, dear friends, your reflection with regard to a new humanism taking into consideration the great challenges of the present day and striving to conjugate in harmony faith and cul ...
• 16 December 2005
  VATICAN - “Every Christian, according to his specific task and specific responsibility, is called to make his contribution so that the dignity of these brothers and sisters of ours is recognised, respected and promoted.”: Pope Benedict XVI’s Message for World Day of the Sick 2006 Vatican City (Fides Service) - In a message for the annual World Day of the Sick organised by the Catholic Church on February 11, feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Pope Benedict XVI encourages sick people to offer their cond ...
• 14 December 2005
  VATICAN - In his teaching at the Wednesday general audience Pope Benedict XVI explains psalm 138: “the Lord’s hand is always ready to take our hand to lead us on our earthly journey. His is a presence not of judgement which strikes terror but of support and liberation” Vatican City (Fides Service) - In his teaching at the general Wednesday audience this morning in St Peter’s Square Pope Benedict XVI explained the first two verses of psalm 138 (138,1-12, “God sees everything”, ves ...
• 14 December 2005
  VATICAN - Gifts from the Pope and cardinals among objects offered at tonight’s Charity Auction in aid of Sudanese children Vatican City (Fides Service) - Vatican City (Fides Service) - Once again this year the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples is holding a charity Auction of objects donated by various including gifts received by ...
• 14 December 2005
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI issues his first Message for World Peace Day: “wherever and whenever men and women are enlightened by the splendour of truth, they naturally set out on the path of peace” Vatican City (Fides Service) - The first Message written by Pope Benedict XVI for World Peace Day celebrated on the first day of the new year is inspired by the Gaudium et spes Pastoral Constitution (cfr. n.3), issued b ...
• 12 December 2005
  VATICAN - Opening 13 December World Meeting for Pastoral Care of International Students: a phenomenon involving 2 million students which is destined to grow Vatican City (Fides Service) - From 13 to 16 December at Casa Maria Immacolata in Rome there will be the 2nd World Meeting for Pastoral Care of International Students organised by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral ...
• 12 December 2005
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict at Sunday midday Angelus prayer encourages preparation for Christmas: “Sad to say in the present day consumer society this season is subject to commercial ‘pollution’ which threatens to distort its true spirit of reflection, sobriety and joy which comes from within rather than outside” Vatican City (Fides Service) - Preparation for Christmas was the central theme of Benedict XVI's reflections before praying the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. " Sad to say in the present day c ...
• 12 December 2005
  VATICAN - Charity Auction in aid of children in Sudan Vatican City (Fides Service) - Once again this year the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples is holding a charity Auction of objects donated by benefactors. The funds raised will go to help children Sudan. Th ...