March 2005″ “

The main events involving the Catholic Church, the other Christian Churches and the main institutions of Europe in March 1 Press Conference for the presentation of the annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board, in Rome – Launch of the “UN Decade for education geared to sustainable development (2005-2014)” 3 Lecture by Christoph Dohmen, professor at the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Ratisbon, on “Anima Sacrae Theologiae…(VAT II – Dei Verbum 24), in Rome – Meeting promoted by the Mission of Permanent Observation of the Holy See to the United Nations, on the 40th anniversary of Gaudium et Spes, in New York. 4 European Workshop of university professors (4-6), on “Intellectual research as a way of meeting Christ. The teaching of the Encyclical Fides et Ratio “, organized by the Vicariate of Rome on the occasion of the 3rd European Day of University Students, at the Pontifical Lateran University – General Assembly of the World Political Forum (4-6), on “Perestroika –1985/2005: Twenty years that changed the world”, in Turin. 5 3rd European Day of University Students on the theme “Intellectual and scientific research as a way of meeting Christ”; the Day is being promoted by the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE) – The President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili received in the Vatican by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano – Installation of the new Archbishop of Paris, Monsignor André Vingt-Trois, in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. 6 In Spain, “Day of Hispanic America/Día de Hispanoamérica” promoted by the Commission for missions of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, under the motto “‘America receives and sends us missionaries” – Parliamentary elections in Moldavia. 7 74th Plenary Assembly of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference (7-11), in Madrid. 8 International Conference (8-11) on “A better democracy for a safer world”, organized by the “Club de Madrid” and the Varsavsky Foundation, in the Spanish capital. 10 CeBit (10-16), trade fair of electronics and informatics in Hanover (Germany). 11 Plenary Assembly of the Bishops’ Conference of Scandinavia (11-16), in Oslo – 1st anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Madrid, requiem liturgies for the victims throughout the country. 13 Administrative elections in Macedonia. 16 Meeting (16-19) of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina, at Mostar. 17 Meeting of the Preparatory Group (17-20), for the 3rd European Ecumenical Assembly (Sibiu, Romania, 4-8 September 2007), at Terni (Umbria) – “Cork, European Capital of Culture 2005”, Eucharistic liturgy for the feast of St. Patrick, Patron of Ireland – Planned beginning of negotiations for Croatia’s membership of the European Union. 18 25th annual Book Fair in Paris (18-23). 20 20th World Youth Day (diocesan celebration), on the theme “We have come to worship him” (Mt 2:2). 21 International Conference (21-22), promoted by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) in collaboration with the French government, on the theme “Nuclear power for the 21st century”, in Paris. 22 Meeting of the European Council (22-23), in Brussels. 25 Inauguration of the World Exposition at Aichi, in Japan, with the participation of some 130 countries on the theme “The Wisdom of Nature”, (until 25 September). 27 Easter Sunday. Easter Message and Blessing “Urbi et Orbi”.