News

• 13 December 2004
  VATICAN - The Pope’s reflection at the Angelus prayer: “A Nativity Scene is a familiar and expressive representation of Christmas. It is an element of Christian culture and art but above all a sign of faith in God who came ‘to dwell among us’ in Bethlehem” Vatican City (Fides Service) - Yesterday, 3rd Sunday of Advent, at the Angelus prayer Pope John Paul II blessed statues of Baby Jesus which children had brought for the occasion and he spoke of Nativity Scenes at home an ...
• 13 December 2004
  EUROPA/SWITZERLAND - UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) needs 1.100 million dollars for its work in 2005 Rome (Fides Service) - The United Nations High Commission for Refugees cares for 17 million people in various countries and situations: 9.7 million are refugees, 1 million have been repatriated, others are asylum seekers ...
• 13 December 2004
  ASIA/IRAQ - “At Christmas no festivities but much prayer” says Chaldean Archbishop of Kerkuk -massage for peace in Iraq from Christian leaders Kerkuk (Fides Service) - It will be a Christmas of prayer for Christians in the northern Iraqi city of Kerkuk. There will be no public festivities among Chaldean Catholics concerned for increasing fundamental violence a ...
• 13 December 2004
  AMERICA/BRAZIL - “We urge everyone to cultivate a culture of life, not death. Contempt for life always leads to escalation of violence, insecurity, poverty and hunger”. Catholic Bishops respond to Federal Government’s decision to revise the law on abortion Brasilia (Fides Service) - “The revision of the Abortion Law” was the title of a message issued on 9 December by the Catholic Bishops of Brazil, signed by Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, Archbishop of São Salvador ...
• 13 December 2004
  AMERICA/VENEZUELA - Where is mission in Venezuela directed? National Assembly of Pontifical Mission Societies focuses look at progress made and plans for the future Caracas (Fides Service) - Progress made by diocesan and national offices of the 4 Pontifical Mission Societies and offices for Youth Mission and mission animation plans in 2005 was the theme for discussion at the 30th a ...
• 13 December 2004
  ASIA/INDIA - National Meeting of Charismatic Groups: 18,000 people gather to pray and reflect Ahmedabad (Fides Service) - A convention devoted to prayer, reflection, Bible Study brought together members of Charismatic groups from all over India who gathered in Ahmedabad, capital of Gujarat state in west India, ...
• 13 December 2004
  EUROPE/ITALY - Course for priests on Satanism, exorcism and prayer of liberation Rome (Fides) - Satanism aims to overthrow and destroy values inscribed on the human heart regardless of culture or religion. It aims to spread confusion among young people to build a sort of “contrary society”, with ...
• 13 December 2004
  AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - More violence in North Kivu threatens whole area. Christian Churches in Goma launch appeal: “No to a spirit of division and tribal rivalry, yes to peace and mutual acceptance” Bukavu (Fides Service)- Hundreds perhaps thousands are fleeing the area of Kanyabayonga 160km north of Goma in North Kivu where violent fighting broke out yesterday. “The fighting is between RCD rebels and regular army ...
• 13 December 2004
  AFRICA/SUDAN - Talks for peace in Darfur resumed but the situation in the region is still critical Rome (Fides Service)- Fresh diplomatic efforts are being undertaken to solve the tragic crisis in Sudan’s western region of Darfur. In effect Sudanese government and rebels operating in Darfur resumed talks on Friday 1 ...
• 13 December 2004
  AFRICA/UGANDA - A Christmas with hope for peace in northern Uganda: “but more than one million people are in conditions of extreme poverty” a local missionary told Fides Gulu (Fides Service)-“This Christmas will be different because the peace talks with rebels have given rise to new hope for the future” local sources in Gulu, main town of Gulu region in northern Uganda, devastated by ...
• 13 December 2004
  ASIA/MALAYSIA - International AID agencies and volunteers assist refugees from Myanmar and Indonesia Kuala Lumpur (Fides Service) - Thousands of refugees, mainly members of ethnic minority groups fleeing persecution in Myanmar and people fleeing secessionist war in Aceh the Indonesian province of north Sumatra, are livi ...
• 13 December 2004
  EUROPE/ITALY - 25 years after his death Father Lombardi’s programme is still valid: to bring the Gospel message to all people so that everyone will rise up and rediscover his or her role in the Church and in society Rome (Fides Service) - Twenty five years ago on 14 December, 1979, at Rocca di Papa, (Rome) Jesuit Father Riccardo Lombardi protagonist of one of the most intense pages in the history of the Church in the 20th century pa ...
• 10 December 2004
  VATICAN - “There is a need for dialogue between people of different cultures in a context of pluralism that goes beyond mere tolerance ”: Papal Message for 91st World Migrants Day Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Contact with others leads to discovering their "secret", to being open to them in order to welcome their valid aspects and thus contribute to knowing each one better. This is a lengthy p ...
• 10 December 2004
  "Venite adoremus": Christmas exhibition of Nativity Pictures from Dürer to Tiepolo opens today Rome (Fides Service) - "Venite adoremus" is the title of a Christmas exhibition of Nativity Pictures from Dürer to Tiepolo which opens today and can be visited until 9 January 2005 at the hall of representation of the ...
• 10 December 2004
  EUROPE/PORTUGAL - The Church in Portugal entrusts Immaculate Mary with its City Mission in preparation for an International Congress for New Evangelisation to be held in Lisbon in November 2005 Lisbon (Fides Service) - “Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Christian people of this city kneel at your feet and proclaim you Queen of Lisbon and Queen of New Evangelisation. We consecrate ourselves to you, en ...