News

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  26 March 2025
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Bishop Kukah: "The democratization of development leads to the development of democracy" Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - "Democracy is a progressive development. Democracy gives one the opportunity to prove one's failures and gives one a greater chance to correct past mistakes," said Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of ...
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  26 March 2025
  AFRICA/IVORY COAST - Bishops invite “to work together to ensure that the vote on October 31 takes place peacefully” Abidjan (Agenzia Fides) - "Fair, transparent, inclusive, and peaceful elections." This is the wish of the bishops of Ivory Coast for the presidential elections on October 31. " Ivory Coast is at a crucial turning point ...
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  26 March 2025
  ASIA/MYANMAR - Bishop Sumlut Gam: Cathedral in Banmaw "miraculously remains standing" after the fire Banmaw (Agenzia Fides) - The majestic building of Banmaw Cathedral, in Kachin State, northern Burma, set on fire in recent days by the Burmese army (see Fides, 17/3/2025) “is still there, miraculously standing,” the ...
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  26 March 2025
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Two people involved in the kidnapping and murder of Father Sylvester Okechukwu have been arrested Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - Two people suspected of being involved in the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Father Sylvester Okechukwu, the priest kidnapped and murdered in Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria, have been arrest ...
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  25 March 2025
  ASIA/CHINA - Lent in Chinese Catholic communities: pilgrimages, vocational testimonies, and scrutiny for catechumens preparing to receive Baptism Beijing (Agenzia Fides) – ‘Scrutiny’ for catechumens preparing to receive Baptism, along with pilgrimages, works of charity, and sharing: this is how many Chinese Catholic communities intensely experienced the thir ...
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  25 March 2025
  ASIA/LAOS - A new Bishop for the small Church: the new Apostolic Vicar of Vientiane consecrated Vientiane (Agenzia Fides) - The small but vibrant Catholic community of Laos has joyfully welcomed its new bishop. Msgr. Anthony Adoun Hongsaphong, a priest of the Apostolic Vicariate of Pakse, received episcopal ordinat ...
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  25 March 2025
  AFRICA/SUDAN - South Sudan and Chad condemn war threats launched by a Sudanese general Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – Tensions are growing between South Sudan and Chad, on the one hand, and the Sudanese government of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on the other. The dispute erupted following statements by Ge ...
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  25 March 2025
  AFRICA/ETHIOPIA - The Eparch of Adigrat: "We are trying to move forward as a Church in a context of total precariousness, with the risk of a new civil war" Adigrat (Agenzia Fides) - The bloody civil war that ravaged Tigray between 2020 and 2022 is now compounded by an internal split within the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), one of the two factions vying for contro ...
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  25 March 2025
  ASIA/INDONESIA - The Carmelites in Flores: rooted in pastoral, educational and spiritual service Ende (Agenzia Fides) - The Carmelite charism continues to expand in eastern Indonesia and will strengthen its service to the population on the island of Flores. Today, March 25, 2025, when the universal Church celebrat ...
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  24 March 2025
  ASIA/BAHRAIN - The community of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia welcomed the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem: Spirit of harmony and interreligious collaboration Manama (Agenzia Fides) – The three-day visit of the Cardinal Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who arrived in Bahrain on Thursday 20 March, ended yesterday, Sunday 23 March. It was a significant mom ...
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  24 March 2025
  AFRICA/DR CONGO - Angola withdraws from peace mediation in the east of the Democratic Republic Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – Angola has ended its mediation in the war in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Angolan Presidency announced this in a communiqué today, March 24: "Angola considers it necessa ...
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  24 March 2025
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - A civil recognition to Cardinal Coutts for his service rendered to the nation Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - For his services to the nation in the field of interreligious dialogue and the promotion of harmony, as well as for his contribution to the social welfare of Pakistan and the protection of the ...
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  24 March 2025
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Lent and Ramadan are celebrated together at St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital in Hyderabad Hyderabad (Agenzia Fides) - The fact that in 2025 the Christian Lent and the Muslim Ramadan coincide was seen as an opportune moment to promote dialogue and exchange: Christians and Muslims in a time of spiritual reflect ...
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  24 March 2025
  VATICAN - Jubilee of the Missionary World: "Paths of Hope" in the Mission "ad gentes" Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – They want to be signs of hope by proclaiming Christ, who consoles humanity, frees it from slavery, and restores divine dignity. These aspects are at the heart of the experiences and refle ...
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  24 March 2025
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - A Catholic priest kidnapped and police free another just hours after the abduction Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - The wave of priest kidnappings in Nigeria continues unabated. Rev. Fr. John Ubaechu, Parish Priest of Holy Family Catholic Church Izombe, was kidnapped on the evening of Sunday, 23 March, 2025. T ...