News

• 15 December 2005
  The Pope’s missionary prayer intention for January 2006: “For migrants: may they be recognised as persons created in the image and likeness of God and welcomed with respect and charity ”. Comment by Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi C.S., Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations and International Organisations in Geneva Geneva (Fides Service) - Today more than 200 million people in the world live and work in a country which is not the one in which they were born. This is a sign of the times and a phenomenon which transforms whole countr ...
• 15 December 2005
  EUROPE/ITALY - Conference to mark the 100th anniversary of Saint Pope Pius X’s “Compendium of Catholic Doctrine” Riese Pio X (Fides Service) - In 1905 Pope Pius X presented Rome diocese with a “Compendio della Dottrina Cristiana”, known as “the Catechism of Pius X”. It consisted of a series of simply worded questions and a ...
• 15 December 2005
  AFRICA/BURKINA FASO - National award presented to San Camillo Hospital in Ouagadougou first centre in the country to offer HIV tests to pregnant mothers Ouagadougou (Fides Service) - On World Aids Day December 1 San Camillo Medical Centre in Ouagadougou was among five hospitals awarded the national medal of merit for activity in the field of healthcare, in particular car ...
• 15 December 2005
  ASIA/MYANMAR - The Pope establishes new diocese of Pekhon and appoints first Bishop Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on 15 December 2005 established the diocese of Pekhon (Myanmar), with territory taken from the archdiocese of Taunggyi, making it suffragan of the same me ...
• 15 December 2005
  AMERICA/MEXICO - Migration, Multicultural situation and Pastoral and Culture: 3rd national Congress January 2006 organised by Mexican Bishops’ Commission for Culture Mexico City (Fides Service) - The Catholic Bishops of Mexico are promoting a National Congress on Migration, Multicultural Society and Pastoral and Culture in order to launch a process of pastoral sensitisation and comm ...
• 15 December 2005
  AFRICA/MALAWI - “2005 will not go down in history as a year of glory” says Catholic missionary in Malawi where millions are faced with famine Lilongwe (Fides Service) - From famine stricken Malawi a missionary with decades of experience writes a letter: “To continue in a few lines the history of a country anxious to see the end of a year which will not go do ...
• 15 December 2005
  AFRICA/DR CONGO - Constitutional Referendum: “voting is a moral and civic duty” say Catholic Bishops but the Church does not tell people how to vote Kinshasa (Fides Service) - The Bishops’ Conference of the Democratic Republic of Congo has urged citizens to take part in the constitutional referendum on 18 December, but gave no indication as to whether people should ...
• 15 December 2005
  AMERICA/ARGENTINA - 2006 Diocesan Year of Christian vocation and mission in Nueve de Julio Buenos Aires (Fides Service) - In order to foster spiritual and pastoral renewal and as part of five years of preparation for the 50th anniversary of its foundation Nueve de Julio diocese in Argentina has decided to make ...
• 15 December 2005
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Earthquake emergency not over: The United Nations High Commission for Refugees sends more aid to help homeless survivors live through the Winter Islamabad (Fides Service)- The 13 December 6.7 earthquake (Richter scale) which had its epicentre in the Hindu Kush area of north east Afghanistan was felt also in Pakistan, but so far there have been no reports of damag ...
• 14 December 2005
  VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI issues his first Message for World Peace Day: “wherever and whenever men and women are enlightened by the splendour of truth, they naturally set out on the path of peace” Vatican City (Fides Service) - The first Message written by Pope Benedict XVI for World Peace Day celebrated on the first day of the new year is inspired by the Gaudium et spes Pastoral Constitution (cfr. n.3), issued b ...
• 14 December 2005
  ASIA/HONG KONG - Pastoral care in preparation for the sacrament of marriage helps prevent separation and divorce Hong Kong (Fides Service) - “If couples preparing for married life learn to solve disagreements with maturity a number of serious problems can be avoided and the relationship would be consolidated” said Bishop Joseph ...
• 14 December 2005
  AMERICA/GUATEMALA - “May the coming of God-made-Man encourage us to be signs and operators of communion among all. May we be better evangelisers and missionaries” says Cardinal Rodolfo Quezada Toruño, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Guatemala Guatemala City (Fides Service) - Celebrations for Advent and Christmas must not be a reason for forgetting daily personal and social challenges, instead “we should strive to give this liturgical Season a more contempl ...
• 14 December 2005
  VATICAN - Gifts from the Pope and cardinals among objects offered at tonight’s Charity Auction in aid of Sudanese children Vatican City (Fides Service) - Vatican City (Fides Service) - Once again this year the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples is holding a charity Auction of objects donated by various including gifts received by ...
• 14 December 2005
  ASIA/INDONESIA - The Pope establishes diocese of Maumere and appoints first Bishop Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on 14 December 2005, established the diocese of Maumure (Indonesia) with territory taken from the archdiocese of Ende making it suffragan of the same metr ...
• 14 December 2005
  VATICAN - In his teaching at the Wednesday general audience Pope Benedict XVI explains psalm 138: “the Lord’s hand is always ready to take our hand to lead us on our earthly journey. His is a presence not of judgement which strikes terror but of support and liberation” Vatican City (Fides Service) - In his teaching at the general Wednesday audience this morning in St Peter’s Square Pope Benedict XVI explained the first two verses of psalm 138 (138,1-12, “God sees everything”, ves ...