Redazione

“Time for meditation and reflection”: that’s how Ramadan is defined in the message of the Islamic Council of the Federal Republic of Germany, issued on 6 November, on the eve of the beginning of the month of fasting. In a communiqué, Ali Kizilkaya , president of the organization, announced: “In this month we also include […]

In France, the Moslem associations this year fixed 7 November as the beginning of the month of Ramadan. It will structure the life of some 4.6 million people for 29 days. France is in fact the European country with the largest Moslem population: from 4 to 4.6 million Moslems are estimated to be resident on […]

Ramadan" "

“Christians and Moslems, we believe that peace is first and foremost a gift of God, and that’s why our respective communities pray for peace and are always called to do so”, writes Msgr. Michael L. Fitzgerald, new president of the Pontifical Council for interreligious dialogue in the traditional message sent to Moslems to mark the […]

Turkey" "

In preparation for the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle on 30 November, in the celebration of which a delegation of the Holy See, bearing a message from the Pope, traditionally participates, and in view of the forthcoming ecclesial meeting of the Turkish Catholic Church, scheduled from 5 to 8 December, SirEurope interviewed the spokesman […]

Spain" "

The pastoral instruction on the “Moral evaluation of terrorism in Spain, its causes and consequences” was presented on 22 November, on the conclusion of the 79th plenary Assembly of the Spanish Episcopal Conference. The document analyses terrorism and “totalitarian nationalism, source of ETA terrorism”, condemns all the aspirations to independence of the terrorist association and […]

austria" "

What government will Austria have after the startling success of Chancellor Schüssel and his People’s Party in the political elections of 24 November? It’s difficult to predict. The People’s Party (ÖVP) obtained 79 seats, the Social-Democratic Party (SPÖ) 69, the Liberal Party (FPÖ) 19 and the Greens (Grüne) 16. Among the main points of the […]

mass media

The issue of the pluralism of information is very much on the agenda in all the countries of the EU. That’s why the European Parliament, at its last session in Strasbourg from 18 to 20 November (cf. the report on p.13 below), approved a Resolution urging the European Commission to “review the situation”. To understand […]

European bishops" "

The plenary assembly of the Commission of the Episcopates of the European community (COMECE) opens in Brussels today. The bishop delegates of the Episcopal Conferences of the fifteen member countries of the European Union, meeting for their two-day assembly (28-29 November), together with delegates from the episcopates of the candidate countries, will review the debate […]

the Convention" "

“After the Euro, the political Union” was the theme of the international Colloquium on the future of Europe, promoted by the “Alcide De Gasperi” Foundation and held in Rome, at the Chamber of Deputies, on 26 November. The meeting was the occasion to review the debate within the Convention on the future of Europe, which […]

editorial" "" "

The De Gasperi Foundation is planning a major international meeting on the life and work of the great Italian statesman Alcide De Gasperi in June 2003 – on the eve of Italy’s assumption of the EU presidency. It will be an occasion also to examine the thought and commitment of Adenauer, Schuman, Monnet. On page […]