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        <title>Fides News English</title>
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            <title>AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC- Appointment of the Archbishop of Bangui</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31554&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI on May 14, 2012 appointed Rev. Fr. Dieudonné Nzapalainga, C.S.S.p., Apostolic Administrator of the same Archdiocese as Archbishop of Bangui (Central African Republic).
Fr. Dieudonné Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp., was born on March 14, 1967 in Mbomou, in the Diocese of Bangassou. After primary school, he entered the Saint Louis Minor Seminary in Bangassou and then went to the Major Seminary of Philosophy Saints Apôtres in Otélé, Cameroon, before continuing his studies at the Spiritan Daniel Brottier Major Seminary, in Libreville, Gabon. He professed his first vows in the Congregation of the Spiritan Fathers on September 8, 1993 and his final vows on September 6, 1997. He was ordained priest on 9 August 1998. He later obtained a degree in Theology at the Centre Sèvres of the Jesuit Fathers, in France, but was soon called to go to the Central African Republic from his Institute to hold the position of Regional Superior. After his priestly Ordination he has held the following positions: 1998-2005: Chaplain of the orphans of the Foundation d'Auteuil (France) and Assistant priest (St Jerome/Marseille, France), 2005-2009: Regional Superior of the Spiritan Fathers (Central Africa) and Priest in Bangui, 2008-2009: President of the Conference of Major Superiors of Central Africa; since 2009: Apostolic Administrator of Bangui.
The Archdiocese of Bangui, erected in 1955, has an area of 38,342 square kilometers and a population of 1,043,000 inhabitants, of whom 246,657 are Catholics. There are 25 parishes, 104 priests (54 diocesan and 4 fidei donum and 46 religious), 9 religious brothers, 115 nuns and 20 seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - Appointment of the Bishop of Berberati</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31555&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI on May 14, 2012 appointed Rev. Fr. Dennis Kofi Agbenyadzi, S.M.A., Regional Superior of the Fathers of the Society of African Missions in the Central African Republic as  Bishop of Berberati (Central Africa).
Fr. Dennis Kofi Agbenyadzi, S.M.A., was born on October 9, 1964 in Kadjebi-Akan, Diocese of Jasikan, Volta Region, in Ghana. He is Ghanaian nationality. After completing his secondary studies, he carried out his national civil service. He then entered the Society of African Missions, in the late '80s. He studied philosophy at the diocesan Seminary in Accra, in Ghana (1989-1991); he then carried out his year of spirituality in Cavali, in Benin, and immediately after his pastoral internship in Bèlèmboké, Diocese of Berberati in Central Africa. Later he completed his theological studies at the Inter-diocesan Major Seminary in Anyama in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (1993-1997). He professed his final vows on June 29, 1996 and was ordained a priest on July 12, 1997. After ordination, he has held the following Offices: 1997-1999: Assistant priest at Berberati; 1999-2005: Priest in Berberati and Director of the Development works for the pygmy population; Member of the Episcopal Council and in charge of the management of pharmaceutical products; 2004-2007: Assistant to the Regional Superior; 2005-2009: Superior of the House of Formation in Bangui and Member of the Diocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants, Since 2007: Regional Superior of the S.M.A. Fathers (Re-elected in 2010 for a second term).
The Diocese of Berberati, erected in 1955, has an area of 45,000 square kilometers and a population of 450,000 inhabitants, of whom 110,000 are Catholics. There are 22 parishes, 33 priests (25 diocesan and 1 fidei donum and 7 religious), 4 religious brothers, 26 nuns and 16 seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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            <title>AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - Appointment of the Bishop of Bossangoa</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31556&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI on May 14, 2012 appointed Rev. Fr. Nestor-Désiré-Nongo Aziagbia, S.M.A., Superior of the Community of Haguenau in Strasbourg, France, and Superior of the same District of the S.M.A. Fathers as Bishop of Bossangoa (Centroafrica).
Fr. Nestor-Desire-Nongo Aziagbia, S.M.A., was born on March 6, 1970 in M'Baiki. He professed his first profession in 1994. He studied philosophy in Bangui (Central Africa), at the National Major Seminary Saint Marc, and Theology at the SS. Peter and Paul Major Seminary, in Ibadan, Nigeria. Later he obtained a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology at the University of Strasbourg, in France, and is completing his Doctorate at the same university. He was ordained a priest on 23 August 1998. After his priestly ordination he has held the following positions: 1998-2004: Parish Vicar and Parish Priest, Director of vocations, Member of the Council for Economic Affairs and the Board of Councillors in the Vicariate of Kontagora (Nigeria); since 2004: Superior of the Community of Haguenau in Strasbourg, and the same District of the S.M.A. Fathers. He is also Pastor of the parish Community "Terre des missions" of Weitbruch, Gries, Kurtzenhouse, Niederschaeffolsheim and Harthouse, and Chaplain of the College of the S.M.A Fathers of Haguenau.
The Diocese of Bossangoa, erected in 1964, has an area of 62,420 square kilometers and a population of 612,000 inhabitants, of whom 281,000 are Catholics. There are 15 parishes, 38 priests (33 diocesan and 5 religious ), 6 religious brothers, 16 nuns and 28 seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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            <title>AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC- Appointment of the Coadjutor Bishop of Alindao</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31557&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI on May 14, 2012 appointed Rev. Cyr-Nestor Yapaupa, of the clergy of Alindao, Vicar General of the same Diocese as Coadjutor Bishop of Alindao (Central Africa).
Rev. Cyr- Nestor Yapaupa, was born on February 26, 1970, in Bangassou. He studied Philosophy and Theologyin his country, at the Major Seminary Saint Marc in Bangui. He was ordained a priest on March 18, 2001. Incardinated first in the Diocese of Bangassou, he then went to the Diocese of Alindao. After his ordination he has held the following positions: 2001-2002: He accompanied vocational groups; 2001-2004: Parish Vicar; since 2003: Head of the Diocesan Liturgy Commission; since 2004: Diocesan Secretary of Catholic Teaching; since 2005: Pastor of the Cathedral, diocesan Chaplain of the Association of St. Rita, diocesan Chaplain of the choir groups; since 2006: Vicar General.
The Diocese of Alindao, erected in 2004, has an area of 18,475 square kilometers and a population of 171,600 inhabitants, of whom 63,000 are Catholics. There are 5 parishes, 13 priests (11 diocesan and 2 religious), 2 religious brothers, 11 nuns and 8 seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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            <title>AMERICA/PANAMA - The celebrations for the 500 years of the foundation of the first American diocese</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31558&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Panama City (Agenzia Fides) - The Primate Archbishop of Santo Domingo, Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez, presided on Sunday, May 13 the celebration for the 42nd  Eucharistic Meeting of Panama, as the initial part of the celebrations for the anniversary of 500th anniversary of the  foundation in this country, of the first diocese in the American continent, with the name of "Santa Maria la Antigua". The celebration of the Mass, in the Rommel Fernandez Stadium in the capital, where thousands of faithful Catholics gathered united by the slogan "With Mary walking in hope", was also attended by the Archbishop of Panama, His Exc. Mgr. José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, O.S.A., and the Apostolic Nuncio, His Exc. Mgr. Andrés Carrascosa Coso, and some members of the Panamanian Episcopal Conference.
During his homily, Cardinal Lopez Rodriguez recalled how the first diocese was established, in Panamanian territory, and noted that the festivities will extend throughout next year. According to the note sent to Fides, the Cardinal also stressed that "Latin America is a region with a rich culture that allows the approach of the people, leaving aside the suffering experienced". Speaking of the evangelization of the Americas, he also said that the faith of this region is always accompanied by the devotion to the Virgin Mary.
The Archbishop of Panama, Monsignor José Domingo Ulloa, in his speech to more than 20 thousand faithful who filled the stadium, asked politicians "not to act with moral ambiguity, as there should be no double moral" inviting everyone to promote and allow the culture of participation to grow and sincere dialogue, always with respect to the other.
The city of Santa Maria de la Antigua, which is in the forest area of the province of Darien, on the border with Colombia, was the first diocese on dry land, erected by Pope Leo X with the bull of September 9, 1513. On August 15, 1519, Pedrarias Davila founded the city of Panama, which then developed into a commercial center and main port of trade. In 1524, the second Bishop of the diocese, Fray Vicente Peraza, moved the seat of the diocese in the new city of Panama. The city was destroyed by the Welsh pirate Henry John Morgan in 1671, but the Spanish refounded it three years later, about 8 km west of where it was founded the first time. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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            <title>OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA - Deacon and midfielder: a life for Jesus, in church, and on the football field</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31559&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Faith in Christ and his gospel are always "the rock for his life", both within the walls of a church, and on the grass of a football field: Christian Sieland, 32 years of age, a seminarian from Papua New Guinea who is studying in Rome, was ordained a deacon in Rome on Saturday 12 May. As reported to Fides, for him it was "a memorable weekend ": on the day of his ordination to the diaconate he was also declared "best player" of the tournament "Clericus Cup" a football competition between priests and seminarians in Rome, now in its sixth edition, which was won by the team of the North American Pontifical College.
Christian competed in the team of the Pontifical Urban College, where he resides, and distinguished himself as one of the best midfielders in the tournament, although his team did not reach the final.
He was very happy for the unexpected recognition received in the morning, in the afternoon Christian was ordained deacon in St. Peter's by Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, along with 16 other students of the Pontifical Urban College "de Propaganda Fide", and 4 deacons were ordained priests. The ordained were from Africa, Asia, America and Oceania,
Christian Sieland comes from the diocese of Chimbu and is completing his Bible studies. He should be ordained a priest in Papua New Guinea next year. Christian is of German origin, having been born from a couple of lay Catholic volunteers, who arrived in Papua New Guinea about 50 years ago. His motto is "to follow Jesus and serve him in Papua New Guinea", where there are churches and immense fields where to play. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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            <title>AMERICA/ECUADOR - Against human trafficking in, a scourge that affects more than 6 000 people only in Ecuador</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31560&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Quito (Agenzia Fides) - Every year about 800 000 people around the world are victims of human trafficking, a growing business that is based on slavery, deceit or violence, said Hiroshima Villalba, Undersecretary to the democratic guarantees of  the Ministry of Interior of Ecuador, while the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Javier Cordoba, said that in Ecuador the victims are more than 6 000, and 90% of the women involved suffer sexual violence.
These statements were made during the presentation of the International Meeting on human trafficking, in progress (14 and 15 May) in Quito, with the title "Meeting on human trafficking and smuggling of migrants", attended by specialists from Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and the United States.
Ecuadorian authorities have stressed that the Constitution of Ecuador and their national development plan for welfare, manifest the willingness to reduce this illegal practice. The government of Ecuador has also signed with Peru a border binational protocol to provide complete assistance to victims and survivors of trafficking. The initiative aims to protect women, children and adolescents against these crimes in the areas of El Oro, Loja and Zamora, in Ecuador, and Tumbes, on the northern border of Peru.
Only a few days ago, the Vatican insisted on the importance that the Church cooperates with international organizations in terms of prevention, support and rehabilitation of victims of trafficking. "We put at the service of the fight against human trafficking all our network of religious in the world," said Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in the World during the Conference held at the Vatican on this scourge. He also insisted on the common work of the Church, governments, institutions and humanitarian organizations worldwide, to address the problem effectively. The final declaration of the event reads: "the problem is becoming more dramatic and real, and is the second most lucrative international crime, illegal trade after weapons." (CE) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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            <title>ASIA/HONG KONG - Cardinal Tong to the 800 newly baptized: formation, witness and mutual support to rekindle the faith in the family of the Church</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31561&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) – Formation and the testimony of faith, mutual support to rekindle the faith in the family of the Church, in the footsteps of the first Christian communities: is the encouragement of Cardinal John Tong Hon, Bishop of Hong Kong, to the 800 newly baptized in the diocese during the Welcome Meeting to the newbies held recently. According to reports from the Kong Ko Bao (the diocesan bulletin in Chinese), this year there were 3,400 baptized during Easter. Cardinal Tong pointed out that "in view of the Year of Faith, of the 50 years of II Vatican Council and 20 years of the publication of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church, we are offered the opportunity to revisit the teaching of the Council and the Catechism for a greater commitment to evangelization. "Moreover, the Cardinal pointed out that "the active participation in community life, and membership to the Catholic Association are the best way to live faith." During the meeting, two newly baptized representatives brought gifts to the catechists who followed them along the journey of faith that brought them to baptism as a sign of gratitude as well as a commitment to give continuity to this journey. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>ASIA/PHILIPPINES - &quot;Communist and rebel&quot; nuns,  the army accuse the religious engaged in Mindanao</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31562&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Davao City (Agenzia Fides) - Two Philippines religious women, committed to peace, defence of the indigenous peoples and the natural heritage of Mindanao, have been accused by the military of being "communists and rebels," supporters of the guerrilla group "New People's Army" (NPA ), which for decades have held in check the government in Manila with an armed insurrection of communist origins. As learned by Fides, the victims of a smear campaign of some Philippine military officers are Sister Stella Matutina OSB, a Benedictine nun and Sister Julita Encarnacion, of the Sisters of the Assumption of Mary. The two religious sisters have long been committed on the island of Mindanao in campaigns for peace, justice and the defence of the environment. They criticized the extensive work of mining exploitation and natural resources, with which foreign corporations, thanks to agreements with the government, plunder the riches of Mindanao. They denounced the corruption of local authorities. They are on the indigenous peoples side and have raised their voice against the impunity of murders that cross the island, even in the killing of the missionary Fr. Fausto Tentorio, PIME. They have coordinated activities and demonstrations of the civil society and of the Christian communities in Mindanao. But, above all, they are considered "enemy of the army" because they denounced the repression campaign on behalf of the military in the operation counter-insurgency "Oplan Bayanihan", initiated by the Arroyo government and confirmed by the government of Benigno Aquino.
The operation provides for a massive military budget in Mindanao to fight the rebels of the NPA and unearth the leaders. These operations, however - the nuns denounce - often involve abuse of power, human rights violations, violent actions against civilians and natives, extrajudicial killings of activists and local leaders, especially through the paramilitary militias created and guided by the army. The sisters have also launched a petition calling for the withdrawal of the military, stating that "until the Armed Forces of the Philippines continues to serve the interests of big companies, their so-called peace will only bring more chaos and suffering to poor communities."
Sister Encarnacion Julita is part of an association which brings together many missionaries, called "Rural Missionaries of the Philippines". Sister Stella has created in the diocese of Mati the group "Benedictines for Peace" and is the Secretary of the NGO "Panalipdan Mindanao," organization of "advocates and defenders of the environment, of Creation and heritage of Mindanao." In the past, with two other members of the movement, Sister Stella was arrested and interrogated for eight hours. The soldiers of the 28th  Battalion of Infantry, settled in Davao Oriental, said that "Sister Stella is a nun in disguise, in truth she is a member of the NPA." The same leaders of the Battalion had also accused Fr. Tentorio of being a member of the NPA.
Father Angel Calvo, a Claretian missionary in Mindanao for 40 years, reminds Fides that "to accuse priests, nuns and missionaries of being communist rebels was common practice at the time of the Martial Law, for all those who criticized the regime. Now the timing and context are very different, the accusers are some local military leaders. But the missionaries are not scared, they continue to defend the values of the Gospel, the poor and the weak." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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            <title>AFRICA/MALI - Negotiation stalemate in Bamako while in the north people’s impatience increase caused by the harassment of Islamist</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31563&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Bamako (Agenzia Fides) – People are waiting for the appointment of the new President of the transition in Mali. "The mediators of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) were in Bamako for 5 days, but failed to bring the various parties to agree on appointing a new President of the transition" says to Fides Fr. Edmond Dembele Secretary of the Episcopal Conference of Mali. On May 22, the interim period of the government ends, initiated under the agreement reached on April 6 by the military junta (which took power with the coup on 22 March) and by the Malian political parties, with the mediation of ECOWAS. Interim President is Dioncounda Traoré who appointed Cheick Modibo Diarra as Premier (see Fides 18/05/2012).
"The ECOWAS wants Dioncounda Traore to continue to be the President of the transition, but the military junta would like another person," says FR. Dembele. ECOWAS threatened to reintroduce sanctions imposed against the coup on April 2 and then suspended after the agreement on April 6.
"The ECOWAS mediators should be back today in Bamako," says Fr. Dembele to Fides. "Yesterday, the leaders of the junta held a press conference in which they launched a proposal to hold a big meeting with all national social and political forces of the nation to designate the President of the transition. But it seems that the ECOWAS is not favorable to this proposal. Religious Catholic, Protestant and Muslim leaders, continue to mediate to try to find a solution to the crisis, " added the Secretary of the Episcopal Conference of Mali.
As for the north of Mali, in the hands of a series of armed groups, Fr. Dembele says that "the State last weekend, along with the High Islamic Council, and an association of citizens from the north that are in Bamako, sent food and medicines to the people of Tomboctou, Gao and Kidal."
In the north the tension for both the divisions between the various armed groups that control the area, and for the people’s impatience against the oppression of Islamists is increasing. "A recent meeting between the armed movements in the north to find a way to manage the region seems to have failed. This is because the groups have different goals: some want to impose the sharia and others who struggle for independence in the north. In Gao the young took to the streets to protest against the imposition of the Sharia law that provides for the prohibition of games (football and cards), music and television."
Previously the destruction of an important Islamic shrine in Tomboctou (the Islamists are in fact iconoclasts) had provoked the protests of local people and Muslim associations: the High Islamic Council has formally condemned this act. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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            <title>AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - The drama of the deportees, refugees and displaced persons in Southern Sudan</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31564&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Juba (Agenzia Fides) - As Sudan and South Sudan remain on a war footing, tens of thousands of southern Sudanese expelled from Khartoum are coming to Juba, because devoid of residence permits.
On May 14, the first group of 164 people from Khartoum on a flight organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) arrived in the southern Sudanese capital, out of a total of 12,000 people expected to leave Sudan in the coming days.
In Sudan, home to hundreds of thousands of south Sudanese who have lost their jobs and do not have permission to stay after the proclamation of the independence of South Sudan, in July 2011.
Among them there are also many people of southern Sudanese descent but were born in northern Sudan and therefore find it difficult, in case of expulsion, to adapt to living in their new Country.
South Sudan will be in charge of the accommodation of these people, finding them accommodation and work.
The instability in which some areas of Southern Sudan live has also forced tens of thousands of inhabitants to flee. In addition to the internally displaced, Juba must take charge of refugees from South Kordofan, state in north Sudan, but whose population fought at the time with the southern Sudanese against the Khartoum regime. According to UN sources there are 100,000 Sudanese refugees welcomed in South Sudan. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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            <title>ASIA/SYRIA - Radical Islamic groups fanning the conflict that plagues Lebanon</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31565&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Beirut (Agenzia Fides) - Radical Islamic Groups are fanning the conflict and want to infect Lebanon: this is the alarm launched to Fides by Fr. Paul Karam, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Lebanon. Fr. Karam, commenting on the recent clashes between Alawites and Sunnis in Lebanon, said: "We are very concerned for two reasons: the flow of Syrian refugees continues in northern Lebanon, moreover the conflict is spreading in Lebanon. This happens because of political interests that trample human rights, and the fragility of our country, ethnic-religious composite mosaic. Herein lies the major component of fanatic Islamic movements that fan on the religious aspect, fomenting hatred among communities." Fr. Karam insists that "violence has never solved anything: the road to reconciliation is dialogue, respect for others, keeping in mind the good of the country."
On the conflict in Syria, Fr. Karam said: "Sending UN Observers is an act of responsibility on behalf of the international community. But should not be exploited at a political level by any of the warring parties. We hope it is a mission in the sign of truth, credibility and transparency. Only thus peace can be reached."
The Christian situation "is very worrying," says the priest. "In Syria – he recalls - the faithful have freedom of faith and public testimony which is not guaranteed in other states in the Middle East. We are concerned because the Christians, as a minority, are the easiest target. Syrian fellow priests tell us that the situation is dramatic: there are forces who want to turn the conflict into a religious war, and this would be a tragedy."(PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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            <title>AMERICA/MEXICO - Children should not continue to die or remain disabled because of hunger</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31566&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) – It is unacceptable that children die or remain disabled because of hunger. This is what emerges in a document released by the Archdiocese of Mexico, which is based in Mexico City, which proposes some actions for the establishment of a national agreement to deal with this tragedy. To raise awareness on social levels of poverty and inequality that exist in Mexico, the Catholic Church has just published its second National Report "Dolor de la Tierra, Dolor de los Pobres. ¡Actuemos ya! "Which emphasizes that "it is unacceptable that a quarter of Mexicans live in hunger and thirst, and that children cannot continue to die or be disabled because of hunger." "Neither - continues the document - it is possible that there are communities where more than 90% of the population are poor. We cannot continue to follow a policy of social development that goes beyond emergencies without thinking about what is essential for the daily living of the people." The Archdiocese has proposed to give rise to "a national agreement that establishes priorities for tackling poverty and inequality, promoting the mobilization and the concentration on agreements at a regional and national level." In the work, coordinated by Caritas Mexico, the head of the Episcopal Commission for the Social Pastoral (CEPS-Caritas), His Exc. Mgr. Gustavo Rodríguez Vega, Bishop of Nuevo Laredo, said that "there are situations that require new attitudes and new actions on our behalf, which cannot be postponed."(AP) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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            <title>AFRICA/CONGO DR - More than 5,100 people driven out from their lands to exploit the gold in South Kivu</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31544&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - "The social fabric of the people who lived so far in peace and mutual solidarity is compromised: its members have become enemies to each other, just because a Canadian company in search of gold has come to settle on their land." This is the complaint made by a Congolese citizen Néhémie Bahizire in the document entitled "The curse of gold in Kivu," on the exploitation of gold mines in Twangiza / Luhwinja, about 90 km south of Bukavu, capital of the province of South Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
"To extract the gold, the company Banro Corporation initially drove out  the 450 artisanal miners who lived off this job," says the document sent to Fides by "Peace for Congo." "Later, Banro drove out and/or transferred the population from their land, whose soil is rich in gold. The operation has affected 850 families, ie about 5,100 people. To compensate the people dispossessed of their land, Banro Corporation sought another place where to build 20 sqm houses in mud-brick, to be allocated to each family moved ". The new homes, however," are built in a very uncomfortable area to reside because the altitude is too high. The climate is hostile to the population that was accustomed to living at low altitude. To fetch water, women face the ordeal to go down and then up, travelling many kilometers at least twice a day. Finally, less than a year after their construction, these houses are already threatening to collapse, because of already visible cracks in the walls. "
"With regard the land to farm, each family was given only a small garden around the new house. Being far from sufficient, each family will will have to manage with what they can."
In terms of social divisions tensions have arisen between the local population because "Mwamikazi (mother of the traditional leader, who assumes the interim position of the son who is in Britain for study purposes) is conniving with Banro, as after all, all the political, administrative and military authorities of the area." "Part of the population supports the Mwamikazi. But the other part is against her and accuses her of complicity with Banro, who has occupied their land."
The document also claims discrimination suffered by local workers compared to the managers of foreign origin, and non-compliance with environmental standards. "The population of Twangiza suspects, rightly, with the exhaustion of gold, the company will dismantle the plant and will go elsewhere. And this after destroying the flora and fauna, rivers and mountains and all the biodiversity. What remains for the people?" Concludes the document. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 14/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>AMERICA/EL SALVADOR - &quot; Priority to the welfare of society must be given&quot;: the Church's appeal to political parties</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31545&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[San Salvador (Agenzia Fides) - The Archbishop of San Salvador, Mgr. José Luis Escobar Alas, insisted, in his regular press conference on Sunday, on the importance that it is necessary to have a national program dedicated to solving the common interests of the country, and that this is an essential part of the commitment of political parties. Mgr. Escobar Alas said that the most important thing to bring forward a national program, is the commitment of those working to solve citizens' problems, ie political parties, civil society organizations and especially the citizens.
The note sent to Fides reports the words of the Archbishop: " priority to the welfare of society must be given, the same parties will be rewarded if they manage to put before the good of the nation and its people's interests." This opportunity must show the willingness of all sectors to build a program of work, particularly to address the issue of security, only through dialogue we can reach agreements. "Politicians have the capacity and conditions to reach a national agreement, there must be a national agreement, we ask the Lord to have this agreement," concluded Mgr. Escobar Alas. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 14/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>ASIA/CHINA - About 10 thousand faithful went to the Marian Shrine of Hu Xian for the feast of Our Lady of China</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31546&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Hu Xian (Agenzia Fides) - Nearly 10,000 faithful from all parts of China, went on the pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine of Hu Xian, in the province of Shaan Xi, for the feast of Our Lady of China , celebrated on May 12 , in preparation for world Day of Prayer for the Church in China on May 24. According to what was reported to Fides by Faith of He Bei, about sixty priests followed for the celebration of Mass in the Sanctuary. They all stressed the importance of prayer for the Church in China, as recommended by the Holy Father Benedict XVI, invoking the protection of Mary, “because with the intercession of Our Lady, we can overcome all evil and difficulty with wisdom, courage and strength “; ”so that non-Christians can get closer to the Church and get to know Christ. “
More than 20,000 faithful attended the pilgrimage, which took place on Sunday, May 13 at the Marian Shrine of the diocese of Cang Zhou, in He Bei Province, presided by His Exc. Mgr. Joseph Li Lian Gui. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 14/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>VATICAN - 4 priests and 17 deacons of the Urban College ordained in St. Peter’s: &quot;The Prince of the Apostles, by looking at you in the eyes, renews his wonder for the fidelity with which Christ loves, sanctifies and renews his Church&quot;</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31547&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "Today, in truth, is a memorable day for all of you: both for the seventeen that with the diaconate become part of the clergy, consecrating their lives to the service of the Church, and, especially, for the four deacons who are to receive the Order of Priesthood." With these words Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, spoke to the 21 students of the Pontifical Urban College "de Propaganda Fide", from Africa, Asia, America and Oceania, during the Mass for the ordination of priests and deacons which he presided at the Vatican Basilica on Saturday afternoon, May 12 (see Fides 12/05/2012).
Speaking to the new deacons, Cardinal Filoni said that "whoever receives this ordination, receives it in relation to an office to which he  is qualified, ie to the service of God's word and charity. But what especially characterizes it is its configuration to Christ - a servant, that in humility became a man of God and for God, man for others ". He then invited the ordained to exercise their service "with joy and generosity." "You have chosen to belong totally to Christ and the Church by choosing celibacy- the Cardinal continued -. You are convinced not that the love for a woman, is not beautiful and noble, but this love is generous and complete in Christ and his Church is the highest and most beautiful. Free from human conditioning, you are ready to exercise your diaconal ministry towards everyone, especially towards the poor and the needy, according to Christ who bowed with love for sinners and the last ones."
Even the priest, as the deacon, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples said later, "is to cultivate an extraordinary inner life; I would say that the inner dimension of  priesthood cannot absolutely lack, and in the highest degree, cannot become hacks of divine things. " The priest therefore, is "the friend with whom Jesus spoke, he is the one who has the highest degree for Christ as a friend." To the ordained to priesthood, the Cardinal also said: "Today the Church, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, consecrates you in the love of Christ and comforms you in a special way to Him, allowing you to talk about Him as witnesses and to celebrate the Eucharist ... In the world there is no action greater than this. Celebrating the Eucharist! In that act is the fullness of grace that you make present, it is the culmination of every aspiration. The Church places this treasure in your hands that now will be consecrated."
Cardinal Filoni ended his homily with a reflection on the origin of the ordained: "I also note that you come from China, Korea, Viet-nam, Cameroon, Burundi, Ghana, Mali, Uganda from Haiti and Papua New Guinea, and I cannot refrain from saying that like Peter in Cornelius’ house: 'In truth I see that God shows no partiality' (Acts 10, 34). Even today, in this place of the martyrdom of Peter, it is again the Prince of the Apostles, who looking at you in the eyes renews his wonder for the fidelity with which Christ loves, sanctifies and renews his Church." (SL) (Agenzia Fides 14/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>AFRICA/GUINEA BISSAU - The Lusophone Countries do not accept the agreement between the coup leaders and the West African States</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31548&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Bissau (Agenzia Fides) – The situation in Guinea Bissau is still blocked where a new government to overcome the crisis caused by the military coup on April 12 seems difficult to form. ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) has accepted Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo, the candidate proposed by the military junta, as Head of State in this phase of transition in view of new elections. "The PAGC, the main party in the Country, the European Union and especially the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), however, oppose to this solution and ask to re-establish the situation as it were before the coup," explains to Fides Fr. Davide Sciocco, a missionary of the PIME, director of Radio Sol Mansi.
"The weight of ECOWAS is fairly consistent. African countries are conducting the negotiations between the parties of Guinea Bissau to find a way out of the crisis. The protagonists of the negotiation are Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire, which have pushed for the appointment of the new Head of State and are working to form a new government, "said Fr. Sciocco. "The CPLP does  not agree with this solution, because it means coming down to deal with the coup plotters."
"Most people do not actually approve the coup - says the missionary -. On the other hand though, people desire to  have a government because schools and offices are closed and the salaries of state employees are not paid. It is a very complicated situation," said Fr Sciocco. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 14/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>AMERICA/PARAGUAY - Solar panels bring the internet in schools without electricity</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31549&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Asuncion (Agenzia Fides) - According to the Secretary General of the Organization of Iberoamerican States (OEI), thanks to a pilot program involving the installation of solar panels, 100 colleges in rural areas and difficult to reach, will have access to the internet . The campaign, called "light to learn," intends to bring electricity to some 60 000 schools by 2014. With this project, children and teachers will have access to new technologies and to come out of isolation, which limits their social status. The promoters of the project are confident that with these opportunities  violence decreases. Because of the difficulty of transport of the panels, the Andes or the Amazon regions may be penalized. The OEI will organize training courses for teachers to use these new technologies, and awareness campaigns to encourage communities to take ownership of the project. Furthermore, the solar panel industry will also bring new job opportunities and training. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 14/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>ASIA/INDONESIA - In the Year of Faith, the challenges of mission and dialogue, in front of radical Islam</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31550&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) - "The Year of Faith will be an opportunity to renew the momentum of the mission in Indonesia," says to Fides Fr. Romanus Harjito, O. Carm, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Indonesia, explaining that "mission for us Christians in Indonesia, a minority, is essentially a witness to the faith with their works, love towards one’s neighbor, service, trying to live in society, of which the vast majority are Muslims, the values of the Gospel. "
"The most difficult challenge for Indonesian Christians - he says - is that which comes from the confrontation with radical Islam, which at times turns into acts of hostility and violence against believers. In the daily pastoral care we must always be careful with our initiatives and activities: the radical Islamic groups, although small, are observing us carefully and, if they judge our works as proselytism, they could promote public protests and even violence."
The Indonesian Church, he continues, "is studying in this phase, to build a bridge between the Year of Faith and missionary commitment. In particular, in the coming autumn, the opening of the Year of Faith, a symposium dedicated to the reception of the II Vatican Council in the Indonesian context, so diverse, plural, diversified is expected. From here we can start again to have a stronger faith and a more lively and convincing testimony in Indonesia ". (PA) (14/05/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA - The Young and faith: the Church thinks of new strategies</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31551&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Port Moresby (Agenzia Fides) - There is a problem of faith and spirituality among younger generations in Papua New Guinea: among young people prayer, faith are lacking, interest in the activities of the Church decreases and there is an "distorted understanding of personal freedom." This is what a document recently issued by Fr. Shanthi Chako PIME, Secretary of the Commission for Youth and laity within the Episcopal Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands says. As reported to Fides, the text was sent to Bishops, priests, religious, pastoral workers and launches an alarm for statistics on the Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, in particular concerning the decrease of the young and laity. On the other hand, one notes a growth of religious sects or a "religious indifference".
Central issue, the text says, is the transmission of faith to new generations in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, which meets several obstacles. A focus should be aimed, above all, to the weak transmission of faith in families:  as Msg. Bernard Unabali notes, Bishop of Bougainville, in the past, the family ensured "adequate formation in prayer, spirituality and faith", but now this process has been weakened or stopped.
Therefore, considering that "young people are the future of the Church", the Episcopal Commission on Youth and Laity intends to provoke reflections and proposals to develop new pastoral care strategies and evangelization, especially for the younger generations and families. (PA) (14/05/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>VATICAN - &quot;Thank you Father Massimo for your example and for your service to God, to the Church, to Missions and to our Congregation&quot;</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31552&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - " Thank you Father Massimo for your example and for your service to God, to the Church, to Missions and to our Congregation. Thank you for your loving care towards us; and now that you are with Jesus, intercede for us and for the evangelization of the world. Our thanks is also united with all the many Bishops, priests, men and women religious and faithful in the missionary world who have already written to us ensuring their closeness. " These are the words spoken this morning by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, in the Roman church of "Regina Pacis" where Fr. Massimo Cenci’s funeral was celebrated, a missionary of the PIME, Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, who died suddenly on 11 May.
Going through the main stages of Fr. Cenci’s life, the Cardinal Prefect recalled meeting him in 1990, during his diplomatic service at the Apostolic Nuncio in Brasilia: "I was impressed by his vivacity and his pastoral missionary enthusiasm," he stressed. From 2001 he was Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, "office which he held with great diligence and generosity until the Lord called him to himself," said Cardinal Filoni, who continued "He leaves  an emptiness that reminds us of the Christian hope, but also many memories full of affection and gratitude. Yes, because we are grateful to God for having given him to his family, to the Church as a priest, to PIME as its generous member, to evangelization as a missionary, to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples as Undersecretary and for all of us as a close and friendly brother."
In particular, Cardinal Filoni emphasized the " Fr. Cenci’s extraordinary sensus fidei", "which led him to evaluate everything in harmony with the faith of the Church, the Pope, with superiors and with his brothers," and also "an extraordinary sensus Ecclesiae, which made this other characteristic of his life mature, the missionary passion "that drove him to the Amazon, often among the poorest and neediest.
"Today we want to remember Fr. Massimo like this, in the arms of the risen Jesus, that he proclaimed, and gave testimony. We are confident that the Risen Lord called him at his side on the day of his 37th anniversary of his ordination. It is in this vision that we pray today, and thank God for having given him as a, generous and enthusiastic brother."
After Mass the telegram sent by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State was read, in which the Supreme Pontiff spiritually participates to the mourning and recalls "Fr. Cenci’s generous contribution to the evangelizing mission of the Church, first as a missionary in Brazil and then in the service of the Holy See ". The Holy Father "raises fervent prayers to God for his soul, entrusted to the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Missions".
The Superior General of PIME, Fr. Giambattista Zanchi, finally recalled Fr. Cenci’s great commitment to the mission, thanking in particular Cardinal Filoni who presided at the Eucharist, and the Cardinals Crescenzio Sepe and Ivan Dias, who had Fr. Cenci as a collaborator of the Missionary Congregation, in addition to the Archbishops and Bishops who concelebrated the ceremony, along with several dozen priests. In addition to all the staff of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the international Secretariats of the Pontifical Mission Societies, the church was packed with men and women religious and laity, linked to the missionary world that had occasion to meet father Massimo Cenci as a "generous and enthusiastic friend and brother." (SL) (Agenzia Fides 14/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Environmentalist leader killed in Mindanao, the Bishops appeal to &quot;stop violence&quot;</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31553&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Malaybalay (Agenzia Fides) - Murder emergency on the island of Mindanao: Margarito Cabal, an environmentalist leader was killed in the province of Bukidnon, in Mindanao (southern Philippines). This is the third murder within two months after the murder of the tribal leader Jimmy Liguyon (see Fides 09/05/2012) and the Catholic journalist Nestor Libaton (see Fides 10/05/2012). Cabal was shot dead by two unidentified men on the evening of May 9, but the news is only coming to the limelight now, notes to Fides the local NGO "Karapatan", recalling that within two years - since the government of Benigno Aquino Jr is in office - 76 among leaders and human rights activists have been killed in the Philippines. Thirteen were particularly committed to environmental protection, and 9 out of 13 were killed in Mindanao. Margarito Cabal was among the leaders of the "Task Force Save Pulangi" committed to the defense of the Pulangi River, in central Mindanao, for which the project of a second dam for a mega hydroelectric plant (in addition to an existing first River) that would damage the environment and the lives of indigenous peoples living in the area is already ready. Even Fr. Fausto Tentorio, the missionary killed in October 2011 had tried to stop the project.
The growing violence is of great concern to the local Church. His Exc. Mgr. Joe Cabantan, Bishop of Malaybalay, the capital of the province of Bukidnon, and President of the Episcopal Commission for Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Mindanao, launched through Fides a strong appeal to stop the violence: "We condemn and denounce this trail of murders that has bloodied our land, and that continues to violate human dignity. The victims are environmental leaders, human rights activists, missionaries, journalists, people who defend the rights of our people. Our appeal is to put a stop to this senseless violence. Many of the recent and past murders are unsolved and there is a general climate of impunity. We ask the government for more effort to the investigation, for justice, to restore order and peace in Mindanao. We recall the murder of Fr. Tentorio, but also that of Fr. Nerylito Satur, killed in 1991, a crime without perpetrators."
According to Bishop, "the first responsibility belongs to the local authorities: we ask them for clarity, justice, commitment to find solutions. As a local Church, we continue to pray and preach peace and justice. Starting from small local communities, we put all our efforts and our resources to help build a just and fraternal society in Mindanao. " (PA) (Agenzia Fides 14/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>VATICAN - The Pope receives the General Assembly of the PMS and encourages &quot; worldwide campaign, which, through the prayer of the Holy Rosary, accompany the work of evangelization&quot;</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31535&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI received the National directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in audience on Friday, May 11, during their annual Assembly of the Board of Governors, which is being held in Rome. Below is the full text of the Pope’s speech

"Your Eminence, Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate and in Priesthood, dear brothers and sisters!
I extend to all of you my cordial greetings, beginning with Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, whom I thank for his kind words and for the information concerning the activities of the Pontifical Mission Societies. I extend my gratitude to the Secretary Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, to Adjunct Secretary Archbishop Piergiuseppe Vacchelli, President of the Pontifical Mission Societies, to the National directors and all employees, as well as to those who give generous service in the Dicastery. My thoughts and yours in this moment goes to Father Massimo Cenci, Undersecretary, who died suddenly. May the Lord reward him for all the work he accomplished in mission and service of the Holy See.
Today's meeting takes  place during the annual Assembly of the Board of Governors of the Pontifical Mission Societies, to whom is entrusted the missionary cooperation of all the Churches in the world.
Evangelization, which is always urgent, in these times impels the Church to work with ever quickening steps on the path of the world, to bring knowledge of Christ to every man. Only in the Truth, in fact, that is Christ Himself, can humanity discover the meaning of existence, to find salvation and grow in justice and peace. Every man and every people has the right to receive the Gospel of truth. In this perspective, your commitment to celebrate the Year of Faith, to strengthen the commitment to spreading the Kingdom of God and knowledge of the Christian faith has a special meaning. This implies that those who have already met Jesus Christ, "a genuine and new conversion to the Lord, Savior of the world" (Apostolic Letter. Port Fidei, 6). The Christian communities "infact need to hear again the voice of the Bridegroom, who invites them to conversion, spurs them to doing  new things and calls them to engage in the great work of the new evangelization" (John Paul II, Apost. Ap. Postsin . Ecclesia in Europa, 23). Jesus, the Incarnate Word, is always the center of proclamation, the reference point for the same methodology of the mission of evangelization, because He is the human face of God who wants to meet every man and woman to allow them to enter in communion with God, in his love. To walk through the highways of the world to proclaim the Gospel to all peoples of the earth and lead them to the meeting with the Lord, (cf. Apostolic Letter. Port Fidei, 7) requires therefore  that the announcer has a personal and daily relationship with Christ, knows him and loves him deeply.
Today mission needs to renew its trust in the action of God; it needs intense prayer so that His Kingdom will be done on earth as in heaven. W need to invoke light and strength from the Holy Spirit, and commit ourselves with decision and generosity to usher in, in a sense, " a new era of proclamation of the Gospel … not only because, after two millennia, a major part of the human family still does not acknowledge Christ, but also because the situation in which the Church and the world find themselves at the threshold of the new millennium is particularly challenging for religious belief and the moral truths which spring from it" (John Paul II, Ecclesia in Asia, 29). I am therefore very pleased to encourage the project of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Mission Societies in supporting the Year of the Faith. This project provides a worldwide campaign, which, through the prayer of the Holy Rosary, accompany the work of evangelizing the world and for many of the baptized to rediscover and deepen the faith.
Dear friends, the proclamation of the Gospel on no few occasion brings misery and suffering; the growth of the Kingdom of God in the world, in fact, often comes at the cost of the blood of its servants. But, despite the problems and the tragic reality of persecution, the Church is not discouraged, she remains faithful to her Lord's command, the awareness that "tthroughout Christian history, martyrs, that is, "witnesses," have always been numerous and indispensable to the spread of the Gospel "(John Paul II, Redemptoris missio, 45). The message of Christ, past and present, cannot conform to the logic of this world, because it is prophecy and deliverance, it is the seed of a new humanity that is growing, and which only at the end of time will have its full realization.
To you is entrusted in a particular way, the task of supporting the ministers of the Gospel, helping them to "keep the joy of evangelizing, even when we must sow in tears" (Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation. Ap. Evangeli nuntiandi, 80). Your special commitment is to keep alive the missionary vocation of all Christ's disciples, because each of you, according to the charism received from the Holy Spirit, can take part in the universal mission given by the Risen Lord to his Church. Your work of animation and  missionary formation is the soul of the pastoral care, because the missio ad gentes is the paradigm of all the action of the Apostolic Church. Be more visible and concrete expression of the communion of persons and means between the Churches, which, like communicating vessels, live the same vocation and missionary zeal, and in every corner of the world work to sow the Word of Truth to all peoples and cultures. I am sure you will continue to commit yourself, so that the local Churches assume, always more generously, their share of responsibility in the Church's universal mission. May the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Missions accompany you and support all your hard work in promoting awareness and missionary collaboration. With this hope, which I always keep in my prayers, I thank you and all those who cooperate in the cause of evangelization, and I cordially give to each of you my Apostolic Blessing." (SL) (Agenzia Fides 12/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Sat, 12 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>ASIA/SYRIA - Christians expelled from Hama</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31536&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Homs (Agenzia Fides) - A disturbing news reaches Fides from the province of Hama, in the north of Homs: armed men have expelled all Christian families in the village of Al Borj Al Qastal, in the province of Hama. The news, spread by some international agency, is confirmed to Fides by local Church sources. The sources said that armed groups – of the militias of the composite Syrian Liberation Army - have penetrated into the village, driving out all Christian families, taking possession of homes and turning the Church in the area in military headquarters. The village of Al Borj Al Qastal is in the province of Hama, and welcomed about 10 Christian families, now displaced, innocent victims of conflict. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Sat, 12 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>ASIA/SYRIA -  A Catholic priest in the province of Damascus was victim of an attack</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31537&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - Severe attack against father George Louis, priest of the Greek catholic church of San Michele, in the historical center of Qara, in the province of Damascus. As Fides sources in the Greek Catholic Syrian Church report, yesterday, May 11th, at dawn, two masked gunmen entered his home, threatened him with guns, demanding the keys to the premises. They tied him and ordered him to hand over the keys. Because of his hesitation, one of them hit him in the head with a glass bottle, causing him a deep wound that was bleeding profusely, then hit him in the face, breaking his tooth. After stealing sacred vessels and the laptop, the robbers held him in the bathroom and closed his mouth with an adhesive. They then tried to strangle him with a pipe, but after a signal, they escaped, leaving him unconscious but alive. After about two hours father George, with his hands still bound, was able to call one of his parishioners for help. They medicated him with five stitches to his head. In the city religious and civic leaders, Christians and Muslims, have condemned the attack. Opposition leaders are expected tomorrow, May 13, for a meeting with the greek catholic abbot of the City. The aim is to avoid sectarian bias, although the situation in  Qara for 500 Christians, who have always lived in harmony with approximately 25 thousand Sunni citizens, remains difficult.
With the strong armed conflicts and violence in Baba Amr and in the province of Homs, entire families have taken refuge in Qara and have been accommodated in public buildings, gymnasiums, mosques or cultural centers or private places. Among them are many Syrian Liberation Army fighters. The presence of these elements – report local sources to Fides - has soon turned Qara into a violent and unsafe place, with robberies, kidnappings, and a climate of banditry and lawlessness, as shown in the attack against Fr. George Louis.
His Beatitude Gregorios III Laham, Greek Melkite Patriarch of Antioch and of all the East, commenting on the incident re-launched the alarm concerning "banditry and the total lack of security, as well as the indiscriminate violence." Factors that "constitute a danger to everyone, but especially for Christians and other minorities" and generate "very serious psychological terror in our population." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Sat, 12 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>AMERICA/HONDURAS - Appeal of the Church for the journalist kidnapped: 28 journalists murdered since 2003</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31538&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Tegucigalpa (Agenzia Fides) - The Honduran Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, and of the Association dei Media of the Central American country, have strongly condemned the kidnapping of the journalist Alfredo Villatoro and asked the kidnappers to have respect for his life. Villatoro, 47, was abducted by unknown people on Wednesday morning, May 9, on his way to the radio station HRN, where he had been working for twenty years. So far, the police said they have no clues about the crime.
"We condemn the violence and ask God to touch the hearts of the kidnappers to get them back on the path of the Lord, the path of justice, and to respect Villatoro’s life," said Cardinal Rodriguez speaking to Radio HRN. He added that all the parishes of Honduras "are united in a single prayer to God for the life of this operator of communication, and so that his kidnappers do not stain our country with more blood." According to information gathered by Fides, the Honduran Human Rights Commission, said that in Honduras since 2003, 28 journalists have been murdered, and 22 of these cases are still unsolved. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 12/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Sat, 12 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>ASIA/AFGHANISTAN - The &quot;Party of Solidarity&quot; at risk, accused by &quot;warlords&quot;</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31539&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Kabul (Agenzia Fides) – It is an "uncomfortable" party and therefore in danger of disappearing, accused and delegitimized by "warlords" and by criminals. The Democratic Party of Afghanistan "Hambastagi" ("Party of Solidarity"), an expression of civil society movements, women, youth, lawyers, last April 30 organized an event, on the twentieth anniversary of the seizure of power of Kabul by militia fundamentalists, to demand justice for the civilian victims and the deposition of "warlords" who sit in the Afghan Parliament. Now those same criminals intend to take from the party every  political legitimacy, canceling its legal status, making it illegal and asking its members to be put on trial for insulting "jihad".
The leaders of the Party of Solidarity have officially been called in the Senate to answer charges, and the state TV has already announced that the registration of the Party was canceled, although the Hambastagi has not yet received any official notification.
In past days, according to a note on behalf of the Party, which Fides received, the leaders have received threats over the phone and by e-mail by warlords. There are clear signs of intimidation, explain sources of Fides, showing that they are still far from political freedom and freedom of expression in Afghanistan.
The Party, in the note sent to Fides, asks for the support of Afghan citizens who care about democracy, in the country and abroad. Rasikh, a representative of Hambastagi, asks all democratic institutions, associations, supporters, human rights activists, to send letters of protest to both Houses of the Afghan Parliament, to the President, the Ministry of Justice. The Hambastagi party represents a hope for a democratic future and respectful of individual rights and freedoms in Afghanistan. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Sat, 12 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>ASIA/INDIA - A former persecutor of Christians and Hindus in Orissa converts and becomes a preacher of the Gospel</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31540&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Bhubaneswar (Agenzia Fides) - The story recalls that of St. Paul: Niladri Kanhar, leader of a Hindu village in Orissa, known for his hatred towards Christians and who once persecuted and killed them, has converted to Christianity and, thanks to the testimony and evangelization, is helping the growth of the local Christian community. As Fides sources in the Christian community in Orissa report, Niladri Kanhar converted himself after the healing of his eldest daughter, all the doctors and witch doctors said she would die. The evangelical Pastor Pabitra Kata, led to a divine inspiration to the village, prayed to God for the girl who was "healed in Jesus' name." Since then Niladri Kanhar’s family converted to Christianity, began to pray and read the Bible. The former Hindu leader had to deal with persecutions, as the inhabitants of his village beat him up, trying to "bring him back to the Hindu faith", but Kanhar did not give in. Indeed, he continued to pray, testify and preach the Gospel of Christ. The proclamation cost him even accusations of "conversions": Kata and Kanhar are currently in prison on false charges of proselytizing. The same that many times in the past, Niladri Kanhar had accused innocent Christians of. "To proclaim Christianity in some areas of the state of Orissa, crossed by radical Hindu movements, means persecution and violence," says a Fides source. In the state there is a high rate of anti-Christian violence: in 2008 there were mass killings of Christians in Kandhamal district. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Sat, 12 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>VATICAN - The Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples ordains in St. Peter’s: 4 priests and 17 deacons of the Urban College from Asia, Africa, America and Oceania</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31541&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, will preside this afternoon at 3pm, in the Vatican Basilica, a Mass with the ordinations of Priests and Deacons of 21 students of the Pontifical Urban College "de Propaganda Fide". Of the 4 newly priests, 3 are from China and one from Cameroon. The 17 deacons: 5 from Africa (Burundi; Ghana, Mali, Uganda); 10 from Asia (China, Korea, Vietnam); 1 from America (Haiti), 1 from Oceania (Papua New Guinea). (SL) (Agenzia Fides 12/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Sat, 12 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>AMERICA/CHILE - Three hundred years of the &quot;Fiesta de los Indios&quot; in honor of St. Michael the Archangel</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31542&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Puerto Montt (Agenzia Fides) - The Apostolic Nuncio in Chile, Archbishop Ivo Scapolo, along with the Archbishop of Puerto Montt, His Exc. Mgr. Cristián Caro, presided the celebration of 300 years of the "Fiesta de los Indios". They came to the Calbuco island on a boat of the Navy to celebrate the feast in honor of St. Michael the Archangel, patron saint of the island. There was a large crowd in Calbuco, led by the priest and the mayor, waiting for them. The solemn Eucharist was followed by the procession with the Blessed Sacrament, then a moment of celebration during which local authorities gave a "poncho" to the Nuncio, in gratitude for his presence. According to the note from the Chilean Episcopal Conference to Fides, the Apostolic Nuncio, in the homily of the Mass, said inter alia that "the sword of St. Michael the Archangel must remember the weapons with which the Christian must always struggle: prayer, unity and love."
The "Fiesta de los Indios Caciques", well known, was born in 1712, when the indigenous of the place besieged the Spaniards of Calbuco and stole the image of St. Michael the Archangel, hiding it for 3 months in a secure place on the island of Huapi Abtao. The Jesuits asked the indigenous to return the sacred image, and they demanded in exchange for better treatment and the right to organize the party in Calbuco each year, with the celebration of a novena and a big party. The indigenous in fact much admired San Michele for the beauty of the statue and the respect which figure commanded. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 12/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Sat, 12 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>VATICAN -  The funeral of Father Massimo Cenci, Undersecretary of the CEP will be held on Monday: &quot;an enthusiastic missionary of the mission&quot;</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31543&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – On Monday, May 14, at 11 a.m, in the parish of "Regina Pacis" in Monteverde (Rome), the funeral of Father Massimo Cenci, of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (CEP) will be celebrated, who died suddenly in the early hours of yesterday, May 11.
"He was an enthusiastic missionary of the mission," said Cardinal Fernando Filoni Cardinal, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, presented to the Holy Father Benedict XVI, the participants at the annual Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies, being held in Rome, who yesterday were received in audience. "He would have gladly joined us - the Cardinal said - if the Lord had not wanted to call him today." The Pontiff, in his speech, said: " My thoughts and yours in this moment goes to Father Massimo Cenci, Undersecretary, who died suddenly. May the Lord reward him for all the work he accomplished in mission and service of the Holy See "
Father Massimo Cenci was born on February 7, 1944 in Desio. He moved to France with his family until 1958. He joined the PIME in 1964, was ordained in 1975 and worked until 1978 at the missionary centre in Milan as vocational aniamator. In 1979 he began a mission in Brazil, first as assistant and from 1983 as a pastor, in Manaus. From 1981 to 1986 he taught at the Higher Institute of Philosophy, theology and pastoral care in Manaus. In 1983 he was appointed Rector of the seminary in Manaus and in 1986 responsible for the parish Meninho Jesus de Praga. With Father Giuliano Frigeni, today Bishop of Parintins, he had worked in the street pastoral care, among migrants from the north-east of Brazil. In 1996 he became secretary of the Apostolic Nuncio in Brazil. He returned to Italy in 2000, he was the spiritual father of the Urban College of Propaganda Fide. In 2001 he was appointed Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 12/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Sat, 12 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>AFRICA/EGYPT - &quot;The Church in Egypt is in a phase of discernment&quot; says the National Director of the PMS</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31525&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Rome (Agenzia Fides) - "The Church in Egypt is in a phase of discernment" says to Fides Fr. Nabil Fayez Antoun, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Egypt who is in Rome for the General Assembly of the PMS. "The Egyptian society is moving and for the Church now is the time to figure out whether to give priority to the service to the small Christian community, or open up to service for the entire Egyptian people," explains Fr. Antoun.
"There are, however, on our behalf, signs of greater openness. For example, we are forming young people to enter the world of politics, so that they are at the service of all Egyptians. In my small way I am promoting encounters between young Christians and young Muslims. In Egypt the lack of places of meeting and dialogue between people of different faiths to discuss common problems is felt," said the Director of the Egyptian PMS.
Among the common problems, Fr. Antoun highlights those arising from the secular culture that financial globalization has imposed on the world. "Globalization is a tsunami that sweeps away everyone" said Fr. Antoun. "Even in Egypt we feel the effects of secularization, I think of the families who fall apart, and the scourge of abortion, unspoken, but present."
"The Islamic fundamentalists are a reaction to this state of things: they claim to create a wall to shield the society from the culture brought by globalization. They seem to attack but they are actually in a position of defense" concludes Fr. Antoun. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>ASIA/HONG KONG - A survey reveals the importance of the formation of faith for an integral growth of the young</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31526&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - The formation of the Christian faith is essential for an integral growth of young people today: is the result of a survey conducted by "Hong Kong Family Movement" in collaboration with the Group of Family Service of Caritas Hong Kong, conducted from November 2011 to March 2012, including 2,220 students from 19 Catholic schools. According to reports from the Kong Ko Bao (Chinese version of the diocesan bulletin), Fr. Giovanni Giampietro, PIME, who is the founder and spiritual director of the movement, has launched an appeal to Catholic parents in order to provide the utmost attention to the Christian formation of children. According to the survey, "the Catholic boys who pray often, attend Mass or the oratory, read the Bible, are generally good in their study and, in general, in life", because "faith helped them to form healthy values." One of the promoters of the survey pointed out the importance of having a religious education, not necessarily Catholic, for children and young people of today who will be tomorrow's adults.
The "Hong Kong Family Movement" founded by Fr. Giampietro in 1994, International Year of the Family, responds to the challenges that today's Catholic family in Hong Kong has to face to build communion and harmony based on faith. Promoted and supported by Caritas Hong Kong and by the Office of the formation of the Laity of the Diocese, the movement is divided into small groups of 3 to 5 Catholic families, to live their faith, strengthen the relationship between parents and children, build a healthy Christian family within contemporary society. Today there are 29 groups in Hong Kong (with 169 families) in 18 parishes. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 10/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>AMERICA/HAITI - After more than 2 years since the earthquake, seminarians still study in tents</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31527&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Rome (Agenzia Fides) - For Father Clark de la Cruz, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Haiti, the biggest concern right now is caused by the Seminary, because after the earthquake, in January 2010, "the seminarians are still in tents. "Father de la Cruz, who is attending the Annual General Meeting of the PMS, being held in Rome, said to Fides that "the key word is 'still', because all over the world one cannot understand what it means to study in tents, live in tents, with all the problems due to climate and the lack of essential things in order to study or implement a formation program." "Many have helped us - continues the priest - but now there are is no more aid, many things are lacking, and it is really surprising to see how seminarians are able to move forward in their formation."
Among the organizations that bring hope to the Christian people of Haiti, so sorely tried, Father Clark de la Cruz mentions "the commitment of the Pontifical Society of Missionary Childhood, which are numerous in almost every parish, and are preparing next year’s National Congress of Missionary Childhood with much enthusiasm, already more than a thousand children have registered, a great event for the Church in Haiti."
Father Clark also recalls the material produced for the preparation of World Mission Day, which this year has the slogan "Children, all united to make the earth a party" (Enfants, unissons-nous pour faire de la terre une fete!). (CE) (Agenzia Fides 10/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>ASIA/PHILIPPINES - A Catholic journalist killed in Mindanao, committed to a &quot;culture of life&quot;</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31528&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Davao City (Agenzia Fides) - His final broadcasts were devoted to the defense of the "culture of life", a topic that fascinates Philippine politics and society: Nestor Libaton, a 40-year-old Catholic journalist engaged in "DXHM Radio" Catholic station in the town of Mati, near Davao, on the island of Mindanao, was killed on May 8 by three armed gunmen. Libaton is the third journalist killed in the Philippines in the past 15 days; the number rises to 55 media workers killed in the last 10 years, 151 since 1986 to present. The umpteenth murder which witnesses the climate of intimidation and violence on the island of Mindanao, making victims among human rights activists, journalists, missionaries: yesterday Fides gave the news of an indigenous leader and activist killed in the province of Bukidnon, always in Mindanao, where last year the PIME missionary, Father Fausto Tentorio was killed (see Fides 09/05/2012).
The Catholic Church is upset and Archbishop Jose Palma, President of the Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, speaking on Radio Veritas, condemned the incident and urged the authorities to solve the case as soon as possible. Fr. Francis Lucas, Executive Secretary of the "Commission for Social Communications" of the Conference of Catholic Bishops, explains to Fides: "We are shocked and saddened by the murder of Libaton. They killed an honest person, an innocent man, married and father of 4 children. We condemn the violence and demand justice. 'Radio DXHM' Mati, also called 'Radio of Truth', is part of the radio circuit sponsored by the Church. It is a broadcasting service to the people, very attentive to the culture of life and development issues in Mindanao. In recent weeks even Libaton had talked a lot about these values. Recently, another Catholic radio station in the north of Manila was destroyed by vandals. These gestures intend to intimidate and silence the voices that defend values like truth, justice, human rights. But the Church in the Philippines will continue to proclaim the Gospel and will not be silenced." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>EUROPE/ITALY - Jesuits: the highest presence is confirmed in South Asia</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31529&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Rome (Agenzia Fides) - According to information sent to Fides from the General Curia of the Society of Jesus, to 1 January 2012 the total number of Jesuits was 17,637 units, with an overall decrease of 296 members compared to the previous year, confirming that there has been a steady decrease in recent years, although the latter is less marked.
The Jesuits today include 12,526 priests, 1,470 brothers and 2,896 scholastics and 745 novices. The scholastics have increased by (+ 34) in the last year, while priests have decreased (- 203), brothers (- 63) and novices (- 64).
Grouped into 84 Provinces, 5 independent Regions and 10 dependent Regions, the Jesuits are present to a greater extent in South Asia, with 4,036 members, followed by the U.S. province (2547), Southern Europe (2,119), and Central and East Europe (1681), Asia-Pacific (1,649), Western Europe (1603), Africa (1491), Southern Latin America (1265) and Northern Latin America (1246). (SL) (Agenzia Fides 10/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>ASIA/TURKEY - Distorted translation of the Gospel, to make it &quot;close to Muslims&quot;-Christians protest</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31530&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Istanbul (Agenzia Fides) - A distorted translation of the Gospel and not authorized by the Christian Churches has created a public protest on behalf of Christians in Turkey. In a statement sent to Fides, the "Alliance of Protestant Churches" of Turkey, part of the "World Evangelical Alliance," condemns "the misleading translation" of a turkish edition of the Gospel of Matthew, published at the end of 2011. The text is full of errors concerning " very important and fundamental words of the New Testament," which make the translation "wrong and extremely negative." The Churches underline the urgent need to change these terms, defining the Gospel spread "unacceptable and unusable."
What it refers to is the removal of words such as "Father" and "Son of God" replaced by "God" and "representative of God." The verse from Matthew 28:19 that says "baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit", became for example "purifying them with water, in the name of Allah, of His Messiah and His Holy Spirit."
Christian leaders say they pointed out these inconsistencies before publication, edited by three American Christian organizations ("Wycliffe Bible Translators", "Summer Institute of Linguistics"-SIL and "Frontiers"), whose purpose was to produce a Bible " close to Muslim sensibilities ". To avoid that Turkish speaking people, Christian or non-Christian, were exposed to wrong teachings, the Churches had asked the translating committee to change things that "undermine Christian theology," but it did not happen.
"We want the Holy Scripture to be read and understood by all sectors of society. The translations produced by the Bible Society in the first half of the twentieth century are excellent, faithful to the history of Christian theology, but also excellent for people who read the Bible to understand the expressions of Christian faith, " notes the statement sent to Fides.
The Alliance of Protestant Churches in Turkey represents the majority of Protestant Churches in the country. In 2011 it published a Report on violations of the rights of Christians in Turkey, which are less than 0.1% of the population of 72 million inhabitants. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Archbishop of Seoul’s resignation and appointment of Successor</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31531&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI on May 10, 2012 accepted the resignation from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Seoul in Korea, by Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk, in accordance with canon. 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law. The Holy Father appointed  Andrew Bishop Yeom Soo jung, until now titular Bishop of Tibiuca, Auxiliary and Vicar General of the same archdiocese as Archbishop of Seoul (Korea).
His Exc. Mgr. Andrew Yeom Soo jung was born on December 5, 1943 in Ansong, Diocese of Suwon, in a Catholic family for 5 generations. He studied in his country. He was ordained a priest on December 8, 1970 in Seoul. After ordination, he held the following positions: Vice-rector in two separate locations (1971-1973); Professor and Dean of Songshin High School (Minor Seminary) (1973-1977); Pastor in three different locations (1977-1987 ); Attorney of the Major Seminary in Seoul (1987-1992); Chancellor of the archdiocesan Curia (1992-1998); Pastor in Mok-dong and Foraneo Vicar (1998-2001); member of the council of Priests. On 12 December 2001 he was elected titular Bishop of Tibiuca and Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Seoul. He received his Episcopal ordination on January 25, 2002. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 10/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>AFRICA/CONGO DR - The emergence of a new rebel movement accentuates the instability in Kivu</title>
            <link>http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=31532&amp;lan=eng</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - In North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of  Congo, the situation is still precarious for the presence of hundreds of military deserters who have remained loyal to Bosco Ntaganda, former Chief of Staff of the CNDP (National Congress for the Defence of the People), a rebel movement that has formally signed a peace deal with Kinshasa but in reality the action to destabilize this part of the Country continues.
According to an analysis sent to Fides by " Peace Network for Congo ", a group of military deserters loyal to General Bosco Ntaganda has formed a new rebel movement, called M23, in reference to the peace agreement signed on March 23, 2009 , an agreement that had allowed the rebels of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) to integrate the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC). The military wing of this new movement is the Congolese National Army/ CNDP (ANC/CNDP). Its  boss is Colonel Sultani Makenga, who deserted on May 4.
According to its founders, the objective of the M23 movement is to reinforce the peace agreement signed in 2009 between the Congolese government and he CNDP. According to them, the peace agreement negotiated with the government on March 23, 2009, was not well implemented, therefore, in a statement on May 6, they argue that it is necessary to "revitalize the application."
Some members of civil society in North Kivu believe that the new rebel movement was created by Ntaganda and his closest collaborators, with the objective to reposition itself on the political scene, in a time when the institutions that have arisen since the last elections are shaping up .
According to the opinion of many observers, General Bosco Ntaganda, prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity, is preparing a new scenario that could allow him to go hard on the Congolese political limelight.
With the creation of this movement, General Bosco Ntaganda probably wants to show that he is still an important person with whom the Congolese government must negotiate and cooperate. Therefore the Congolese authorities are forced not to hand him to the ICC.
The calculations of the number two of the former CNDP are also strengthened by the bonds which he has kept for several years with many political and military Congolese. Bosco Ntaganda and his many collaborators have become powerful because they are also involved in the illegal exploitation of mineral wealth in eastern DRC. It is this illegal trade in minerals that feeds the various armed groups and warlords who lay down the law in the East. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/5/2012)]]></description>
            <author>Fides Service</author>
            <pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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