News

• 25 May 2009
  AFRICA/SOMALIA - Over 200 dead and 57,000 refugees as a result of fighting in Mogadishu; President Ahmed makes appeal Mogadishu (Agenzia Fides) – The President of Somalia has made an appeal to the international community, asking them to help his country to expel the hundreds of foreign troops that have sided with the Islamic fundament ...
• 25 May 2009
  AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Failed attempt to reach a resolution to the crisis Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – Former Madagascar President Didier Ratsiraka announced that he will no longer participate in the talks taking place in an effort to help the country emerge from the crisis between the Pre ...
• 25 May 2009
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Christian Churches raise the voice against religious extremism in the country: day of fasting and prayer May 30 Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - “We call upon people to recognize the reality of hatred, discrimination and injustice being encouraged and propagated in the name of religion. Groups and individuals doing this should not only ...
• 25 May 2009
  AMERICA/GUATEMALA - Preparations begin for the Guatemalan Missionary Congress, November 13-15 Izabal (Agenzia Fides) – The Missions Commission of the Apostolic Vicariate of Izabal is working hard to prepare for the celebration of the Guatemalan Missionary Congress (COMGUA III), according to a report sent to Age ...
• 25 May 2009
  AMERICA/ARGENTINA - Publication of a guide for the Sacrament of Baptism in terms of the Catholic Church's relationship with other Christian Churches and ecclesial communities Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishops' Commission for Ecumenism, Relationships with Judaism, Islam, and Other Religions, of the Argentinean Bishops' Conference, presented the Pastoral Guide: “The Sacrament of Ba ...
• 25 May 2009
  EUROPE/GREAT BRITAIN - May 25-31: National Family Week: “The Home is a Holy Place” London (Agenzia Fides) – The Catholic Church in Great Britain is celebrating National Family Week from May 25-31. In honor of the event, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have prepared a resource pack. The Ho ...
• 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 ...