News

• 16 December 2008
  AFRICA - In 2009, the Society of African Missions will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the death of their Founder, Bishop Melchior de Marion Brésillac, and inaugurate three new Districts in Africa Rome (Agenzia Fides) – In 2009, the Society of African Missions (SMA) will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the death of its founder, French Bishop Melchior de Marion Brésillac (1813-1859), who arrived in Freetown ( ...
• 16 December 2008
  AFRICA/KENYA - Protest on the new information law; Cardinal Njue expresses his concern for the freedom of the media and encourages journalists to remember their responsibility Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – Lively protests are being carried out in Kenya, following the approval of a new information law that establishes tighter regulations on freedom of the press. Some fifty journalists and members ...
• 16 December 2008
  AFRICA/TOGO - Togo abolishes the death penalty, while the African Union invites all the countries on the continent to a moratorium on all forms of capital punishment Lome (Agenzia Fides) – Togo has joined the other countries who have decided to outlaw the death penalty. On December 13, the government in Lome announced a law abolishing capital punishment. “The country's choice t ...
• 16 December 2008
  ASIA/THAILAND - The Church in Thailand is preparing new ad gentes missionaries for Asian countries Bangkok (Agenzia Fides) – The Church in Thailand is opening its heart to the world and preparing new missionaries for the ad gentes mission, especially for evangelization of other Asian countries. For several months no ...
• 16 December 2008
  ASIA/CHINA - “Making the church beautiful is an external preparation, while the internal one implies preparing the temple of God in our heart, awaiting the coming of Jesus”: various new churches consecrated in Advent, to receive the Lord “in His new house” Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - “Making the church beautiful is an external preparation, while the internal one implies preparing the temple of God in our heart: purify us of our sins, awaiting the coming of Jesus.” This i ...
• 16 December 2008
  EUROPE/ITALY - A record year in natural disasters, mainly affecting poorer nations; a firm international effort is needed to protect the environment Rome (Agenzia Fides) – The climate emergency linked to the environmental issue continues to present itself as one of the most important on the planet, in corroboration with the recent summits of the UN in Poznan, Polan ...
• 15 December 2008
  VATICAN - The Pope at the Angelus says that “no one can know the moment of the Lord's return...the "nearness" of God is not a question of space and time, but rather a question of love: Love is near!” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – On the Third Sunday of Advent, December 14, which is called “Gaudete Sunday” - that is “rejoice” because the Lord is near - before praying the Angelus, the Holy Father Benedict XV ...
• 15 December 2008
  VATICAN - Benedict XVI tells the Bishops of Taiwan on their Ad Limina visit: “You and the Christian faithful in Taiwan are a living sign that, in a justly ordered society, one need not fear to be a faithful Catholic and a good citizen.” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “Your celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Catholic Evangelization in Taiwan is an occasion to manifest ever more eagerly your oneness with each other and with our Lord as you together ...
• 15 December 2008
  ASIA/HONG KONG - Secretary for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Archbishop Sarah, presides Hong Kong's 120th anniversary celebration in the Cathedral; 2009 is the Year of the Pauline Vocation Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - “I am very happy to be able to participate in the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the consecration of the Cathedral. And I pray for the Church in China.” This is how Archbishop Rob ...
• 15 December 2008
  VATICAN - In addressing the Italian Embassy to the Holy See, the Pope mentions the distinction and autonomy between Church and State: “the Church not only acknowledges and respects it, but rejoices, as it is a great progress in humanity and a fundamental condition for its freedom and fulfillment of its universal mission of salvation among all peoples.” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – On the morning of Saturday, December 13, the Holy Father Benedict XVI payed a visit to the Italian Embassy to the Holy See. In the Embassy's Chapel, which has been recently restored, in t ...
• 15 December 2008
  ASIA/MYANMAR - “Life has begun once more following the cyclone. Caritas is working on the front line in humanitarian aid and reconstruction”: Agenzia Fides talks with Joseph Hang Khan Pau, National Director of Karuna (Caritas Myanmar) Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “Life is starting up once again, thanks to the Christian volunteers as well. Caritas does its best to bring comfort and aid to all the people and to prepare reconstruction projects.” Th ...
• 15 December 2008
  VATICAN - The Pope addresses the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity: “ecumenism calls us to a generous fraternal exchange of gifts, aware that full communion in the faith, in the sacraments, and in ministry continues to be the objective and goal of the entire ecumenical movement.” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “The Reception and Future of Ecumenical Dialogue” was the theme for the Plenary Assembly held by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and was defined by the Holy Father, ...
• 15 December 2008
  AMERICA/GUATEMALA - World Health Organization declares Guatemala the first Central American nation successful in controlling Chagas' disease Guatemala City (Agenzia Fides) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Guatemala the first Central American nation successful in stopping the transmission of Tripanosimiasis americana, also known as Chagas' ...
• 15 December 2008
  AMERICA/MEXICO - Exhortation of the Bishops of Xalapa: “Christmas is an invitation not to have fear, to rediscover the joy and hope that is Jesus Christ.” Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) - “A united Mexico, for a shared hope” is the title of the Christmas Message issued by the Bishops of Xalapa. In their Message, the Bishops recall the problems and difficulties in the reg ...
• 15 December 2008
  AMERICA/NICARAGUA - Presentation of the document “Participation and Communion,” to assume the challenges of the permanent state of mission Managua (Agenzia Fides) – Archbishop Leopoldo Jose Brenes Solorzano of Managua (Nicaragua), during his monthly meeting with the clergy in December, officially presented the document entitled, “Participation and Commu ...