News

• 10 December 2005
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI grants special audience to men and women religious: “The Church needs your witness, she needs consecrated persons to face the challenges of the present day with courage and creativity” Vatican City (Fides Service) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican Pope Benedict XVI granted a special audience to about 8,000 men and women religious working in the Rome diocese to whom he expressed his grat ...
• 10 December 2005
  EUROPE/ITALY - 4th European Convention for University Students opens tomorrow: “Christian humanism, path for more intense cooperation between Europe and Africa” Rome (Fides Service) - On Sunday 11 December 2005 the 4th European Convention for University Students will start with a solemn concelebration of Mass at 8pm in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The Convention, held on th ...
• 10 December 2005
  AFRICA/UGANDA - Catholic Bishops of Uganda call for Truth and Reconciliation Commission to solve conflicts in the country expressing concern for proliferation of armed groups Kampala (Fides Service) - In a pastoral letter addressed to Catholics and all Ugandans of good will the Bishops of Uganda have urged the government to establish a “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” to solve the bl ...
• 10 December 2005
  ASIA/BANGLADESH - Islamic radicalism: government warns of danger, local Church calls for prudence Dacca (Fides Service) - The government of Bangladesh has recognised the danger of Islamic radicalism and the serious threat of suicide bombers “most of whom are trained at Islamic schools”. After a series of attacks ...
• 9 December 2005
  VATICAN - Benedict XVI at the Angelus reflection contemplates Immaculate Mary: “May her heavenly purity draw us to God, help us to overcome the temptation to live a mediocre life of compromise with evil and orient ourselves decidedly towards authentic goodness with is the source of joy” Vatican City (Fides Service) -On Thursday December 8th (a bank holiday in Italy and other countries) in his brief address before leading the prayer of the Angelus at midday with people gathered in St Peter’s Square Pop ...
• 9 December 2005
  EUROPE/ENGLAND - The introduction of same sex unions as a legal institution is bound to have a lasting social impact and erode the authentic understanding of marriage say Catholic Bishops of England and Wales London (Fides Service) - In a statement on Civil Partnership issued on December 6th from the Catholic Communications Network Archbishop Peter Smith, archbishop of Cardiff and President of the Commission for Christian res ...
• 9 December 2005
  AMERICA/PANAMA - “We have reflected on the progress of our countries from the pastoral point of view and we find that the social situation continues to deteriorate”: Catholic Bishops of Central American countries stress the need to “build a future of hope” Panama City (Fides Service) - At the end of their annual assembly held in Panama City 22-25 November the Catholic Bishops of Central America issued a message “Building a Future of Hope” highlighting the lights and s ...
• 9 December 2005
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI on the solemnity of Immaculate Mary Mother of God conceived without stain of original sin: “if we abandon ourselves totally into the hands of God we do not become boring and consenting people, puppets of God,; we do not lose our freedom. Indeed only if we trust ourselves entirely to God can we find true freedom, the vast and creative freedom of goodness.” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On the feast of the Immaculate Conception December 8 1965 in Saint Peter’s basilica as he solemnly closed the Second Vatican Council Pope Paul VI declared the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother ...
• 9 December 2005
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI in Piazza di Spagna: “In these forty years Our Lady has sustained the Bishops and first of all the Successors of Peter in their demanding ministry at the service of the Gospel; she has led the Church to a faithful understanding and application of the Council documents” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - In the afternoon of December 8, Feast of the Immaculate Conception in keeping with his predecessors, Pope Benedict XVI went to pay homage to the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Piazza ...
• 9 December 2005
  ASIA/TAIWAN - Over 160 pastoral workers and volunteers take part in 38th Seminar on Pastoral Care for Prison Inmates Taipei (Fides Service) - Over 160 pastoral workers and volunteers members of the Catholic Association for Pastoral Care for Prisoners from all 7 of Taiwan’s Catholic dioceses took part in a recent 38 Seminar on Prison ...
• 9 December 2005
  OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA - Sacred Heart Missionaries celebrate 100 years of pastoral service in Oceania Sydney (Fides Service) - The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart MSC, one of the most widespread and active religious congregations in Australia, are marking the 100th anniversary of their presence in that country. Main cen ...
• 9 December 2005
  ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - “Pro-Life Day” archdiocese of Seoul: community praises Pro Life Movement Seoul (Fides Service) - On 4 December the archdiocese of Seoul held its own Pro Life Day. In South Korea the Pro Life Movement is a significant reality of Catholic presence organising events and demonstrations to promot ...
• 9 December 2005
  AFRICA/DR CONGO - Catholics spread awareness of importance of December 18 constitutional referendum Kinshasa (Fides Service) - The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo does not intend to give instructions with regard to voting in the referendum on the Constitution on 18 December. However Church structur ...
• 9 December 2005
  AFRICA/MALI - Restore Light mission in Africa concluded: 210 cataracts removed and 1,400 ophthalmological examinations carried out Rome (Fides Service) - With a total 210 cataracts removed and 1,400 opthalmological examinations carried out, AFMAL concluded its last humanitarian mission ‘restore light’ in Gao, Mali. AFMAL (Associazione con i Fate ...
• 7 December 2005
  AFRICA/DR CONGO - Kinshasa joins archbishop Cardinal Frédérick Etsou for 75th birthday celebrations Kinshasa (Fides Service)- The archdiocese of Kinshasa celebrated on Sunday 4 December the 75th birthday of its Archbishop Cardinal Frédéric Etsou. The date also marked 50 years of priesthood for the cardinal. At Not ...