News

• 4 May 2004
  ASIA/VIETNAM - Holy See delegation makes annual visit to Vietnam to voice the Pope’s affection and concern for the local Catholic community which in return assures him of its loyalty and love Vatican City (Fides Service) - A delegation of the Holy See visiting Vietnam from 27 April to 2 May was warmly welcomed by all the members of the local Church, bishops priests and religious and lay Catholics and also civ ...
• 4 May 2004
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Education to peace in schools programme launched by Catholic Bishops’ Commission for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue Lahore (Fides Service) -Education to dialogue and peace for youth is the target of a programme for secondary and high school pupils launched by the Catholic Bishops’ Commission for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue ...
• 4 May 2004
  AFRICA/KENYA - “Progress made in last 15 months but much remains to be done” say Catholic Bishops of Kenya Nairobi (Fides Service)- “ We thank God that we have a democratically elected government in Kenya”. With this statement the Catholic Bishops of Kenya introduce a press statement issued in April in which they reflect ...
• 4 May 2004
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - National press opinions divide with regard to UN report on clashes in Abidjan on 25 March Abidjan (Fides Service)- “So far there have been no official reactions, but a statement from the President is expected in the next few hours” a local Church sources in Abidjan, economic capital of Ivory Coast told Fi ...
• 3 May 2004
  AMERICA/PERU - Caritas Puno in Peru opens two new healthcare centres in remote areas Rome (Fides Service) - With a joint venture of Caritas Puno in Peru and the Peru -France Contravalor Fund, the construction of two healthcare institutes to serve peasants in the area of Puno in Peru began on April 17. ...
• 3 May 2004
  ASIA/INDONESIA - Could more than 12,000 radical Laskar Jihad Muslim paramilitaries be ready to land in Moluccas? The Pope prays for peace in the archipelago Ambon (Fides Service) - “At this time of suffering and tension the Holy Father assures the entire Christian community of his paternal affection and solidarity and his prayers for a swift return of public order and peac ...
• 3 May 2004
  VATICAN - On the annual Day of Prayer for Vocations, the Pope ordains 26 new priests for his diocese of Rome: “You have been ordained priests in an era in which, also here in Rome, there is a powerful cultural tendency to want to make people forget God... If you are filled with God you will be authentic apostles of new evangelisation, because we can only give what we possess in our heart” Vatican City (Fides Service) - “ You have been ordained priests in an era in which, also here in Rome, there is a powerful cultural tendency to make people forget God, especially young people and families. But have no ...
• 3 May 2004
  VATICAN - The Pope speaks of Europe at the Regina Cæli prayer: “If the unity of the peoples of Europe is to be lasting is cannot be only economic and political. Today the soul of Europe is still one because it refers to common human and Christian values.” Vatican City (Fides Service) - After celebrating Mass in St Peter’s and ordaining 26 deacons as new priests for the Diocese of Rome, on Sunday 2 May, Pope John Paul II prayed the Regina Caeli prayer from his window wit ...
• 3 May 2004
  INDIA - “Give us today our daily rice”: new Caritas India president launches campaign New Delhi (Fides Service) - The new President Caritas India Bishop Peter Remigius, Bishop of Kumbakonam and also head of the Bishops Conference’s Commission for justice, peace and development, has shouldered his task w ...
• 3 May 2004
  VATICAN - Children’s Hospital Bambino Gesu provides tele-medical care for children overseas with an Important agreement to benefit children in South America Vatican City (Fides) - An agreement has been signed between Rome’s Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital (donated by its founders in 1924 to the Holy See) and the Italo-Latin American Institute on 30 April. The hospital n ...
• 3 May 2004
  AFRICA/LIBERIA - Disarmament proceeds but Catholic Radio Veritas in Monrovia denounces: “Some of the rebels are moving weapons across the border to Ivory Coast instead of handing them to the United Nations ” Monrovia (Fides Service)- “The process of disarmament proceeds peacefully and with order” a Consolata Missionary Sister in Harbel told Fides. Harbel is 50 km south of Monrovia, capital della Liberia. “However yeste ...
• 3 May 2004
  AFRICA/BURUNDI - Great success for Catholic Action Peace March in Burundi. Since January 964 demobilised child soldiers have returned home Bujumbura (Fides Service)- “We launched a clear signal for peace” Father Salvatore Niciteretse, from Burundi told Fides with regard to a peace march organised in April by the local national branch of Catholic Action ...
• 3 May 2004
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - HOPE Campaign for Honest and Peaceful elections launched by local Church in view of May 10 vote Manila (Fides Service) - A HOPE campaign for Honest and Peaceful Elections has been launched in view of May 10 elections in the Philippines by Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu City, and Archbishop Gaudencio Ros ...
• 3 May 2004
  AFRICA/ANGOLA - Bishop José de Queirós Alves appointed metropolitan Archbishop of Huambo Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II has, 3 May 2003, appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Huambo, Angola, Mgr José de Queirós Alves, C.SS.R., until now Bishop of Menongue. (S.L.) (Agenzia ...
• 30 April 2004
  AMERICA/GUATEMALA - Latin America and Caribbean strive to eliminate hunger Rome (Fides Service) - According to the Rome based United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, about half the 40 million poor people in Latin America and the Caribbean are subsistence farmers of whom 26 millio ...