Redazione

european parliament" "

The European Union is back on track, in spite of the many obstacles in the way of European integration. The Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern, addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, 14 January, outlined the programme of the six months’ Irish Presidency of the EU, and promised his support to the Commission and […]

france" "

A “non-fundamentalist” interpretation of the French law of 1905 on the separation between Church and State, the first centenary of which is being celebrated this year, is what is called for by René Rémond in the last number of Etudes , the monthly of contemporary culture founded by the Jesuits in 1856. Tracing the history […]

During the Christmas holidays the Bulgarian media presented various features and reports on the life of Catholics in the country and their traditions. This was something new, given the usual neglect of the Catholic minority. The events that particularly drew the attention of the media included the fruitful collaboration between municipal authorities and the Church […]

Catechesis Sunday will be celebrated for the first time in Ireland on 8 February. This year it will have as its theme “A living faith”. The aim of the event – promoted by the episcopal Commission for catechesis – is to “foster and deepen the faith of people of all ages”. It will become an […]

european churches" "

A new and urgent appeal for peace in the Middle East was made by European and American bishops at the end of a meeting held in Bethlehem and Jerusalem from 12 to 15 January. Organized by COMECE (the Commission of the episcopates of the European Union), the theme of the meeting was: “The solidarity of […]

greece" "

The theme chosen for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, “My peace I give to you” (Jn 14:23-31), places the reflection on peace at the centre. “The Churches want to work for a peace based on justice and reconciliation. But if they are to make their witness credible and favour the peace process, […]

united kingdom" "

Solemn Vespers celebrated in the Cathedral of Westminster by the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Basil of Sergievo and by the two auxiliary Catholic bishops of the diocese of Westminster, James O’Brien and George Stack: that’s how the 96th Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began in the United Kingdom will begin on Saturday […]

ecumenism" "

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is being held from 18 to 24 January. This year it has as its theme “My peace I give you” (Jn 14:23-31). The theme was suggested at the world level by an ecumenical group in the city of Aleppo (Syria), composed of Catholic, Orthodox, Pre-Chalcedonian and Protestant representatives. […]

thoughts" "

The Churches in Europe are following with particular interest, and at times also with suffering, the process of European reunification which will have an important stage on 1st May 2004 with the entry into the Union of 10 new countries, most of them in Eastern Europe, and with the signing of the constitutional Treaty. This […]

The European Commission approved in recent days a humanitarian aid package for the regions in crisis in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The appropriations, for a total of 31,296 million Euros, are to be allocated to government agencies and NGOs and must be used for the realization of projects under the control of Echo, the […]