News

• 2 April 2004
  AMERICA/GUATEMALA - CAM 2 Conclusions officially handed over to diocesan delegates for implementation in ordinary pastoral care: mission must be the basis of diocesan and parish pastoral plans Guatemala (Fides Service) - The Conclusions of the Second American Mission Congress CAM2 were officially handed over to delegates from every diocese in Guatemala and representatives of church groups, movements and instit ...
• 2 April 2004
  ASIA/AFGHANISTAN - Three million refugees repatriated in two years: returnees assisted by UN High Commission for Refugees and Christians agencies, particularly Jesuits and Salesians Berlin (Agenzia Fides) - This year alone, more than 65,000 Afghan refugees have gone home from Iran and Pakistan to rebuild their war-torn homeland. UN refugee agency chief Ruud Lubbers has called for improved security a ...
• 2 April 2004
  ASIA/INDONESIA - Catholic Maternity Hospital in Ternate, Moluccas, reopens: Christians and Muslims welcome this sign of hope and confidence Jakarta (Fides Service) - The Catholic Maternity Hospital on the small Island of Ternate, in the Moluccas, vitally important for the local people who are Christians and Muslims, has been reopened. The hospital, which is ...
• 2 April 2004
  AMERICA/VENEZUELA - “To protect life is a duty for everyone ”: Catholic Bishops of Venezuela launch appeal in the face of a national crisis Caracas (Fides Service) - Profound concern for the serious situation which threatens to destroy peace in Venezuela was expressed by the Conference of Venezuelan Bishops at the end of its 31st special assembly on March 30 ...
• 2 April 2004
  AFRICA/ANGOLA - 338 Street children find a Home at the Arnold Janssen Centre in Luanda which has cared for orphaned children and victims of violence since 1993 Luanda (Fides Service) - Children who live on the streets, children victims of violence in the family find a home at the Arnold Janssen Catholic Children’s Centre in Luanda, capital of Angola. The Home was opened in 1 ...
• 2 April 2004
  AFRICA/GREAT LAKES - Burundi and Rwanda: repatriation of refugees marks important step on the path towards reconciliation in these two countries. Many had not seen their home country for 10 years Rome (Fides Service)- Some 500,000 Burundi refugees remain in camps and settlements or have spontaneously settled in Tanzania, and UNHCR hopes to help approximately 150,000 of them return home this year. Since 2001, ap ...
• 1 April 2004
  VATICAN - Papal Message to 8th International Youth Forum: “You must build the Church within your Universities, as a visible community which believes, prays, gives account for our hope, and lovingly welcomes every trace of good, truth and beauty in University life.” Vatican City (Fides Service) - “It is important in our age to rediscover the bond that unites the Church to the world of higher education. For the Church not only played a decisive role in founding the first universiti ...
• 1 April 2004
  AMERICA/MEXICO - Materialism, violence and permissiveness are the most dangerous threats to the family. Cardinal Martino speaks at the conclusion og the 3rd World Congress for Families Mexico City (Fides Service) - “The family is the key to the future of humanity. Every people aspiring to strengthen its soul and to guarantee itself a more human future of justice and solidarity must undoubtedly streng ...
• 1 April 2004
  VATICAN - Pontifical Urban University launches “Affiliated net” project connecting i 92 affiliated Institutes all over the world and enrich missionary formation Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Pontifical Urban University PUU is academically connected with 92 Seminars/Institutes situated all over the world which provide philosophical, theological and missiological formation fo ...
• 1 April 2004
  AFRICA/CONGO RD - “Government minimises Sunday’s assault to save peace process: an act of responsibility to guarantee the country a better future” missionary in Congo told Fides Kinshasa (Fides Service)- Mystery still surrounds the attack in Kinshasa (capital of Democratic Republic of Congo) at three in the morning last Sunday 28 March when gunmen assaulted army barracks, a naval on the River Co ...
• 1 April 2004
  AFRICA/GUINEA BISSAU - Bishops of Guinea Bissau issue statement after elections: “Electorate demonstrated maturity. Political leaders, take a lesson from the people!” Bissau (Fides Service)- The voters showed great civic maturity although the organisation left much to be desired. This was the gist of a Message issued by the Catholic Bishops of Guinea Bissau after political elections o ...
• 1 April 2004
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Lay Catholics have leading role to play in pastoral care for migrants in Asia: conclusions of “Exodus”, week of formation for Religious and lay Catholics involved in pastoral care of migrants and itinerant peoples Tagaytay (Fides Service) - “Considering the phenomenon of migrants as a sign of the times we vowed to take loving care of itinerant peoples and celebrate communion in diversity ”: Scalabrino Father Fabio Baggio, Dire ...
• 1 April 2004
  AFRICA/UGANDA - “The international community must intervene to help the exhausted people of Uganda exposed to daily vexation by numerous gangs of gunmen”: Superiors of Comboni Missionaries launch appeal following the murder of Italian missionary Father Fulvi. Rome (Fides Service) - “In view of the situation of insecurity and poverty caused by the bloody civil war which exploded in the 1980s we feel it is our duty to make a heartfelt appeal to the international community in ...
• 1 April 2004
  ASIA/NORTH KOREA - “The people are hungry for food and peace”: Caritas Hong Kong reports after humanitarian mission in North Korea Hong Kong (Fides Service) - “In north Korea people are still struggling to survive and Caritas Hong Kong does all it can to alleviate the suffering of the people ”. Kathi Zellweger, head of international cooperation ...
• 1 April 2004
  ASIA/INDIA - “Forced conversions” and freedom of religious minorities: theme of electoral campaign - Bishops urge Catholics to fast and pray that the vote will be peaceful and transparent New Delhi (Fides Service) - Forced conversion and rights of minorities: in the electoral campaign in India - as general elections draw near 18 April - themes regarding the Christian community hold the stage. The Bharati ...