News

• 23 April 2004
  AFRICA - Making a dream come true for African children: “Malaria Free Future”, the theme of Africa Malaria Day Rome (Fides Service) - Four years ago on 25 April 2000 African leaders from 44 malaria-endemic countries met in Abuja, in Nigeria, for the first African Summit on Malaria. At the end of the Summit they signed the histori ...
• 22 April 2004
  VATICAN - The Pope’s Wednesday audience teaching: “Communion with God is the source of serenity, joy, peace, it is like entering an oasis of light and love” Vatican City (Fides Service) - Pope John Paul II took Psalm 26, “Trust in God in times of danger” (Vespers Wednesday week 1), as the subject of his teaching at the general Wednesday audience 21 April held in St Peter ...
• 22 April 2004
  AMERICA/MEXICO - Members of parliament from almost 140 countries promise to protect children: “Handbook for Parliamentarians on Child Protection” presented at 110th International Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union IPU. Mexico City (Fides Service) - During the 110th International Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union IPU, in Mexico City 18-23 April, UNICEF Ambassador Jessica Lange launched a “Handbook for Parliamentarians on Child ...
• 22 April 2004
  AFRICA/TANZANIA - A “bank” to help eliminate poverty and AIDS by giving economic assistance and opportunities to poor women in outlying districts of Dar es Salaaam Roma (Agenzia Fides) - HIV/AIDS increases poverty and poverty spreads AIDS. The is noted also in Tanzania, one of 21 developing countries where the development rate dropped between 1990 and 2001. AIDS effects every area ...
• 22 April 2004
  AFRICA/BURUNDI - Last resistant rebel group says it is ready to talk about peace. Thousands take part in Peace Initiatives throughout the country organised by local Catholic Action Bujumbura (Fides Service)- “We are waiting to see if the words are followed by deeds. Too often in the recent past announcements have been made but nothing has happened” a local Church source in Burundi told Fides af ...
• 20 April 2004
  VATICAN - Promulgated 15 Decrees: Founder of Dehonian Missionaries among those to be beatified; recognised also the martyrdom of 7 priests and a nun killed during the Spanish civil war and the heroic virtues of a Sister who spent 30 years caring for lepers and a 10 year old girl who offered her suffering for the Church’s missionary work . Vatican City (Fides Service) - In the presence of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, on 19 April in the Sala Clementina in the Vatican, Decrees regarding miracles, martyrdom and heroic virtues of 15 Servants of God were ...
• 20 April 2004
  EUROPA/AUSTRIA - A future for child soldiers in Northern Uganda: “Missio Austria” launches a signature campaign for international commitment to reach peace after 18 years of civil war Vienna (Fides Service) - An urgent appeal to the Austrian government and to Austrian members of the European parliament to press at the international level for commitment to help the suffering people of northern Uganda, ...
• 20 April 2004
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Caritas network offers emergency assistance following worst cyclones in 20 years with a project costing 522,000 Euro Antananarivo (Fides Service) - The worst humanitarian tragedy in Madagascar in 20 years taking hundred of lives, affecting 774,000 people, 30,000 of whom in desperate need of food and emergency medical-care; 216,000 home ...
• 20 April 2004
  EUROPE/ITALY - Intercultural Dialogue a tool for peace: 14th African Film Festival, including films from Asia and Latin America. Fides meets one of the founders Annamaria Gallone Rome (Fides Service) - From 22 to 28 March the 14th African Film Festival was held in Milan. This year’s edition included a “Window on the World competition of films from Africa but also Asia and Latin America. A ...
• 20 April 2004
  ASIA/IRAQ - Christians in Mosul send humanitarian aid to Muslims in besieged city of Falluja Baghdad (Fides Service)- “We want to show that we are one with all Iraqis whatever their beliefs, and in joy and in sorrow ” Catholic priest Father Nizar Semaan, in Mosul diocese told Fides explaining a new humanita ...
• 19 April 2004
  VATICAN - At the Sunday Regina Cæli prayer the Pope says: “Jesus is our peace, because he is the perfect manifestation of Divine Mercy” - Appeal for the peoples of the Holy Land and Iraq: “I am especially close in thought and prayer to the families who fear for the safety of their loved ones, particularly those taken hostage”. Vatican City (Fides Service) - Peace, a gift of the Risen Christ, Divine Mercy Sunday, the serious situation in the Holy Land and in Iraq, and an appeal for the release of all hostages, were the main contents of Pope Joh ...
• 19 April 2004
  EUROPE/ITALY “New wine in new skins” : Xaverian Missionaries in Italy open 12th regional Chapter Ravenna (Fides Service) - At 5pm on Sunday 18 April in the St Peter in Chains House in Ravenna, 31 delegates of Italian Xaverian missionaries gathered in church to pray and to invoke the Holy Spirit for the 12th Chapter ...
• 19 April 2004
  AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - Spokesman of Southern African Bishops’ Conference, Father Efrem Tresoldi, comments for Fides election results in South Africa Johannesburg (Fides Service)- “The South African electorate gave great credit of confidence to the National African Congress (NAC), which now bears the great responsibility of given trust” spokesman of Southern Afric ...
• 19 April 2004
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - Positive results from meeting between Prime Minister and Opposition. Agreement on freedom of press, security for Party leaders and party headquarters, freedom of assembly and demonstration Abidjan (Fides Service)- “This is a positive result which inspires cautious optimism”. Local Church sources voiced to Fides satisfaction for the outcome of talks on 17 April between Prime Minister Seydou Diarra and 7 ...
• 19 April 2004
  AMERICA/GUATEMALA - Meeting of Central America missionary forces after CAM 2: what pastoral strategies to implement a Missionary plan ad gentes in Central America? Guatemala City (Fides Service) - To follow up the Mission ad gentes plan presented to the Second American Mission Congress (CAM 2) last November, the Church in Central America in front line for mission is meeting 19 to ...