News

• 10 November 2004
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - Tension still high in Abidjan where thousands of pro-President supporters form protective barrier around the Presidential Palace. “Admirable missionaries stay put, despite danger determined not the leave the people at this difficult time” local Church sources told Fides. Catholic Bishops of Ivory Coast make an appeal for peace Abidjan (Fides Service)- Thousands of pro-government demonstrators have formed a protective barrier around the Presidential Residence in Abidjan, local Church sources told Fides. “They support President Laurent Gbagbo ...
• 10 November 2004
  ASIA/IRAQ - Bishops in Ninive send best wishes message to Muslims for Ramadan and affirm: “this violence is totally foreign to the Iraqi people” Baghdad (Fides Service)- In a message dated 8 November to Iraqi Muslims for the end of the month of Ramadan, the Christian Bishops of Ninive in northern Iraq issued a call for peace and national unity. Besides sending be ...
• 10 November 2004
  AMERICA/PERU - “Migrants: weavers of equal integration at frontiers Bolivia, Chile and Peru”. Message from 2nd Meeting for Pastoral Care of Migrants at Frontiers Tacna (Fides Service) - “Migrants are weavers of social, political, economic, cultural and religious integration in the country”. In fact “processes of exchange between peoples and nations enrich communities with i ...
• 10 November 2004
  VATICAN - The Church has never opposed the use of opiates for terminally ill persons: “palliative treatment”, is the theme of the 19th International Conference organised by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Healthcare Workers and the Sick Vatican City (Fides Service) - Punctual as usual, the annual appointment organised by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral care of Healthcare workers and the Sick, will open tomorrow 11 November in the Synod Hall in t ...
• 10 November 2004
  ASIA/JAPAN - Association supports 351 Japanese missionaries involved in pastoral work abroad Tokyo (Agenzia Fides) - Some 351 Japanese missionaries engaged in pastoral work abroad are supported by the Japan Catholic Association to Assist Overseas Missionaries. Supported by donors all over the country the Associ ...
• 9 November 2004
  AFRICA - Leaders of 11 African countries come together to discuss peace and security in Great Lakes region Kampala (Fides Service) - Leaders of 11 countries are meeting in Munyonyo on Lake Victoria, about 15 km from the Ugandan capital Kampala, to discuss, among other topics, defence and security, border questions, cooperatio ...
• 9 November 2004
  EUROPE/ITALY - Relics of Saint Augustine of Hippo brought to Rome to mark the 1650th anniversary of his birth in 354 Rome (Fides Service) - At the Basilica of Saint Augustine in Campo Marzio in Rome excited crowds gathered last Sunday evening, November 7, to welcome relics of Saint Augustine brought to Rome from Pavia on the occasion o ...
• 9 November 2004
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - From Abidjan confirmation that any attempt to solve problems with the mentality of Europe is bound to fail and thousands of innocent people die. How can democracy be saved? Abidjan (Fides Service)- A fragile cease fire reigns in Abidjan, economic capital of Ivory Coast, since mixed patrols of Ivorian, French and UN soldiers were deployed on the streets to restore order after sacking and vio ...
• 9 November 2004
  EUROPE/ ITALY - Starting tomorrow African and European Bishops discuss Communion and Solidarity between Africa and Europe Rome (Fides Service)- - Three days of wide-ranging, intense reflection on the theme ‘Communion and Solidarity between Africa and Europe’ are about to begin at the first symposium organised by the Council of European ...
• 9 November 2004
  AFRICA/ETHIOPIA - Will Ethiopia face famine in 2005? Addis Ababa (Fides Service)- The Ethiopian government’s Commission for Disaster Prevention has warned that the country may face famine in 2005. According to the Salesian Missionaries’ news service, food shortage coul ...
• 9 November 2004
  VATICAN - Catholic Bishops of the Indian Ocean make ad limina visit to Rome Vatican City (Fides Service) - This morning, 9 November, Pope John Paul II received a group of Catholic Bishops members of the Bishops’ Conference of the Indian Ocean in audience in the Vatican. Over the past few days ...
• 9 November 2004
  AMERICA/MEXICO - “The Bishop must never let himself be so concerned by local problems as lose sight of openness and universality”, the president of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference said in his address to open 78th Plenary Assembly Mexico City (Fides Service) - Yesterday, November 8 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe the Catholic Bishops of Mexico gathered for the opening Mass of their 78th plenary assembly. The Mass was presided by the Pre ...
• 9 November 2004
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Christians, moderate Muslims and human rights activists applaud government decision not to mark religious identity on passports Lahore (Fides Service) - Christians, human rights activities and civil rights associations have welcomed the Pakistani government’s decision to exclude religious identity from national passports on the grounds that it ...
• 9 November 2004
  ASIA/INDIA - Christians call on United States President to promote religious freedom, the foundation of democracy, in southern Asia New Delhi (Fides Service) - India’s Christian have called on the president of the United States of America George Bush to promote religious freedom in southern Asia. In a message signed by John Dayal, chairman of the ...
• 8 November 2004
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - “There seems to be no end to the terrible hours of Saturday and Sunday”. Dramatic report from a missionary Abidjan where angry protesters continue to fight French troops. Abidjan (Fides Service)- “Shooting and shouting by young supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo can be heard coming from Cocody where the president has his residence” a missionary in Abidjan economic capital of Ivor ...