News

• 16 December 2004
  AFRICA/ EQUATORIAL GUINEA - New rector appointed for inter-diocesan major seminary “La Purisima” in Bata Vatican City (Fides Service) - Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, has appointed, 30 October 2004, Rector of the inter-diocesan major seminary “La Purisima” in Bat ...
• 16 December 2004
  AFRICA/ EQUATORIAL GUINEA - National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies confirmed Vatican City (Fides Service) - Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, has confirmed, 30 October 2004, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Equatorial ...
• 16 December 2004
  AMERICA/CHILE - With the slogan “In communion, with Christ we will rebuild Chile’s soul” more than 1,600 university students prepare to undertake a mission programme “Mision Pais” to be extended all over the country this year Santiago (Fides Service) - In January, from 6-16 more than 1,600 university students from Chile and other countries of Latin America will start a second edition of Mision Pais social programme of solidarity to be extend ...
• 16 December 2004
  AFRICA/BURUNDI - “Discouragement is widespread but all is not lost”: comment from Burundi following postponement of Constitutional revision Bujumbura (Fides Service)- “There is widespread discouragement with regard to the process of transition and this is a dangerous element, but it is important that the sides keep talking rather than having recourse to ar ...
• 16 December 2004
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - “Peace process in Southern Philippines must be resumed: dialogue leads rebels away from radical Islamic groups”: missionary’s analysis to Fides Manila (Fides Service) - “The peace process in Southern Philippines needs a boost. No one knows why the government and rebels of the Moro National Liberation Front do not resume negotiations” Father Eliseo Mercato OM ...
• 16 December 2004
  ASIA/INDIA - Dalit Christians will denounce discrimination and demand recognition of social and civil rights New Delhi ( Fides Service) - In the coming weeks during four public sessions organised by the All India Catholic Union, AICU, Christian Dalits will speak of their difficulties and the situation of social discrimination ...
• 16 December 2004
  AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - Another “creeping war” which has already put 35,000 people to flight: this is eastern Democratic Congo Bukavu (Fides Service)- “Another war is approaching, we can feel it. It will be the third here in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but unlike the others this war is hidden and creeping so as not to draw the attention ...
• 16 December 2004
  VATICAN - Papal Message for World Peace Day 2005: “peace is the outcome of a long and demanding battle which is only won when evil is defeated by good”. The Pope refers to some of the many delicate problems which are obstacles to Africa’s development Vatican City (Fides Service) - “If we consider the tragic scenario of violent fratricidal conflicts in different parts of the world, and the untold sufferings and injustices to which they have given rise, the only trul ...
• 16 December 2004
  AFRICA/SUDAN - Another cease fire agreement reached for Darfur: but will it be respected? Khartoum (Fides Service)- There is new hope for peace in the martyred western Sudan region of Darfur after Khartoum agreed yesterday 15 December to cease military operations in the region, paving the way for a resuming o ...
• 16 December 2004
  OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA - Christmas of solidarity: Catholic schools help refugee children from Sudan Sydney (Fides Service) - Australia’s Catholic schools are organising scholarships and teachers training courses for refugee children and adults from Sudan where thousands are dying of hardship, hunger and disease cause ...
• 16 December 2004
  ASIA/HONG KONG - Filipino immigrants celebrate Year of the Eucharist with a pilgrimage to the site of Hong Kong's first Catholic village Hong Kong (Fides Service) - Among many different initiatives organised for the Year of the Eucharist, the Philippines community of immigrants in Hong Kong recently took part in a pilgrimage arranged by Caritas Hong Kong ...
• 15 December 2004
  VATICAN - The Pope presides annual Mass for university students in preparation for Christmas: “It is possible to discover the whole truth about mankind, the truth about ourselves only through the loving eyes of Christ ” Vatican City (Fides Service) - “You, dear university students are continually searching for the truth. But the truth about mankind cannot be reached only with the means offered by science in its diverse disciplines. Yo ...
• 15 December 2004
  ASIA/INDIA - Christmas of prayer and devotion in Goa, where crowds of pilgrims continue to flock to venerate the relics of St Francis Xavier Goa ( Fides Service) - “Christmas 2004 in Goa will be one of devotion and prayer. Celebrating the mystery of the Incarnation, thousands of pilgrims will demonstrate the place of honour which St Francis Xavier has in th ...
• 15 December 2004
  ASIA/CHINA - “People are free to make an offering as they wish during the Christmas Mass”: parish priest at Nang Tang Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Beijing clarifies misunderstanding Beijing (Fides Service) - People will not have to pay to enter Nan Tang Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Beijing for Christmas Mass. The parish priest said there had been a misunderstanding and that recent media allega ...
• 15 December 2004
  VATICAN - The Pope teaches on Psalm 71 during his weekly audience: “the decisive element to recognise the figure of the Messiah King is above all justice and love for the poor” Vatican City (Fides Service) - This morning, 15 December the Pope held his Wednesday audience in two stages, first in St Peter’s where he received students and other young people from different regions of Italy and the ...