Redazione

A campaign to turn 2003 into the year of the Bible was launched by the German Christian churches, with the hope that greater familiarity with holy scripture may help people to find a meaning to their life. This is not the first time Germany has dedicated a whole year to the rediscovery of the Bible: […]

priests in Europe" "

An international symposium dedicated to the “Priest for the 21st century” was held in Paderborn (Germany) from 16 to 18 December”. It was attended by over 200 participants from the German-speaking countries in Europe: bishops, rectors of seminaries, theologians, exponents of the vocational ministry, students of theology. What is the priest’s role in a changing […]

Taizé" "

“When the young, in their life, make a choice in favour of peace, they bring a hope that sheds light far, and ever further”: so declares Frère Roger , founder of the ecumenical community of Taizé, in his “Letter 2003” which will be meditated on by the young during the new year. The text of […]

Malta" "

A Christmas crib in each family. A Christmas procession is held in each parish in Malta and Gozo in the days immediately preceding Christmas: “boys and girls, singing carols, accompany the Child Jesus to their own parish church with torches and banners in a particularly evocative atmosphere, a combination of festivity and prayer”. The balconies […]

Christmas" "

Cribs, Christmas trees, folk heroes of popular tradition, but also dedication to the victims of wars (Kosovo), natural disasters (Italy) and environmental catastrophes (France, Spain, Albania, Germany). Christmas, in many European countries, is combined with gestures of solidarity, of dialogue (Turkey), of sharing. A festivity that is not only an occasion to remeditate one’s own […]

A self-critical admission of prejudice towards gipsies and a commitment to consider them “the heart of the Church” through “sound pastoral creativity” at the service of evangelization: that, in essence, is the intention behind the recent document put out by the Spanish Episcopal Conference entitled “The Church of Spain and the gipsies”, drawn up to […]

The 7th World Council of the Russian people was held in Moscow on 16 and 17 December. It brought together the highest authorities of the State, professors, businessmen and representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and of the “traditional religions” (including the mufti Talgat Tajuddin, representing Islam, and the chief rabbi of Russia, A. Shayevich, […]

editoriale" "

È il 17 dicembre del 1989: di buon mattino cominciano a cadere i primi fiocchi di neve, danzano solennemente sulla città di Bucarest, cantano in silenzio l’arrivo proibito del Santo Natale. Io, diciannovenne, in servizio militare obbligatorio per il mio paese sono arruolato nel settembre 1988, in seguito alla chiusura “per ordine della dittatura comunista” […]

chiese europee" "

I principali appuntamenti 2003 (aggiornati al 18 dicembre 2002) Gennaio 30/1 – 2/2: Bucarest, Comitato congiunto Ccee-Kek Febbraio 3: Brasov (Romania), Seminario Kek sulla Carta ecumenica 8/9: Benediktbeuren, Gruppo di lavoro “Salvaguardia del creato” 24/2 – 1/3: Bogotà, Incontro Ccee, Celam 26/2 – 2/3: Atene (Grecia) Incontro del Presidium Kek Marzo 7/8: St.Gallen, Commissione finanze […]

Il processo di allargamento in atto, che ha ottenuto un significativo risultato al recente vertice di Copenaghen con la firma del “patto” che apre la strada all'”Europa dei 25″ (effettiva nel 2004), monopolizza l’attenzione dei quotidiani internazionali, impegnati ad interrogarsi sul significato dell’intesa raggiunta. “L’Europa dei 25, aspettando la Turchia”, titola Le Monde (15-16/12), che […]