Redazione

Eurostat – the statistics office of the European Community – has published the data on economic growth in the Euro-zone for the first three months of 2005 and the estimates for the second quarter. If a brief revival of GDP was registered in the period January-March (+0.5%), especially due to the +1% registered by Germany, […]

council of europe" "

“Apart from the important documents we have signed, apart from the official speeches, we have been able to speak to each other, discuss together common problems and ways of tackling them. I think that during these days in Warsaw we have finally been able to breath an air of pan-European unity”, said the “host” of […]

environment" "

A denunciation to the Western world that continues to maintain, and to export to other parts of the world, a lifestyle that outstrips the natural possibilities of the planet has been made by the 120 participants at the 5th Assembly of the Ecumenical Christian Network for the Environment (ECEN). Coming from 30 countries of Europe, […]

immigration" "

There are some positive elements, but also “concerns” about the measures of “detention while awaiting expulsion, including the detention of children, and the fact that an appeal against forced expulsion does not suspend its effect”: that is the comment of PETER VERHAEGHE, immigration expert of Caritas Europe, on the recent adoption (11 May 2005) by […]

switzerland" "

“The religious media are quicker to ‘react’ to new tendencies than the general media”, says CLAUDE LONGCHAMP , director of the Institute for research on politics, communication and society in Bern. Referring, in particular, to the death and funeral of John Paul II and the election of Benedict XVI, Longchamp notes that “the splendid images […]

Some 600 people will meet in Barcelona on Sunday 29 May to participate in the first Catalan Parliament of Religions, which also plans a series of activities for children aged between 2 and 10. The organizers (Catalan Network of Interfaith Dialogue) explain to SIR that they are hoping for the participation of some sixty young […]

“The death of John Paul II and the election of Benedict XVI have brought a kind of new Pentecost to the Church”, said the pastoral theologian Paul Zulehner, in addressing the “Weizer Pfingstereignis”, a meeting held at Weiz, in Austria, from 4 to 15 May. In his intervention focused on the main theme of the […]

The possible abolition of Pentecost as a public holiday (comprising a long weekend), to boost the ailing German economy, is being discussed in Germany. The proposal is arousing various critical reactions, including that of the Catholic social associations KKV and BKU, which in a communiqué issued on 17 May have stressed that “Sundays and religious […]

front page" "

The third Summit of heads of state and of government of the member countries of the Council of Europe was held in Warsaw on 16-17 May. Also present was the delegation of the Holy See headed by Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, Secretary of the Holy See’s Relations with States, who presented a report to the summit […]

maria elisabetta hesselblad" "

“Pioniera dell’ecumenismo”. Così Giovanni Paolo II definì Maria Elisabetta Hesselblad il giorno in cui la beatificò (9 aprile 2000). Nata in Svezia nel 1870 in una famiglia luterana, fin dall’adolescenza avvertì un forte desiderio di spendere la propria vita per l’unità dei cristiani. “Da bambina – si legge nella sue Memorie – andando a scuola […]