News

• 13 May 2009
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Humanitarian crisis of the Swat refugees on the outskirts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi; Fides learns of the alert from the local Church Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) – The exodus of refugees from the Swat Valley, where fighting continues to take place between the Pakistani Army and Taliban forces, has taken its toll on two of Pakistans largest cities locat ...
• 13 May 2009
  ASIA/CHINA - 3,000 faithful attend Marian pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima Shi Jia Zhuang (Agenzia Fides) – The feast of Our Lady of Fatima, prayers for Our Lady of China, and Mother's Day were all motives for the Chinese faithful from Shang Hai, Hang Zhou, Su Zhou, Wen Zhou, Ning Bo, and oth ...
• 13 May 2009
  AMERICA/CANADA - National March for Life, May 14: “supporting healthy families founded on marriage, we build a society that is better prepared to welcome, respect and value unborn human life” Ottawa (Agenzia Fides) – The Catholic Organization for Life and Family has issued a statement on the occasion of the National March for Life which will be held on May 14 in Ottawa. The Message is entitled “40 Years o ...
• 13 May 2009
  AMERICA/NICARAGUA - Plenary Assembly of the Latin American Bishops' Council begins, with the theme of the mission: “Our time, marked by the decay of values, requires strength and great courage.” Managua (Agenzia Fides) – The Latin American Bishops' Council (CELAM) began its 32nd Plenary Assembly on May 12 (yesterday). The Assembly will last until May 16 and is taking place at the “Virgen de Fatima” Seminar ...
• 13 May 2009
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - “Those who have not seen anything good in what the Pope has said can be seen as enemies of Africa,” Bishops of Nigeria affirm Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishops of Nigeria have joined in expressing their support for the Holy Father in regards to the controversy that began during his recent visit to Angola and Cameroon. In a declaration sent ...
• 13 May 2009
  AFRICA/BURKINA FASO - Archbishop of Ouagadougou resigns, successor appointed Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on 13 May 2009, accepted the renunciation of the pastoral government of the Archdiocese of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) presented by Archbishop Jean-Marie Un ...
• 13 May 2009
  VATICAN - Benedict XVI in the Holy Land (16) - Holy Mass in the Josaphat Valley: “you, the Christians of the Holy Land, are called to serve not only as a beacon of faith to the universal Church, but also as a leaven of harmony, wisdom and equilibrium in the life of society” Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – On the afternoon of Tuesday, May 12, the Holy Father Benedict XVI presided the Mass in the Josaphat Valley in Jerusalem, which is located opposite the Basilica of Gethsemane and the Garden o ...
• 13 May 2009
  VATICAN - Benedict XVI in the Holy Land (15) - Recitation of the Regina Caeli in the Upper Room and visit to the Co-Cathedral: “count on my support and encouragement as you do all that is in your power to assist our Christian brothers and sisters to remain and prosper here in the land of their ancestors and to be messengers and promoters of peace” Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – In the Upper Room, historic site of Pentecost, the Holy Father Benedict XVI led the recitation of the Regina Caeli with the Ordinaries of the Holy Land. The encounter took place with the sin ...
• 13 May 2009
  VATICAN - Benedict XVI in the Holy Land (14) - Visit to the Wailing Wall and visit to the two Chief Rabbis of Jerusalem: “the Catholic Church is irrevocably committed to the path chosen at the Second Vatican Council for a genuine and lasting reconciliation between Christians and Jews” Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – Departing the Esplanade of the Mosques, the Holy Father Benedict XVI traveled to the Western Wall, commonly known as the “Wailing Wall.” Here, the Chief Rabbi read a Psalm in Hebrew and ...
• 13 May 2009
  VATICAN - Benedict XVI in the Holy Land (13) - Visit to the Dome of the Rock and the Grand Mufti: “Here the paths of the world’s three great monotheistic religions meet, reminding us what they share in common.” Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – On the morning of May 12, the Holy Father Benedict XVI traveled to the Esplanade of the Mosques. After a brief visit to the Dome of the Rock, the most ancient Islamic monument in the Holy La ...
• 12 May 2009
  ASIA/MYANMAR - Recent report on Myanmar's children, the first victims of the ongoing internal conflict Yangon (Agenzia Fides) – The children are the first victims of the civil conflict taking place between members of the national army, led by the military regime that governs the country, and members of guerrilla groups ...
• 12 May 2009
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Thousands of Christians and Sikh among Swat Valley Refugees Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) – There are thousands of Christian and Sikh families among the refugees who have had to abandon their homes, lands, businesses, and towns in the Swat Valley to flee the conflict that has broke ...
• 12 May 2009
  AFRICA/SENEGAL - Over half the deaths from conflicts worldwide between 1990-2005 are Africans, African Development Bank says Dakar (Agenzia Fides) – Africa is the continent that has paid the highest price, in victims and in the loss of possible development, as a result of wars. This is what is stated in the African Development Report 2008-20 ...
• 12 May 2009
  ASIA/CHINA - One year anniversary of the tragic earthquake in Si Chuan: one year of Catholics accompanying the victims, international solidarity continues Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Exactly one year ago, on May 12, 2008, in the southwest region of mainland China, an extremely violent earthquake was felt, causing great human and material losses, with 68,712 deaths and 17,921 ...
• 12 May 2009
  EUROPE/SPAIN - Citizen groups protest the sale of “morning after” pill over the counter: “a human and medical aberration” that “implies the establishment of unrestricted abortion” Madrid (Agenzia Fides) – The statement issued on the morning of May 11 by Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez and Equality Minister Bibiana Aido, establishing the over-the-counter sales of the “morning after” pill (in ...