Vatican

• 13 January 2004
  VATICAN - THE POPE’S ANNUAL NEW YEAR ADDRESS TO DIPLOMATIC CORPS: “IT IS MORE THAN EVER NECESSARY TO LEARN FROM THE PAST, REMOTE AND RECENT. IN ANY CASE ONE THING IS CERTAIN: WAR DOES NOT SOLVE CONFLICTS BETWEEN PEOPLES!” Vatican City (Fides) – Pope John Paul II gave his annual new year audience to Ambassadors on 12 January in the Vatican. Today a total of 174 individual countries have diplomatic ties with the Holy See, as well as commu ...
• 12 January 2004
  VATICAN - THE POPE’S TEACHING AT GENERAL AUDIENCE: “JESUS IS THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB WITHOUT STAIN WHOSE PRECIOUS BLOOD WAS SHED FOR OUR RANSOM. HE IS THE JUST ONE WHO OFFERS HIMSELF FOR THE UNJUST IN ORDER TO LEAD THEM BACK TO GOD.” Vatican City (Fides Service) – After the festivities of Christmas, for his teaching at the general audience on January 14, Pope John Paul II resumed his reflection on the Liturgy of Vespers commenting the Canticle kno ...
• 12 January 2004
  VATICAN - THE POPE ADDRESSES PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CLERGY: “THE STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH CANNOT BE CONCEIVED ACCORDING TO PURELY HUMAN POLITICAL MODELS. HER HIERARCHICAL CONSTITUTION IS FOUNDED ON THE WILL OF CHRIST AND AS SUCH IS PART OF THE "DEPOSITUM FIDEI", WHICH MUST BE INTEGRALLY PRESERVED AND HANDED ON THROUGH THE CENTURIES.” Vatican City (Fides) – “The task of the clergy is to form, govern and sanctify the people of God, and with them the laity take an active part in the Church’s mission in a constant synergy of efforts and with respec ...
• 12 January 2004
  VATICAN - THE POPE’S ANGELUS REFLECTION: “WITH THE BAPTISM AT THE JORDAN THE MESSIANIC STYLE OF JESUS IS CLEARLY MANIFESTED… AFTER CELEBRATING AT CHRISTMAS THE GREAT EVENT OF THE INCARNATION WE ARE INVITED TO KEEP OUR GAZE ON JESUS, THE HUMAN FACE OF GOD AND THE DIVINE FACE OF MAN Vatican City (Fides Service) – “In the baptism at the Jordan the messianic style of Jesus is clearly revealed: He comes as the "Lamb of God", to take upon himself and wash away the sin of the world. This is how the B ...
• 9 January 2004
  VATICAN - CARDINAL SECRETARY OF STATE PRESIDES REQUIEM MASS FOR ARCHBISHOP COURTNEY IN ST PETER’S: “HE CARRIED THE TESTIMONY OF HIS ADAMANTINE FAITH ALONG THE ROADS OF THE WORLD, LIKE THE GOOD SHEPHERD HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE OF BURUNDI TO WHOM THE POPE SENT HIM AS AN APOSTLE OF PEACE ” Vatican City (Fides Service) – A solemn requiem Mass in memory of Archbishop Michael Aidan Courtney, Apostolic Nuncio in Burundi brutally assassinated on 29 December, was presided by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary o ...
• 9 January 2004
  VATICAN - PAPAL MESSAGE TO SYMPOSIUM ON THE DIGNITY AND RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL DISABILITY: “A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY, EVEN WHEN WOUNDED IN MIND OR SENSORIAL OR INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY, IS A FULLY HUMAN SUBJECT WITH SACRED AND INALIENABLE RIGHTS PROPER TO EVERY HUMAN PERSON Vatican City (Fides Service) – “The point of departure for any reflection on disability is rooted in the fundamental persuasions of Christian anthropology: a person with a disability, even when wounded in mind or sen ...
• 8 January 2004
  VATICAN - DURING FIRST GENERAL OF THE YEAR 2004 THE POPE INVITES PEOPLE TO CONTEMPLATE THE SILENT PRESENCE OF THE VIRGIN MOTHER MARY BESIDE THE INFANT JESUS: “LET US ASK HER TO GUIDE OUR STEPS IN THE NEW YEAR WHICH DIVINE PROVIDENCE GRANTS US TO LIVE ”. Vatican City (Fides Service) – In his teaching during the first general audience of the year on Wednesday 7 January, Pope John Paul II reflected on the mystery of Mary’s divine motherhood. “Mary, Mother of God! Thi ...
• 7 January 2004
  VATICAN - THE POPE’S ANGELUS REFLECTION ON THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY: “THE STAR THAT LED THE WISE MEN TO CHRIST RECALLS THE RICH SYMBOLISM OF LIGHT…GOD IS LIGHT AND THE WORD MADE MAN IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, A LIGHT TO GUIDE THE WANDERING OF PEOPLES Vatican City (Fides Service) – During his midday Angelus reflection on Tuesday 6 January, the feast of the Epiphany a bank holiday in many countries including Italy, before blessing the people gathered in St Peter’s ...
• 5 January 2004
  VATICAN - ON FIDES WEB SITE POPE JOHN PAUL II’s MESSAGE FOR WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE NOW AVAILABLE IN CHINESE Vatican City (Fides Service) – To enable Catholics in mainland China, Taiwan and many overseas communities to read in their own language, Pope John Paul II’s 2004 message for World day of Prayer for Peace celebrated ...
• 5 January 2004
  VATICAN - 6 JANUARY 2004 MISSIONARY CHILDHOOD DAY FIDES DOSSIER:INFANCY BETRAYED, ABUSED, HUMILIATED ALL OVER THE WORLD Vatican City (Fides Service) – January 6th is World Day of Missionary Childhood for the Catholic Church. In local Churches on every continent children will take part in special initiatives organised by the local Pontif ...
• 30 December 2003
  VATICAN - BUILDING PEACE IN THE NAME OF CHRIST THE CHURCH’S MISSIONARIES AND DIPLOMATS LABOUR AT EVERY LEVEL Vatican (Fides Service) – The name of Archbishop Michael Aidan Courtney, Nuncio in Burundi, is the last on the list for 2003 men and women martyrs for the Cause of the Gospel in many different parts of the world faithf ...
• 30 December 2003
  MARTYROLOGY 2003 Vatican City (Fides Service) - According to information collected by Fides, during 2003 no less than 29 members of the Church including an Archbishop, priests, religious and lay people, lost their lives while proclaiming ...
• 30 December 2003
  VATICAN - CARDINAL TONINI SHARES WITH FIDES PART OF LAST LETTER RECEIVED FROM MURDERED ARCHBISHOP COURTNEY, NUNCIO IN BURUNDI, WHO WAS HOPEFUL FOR A SOLUTION TO THE TRAGEDY OF THAT PEOPLE Vatican City (Fides Service ) – Cardinal Ersilio Tonini, Archbishop emeritus of Ravenna-Cervia, was in close contact with Archbishop Michael Aidan Courtney Apostolic Nuncio in Burundi, murdered in Burundi on 29 Decembe ...
• 30 December 2003
  VATICAN - CONGREGATION FOR THE EVANGELISATION OF PEOPLES EXPRESSES PROFOUND GRIEF FOR THE MURDER OF ARCHBISHOP COURTNEY, NUNCIO IN BURUNDI Vatican City (Fides Service) – The Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples CEP learned with profound grief of the death of Archbishop Michael Aidan Courtney, Apostolic Nuncio in Burundi, aged 58, mortally wounde ...
• 29 December 2003
  VATICAN - AT THE ANGELUS PRAYER ON HOLY FAMILY SUNDAY, THE POPE RECALLS THE “IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY BASED ON MATRIMONY” AND HE CALLS ON THE WORLD TO HELP EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN IRAN Vatican City (Fides Service ) – At midday on Sunday 28 December – Feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth - Pope John Paul II appeared at his study window to pray with the crowds and impart his blessing on several thous ...