News

• 13 September 2004
  ASIA/HONG KONG - Legislative Council elections - Democrats make small step forward, parties in favour of tighter bonds with Mainland China win people’s preference Hong Kong (Fides Service) - Contrary to expectations and surveys which predicted a large majority of votes in their favour in the September 12 elections in Hong Kong, pro-democracy parties gained only 3 seats more then t ...
• 13 September 2004
  OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA - Building a culture of dialogue, peace and reconciliation in south East Asia: appeal launched by Caritas Australia after the bomb blast in front of the Australian embassy in Jakarta Canberra (Fides Service) - The tragic bombing of the Australian embassy in a Jakarta “reminds us of how close the issue of terror is to our shores and emphasises our need for peace and reconciliation”: according to a ...
• 13 September 2004
  AMERICA/BRAZIL - 1st National Seminar on profile of Popular Missions, preferred means of achieving National Evangelisation Programme launched by the Catholic Church in Brazil Brasilia (Fides Service) - To offer a concrete contribution to the National Evangelisation Programme launched by the Church in Brazil with the theme “We want to see Jesus - the Way, the Truth and the Life”, especiall ...
• 13 September 2004
  AFRICA/BURUNDI - Political crisis in Burundi over Constitutional changes Bujumbura (Fides Service)- “The crisis is political and so far there are no signs of a military intervention” local sources in Bujumbura, capital of Burundi, told Fides. The crisis broke during a Cabinet Meeting on S ...
• 13 September 2004
  AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - The role of the international community is fundamental to prevent conflict in Kivu from spreading” local sources in eastern Congo tell Fides Kinshasa (Fides Service)- “The situation is shaky but there are signs of hope particularly the fact that the international community appears to be taking more care to verify affirmations made by the different parties i ...
• 13 September 2004
  AFRICA/RWANDA - “National reconciliation is a challenge for all Rwandans and the Church has its own contribution to offer” President of the Rwandan Bishops’ Conference tells Fides Rome (Fides Service)- “National reconciliation is still a challenge which concerns everyone, including the Church, society and politics” Bishop Alexis Habiyambere, S.I., of Nyundo, President of the Bishops’ Confere ...
• 11 September 2004
  VATICAN - Chinese priests and lay persons arrested: the Holy See denounces “serious violation of freedom of religion, fundamental human right” Vatican City (Fides Service) - On Saturday 11 September the Holy See announced that during the month of August the Chinese authorities arrested several members of the local Catholic clergy and laity: “this is a serious ...
• 11 September 2004
  AMERICA/CHILE - Creeping drug trafficking threatens Chile’s development: 'Salmon Connection' threatens Europe. Vicar Apostolic in Patagonia informs Fides Rome (Fides Service). “Chile has become a major transit point for cocaine destined for Europe. The problem, little known in the rest of the world, is the cause of growing concern.”. This alarming statement was made b ...
• 11 September 2004
  ASIA/INDIA - Marian devotion flourishes in India and Pakistan; thousands flock to take part in novenas and pilgrimages, attended with respect and devotion by Hindus and Muslims New Delhi (Fides Service) - Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is deeply rooted among the Catholics of India and Pakistan: prayer vigils, regular recitation of the rosary and pilgrimages to the many Marian shrines are ...
• 11 September 2004
  OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA - Mission via the web: Catholics in Brisbane archdiocese promote prayer chain to support evangelisation Brisbane (Fides Service) - The mission of spreading the Gospel needs the support of silent and constant prayer. With this conviction and to encourage more people to pray for missionary work, Catholics in Brisbane archdio ...
• 11 September 2004
  EUROPE/ITALY - “AIDS is a problem not only in Africa and in the third world, Italy is top of the list for the number of HIV+ persons in western European countries”. European Union Report: comment by general co-ordinator of the “Progetto Rainbow” started by the John XXIII Community opened by Rev. Oreste Benzi. Rome (Fides Service) - In view of a Conference in Vilnius, in Lithuania, 16 and 17 September, the European Commission has issued a report in which AIDS emerges as a serious problem. Fides spoke with Elisabetta Garuti, ge ...
• 10 September 2004
  EUROPE/ITALY - Stem cells: Day of Reflection for Bishops at Regina Apostolorum Pontifical College in di Rome Rome (Fides Service) - Yesterday Bishops in Rome were invited to a day of reflection organised by the Bio-Ethics Faculty of the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical College, on the subject “Stem Cells: a new source of therapy ...
• 10 September 2004
  EUROPE/ITALY - Andrea Riccardi, founder of the S. Egidio community reports on the 18th International Meeting Religions and Culture, the courage of a new humanism, held in Milan 5-7 September. Rome (Fides Service) - “Men and women of different religions came together to show they would not be dominated by fear. This did not mean kind thoughts, abstract ideas, detachment from reality. It was a looking reality ...
• 10 September 2004
  VATICAN - Study Seminar for newly appointed Bishops - Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, Secretary of State Substitute for General Affairs, illustrates the bishop’s relations with the Curia and the Bishops’ Conferences Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Bishop’s relations with the Curia and Bishops’ Conferences was the subject of a talk given today by Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, the Holy Father’s Secretary of State Substitute for ...
• 10 September 2004
  VATICAN - “A unique opportunity for getting to know one another as brothers”: Study Seminar for newly appointed Bishops of mission territories rounds the mark Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Study Seminar organised for newly appointed Bishops of mission territories by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples is almost half way through its work. It opened on Sunday ...