News

• 25 February 2005
  ASIA/INDONESIA - “We pray the Lord will sustain the Holy Father at this time of suffering in his person”: says Catholic Bishop in Sumatra Padang (Fides Service) - From Sumatra, affected by the tsunami disaster last December, Bishop Martinus Situmorang, OFM Cap, of Padang shares his thoughts with regard to the Pope’s health: “In our part of the world th ...
• 25 February 2005
  ASIA/HONG KONG - “News that the Pope had been admitted to hospital again spread via SMS messages. We love the Pope and are praying for him non-stop. We can assure you that Catholics on mainland China are praying for the Holy Father too” Bishop John Tang auxiliary of Hong Kong told Fides Hong Kong (Fides Service) - Because the Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong Bishop Joseph Zen was not available Fides asked Auxiliary Bishop John Tong how Catholics in Hong Kong had taken the news of the Pope’s return to hosp ...
• 25 February 2005
  ASIA/TAIWAN - Father Francis King notary for Taipei archdiocese recalls appeal launched by Bishops’ Conference and assures prayers for the health of the Pope Taipei (Fides Service) - In the absence of the Archbishop of Taipei and the president of the Regional Bishops’ Conference Cardinal Paul Shan, both attending a meeting at the Catholic University of Taipei, Father Franc ...
• 25 February 2005
  ASIA/INDIA - Catholic Bishops encourage all dioceses to organise special prayers for the speedy recovery of Pope John Paul II New Delhi (Fides Service) - “The Church in India is following the condition of the Pope with apprehension. As soon as the Bishops heard that he had been admitted to hospital again they called on Catholics all over the ...
• 25 February 2005
  ASIA/HOLY LAND - Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah calls on Christians in the Holy Land to offer special prayers for the Pope Nazareth (Fides Service) - The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah sent a letter to the Bishops of the Holy Land asking for special prayers for Pope John Paul II. Auxiliary Bishop Giacinto Boulos Marcuzzo told Fid ...
• 25 February 2005
  AMERICA/MEXICO - The Church in Mexico shares this time of apprehension but is convinced that the Pope will carry on his mission and like Jesus, he will not come down from the cross: the Bishops pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe to protect the Pope Mexico City (Fides Service) - The Church in Mexico, hearing the news that the Pope was admitted to hospital a second time, while invoking the maternal help and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Guadalupe, also vo ...
• 25 February 2005
  AMERICA/URUGUAY - “We ask Our Lady to protect the Pope with her maternal love to help him overcome this difficult moment so he may continue to lead the Church" say Catholic Bishops of Uruguay Montevideo (Fides Service) - United in faith and charity and in ecclesial affection for the Successor of Peter, the Catholic Bishops of Uruguay, together with the ecclesial community of the whole country offer prayers fo ...
• 25 February 2005
  AMERICA/BRAZIL - The Church in Brazil is close to the Pope with affection and prayers: Bishops urge Catholics to pray for the Pope that God may strengthen and comfort him at this time of suffering Brasilia (Fides Service) - The Bishops of the standing Council of the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference issued a statement on 24 February calling the nation to pray for the health of Pope John Paul II. In the statement sig ...
• 25 February 2005
  AFRICA/BURUNDI - “The Pope’s pain is the same as the pain of war suffered by Burundians” a Catholic priest in Burundi told Fides Bujumbura (Fides Service)- “Burundians who suffered so much because of war are especially close to the Holy Father at this time of pain and suffering” Father Salvator Niciteretze, secretary of the Burundian Bishops� ...
• 25 February 2005
  AFRICA/EGYPT - “Muslims follow the condition of Pope John Paul II’s health with affection and concern” a missionary in Cairo tells Fides Cairo (Fides Service)- “Muslims in Egypt are showing concern for the health of Pope John Paul II whom they sincerely respect and admire” Italian Comboni missionary Giuseppe Scattolin an expert on Islam told Fides fro ...
• 25 February 2005
  EUROPA/SPAIN - Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid asks Catholics in the capital to pray for the health of the Pope; Archbishop of Toledo calls on contemplative orders to pray for the Pontiff Madrid (Fides Service) - Cardinal Antonio Mª Rouco Varala Archbishop of Madrid and the auxiliary Bishops asked for special prayers to be offered in monasteries, convents, parishes, church movements and associations in t ...
• 24 February 2005
  VATICAN - Pope John Paul II gives general Wednesday audience via video conference from his private library: “May selfishness give way to love so we may all experience the joy of forgiveness and profound reconciliation with God and with our brothers and sisters”. Special greetings in different languages for visitors from all over the world and a group of Italian missionaries Vatican City (Fides Service) - This morning because of very bad weather in Rome Pope John Paul II still recovering from ‘influenza’ gave his general Wednesday audience from his private library by means of a video con ...
• 24 February 2005
  EUROPE - Saturday 5 March: European University Day, Prayer Vigil with John Paul II in the Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican and simultaneous events in 10 European Cathedrals and sanctuaries Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Intellectual and scientific research, a way to meet Christ” is the chosen theme for European University Day, promoted by the University-Catechesis Office of the Council of European Epi ...
• 24 February 2005
  AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Pontifical Mission Societies promote Young Missionaries programme for 2006: a year of mission commitment and service in another diocese Bogota (Fides Service) - During their recent meeting in Bogota diocesan directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies from all over Colombia, aware of the need to encourage concrete commitment for mission among young pe ...
• 24 February 2005
  OCEANIA/NEW ZEALAND - Four congregations of Sisters of Mercy decide to become one to face challenge of new evangelisation more effectively Wellington (Fides Service) - The four congregations of “Sisters of Mercy” in New Zealand announced that they will merge to form one new order “Sisters of Mercy of New Zealand”. The respective superiors have made ...