April 2005″ “

The main events involving the Catholic Church, the other Christian Churches and the main institutions of Europe in April 1 Meeting of the coordination group of the European Committee for university apostolate (1-3), under the aegis of the CCEE (Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe), at Bratislava. 2 Denmark and other countries of Europe pay tribute to Hans Christian Andersen, on the bicentenary of his birth. 5 Plenary Assembly of the French Episcopate (5-8), at Lourdes, focused on the reform of the structures of the Bishops’ Conference itself. 6 Conference (6-8) on “The public role of the faith: politics and theology”, promoted by the Von Hügel Institute at St Edmund’s College, Cambridge (Great Britain) – First anniversary of the foundation of CASE (Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation), established by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales in 2004 to support dioceses, parishes, schools and groups in the new evangelization, in London. 7 Celebrations (7-12) to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, in New York, where the Jesuit died on 10 April 1955, and in Washington. 9 60th anniversary of the death of the German Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945). 11 Plenary meeting of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (11-14), at Hinsley Hall (Leeds) – International Conference of aid donors to Sudan (11-12), organized by the Norwegian government, in Oslo. 13 Meeting of Health Ministers of the European Union (13-14), in Paris, focused on the development of a vaccine against Aids and the fight against cancer. 15 25th anniversary of the death of the French philosopher and writer Jean-Paul Sartre 16 Episcopal ordination of Msgr. Vicente Juan Segura, bishop elect of Ibiza. 20 International Conference “Extreme crime, extreme challenge. Human rights and genocide”, (20-21), in view of the commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, at Yerevan, Armenia. 24 Commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. 25 Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the European Union, in Luxembourg, and planned signing of the EU Accession Treaties for Bulgaria and Romania. 27 60th anniversary of the Second Republic of Austria, following its declaration of independence on 27 April 1945. 30 Hungarian national pilgrimage to Esztergom to mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Cardinal József Mindszenty (6 May 1975).