News

• 14 January 2008
  EUROPE/SPAIN - “As Catholics we have the right and the duty to defend the authentic family, the basic foundation of every society, today when family values are so threatened and undervalued” said the president of the Forum of Lay Catholics in the diocese of Valencia Valencia (Agenzia Fides) - Some 86 lay associations and movements, representing the Forum of Lay Catholics in the diocese of Valencia, signed the message launched by Cardinal Agustín García-Gasco Archbishop of Valencia ...
• 14 January 2008
  AFRICA/KENYA - Cardinal Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi, strongly condemns tribalism. A missionary says: “people are quietly but resolutely moving away from mixed areas to places where there are people only of their own tribe.” Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) -“This wounded country is still assessing the damage caused by insane violence ” said a missionary in Kenya who asked not to be named for security reasons. “In Nairobi at least in appearanc ...
• 14 January 2008
  AFRICA - What causes people to emigrate from West Africa? Rome (Agenzia Fides) - What stories lie behind the flow of illegal immigrants from Africa to Europe? Mere figures cannot describe the dramas which push growing numbers of Africans to risk their lives in order to reach Eu ...
• 14 January 2008
  ASIA/HONG KONG - At least 2,200 participants at Hong Kong diocesan Marriage Festival to re-launch the value of the Family and Christian marriage in the light of Spe salvi Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - “From the Lord we draw hope to face the difficulties of life”: Catholic priests in the diocese of Hong Kong told the faithful on the occasion of “Marriage Festival 2007” organised by ...
• 14 January 2008
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - The local Catholic Church calls for transparent investigation into the death of Benazir Bhutto and prays for the country's future Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - The local Catholic Church in Pakistan has called for a credible and neutral investigation into the death of Benazir Bhutto, killed by a bomb blast and gun shots on 27 December in Rawalpindi. All ...
• 14 January 2008
  ASIA/CAMBODIA - First new church in Phnom Penh since Red Khmer times, visit by Cardinal Renato Martino Phnom Penh (Agenzia Fides) - Catholics in the Apostolic Vicariate of di Phnom Penh are rejoicing for the consecration of a new church, dedicated to the Child Jesus. This is the first new church to be opened in the capita ...
• 14 January 2008
  AMERICA/VENEZUELA - “The best service we can offer is to be united, faithful in announcing the Gospel of reconciliation, build bridges of understanding and offer ethical values and principles”: Bishops Message at the end of Ordinary Plenary Caracas (Agenzia Fides) - At the end of its 89th plenary 8-11 January in statement with the title “Paths to Reconciliation and Hope” the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Venezuela proposed a "Christian vision to illum ...
• 14 January 2008
  AMERICA/PANAMA - Bishops request: a solution to violence, discrediting campaigns in pre-election year must be avoided, economic interests must not prevail in the exploitation of natural resources, family and the right of parents to educate children must be defended Panama (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Bishops of Panama issued a statement at the end of a plenary meeting 7 - 11 January during which the Bishops reflected on various aspects in the life of the local Church and the impl ...
• 14 January 2008
  OCEANIA/SOLOMON ISLANDS - Twinning with young Australians in view of World Youth Day Honiara (Agenzia Fides) - They have come to Solomon Islands for an experience of study (many are history, economy, development students), volunteer work, encounter and sharing with other young people, communion of faith ...
• 11 January 2008
  VATICAN - Education emergency, support for the family based on matrimony, spreading poverty, penalisation of Catholic hospitals: Pope Benedict XVI addresses administrators of the Lazio Region and Rome Municipality and Province Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “The times and situations change, but the Pope's love and concern for those who live in this land, distinguished by a great living heritage of Christianity, never weakens”. With these s ...
• 11 January 2008
  VATICAN - In the wake of recent attacks the Holy Father sends message of solidarity to Christian communities in Iraq Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI has sent a telegramme expressing solidarity in the wake of recent attacks against Christian communities in Baghdad, Mosul and Kirkuk on 6 and 9 January. The te ...
• 11 January 2008
  EUROPE/SPAIN - The Archbishop of Toledo addresses the issue of compulsory “education to citizenship” imposed by the Zapatero government in all schools: “The government intends to transmit a radical secular vision of man which gives no importance to God” Toledo (Agenzia Fides) - With regard to the compulsory school subject “education to citizenship”, imposed by Spain's socialist government, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Archbishop of Toledo and vice president of the Sp ...
• 11 January 2008
  AFRICA/KENYA - The door of dialogue is still open” local Church source tells Fides after mission of mediation by African Union president ends Nairobi (Agenzia Fides)- “The door is not closed, it is still open, even though the mission of the international mediator cannot be called a success. But the situation is complex and cannot be solved in a few days” s ...
• 11 January 2008
  AFRICA - Millions affected by floods in southern Africa; children most at risk Rome (Agenzia Fides)- Floods in some countries in southern Africa have caused considerable loss of life and material damage. Southern Zambia is devastated by floods, following weeks of torrential rain. Some 3,000 people ...
• 11 January 2008
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Bishops oppose pro-abortion ordinances Manila (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Bishops of the Philippines have urged Catholics to strongly defend life and counter pro-abortion ordinances in local or national administrations. Recalling that abortion is illegal i ...