News

• 27 February 2009
  ASIA/HONG KONG - Amidst the present economic crisis, an invitation to “invest” in Christian spirituality and formation, lifelong investments Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - “In the midst of this economic crisis, we should not forget about spiritual investment.” These were the words of the priests of Hong Kong in their petition to the faithful, calling them on ...
• 27 February 2009
  VATICAN - “Immigration and hope are for us inseparable: in effect, there cannot be immigration without hope and desire for a better life,” says Archbishop Marchetto, Secretary of the Pontifical Council of for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “Immigration and hope are for us inseparable: in effect, there cannot be immigration without hope and desire for a better life, for leaving behind the 'despair' of a job that doesn't exis ...
• 27 February 2009
  EUROPE/BELGIUM - Desperate lives. Testimony of an Armenian family who received support from Caritas in Brussels (Luca De Mata correspondence from Belgium - 14) Brussels (Agenzia Fides) – Caritas is not far from where I am staying. You can go inside and have a seat in a place that is obviously highly effective, clean, and where people work with dedication to assist those who h ...
• 26 February 2009
  VATICAN - WORDS OF DOCTRINE: Rev. Nicola Bux and Rev. Salvatore Vitiello - Religious freedom and the question of “reciprocity” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Church in two thousand years has achieved within herself the most colossal integration of peoples and cultures, from east to west, never allowing herself to be trapped by natio ...
• 26 February 2009
  VATICAN - In his Lenten Message, the Pope recalls that fasting for believers “is, in the first place, a “therapy” to heal all that prevents them from conformity to the will of God.” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – In his Message for Lent 2009, entitled: “He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry” (Mt 4:1-2), the Holy Father Benedict XVI reflected on the meaning and ...
• 26 February 2009
  AFRICA/WESTERN SAHARA - Apostolic Prefect of Western Sahara resigns Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on 25 February 2009, accepted the renunciation of the pastoral government of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Western Sahara presented by Fr. Acacio Valbuen ...
• 26 February 2009
  AFRICA/CONGO DR - “We're going to have to wait a few months to verify the results of the military operation,” missionary says following the retreat of Rwandan troops from Kivu Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - “Certain official declarations seem excessively optimistic and I think that they have been made in order to justify the joint military operation; however, we should look at the facts: it does ...
• 26 February 2009
  AFRICA/SIERRA LEON - Three guerrillas indicted in Sierra Leon for repeated sexual offenses is “a first step towards justice” missionary tells Fides Freetown (Agenzia Fides) - “This is a first step towards justice and reparation towards victims, which should be followed by more similar acts,” Agenzia Fides was told by Fr. Gerardo Caglioni, Xaverian missionary pre ...
• 26 February 2009
  AMERICA/NICARAGUA - Bishops call for a social conversion at the beginning of Lent and a special week of penance for the conversion of the Nicaraguan people: March 30 - April 4 Managua (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishops' Conference of Nicaragua has issued a Message upon the beginning of Lent, in which they make a strong call to social conversion, reminding the faithful that “the time of Lent is ...
• 26 February 2009
  AMERICA/PANAMA - Sunday, March 1, launching of Great Mission until 2013, 500th anniversary of evangelization Panama City (Agenzia Fides) – This Sunday, March 1, the Catholic Church in Panama will officially launch its Nationwide Mission, in the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel, in a Mass for the Feast of the Christ of ...
• 26 February 2009
  VATICAN - Benedict XVI begins Lent: “Paul had an extraordinary experience of the power of God's grace, the grace of the Paschal Mystery which gives life to Lent itself.” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – On the afternoon of Wednesday, February 25, Ash Wednesday, the Holy Father Benedict XVI traveled to the Church of Saint Anselm on the Aventine Hill and, after a moment of prayer, he proce ...
• 26 February 2009
  VATICAN - Holy Father's Message to the Church in Brazil, for the Fraternity Campaign 2009: “Lent encourages us to never tire in the fight to do good” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI sent a message to Archbishop Geraldo Lyrio Roch of Mariana, President of the Brazilian Bishops' Conference (CNBB), upon the occasion of the annual Fraternity C ...
• 26 February 2009
  AMERICA/ECUADOR - Munera Solidarity Campaign 2009, for needy schools Quito (Agenzia Fides) – On the first day of Lent, February 25, Ecuador launched its Lenten Solidarity Campaign “MUNERA,” which the Church in Ecuador has conducted since 1976, according to a report sent to Agenzia F ...
• 25 February 2009
  EUROPE/SPAIN - Sunday, March 1 is Latin American Missionary Day: “Do not be afraid to be generous in responding to the apostolic mission that presents itself on the horizon.” Madrid (Agenzia Fides) – This Sunday, March 1, is Latin American Missionary Day, organized by the Bishops' Commission for the Missions and a collaboration among the Dioceses of the Spanish Bishops' Conference. The them ...
• 25 February 2009
  VATICAN - “AVE MARIA”: Mgr Luciano Alimandi - Lent: a freeing space Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Lent should be seen not only as a season in preparation for the Passover of Our Lord Jesus, but also as a time and a path of grace, as we make our way, amidst temptation and struggle with ...