News

• 28 February 2011
  OCEANIA/NEW ZEALAND - After days of uninterrupted search, now focus on the recovery of corpses, 200 still missing Christchurch (Agenzia Fides) - “'It is like a war zone' is how more than one reporter has described the streets of Christchurch; others say they just cannot find the words to communicate the widespread destruction,” ...
• 28 February 2011
  ASIA/INDIA - Report on anti-Christian violence presented and endorsed by the Federal Government New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) – The Report by Judge Michael Saldanha, which establishes the truth about the anti-Christian violence which occurred in the State of Karnataka in 2008, was officially presented to three Federa ...
• 28 February 2011
  AFRICA/LIBYA - Appeal by Bishop Martinelli for the Eritreans in Libya: “yesterday 2,000 came back to our church and buildings asking for help” Tripoli (Agenzia Fides) - “I would like to make an appeal for the estimated 2,000 Eritreans who came into our church and buildings yesterday, asking for help and assistance,” Bishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, Apo ...
• 28 February 2011
  ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Growing numbers of missionary priests and laity; a force for evangelisation Seoul (Agenzia Fides) – Lay Catholics working abroad constitute a strength and vast potential for evangelisation, especially for Asia: the Catholic Church in Korea told Fides, presenting new statistics on Catholic miss ...
• 26 February 2011
  AMERICA/BRAZIL - The murder of Fr Romeu Drago in Montes Claros: “we live in a situation of insecurity,” denounces the Archbishop Montes Claros (Agenzia Fides) – Fr Romeu Drago was seen for the last time about 8.00 pm on 19 February. His charred body was found the next day about 25 km from the city of Montes Claros. In the statement sent to Fide ...
• 26 February 2011
  ASIA/INDIA - Attack on a Catholic school, “chain of protests” by Christians in Karnataka Belgaum (Agenzia Fides) – The Catholic School of Divine Providence in Tilakwadi, in the Diocese of Belgaum, in the Indian State of Karnataka, was attacked by vandals who shattered the windows and and damaged the struct ...
• 26 February 2011
  ASIA/AFGHANISTAN - Afghan lawyer: “Laws needed which respect human rights” Kabul (Agenzia Fides) – One Christian was saved, but others risk death: Afghanistan urgently needs new laws which “fully respect human rights, freedom of conscience, speech and religion,” declared Afzal Nooristani ...
• 26 February 2011
  AFRICA/EGYPT - “The people are not going to let the old regimes reappear under new guises,” says Fr Verdoscia Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - “The daily demonstrations in Tahrir Square have become a fixed event, above all to denounce attempts by the old regime to remain in power. Yesterday's protest was directed against the Prime Mini ...
• 25 February 2011
  OCEANIA/NEW ZEALAND - All the Catholic churches in Christchurch must be safe before any Mass can be celebrated Christchurch (Agenzia Fides) – Bishop Barry Jones of Christchurch has prohibited the celebration of Mass throughout the 78 churches in the diocese until such time as thorough checks can be made regarding their safety, ...
• 25 February 2011
  AFRICA/LIBYA - “The situation in the centre of Tripoli is calm, but there is concern,” Apostolic Vicar tells Fides Tripoli (Agenzia Fides) - “The situation in the centre of Tripoli is calm, but there is concern about what may happen at the end of prayer on Friday. The protest organised for today at this stage hasn't gone ahead”. ...
• 25 February 2011
  ASIA/INDIA - Anti-conversion law: The High Court admits a petition to repeal it Shimla (Agenzia Fides) – For Christian Indians it is good news and the beginning of a judicial process: the High Court of the State of Himachal Pradesh, in the North of India, has admitted an appeal which contests the ...
• 25 February 2011
  ASIA/CHINA - Annual Assembly of the Diocese of Feng Xiang: faithful and priests must dedicate every effort to evangelisation Feng Xiang (Agenzia Fides) – All the faithful and priests of the Diocese should dedicate themselves to evangelisation in the full awareness of their own identity and of the mandate entrusted to them by the Lord and the ...
• 25 February 2011
  Holy Father's Missionary Intention for March 2011: “That the Holy Spirit may give light and strength to those in many regions of the world who are persecuted and discriminated against because of the Gospel”. Commentary. Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Persecution has been inherent in the Church since its beginnings. We can almost say it is part of its essence. From the moment that the Lord says: “If they persecuted me, they will pers ...
• 25 February 2011
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Moratorium on blasphemy: new proposal by civil society Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) – A moratorium on applying the blasphemy law in Pakistan: this is the new proposal circulating in Pakistani civil society, finding support among intellectuals, journalists and the well-educat ...
• 25 February 2011
  EUROPE/POLAND - 20th anniversary of World Youth Day in Czestochowa, where youth from Eastern Europe participated for the first time Czestochowa (Agenzia Fides) – On the occasion of the Beatification of John Paul II and the 20th anniversary of World Youth Day, celebrated in Czestochowa in 1991, the Catholic weekly “Niedziela”, with its headquart ...