News

• 19 April 2005
  AFRICA/SUDAN - “A man of profound humanity and great spirituality and he is very kind” says Bishop of El Obeid who has met Benedict XVI personally Khartoum (Fides Service) - “I am very happy for the election of Benedict XVI” Bishop Macram Max Gassis of El Obeid in southern Sudan told Fides. “This Pope represents continuity with the papacy of John Paul II. He ...
• 19 April 2005
  ASIA/HOLY LAND - “Our hope is already a certainty: this Pope will build bridges and a be prophet of peace for the Holy Land” Franciscan Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Holy Land Custodian told Fides Jerusalem (Fides Service) - “It is no longer a hope, it is a certainty: Pope Benedict XVI will be a builder of bridges and prophet of peace for the Holy Land” Franciscan Father di Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Holy Land ...
• 19 April 2005
  AMERICA/MEXICO - The newly elected Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI will confirm the people fidelity to God and His will Guadalajara (Fides Service) - “People rushed to the main city square the thank God for giving the Church a new shepherd after his own heart. People cried for joy when they realised the smoke from the Sistine chapel chi ...
• 19 April 2005
  VATICAN - Missionary world rejoices for election of new Shepherd, Benedict XVI Vatican City (Fides Service) - At 5.50pm white smoke poured from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel and the bells of St Peter’s rang out to announce the news of the election of the new Pope to thousands gath ...
• 19 April 2005
  VATICAN - One of the thousands in St Peter’s square waiting for the new Pope Vatican City (Fides Service)- Here in St Peter’s square people are waiting patiently, their eyes riveted on the chimney which will tell the world that a new Pope has been elected. A few say they are only here out of cu ...
• 19 April 2005
  AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - “We hope the Pope will continue like his predecessor to defend human rights and promote the cause of peace”. South Africans say after election of Benedict XVI Pretoria (Fides Service)- “Catholics and non Catholics in South Africa hope the new Pope Benedict XVI will continue to work of his predecessor, John Paul II, to defend human rights and promote peace in the world” Co ...
• 19 April 2005
  ASIA/CHINA - From China prayers for the new Pope: “Now we have John Paul II in heaven and Benedict XVI with us on earth ” Shi Jia Zhuang (Fides Service) - After the announcement of the election of the new Pope, Benedict XVI , Fr Zhang Shi Jiang, editor of Faith bulletin (a Catholic bulletin published in He Bei), made the following statement ...
• 19 April 2005
  AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - Church bells throughout the diocese are ringing to greet Benedict XVI in Bukavu, in the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo Bukavu (Fides Service)- “We are overjoyed. This is a time of deep emotion. Church bells are ringing in jubilation ” Fr. Luigi Lo Stocco, director of Radio Maria Queen of Peace in Bukavu diocese, in south Kivu in the ...
• 18 April 2005
  VATICAN - The missionary world finds its place in the exhortation by Cardinal Ratzinger at the Mass “for the election of the Roman Pontiff”: “We must be filled with holy restlessness to carry to all the gift of the faith...love and friendship of God given to us so it may reach everyone” Vatican City (Fides Service) - The exhortation pronounced this morning in St Peter’s Basilica by Cardinal Ratzinger, to “carry to all the gift of faith” was warmly welcomed by the missionary world judging by the ma ...
• 18 April 2005
  EUROPE/SPAIN - "Young people and the missionary dimension of the Church": about 10,000 young Spaniards choose to live an experience of mission during the Summer holidays Madrid (Fides Service) -"Young people and the missionary dimension of the Church” is the theme of a Missionary Youth Meeting 22-24 April in Madrid, organised by the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Spain with the ...
• 18 April 2005
  AFRICA/ETIOPIA - After members of all religions grieved for the passing of John Paul II in the Eparchy of Adigrat people pray to accompany the election of the new Pontiff Adigrat (Fides Service)- Also in Ethiopia people are praying to accompany the election of the new Pontiff. “Since they learned the sad news of the Pope’s death, Catholics the Eparchy of Adigrat have been giving thank ...
• 18 April 2005
  ASIA/CHINA - During Sunday Mass in every parish special prayers for the election of the new Pope, and that his first apostolic journey may be to Beijing Beijing (Fides) - A Catholic priest in Beijing told Fides that at Sunday Masses yesterday in every parish in the capital special prayers were said for the election of the new Pope with the hope that he may achieve the dr ...
• 18 April 2005
  AMERICA/ECUADOR - This serious situation may degenerate into anarchy, dictatorship and conflict between brothers of the same homeland: Catholic Bishops voice concern in an appeal for “Constitution and country” Quito (Fides Service) - “For the Constitution and for the country” is the title of a statement issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ecuador regarding the serious situation in the country after President Lu ...
• 18 April 2005
  AFRICA/TOGO - As elections approach the situation becomes incandescent: at least 7 killed in clashes between demonstrators and police on Saturday, but government says it cannot confirm that people were killed Lome (Fides Service)- The political climate in Togo takes fire 6 days before presidential elections on Sunday 24 April. Street protests on Saturday 16 April led to fierce clashes between demonstrators and police. Represe ...
• 18 April 2005
  AMERICA - As the world waits for the election of a new Pope the pilgrim Church in Latin America is united in prayer with the universal Church that the Holy Spirit may guide the conclave of cardinals Rome (Fides Service) - Numerous initiatives are being organised by the local Churches in Latin America to invoke the Holy Spirit to guide the work of the Conclave and enlighten the Cardinals called to elect the next Pope ...