News

• 6 February 2004
  AFRICA/SUDAN - White House sends letter to Catholic Bishop of El Obeid: “The President shares your concern for Sudan and is with you in the struggle for peace in your country ” Rome (Fides Service)- In a letter addressed to Bishop Macram Max Gassis, Catholic Bishop of El Obeid, the United States of America has confirmed its commitment to work to restore peace in Sudan. Bishop Gassis himself inf ...
• 5 February 2004
  AFRICA/CONGO RD - Promote democracy and respect for human rights; stop arms trafficking. Pax Christi International appeals to international community to restore peace in the Great Lakes Region of Africa Kinshasa (Fides Service) – In a written intervention to the 60th Session United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Pax Christi International expresses deep concern for the with regard to the proces of reconciliation a ...
• 5 February 2004
  ASIA/MYANMAR - Thousands of Karen, Karenni and Shan refugees hope cease fire holds and steps are taken to stop conflict between army and ethnic separatist groups Rangoon (Fides Service) – There is still hope for peace in Myanmar, even though talks between the military junta and Karen troops in mid January were fruitless. The Karen people and with them the Karenni and Shan ethni ...
• 5 February 2004
  VATICAN - “Christ left us two commands: to preach and to heal. The Church cannot fail to offer her missionary testimony in the world of health”. Interview with Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Health Workers and the Sick Vatican City (Fides Service ) – The main celebration for the 12th World Day for the Sick on 11 February , Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, will take place in Lourdes. In view of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation o ...
• 5 February 2004
  EUROPE/ITALY - S. Egidio Community marks 36th anniversary of its foundation: Cardinal Ruini presides special Mass of Thanksgiving Rome (Fides Service) – The S. Egidio Community founded in Rome in February 1968, today has about circa 50,000 volunteer members in 63 different countries. On February 5 a solemn Mass of thanksgiving to mark its 36th an ...
• 5 February 2004
  18/21 February: 14th International Colloquium and Mariology dedicated to Ippolito Marracci - “The Immaculate Mother of God in the 17th Century ” Rome (Fides Service) – “The immaculate Mother of God in the 17th Century” is the title of the 14th International Colloquium on Mariology dedicated to Ippolito Marracci promoted jointly by the Italian Interdisciplin ...
• 5 February 2004
  ASIA/INDIA - “We must not be afraid to announce Christ’s message!”: Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, president of the Indian Bishops’ Conference encourages fearful Catholics after Hindu fundamentalist attacks and ant-Church campaigns Guwahati (Fides Service) – Catholics must not let attacks by Hindu fundamentalists weaken the Church’s missionary spirit, indeed this is a trial to be faced with the courage of the faith: this appeal to the Church in ...
• 4 February 2004
  VATICAN - THE POPE’S WEEKLY AUDIENCE TEACHING: TO BE IN COMMUNION WITH THE LORD IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE LITURGY IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO PURIFY THE EXTERIOR BUT TO PURIFY CONSCIENCE. Vatican City (Fides Service) – During the Audience on Wednesday 4 February Pope John Paul II continued his teaching on the Psalms prayed at Vespers, commenting Psalm 14 “Who is worthy to stand before the Lord?” ( M ...
• 4 February 2004
  VATICAN - PONTIFICAL YEAR BOOK 2004: NUMBER OF PRIESTS REMAINS STABLE, INCREASE IN PERMANENT DEACONS AND LAY MISSIONARIES, NUMBERS OF SEMINARIANS RISING IN AFRICA AND AMERICA Vatican City (Fides Service) – The Pontifical Year Book 2004 presented to Pope John Paul II yesterday 3 February by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, supplies information on the pastoral activity of the Catho ...
• 4 February 2004
  POPE JOHN PAUL II’S PRAYER INTENTIONS 2005 ASSIGNED TO THE APOSTLESHIP OF PRAYER FOR THE YEAR JANUARY Missionary - For vocations in mission lands: may the Lord continue to call holy and selfless men and women eager to proclaim the Gospel. General - For people working for peace in the Middle East: may they neve ...
• 4 February 2004
  AMERICA/GUATEMALA - ROTAVIRUS ATTACKS GUATEMALA, CHILDREN FIRST HIT: 12 DEAD AND 11,000 INFECTED Rome (Fides Service) – An epidemic of rotavirus in Guatemala has killed 12 children and infected 11,000 in a few days. The health ministry has declared a situation of emergency in 5 of the country’s 22 departments. ...
• 4 February 2004
  EUROPE/SWITZERLAND - THE JOINT COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN BISHOPS’ CONFERENCES (CCEE) AND OF THE CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN CHURCHES (CEC) LOOK TOWARDS THIRD EUROPEAN ECUMENICAL ASSEMBLY ON THE THEME ‘CHRIST IS THE LIGHT OF THE FUTURE’ St Gallen (Fides Service ) - The Joint Committee of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) met in Kamien Slanski, (archdiocese of Opole) Poland, from 29 Jan ...
• 4 February 2004
  FROM TOMORROW NEW LOOK FOR FIDES NEWS ...
• 4 February 2004
  AFRICA/CHAD - SUDANESE MILITIA PUSH AS FAR AS 70 KM INTO CHAD CHASING REFUGEES FROM VIOLENCE IN WEST SUDAN Rome (Fides Service) - the situation of Sudanese refugees in Chad is ever more dramatic. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR says there are more than 110,000 refugees along the border with Sudan. UNHCR ...
• 4 February 2004
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - FIRST COMMUNITY OF DON ORIONE SISTERS NOT FAR FROM EVIL-SMELLING DUMP IN QUEZON CITY Manila (Fides Service) - "For years we dreamed of having a community of Little Missionary Sisters of Charity in the Philippines and now the dream has come true" said Sr. Maria Ortensia Turati, Superior General of this re ...