Vatican

• 17 December 2003
  VATICAN - THE POPE’S TEACHING AT GENERAL AUDIENCE: “THE MEANING OF CHRISTIAN HOPE, RE-PROPOSED IN ADVENT, IS CONFIDENT WAITING, INDUSTRIOUS READINESS AND JOYOUS OPENING TO THE ENCOUNTER WITH THE LORD. WITH HIS COMING IN BETHLEHEM HE CAME TO US TO STAY FOREVER.” Vatican City (Fides Service ) – “Advent quickens our expectancy for Christ, who comes to visit us with his salvation, bringing to completion his Kingdom of justice and peace. The annual commemoration of the birth of ...
• 17 December 2003
  VATICAN – POPE JOHN PAUL II PRESIDES FUNERAL FOR CARDINAL PAULOS TZADUA EMERITUS ARCHBISHOP OF ADDIS ABABA Vatican City (Fides Service)- On December 16 in St Peter’s basilica Pope John Paul II presided the funeral mass for Cardinal Paulos Tzadua, Emeritus Archbishop of Addis Ababa. The Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Joseph ...
• 16 December 2003
  VATICAN - POPE JOHN PAUL II ISSUES MESSAGE FOR THE CHURCH’S 37TH WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE 1ST JANUARY 2004: “AN EVER TIMELY COMMITMENT: TEACHING PEACE” Vatican City (Fides Service) – “An Ever Timely Commitment: Teaching Peace” is the theme of Pope John Paul II’s Message for World Day of Prayer for Peace 2004 which was released on 16 December in the Vatican. Pres ...
• 16 December 2003
  VATICAN - THE POPE SPEAKS TO BISHOPS OF SUDAN: “THE EXAMPLE OF STEADFAST COMMITMENT AND OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY GIVEN BY THESE TWO DEVOTED SERVANTS OF THE LORD CAN SHED MUCH LIGHT ON THE PRESENT REALITIES FACING THE CHURCH IN YOUR COUNTRY.” Vatican City (Fides Service) – Addressing the Bishops of Sudan received for their ad limina visit on 15 December Pope John Paul II said “May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways’” (2 ...
• 15 December 2003
  VATICAN - INDIAN PRIESTS, SISTERS AND BROTHERS UNION HOLDS CHRISTMAS-CULTURAL-HOMECOMING-FEST-2003 Vatican City (Fides Service) – On 14 December, at the Pontifical Angelicum University in Rome, The Indian Priests, Sisters and Brothers Union IPSBU held a Christmas-Cultural-Homecoming-Fest-2003 event. The Union, fou ...
• 15 December 2003
  VATICAN - THE POPE’S REFLECTIONS AT SUNDAY ANGELUS: “TO KNOW THAT GOD IS NOT DISTANT, BUT CLOSE, NOT INDIFFERENT, BUT COMPASSIONATE, NOT A STRANGER, BUT A MERCIFUL FATHER WHO FOLLOWS US LOVINGLY WITH RESPECT FOR OUR FREEDOM, IS A MOTIVE OF PROFOUND JOY WHICH THE ALTERNATING EVENTS OF EVERY DAY CANNOT AFFECT” Vatican City (Fides Service) – The Liturgy of the 3rd Sunday of Advent, also called Gaudete Sunday, contains a repeated and explicit call to joy, to rejoice, as St Paul recommends: " Rejoice in the Lord always. … Th ...
• 12 December 2003
  THE POPE TELLS UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: “IT IS INDISPENSABLE FOR TODAY’S EUROPE TO SAFEGUARD ITS HERITAGE OF VALUES AND TO RECOGNISE THAT MAINLY CHRISTIANITY WAS THE FORCE WHICH PROMOTED, COMPOUNDED AND CONSOLIDATED THEM ” Vatican City (Fides Service) - "Fear not, I will help you" (Is 41,13). God’s promise echoed by the Prophet found full actuation in the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem. In Him God became one of us! This is why we need not f ...
• 10 December 2003
  VATICAN - THE POPE’S TEACHING AT GENERAL AUDIENCE: “THE LORD IS NEVER INDIFFERENT TO HUMAN VICISSITUDES INDEED HE INTERVENES TO DEMOLISH ARROGANT AND OPPRESSIVE EMPIRES, HE LOWERS THE PROUD WHO CHALLENGE HIM, HE JUDGES THOSE WHO PERPETRATE EVIL” Vatican City (Fides Service ) – On Wednesday 10 December the Pope addressed thousands of visitors gathered in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican for his usual general audience. He focussed his teaching on the Canticle fro ...
• 10 December 2003
  VATICAN - PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM IS A SPECIAL FORM OF EVANGELISATION: FINAL DOCUMENT AFTER 5TH WORLD CONGRESS ON- PASTORAL CARE FOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES Vatican City (Fides Service) – “The Church cannot remain indifferent in the wake of the present plight of migrants and refugees. She wants to share their joys and grief, there where they are, and be with them in thei ...
• 9 December 2003
  VATICAN - THE POPE SAYS AT DECEMBER 8 ANGELUS PRAYER: “FAITH SHOWS US THAT THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF MARY IS A PROMISE OF SALVATION FOR EVERY HUMAN CREATURE PILGRIM ON EARTH. FAITH REMINDS IS THAT MARY IS OUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT IN THE DIFFICULT BATTLE AGAINST SIN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES ” Vatican City (Fides Service) – Addressing from his window the crowds gathered in St Peters Square for the midday Angelus prayer and blessing on December 8th Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a bank holiday in Italy a ...
• 9 December 2003
  VATICAN - CARDINAL MARTINO, PRESIDENT OF PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE, WILL ADDRESS PERUVIAN PARLIAMENT ON RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND GIVE MAIN TALK AT 7TH NATIONAL CATHOLIC SOCIAL PASTORAL WEEK Vatican City (Fides Service) – The need for all sectors of society to work to promote respect for human rights and democracy will be the central theme of an address which Cardinal Renato R. Martino, president of the Po ...
• 9 December 2003
  VATICAN - THE POPE PRAYS AT THE FOOT OF THE STATUE OF IMMACULATE MARY IN PIAZZA DI SPAGNA: “MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE, GIVE US CHRIST, TRUE PEACE OF THE WORLD!” Vatican City (Fides Service) – On December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, braving the piercing cold in Rome Pope John Paul II went to Piazza to place his traditional floral tribute (the 26th time) at the ...
• 9 December 2003
  VATICAN - 4th COLLOQUIUM MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN: DIALOGUE “OPEN RESPECTFUL AND FRUITFUL” A PRELUDE TO NEW FORMS OF COLLABORATION Vatican City (Fides Service) – The 4th Muslim-Christian Colloquium was held from 29 November to 2 December 2003 (8 -11 Azar 1382) at the offices of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in the Vatican, on ...
• 6 December 2003
  VATICAN - THE POPE ADDRESSES 32ND CONFERENCE OF THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS: HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION, AGGRAVATED BY SPREADING POVERTY REPRESENT A THREAT TO PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE Vatican City (Fides Service) – On Friday 5 December in the Sala Clementina in the Vatican Pope John Paul II granted a special audience to participants 32nd Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the Un ...
• 6 December 2003
  VATICAN - PAPAL MESSAGE FOR 41ST WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS: “OUR FIRST DUTY IS TO PRAY TO THE "MASTER OF THE HARVEST" FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY FOLLOW CHRIST MORE CLOSELY IN THE PRIESTLY AND RELIGIOUS LIFE AND FOR THOSE WHOM, IN HIS MERCY, HE CONTINUES TO CALL FOR THESE IMPORTANT CHURCH DUTIES Vatican City (Fides Service) – “On the occasion of the 41st World Day of Prayer for Vocations, traditionally set for the 4th Sunday of Easter, the faithful unite in fervent prayer for vocations to the priesthood, th ...