Africa

• 3 April 2009
  AFRICA/MALAWI - Lenten Message from the Bishops of Malawi: 2009 is an electoral year in Malawi, thus Lent is a good time to reflect on choosing a leader who promotes justice and peace Lilongwe (Agenzia Fides) - “Lent is a period when Christians reflect on the Sufferings, Death and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ thus our salvation history. It is a period in which we as Christians are challenged to ...
• 3 April 2009
  AFRICA/GUINEA BISSAU - Election Day announced in Guinea Bissau, while opposition party and human rights organizations denounce military violence Bissau (Agenzia Fides) – Presidential elections will be held on June 28, 120 days after the death of President Joao Bernardo Vieira, who was assassinated on March 2 by a group of soldiers trying to take revenge followi ...
• 2 April 2009
  AFRICA/ZIMBABWE - “We are doing all we can to help the people of Zimbabwe, but funds are lacking,” Caritas says Harare (Agenzia Fides) - Caritas humanitarian operations in Zimbabwe are under threat due to a lack of funding that could put tens of thousands of people at risk. This is what was expressed in an alert from Caritas Inter ...
• 2 April 2009
  AFRICA/CONGO DR - Pallottine missionary wounded in North Kivu, province in eastern Congo marked by tensions and violence for months Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – A Pallottine missionary of Polish origin, Fr. Kontor Wieslaw (SAC), was wounded in an ambush in North Kivu, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The event occurred on Mar ...
• 1 April 2009
  AFRICA/ANGOLA - Church working on the frontline in defense of children accused of “sorcery,” a sad reality which was denounced by Benedict XVI in his recent visit to Africa Luanda (Agenzia Fides) - “For some time now, the Church in Angola has been providing help to children accused of 'sorcery' who are abandoned by their families,” Agenzia Fides was told by local Church sources in Luand ...
• 1 April 2009
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Transitional Authority appointed, but former President claims: “I never resigned. On March 17, I was forced to hand over power, at gunpoint.” Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – Andry Rajoelina appointed the members of the High Transitional Authority which he presides, in spite of severe criticism from the international community, which is calling for the return ...
• 31 March 2009
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Madagascar to decide whether or not to continue in the Southern Africa Development Community following yesterday's suspension Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – Madagascar's suspension from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) does not seem to be cause for concern among the island's new leaders. “Andry Rajoelina, President of the Tr ...
• 30 March 2009
  AFRICA/ANGOLA - Angolan Bishops express their gratitude to the Holy Father for his recent visit and congratulate local media on their coverage of the event Luanda (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishops' Conference of Angola and Sao Tome and Principe (CEAST) thanks Pope Benedict XVI for his visit to Angola on March 20-23 and congratulate local media on their coverage of the event. ...
• 30 March 2009
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Tensions continue in Madagascar as the Southern African Development Community calls the change of power “unacceptable” Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – Tensions continue in Madagascar, where today, March 30, protests were held against the “legal movement” that is calling for the resignation of ad interim President Rajoelina, who was ...
• 27 March 2009
  AFRICA/ANGOLA - “The Pope was a missionary of the Gospel and wanted to be nothing else. This ought to be the first thing to think about.” Reflections on Benedict XVI's visit. Luanda (Agenzia Fides) - “The Pope was a missionary of the Gospel and wanted to be nothing else. This ought to be the first thing to think about,” said Fr. Filiberto Rodríguez, Superior of the Salesian Vice-Province ...
• 27 March 2009
  AFRICA/ETHIOPIA - “William Massaia” Ethiopian Museum testifies to the great missionary Bishop's deep appreciation of African culture, art, and language Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Located in the cell of the Capuchin Convent in Frascati (Rome) in which Cardinal William Massaia spent the last years of his life (1880-1889), the Ethiopian Museum holds many artifacts and docume ...
• 26 March 2009
  AFRICA/CONGO DR - Catholic politicians working to fight corruption that leads to poverty Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – Corruption can paralyze the efforts for political, economic, social, moral, and spiritual recuperation of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congolese Bishops said during a national seminar he ...
• 26 March 2009
  AFRICA/SUDAN - President Bashir challenges arrest warrant from International Crime Court; heightened concern for humanitarian crisis in Darfur Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – Sudan is at the heart of a complex diplomatic maneuver, as humanitarian aid groups from the United Nations launch alerts as to the gravity of the humanitarian situation in Darfur, the western ...
• 25 March 2009
  AFRICA/CAMEROON - Bishops of Cameroon regret that the media ignored the essential aspects of the Holy Father's message for Africa on poverty, reconciliation, justice, and peace Yaounde (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishops of Cameroon are “profoundly dismayed” for the press' partial presentation of the response given by Pope Benedict XVI to a journalist on the Church's commitment to fighting the ...
• 25 March 2009
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - From Swaziland, former President Ravalomanana launches appeal to citizens to “save the country” Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – The political crisis in Madagascar has once again taken another turn. Former President Marc Ravalomanana has launched an appeal to the people of Madagascar, asking that they “save the c ...