Asia

• 8 March 2005
  ASIA/IRAQ - “The people of Iraq are the victims of common criminals. Every day ordinary people are kidnapped and families are ruined to pay ransom ” Fr Nizar tells Fides Baghdad (Fides Service)- “The international press gives ample space to non Iraqis taken hostage by terrorists in Iraq” Fr Nizar, a Catholic priest in Mosul told Fides. “This is right because human life is sacred. B ...
• 8 March 2005
  ASIA/INDIA - 8 March: a Catholic Sister works to promote development among tribal farmers in north east India Shillong (Fides Service) -Sister Rose, a Catholic nun, works to promote development among Garo tribals in the north eastern Indian state of Meghalaya. Meghalaya is an area of tension and many small tribal farmers are thr ...
• 8 March 2005
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - 8 March: Christians and Muslims unite to promote more respect for women’s rights Lahore (Fides Service) - In Pakistan more attention must be given to ensure that the inalienable rights of women are protected and guaranteed. This call was launched on the occasion of the international Women’s Day by ...
• 8 March 2005
  ASIA/INDONESIA - Peace in the Moluccas: Reconciliation Conference in Australia this Summer Ambon (Fides Service) - “Peace is a mission, not an option” is the theme of a Conference for Peace in the Moluccas being organised in Australia to strengthen the process of peace and rebuild social harmony in the Ind ...
• 7 March 2005
  ASIA/HONG KONG - Over 2.300 catechumens will be baptised at Easter: a happy occasion for Bishops and faithful Hong Kong (Fides Service) - A great effort for mission undertaken by the diocese of Hong Kong is bearing fruit. According to the diocesan bulletin Kong Ko Bao about 2,300 people will be baptised during Easter vigil Masse ...
• 7 March 2005
  ASIA/NORTH KOREA - Ten years of aid for the most vulnerable, children, pregnant and nursing mothers, the elderly in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea: Caritas feeds the hungry and strives to guarantee food security Pyongyang (Fides Service) - Kathi Zellweger, in charge of international cooperation for Caritas Hong Kong made her first visit to North Korea in 1995 on a humanitarian mission with the permission of the N. Korean author ...
• 5 March 2005
  ASIA/CHINA - “We always pray for the Pope but now that he is in hospital we are praying even harder”: Chinese speaking Catholics in Toronto Canada pray for the Pope Toronto (Fides Service) - “Since we heard the Pope had been admitted to Gemelli hospital we have been praying even more intensely for his intentions and his health and speedy recovery. Special prayers for the Pope’s ...
• 5 March 2005
  ASIA/BANGLADESH - “People in one of the world’s poorest countries are praying for the Holy Father, Muslims too voice sympathy and solidarity”, head of Caritas Bangladesh tells Fides Dacca (Fides Service) - With 70% of its people living below the poverty line Bangladesh is one of the world’s poorest countries: but the poor, the lowly, people living on less than a dollar a day and only a handful of ...
• 4 March 2005
  ASIA/LEBANON - “Even individual Muslims send messages of solidarity with the universal Church at this time of suffering ” say sources at the Patriarchate of Antioch of the Maronites Beirut (Fides Service)- “Lebanese Christians are following with concern and affection this additional trial of the Holy Father and we are all praying for him” sources at the Patriarchate of Antioch of the Maronites t ...
• 4 March 2005
  ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Bishops’ Commission for Communications promotes plan to increase awareness among the faith in this Year of the Eucharist Seoul (Fides Service) - During a recent meeting to discuss activities in 2005 the Commission for Social Communications of the Korean Catholic Bishops Conference, presided by Bishop Paul Choi Duk-ki of Suwon, agreed to gi ...
• 4 March 2005
  ASIA/IRAN - Iranian president Mohammad Khatami sends the Pope “best wishes” Teheran (Fides Service) - Public opinion in Iran is showing great interest with regard to the health of Pope John Paul II. From Teheran president Mohammad Khatami sent the Pope “best wishes” speedy recovery and local ...
• 4 March 2005
  ASIA/SYRIA - Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims united in concern and prayers for the Pope Damascus (Fides Service) - In Syria, where the Pope’s landmark visit to the Great Mosque in Damascus (6 May 2001) is still a vivid memory, Orthodox Christians and Muslims are united with Catholics in concern and prayer ...
• 4 March 2005
  ASIA/HOLY LAND - Pope’s illness prompts special prayers and gestures of inter-religious friendship: he is truly a great Pontiff, a great ‘bridge-builder’ says Franciscan Custodian of the Holy Land Jerusalem (Fides Service) -Christians, Jews and Muslims in the Holy Land send messages of affection and concern and assure their prayers for Pope John Paul II, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM superior of the Francisc ...
• 4 March 2005
  ASIA/CHINA - Overseas Chinese communities share news of improvement of Pope’s health; official Church reports news about the Pope, Chinese Catholics all over the world pray for the Holy Father Rome (Fides Service) - The Pope’s suffering unites all Catholics in China, those of the official Church and those of the underground Church. The bulletin of the Official Church is giving regular reports on the Pope� ...
• 3 March 2005
  ASIA/SRI LANKA - Orphans and abandoned children pray daily Rosary in spiritual communion with the Pope Colombo (Fides Service) - Young inmates at Nochchiyagam Home and Training Centre a home for children in need in the diocese of Anhuradhapura, run by the Salesian Fathers are offering their daily rosary for the Pope: a m ...