News

• 8 February 2011
  ASIA/INDOENSIA - Three churches attacked, a priest struck; for Bishop Pujasumarta it is “orchestrated violence” Semarang (Agenzia Fides) – Three churches attacked, a Catholic priest struck, clashes between protesters and police. This is the balance sheet following a day of tensions in Temanggung, a city in the Archdiocese of Sem ...
• 8 February 2011
  AFRICA/EGYPT - “The situation is apparently returning to normal but protesters do not intend to ease off” says missionary Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - “The situation is returning to normal even if the protests continue in Tahrir Square, where speakers alternate, making addresses using a speaker system,” Fr Luciano Verdoscia, a Comboni missio ...
• 8 February 2011
  AFRICA/SUDAN - Southern Sudan is officially independent; a Bishop denounces the atrocities of the LRA Juba (Agenzia Fides) – The definitive results on the referendum held 9-15 January on Southern Sudan's independence were published yesterday, 7 February. 98,83% of voters said yes to independence. Preliminary results we ...
• 8 February 2011
  ASIA/TAIWAN - Seminar for Sunday School teachers to better understand the Liturgy of the Mass Tai Chung (Agenzia Fides) – “The Liturgy of the Mass” was the theme of the seminar attended by Sunday School teachers in Taiwan on January 15 and 16, organised by the National Directorate of the Pontifical Mission ...
• 8 February 2011
  ASIA/SRI LANKA - 1.2 million people affected by the floods inundating the Country Colombo (Agenzia Fides) – After a brief respite in recent weeks, the floods which began in December and culminated from 9 to 11 January - affecting more than one million people in north and north-west Sri Lanka - hav ...
• 8 February 2011
  ASIA/INDIA - Archbishop Menamparampil has “a missionary look at Bhutan” Guwahati (Agenzia Fides) – From his diocese of Guwahati, in the state of Assam (north-east India), borders with Bhutan, a territory “which we have always watched closely”, Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil confides t ...
• 8 February 2011
  AFRICA/UGANDA - Resignation by Bishop of Nebbi and appointment of his Successor Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on 8 February 2011 accepted the resignation of the pastoral care for the Diocese of Nebbi (Uganda), presented by Bishop Martin Luluga, in conformity with can ...
• 8 February 2011
  VATICAN - Internet “may serve not only for studies, but also for pastoral care activities by future priests in various areas of the Church, such as evangelisation, missionary work and catechesis,” recalls the Pope Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – “The internet, with its capacity to overcome distances and put people in contact, also presents great possibilities for the Church and her mission. With the necessary discernment to ens ...
• 7 February 2011
  ASIA/INDONESIA - Inter-faith Harmony Week begins, but attacks rise against minorities Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) – Inter-faith Harmony Week began in Jakarta yesterday, 5 February, with messages of dialogue and peace, with hopes for reconciliation and calls for tolerance. Thousands of believers from all rel ...
• 7 February 2011
  AFRICA/SUDAN - Religious leaders: the LRA is a threat to the new independent State of Southern Sudan Juba (Agenzia Fides) – The independence of Southern Sudan, approved by a staggering majority of voters in the referendum held from 9-15 January, is being threatened by the presence of guerillas from the Lord's Resista ...
• 7 February 2011
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Government reshuffle: Ministry for Religious Minorities disappears Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) – A government reshuffle is approaching in Pakistan: while negotiations are buzzing between political leaders, the government led by Prime Minister Gilani, the Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP), w ...
• 7 February 2011
  VATICAN - At the Angelus the Pope hopes that Egypt “may rediscover tranquillity and peaceful coexistence, in a shared commitment for the common good” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – In his Address prior to reciting the Angelus on Sunday, 6 February, taking his cue from Sunday's Gospel passage, the Holy Father Benedict XVI emphasised how Jesus, through these words dir ...
• 7 February 2011
  VATICAN - Episcopal Ordination: “It is time for mission: the Lord sends you, dear friends, into his harvest” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Saturday, 5 February, in St Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father Benedict XVI conferred Episcopal Ordination upon the following five priests: Msgr. Savio Hon Tai-Fai, of the Salesian Society ...
• 7 February 2011
  EUROPE/SPAIN - 1,000 babies under 5 years die in the world every hour due to easily preventable causes Madrid (Agenzia Fides) – With a new initiative, the Catholic volunteer NGO “Manos Unidas”, which works against hunger, poverty, malnutrition, sickness, lack of education and underdevelopment, presented the campaign ...
• 7 February 2011
  AFRICA/EGYPT - “We are returning to normality even if protests are continuing,” missionary states Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - “The situation seems to be returning to normal, even if protests are continuing in Tahrir Square,” Father Luciano Verdoscia told Fides, the Comboni missionary who has worked for years in Cairo ...