News

• 10 December 2008
  AFRICA/SIERRA LEONE - “There are encouraging signs, but the country is in need of aid from all of us,” a missionary from Sierra Leone says Freetown (Agenzia Fides) - “After the peaceful and democratic elections of last year, it is evident that all Sierra Leone is making an effort to change the bad habits and negative aspects of the past and build a better ...
• 10 December 2008
  EUROPE/ITALY - Social and business commitments, a possible harmony; business projects for Sahel Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Social commitments and business interests can be reconciled, and when this occurs, the fruits are many and are evident. This is one of the discoveries that was made during the convention entitled ...
• 10 December 2008
  ASIA/VIETNAM - Catholics of Thai Ha found guilty; the nation pours out its solidarity and prayer Hanoi (Agenzia Fides) – The eight Vietnamese Catholics of the parish church in Thai Ha, accused of “disorder and damages to state property” after having prayed on land that formerly belonged to the Church and was l ...
• 10 December 2008
  AFRICA/ZIMBABWE - External pressures mount, calling for Mugabe's resignation; however real danger is the army Harare (Agenzia Fides) – It is not so much the requests from leaders of various important nations (including in Africa) that he let go of the reigns, as it is the alarming signs coming from the army, that worry Zimbabw ...
• 9 December 2008
  VATICAN - On the Second Sunday of Advent, the Holy Father mentions that “in the Advent liturgy there resounds a message full of hope, which invites us to lift up our gaze to the ultimate horizon, but at the same time to recognize the signs of God-with-us in the present.” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – On the Second Sunday of Advent, December 7, the Holy Father Benedict XVI spoke prior to the recitation of the Angelus, explaining that the liturgical season of Advent is “a time of open ...
• 9 December 2008
  VATICAN - Message from the Holy Father Benedict XVI upon the death of His Holiness Alexis II Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI has sent the following telegram of condolence to the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church for the death of His Holiness Alexis II, Patriarch of Moscow an ...
• 9 December 2008
  VATICAN - “The real task of theology is to enter into the Word of God, to seek to understand it and to make it understood in our world, and thus to find the answer to our great questions,” the Pope addresses the International Theological Commission Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – At the close of the annual Plenary Assembly held by the International Theological Commission, which this year coincides with the close of their seventh five-year mandate, the Holy Father ...
• 9 December 2008
  VATICAN - The Pope at the Angelus: “In Mary Immaculate, we contemplate the reflection of the Beauty that saves the world: the beauty of God that shines on the face of Christ.” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “The mystery of Mary's Immaculate Conception, which today we solemnly honor, reminds us of two fundamental truths of our faith: firstly, original sin, and then, the victory of the grace o ...
• 9 December 2008
  VATICAN - The Holy Father Benedict XVI entrusts Immaculate Mary with “the children, particularly those who are seriously ill, disadvantaged or suffering because of serious family problems... elderly people living alone, for the sick, for immigrants struggling to build a new life in a new country, for families who barely make ends meet and especially for people who cannot find a job or have lost their jobs” Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “Nearly three months ago, I had the great joy of traveling on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin Mary to Saint Bernadette,� ...
• 9 December 2008
  AFRICA - The French dioceses take up a collection for Africa, in a concrete effort to respond to Benedict XVI's desire that Africa not be forgotten Paris (Agenzia Fides) – Solidarity with the African churches will be at the heart of the celebration of Epiphany, which will be celebrated in France on Sunday, January 4. “We are all invited to support the African ...
• 9 December 2008
  ASIA/INDIA - “In spite of all the difficulties, as Trinitarians we look to the future with hope and we believe that with the growth in education, relations will improve and there will be a greater awareness of minority rights,” says Father Jose Narlaly, Indian, Minister General of the Trinitarians Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Father Jose Narlaly, OSST, Indian, has served one year as Minister General of the Trinitarians, an order that since the 8th century has been working to help Christians who are persecuted for the ...
• 9 December 2008
  AMERICA/UNITED STATES - Improving faith formation and leadership among Hispanic Catholics is among Bishops' priorities Baltimore (Agenzia Fides) - Experts on faith formation and leadership development among the Hispanic community in the United States met December 2-3 with staff members of the Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Chu ...
• 9 December 2008
  AMERICA/VENEZUELA - Archbishop of Caracas makes a Christmas appeal, asking that “fighting may come to an end, that hate may be dispelled, and that we may seek fraternal communion.” Caracas (Agenzia Fides) - “I invite you all, dear brothers and sisters, to take advantage of these days leading up to Christmas to intensify your spiritual life, with the reading of the Word of God, with prayer, and by ...
• 9 December 2008
  AMERICA/CHILE - 30th anniversary of the Pontifical Mediation in solving the controversy between Argentina and Chile celebrated; in his message, the Holy Father mentions that “in the face of any controversy, we should never give up on the path of patient dialogue and talks carried out in wisdom and prudence” Punta Arenas (Agenzia Fides) – Monte Aymond, on the Patagonian border between Chile and Argentina, was the site chosen for both countries to make their official commitment to continue defending peace, this past Decembe ...
• 9 December 2008
  ASIA/CHINA - “The celebration has ended, but the evangelization continues on...in the spirit of Saint Paul”: Bishop Xing presides the closing ceremony for the 400th anniversary of the evangelization of the Diocese of Shang Hai, with the ordination of two priests Shang Hai (Agenzia Fides) - “The celebration has ended, but the work of evangelization continues on...in the spirit of Saint Paul. We pray for the evangelization of our Diocese of Shang Hai, the Church in China, and th ...