Redazione

The institutions in Brussels, Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Frankfurt are reinforcing their security systems. After the letter-bombs delivered in recent days to the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi, to the President of the European Central Bank Jean Claude Trichet, to the headquarters of Europol and Eurojust in The Hague, and to MEPs Hans Gert […]

A ceremony in Dublin Castle; a bilateral meeting with the Commission in Brussels; and the forthcoming exposition of the programme before the Parliament in Strasbourg: these are the first three official stages of Ireland’s six months’ Presidency of the European Council. On 1st January 2004 the Republic of Ireland assumed the reins of the Union […]

ACAT, the Action of Christians for the abolition of torture, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its foundation in 2004. It was established on 16 June 1974, with the aim of abolishing torture and the death sentence throughout the world. It brings together Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants: today ACAT can boast of a total of […]

President Jacques Chirac has reassured the highest religious representatives of France that the State intends to “protect” religious liberty and “oppose all manifestations of intolerance”. He did so in the traditional exchange of good wishes to mark the beginning of the new year, held at the Elysée on 6 January. Present at the ceremony were […]

ecumenism" "

Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow has sent a message to the faithful, pastors, monasteries and “all the children of the Russian Orthodox Church” which celebrated Christmas on 7 January. The fact that Christmas is celebrated on a different day than in the West goes back to 1582, when Pope Gregorio XIII introduced a new calendar […]

In the course of his traditional year-end address on television, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, president of the Austrian Episcopal Conference, referred to recent European events and especially to the Katholikentag (Catholic assembly) of the Catholics of Central Europe (MEKT), which will culminate on 22 May 2004 with the “Pilgrimage of peoples” to the Marian sanctuary at […]

european churches" "

On Sunday 11 January, on the occasion of the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, a pastoral letter will be read out in all German churches. Approved by the permanent Council of the German Episcopal Conference on 24 November 2003, the aim of the letter is to present the next World Youth Day due to […]

UE" "

Twelve intensive months. The six months’ Irish Presidency of the European Council began on 1 January 2004. It will be followed by that of Holland in July. There are several important deadlines in the months ahead, beginning with the momentous date of 1st May when the Union will extend its frontiers by taking on board […]

1st January 2004: the revolving six months’ Presidency of the European Council is assumed by Ireland. March 2004: Ireland is called to report to the European Council on the situation created after the failure to approve the EU Constitutional Treaty at the Brussels summit in December 2003. 1st May 2004: entry of 10 new member-states […]

thoughts" "

a Christian Europe? In general terms, in reviewing the history of the West, the adage about ‘the Christian West’ or ‘a Christian Europe’ is common. Perhaps it would be more correct to speak of the Christian roots of European cultures. A Europe at the origin of two world wars, and torn asunder by them, is […]