News

• 25 May 2009
  VATICAN - Benedict XVI tells the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy: “The Lord wants us to be saints, not concerned with building a career that is interesting and comfortable in human terms, but entirely dedicated to the good of souls, ready to do our duty unto the end.” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “The service in the Apostolic Nunciatures can be considered to some extent, as a specific vocation to the priesthood, a pastoral ministry that involves insertion into a particular world a ...
• 25 May 2009
  VATICAN - Message from the Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone, to the youth pilgrims of the Holy Land Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sent a greeting to a large group of young Italian pilgrims in the Holy Land, which was read by Bishop Antonio Franco, Apostolic Delega ...
• 25 May 2009
  ASIA/NEPAL - Shock and sadness visits the Catholic Church in Nepal following a bomb blast in the Cathedral of Kathmandu, Pro-Vicar Apostolic tells Fides Kathmandu (Agenzia Fides) - “The small Catholic community of Nepal is really shocked and saddened at this violent attack on the peace-loving and non-violent community. What surprises all is that it was done without any ...
• 25 May 2009
  AMERICA/COSTA RICA - Health authorities of Costa Rica report a 46.7 % drop in dengue cases and 65.3% drop in malaria in 2009 San Jose (Agenzia Fides) - Health authorities in Costa Rica report that in the first four months of this year, dengue cases have dropped by 46.7 % and malaria cases by 65.3%, in comparison to this same period in 2008. ...
• 25 May 2009
  ASIA/CHINA - Sunday, May 24, the Chinese Catholic community throughout the world prays for the Catholic Church in China, in accord with the Holy Father's intentions Roma (Agenzia Fides) – On Sunday, May 24, in accord with the “Day of Prayer for the Church in China” established by Pope Benedict XVI in the Letter to Chinese Catholics written May 27, 2007, Chinese Catholics throu ...
• 25 May 2009
  VATICAN - Benedict XVI at Montecassino - “Human beings cannot achieve full self-realization or ever be truly happy without God. It is your special responsibility, dear monks, to be living examples of this interior and profound relationship with him.” Cassino (Agenzia Fides) – After the Mass and the Regina Caeli in Piazza Miranda in Cassino, the Holy Father Benedict traveled to the Abbey of Montecassino. In the afternoon, the Holy Father met with the monastic commun ...
• 25 May 2009
  VATICAN - Benedict XVI at Montecassino: At the Regina Caeli, the Holy Father highlights the commitment to peace and the Day of Prayer for the Church in China: “May our common prayer obtain an effusion of gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that unity of all Christians, the catholicity and the universality of the Church always will be deeper and more visible.” Cassino (Agenzia Fides) – After the Mass celebrated in Piazza Miranda, in Cassino (Italy), the Holy Father Benedict XVI led the recitation of the Regina Caeli. Prior to the prayer, the Pope mentioned the value of peace ...
• 25 May 2009
  VATICAN - Benedict XVI at Montecassino: We too “must not remain looking up at the sky, but, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we must go everywhere and proclaim the salvific message of the death and resurrection of Christ” Cassino (Agenzia Fides) – On Sunday, May 24, the Holy Father Benedict XVI made a pastoral visit to Cassino and Montecassino. At 10:15am he presided the Eucharistic Celebration of the Solemnity of the Lord's Ascension i ...
• 23 May 2009
  Dossier - Saint Benedict Saint Benedict “I ask St Benedict to help us keep Christ firmly at the heart of our lives. May Christ always have pride of place in our thoughts and in all our activities!” (Benedict XVI, general audience 27 A ...
• 22 May 2009
  AFRICA/MALAWI - Incumbent President elected for a second term, as women take their place in politics Lilongwe (Agenzia Fides) – The incumbent President Bingu wa Mutharika, 75 years of age, has been reelected President of Malawi, winning the presidential elections held on May 19 (see Fides 18/5/2009). The Electoral Com ...
• 22 May 2009
  OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA - Ecumenical initiatives in Australian dioceses Brisbane (Agenzia Fides) – The path of dialogue continues between the Catholic and Anglican Churches in Australia. Ecumenical events and accords have multiplied, especially on a diocesan level, creating a climate of ev ...
• 22 May 2009
  ASIA/SRI LANKA - Refugee emergency crisis: “Thousands of people are at risk for death in the coming days, from hunger, thirst, and a lack of medical care.” Colombo (Agenzia Fides) – The war has ended, but the refugee emergency remains very serious. This is what Agenzia Fides has learned from priests, religious, volunteers, and NGOs working on the field in the north-centra ...
• 22 May 2009
  AFRICA/CAMEROON - UNICEF decries death of 45,000 children every year in Cameroon, as a result of malnutrition; the refugee dilemma Yaounde (Agenzia Fides) – At least 45,000 children die every year from malnutrition in Cameroon. This is what UNICEF, the UN's agency for children, has declared in recent days. In their report on Africa, the organizati ...
• 22 May 2009
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - “Let us educate people to go beyond the futile fascination of the mass media,” says Bishop Badejo on the 43rd World Communications Day Ibadan (Agenzia Fides) - ““The Church is communication”. It is very tempting for theologians to try to contest this statement but it is not a frivolous one,” said Bishop Emmanuel Ade Badejo, Coadjutor Bishop of t ...
• 22 May 2009
  AMERICA/MEXICO - The Mission “is not simply a strategic shift in an effort to be more efficient; above all, it implies a greater fidelity to Jesus Christ in His Church.” Message from the Archbishop of Antequera-Oaxaca Antequera-Oaxaca (Agenzia Fides) - “Having declared the Archdiocese in a state of mission implies a profound revision and renewal of our lifestyle and our manner of transmitting the faith. It means setting off on a pat ...