Vatican

• 1 February 2006
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI issues Message for Lent on the theme of development: “In the face of the terrible challenge of poverty afflicting so much of the world’s population, indifference and self-centred isolation stand in stark contrast to the “gaze” of Christ.” Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Jesus, at the sight of the crowds, was moved with pity” (Mt 9:36) is the theme of Pope Benedict XVI’s first message for Lent in which he focuses on the question of development. Here ...
• 1 February 2006
  VATICAN - “We are not at the mercy of dark forces, nor are we alone with our freedom; rather we are entrusted to the action of the powerful and loving Lord”: the pope says a Pope Benedict’s weekly audience Vatican City (Fides Service) - In his teaching at the general audience in the Paul VI Hall this morning the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI reflected on Psalm 144 (Vespers Friday week 4) in which, he said, the Lord is exa ...
• 30 January 2006
  VATICAN - Benedict XVI at the midday Angelus prayer recalls “the importance of consecrated life as expression and school of charity” and on World Leprosy Day he encourages “missionaries, healthcare workers and volunteers working on this frontier of service to humanity” Vatican City (Fides Service) - The importance of consecrated life “expression and school of charity” was the principle theme of Pope Benedict XVI’s reflection before the recitation of the midday Angelus prayer on S ...
• 28 January 2006
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict receives Bishops of Congo Kinshasa: “Church of God in the Democratic Republic of Congo, never lose the joy of believing and sharing the Gospel of Christ our Saviour! Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On Friday 27 January Pope Benedict XVI received a group of Catholic Bishops from Democratic Congo. In his address the Pope said “In recent years your country has experienced bloody confli ...
• 27 January 2006
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI’s first Encyclical : comment by the founder of S. Egidio Community Prof. Andrea Riccardi Rome (Fides Service) - Modern language has hackneyed many words, include the word “love”. This is a serious impoverishment of the vocabulary of human experience. Yet Benedict XVI with love’s (sage) ingenuity chose ...
• 27 January 2006
  The Pope’s Missionary Prayer Intention for February 2006: For lay Catholics in mission lands: may they serve their country with ever greater commitment in every field including politics and social assistance Comment by Archbishop Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk Archbishop of Seoul Rome ( Fides Service ) - The Church in mission lands is faced with a double challenge, namely to proclaim the Gospel to over two thirds of the world' s six billion people who live without yet knowing or recognising Jesus ...
• 26 January 2006
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical “Deus Caritas est” central for missionary activity - brief reflection by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples Vatican City (Fides Service) - The missionary world has received new, illuminating and essential guidance for its presence in so many different places and contexts. With his first Encyclical the Holy Father Pope Benedict ...
• 26 January 2006
  VATICAN - “Unity is our common mission; it is the condition for the light of Christ to spread ever more effectively to every corner of the earth and for men and women to convert their hearts and be saved”: Pope Benedict XVI’s homily at the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Deus caritas est (1 Jn 4,8.16), God is love. Upon this solid rock rests the whole faith of the Church. And in a special way it is the basis of patient striving for full communion among a ...
• 25 January 2006
  VATICAN - Weekly teaching of Pope Benedict XVI: psalm 143: blessed the people « whose God is the Lord », “a people who does not renounce its faith and spiritual and moral values” Vatican City (Fides Service) - During his weekly audience this morning in the Paul VI Hall, Pope Benedict XVI illustrated the second part of Psalm 143 (the King’s Prayer - Vespers Thursday week 4. “We have the entry ...
• 25 January 2006
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict publishes first Encyclical “Deus Caritas est” on Christian love:addressed to the bishops, priests and deacons, men and women relgious and all the faithful Vatican City (Fides Service) - In the John Paul II Hall of the Holy See Press Office this morning at midday there was the official presentation of the first encyclical written by Pope Benedict XVI "Deus Caritas est" date ...
• 25 January 2006
  VATICAN - Benedict XVI’s first encyclical: a comment by Rev Nicola Bux, docent at Puglia Philosophy Faculty. vice director of the Bari Ecumenical Institute “Love’s reasoning” Vatican City (Fides Service) - Christ said to his disciples: unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. In what does this surpassing consist? In ...
• 25 January 2006
  VATICAN - “God himself comes to fill our eros with his agape” : A reflection on Pope Benedict XVI’s first Encyclical, Mgr Massimo Camisasca founder and superior general of the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo Vatican City (Fides Service) - What is surprising is not that the first Encyclical written by Pope Benedict XVI is about charity and love. Love is the name of God as St John writes in his letter and as the encyclical say ...
• 24 January 2006
  VATICAN - The Media: A Network for Communication, Communion and Cooperation -Pope Benedict XVI's Message for the World Day of Social Communications 2006 Vatican City (Fides Service) - “In the wake of the fortieth-anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, I am happy to recall its Decree on the Means of Social Communication, Inter Mirifica, whi ...
• 23 January 2006
  VATICAN - Solemn opening of celebrations for 5th centenary of the founding of the Pontifical Swiss Guards. Cardinal Sodano tells Swiss Guards and families at special mass in Sistine Chapel: “I encourage you to love the Church of Christ ever more deeply” Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Today is the official start of celebrations to mark the 5th centenary of the presence in the Vatican of the Swiss Guards. On 22 January 1506, the first 150 Swiss soldiers passed Piazza d ...
• 23 January 2006
  VATICAN - Angelus of Benedict XVI during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: “We know not how, or when, because it is not given to us to know, but we can be sure that one day we will be “one” as Jesus and the Father are united in the Holy Spirit”. Appeal for peace in Côte d'Ivoire. Vatican City (Fides Service) - Half way through the annual "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity ", 18 to 25 January, on Sunday 22 January Pope Benedict XVI devoted his midday Angelus reflection to the theme of ecumenism. ...