Strategy for innovation

The new 10-point programme of the European Union aimed at promoting innovation as fundamental pillar of the economy of the Union is based on the concept of “market driver”. It will form the basis of the discussion of the informal summit due to be held in Finland on 20 October. The President of the European […]

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Communication with national parliaments

An historic decision taken by the European Commission, and made public by the Vice-President and Commissioner for institutional relations and communication, Margot Wallstroem, concerns the direct transmission of the Executive’s working documents to the national Parliaments. The announcement – that follows up a commitment made also by the Council of Ministers in June – took […]

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germany

Pastoral care by telephone

0800/111 0 111 or 0800/111 0 222: whoever dials one of these two numbers in Germany will always find a person willing to listen. “Words can give rise to ways”: that’s the motto of TelefonSeelsorge (telephone pastoral care), the ecumenical organization of counselling and pastoral care founded by the Berlin pastor and physician KLAUS THOMAS […]

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turkey

A visit in the truth

The official visit of Benedict XVI to Turkey (28 November – 1 December) will take place as planned. The confirmation came at the end of the assembly of the Turkish Bishops’ Conference held in Istanbul on 18 September, also attended by Monsignor Piero Marini, head of the office for papal liturgical celebrations. The spokesman of […]

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switzerland

Errors we must not repeat

Next Sunday, 24 September, Swiss citizens are called to vote in a referendum on two separate laws that both treat the same question: the presence of foreigners in the country. On the two laws (one on asylum and the other on foreigners) the Justice and Peace Commission of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference and Swiss Caritas […]

di Jacques Berset Director of APIC - Switzerland

England: measures in favour of immigrants

“It is commendable that the government of the United Kingdom has permitted the right to free movement of workers from the 8 new EU countries. However it has failed to provide for their assistance, nor has it planned how to familiarise these workers with the British lifestyle. The consequence is that many of them end […]

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Czech Republic: Pope’s visit in 2007?

Benedict XVI will visit the Czech Republic in September 2007, announced Cardinal Miloslav Vlk in recent days. The cardinal also took part in the recent visit of Benedict XVI to Bavaria. The expected date of the visit is 8 September, the day on which the Pope will visit the Marian sanctuary at Mariazell, in Austria. […]

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Bulgaria, Christian unity and dialogue with Islam

The centenary of the arrival of the icon of Our Lady, protector of Christian unity, was celebrated in Malko Tarnovo, a town in southern Bulgaria, 4 km from the Turkish frontier, last week. The icon is a copy of the famous Madonna of Chestokowa and was crowned by John Paul II during his visit to […]

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Comece: meeting on migrations

“Migration in an interconnected world: what impact on the European Union?” is the theme of a debate promoted by the Commission of the episcopates of the European Community (COMECE) to be held in Brussels on 3 October. The speakers will include Bishop Nicholas Di Marzio of Brooklyn, member of the Pontifical Council of Migrants and […]

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Ccee: plenary assembly of the Presidents

For the first time in history the Presidents of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE) will meet in St. Petersburg in Russia, from 4 to 8 October, at the invitation of Msgr. Joseph Werth, President of the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic bishops of the Russian Federation. The aim of the meeting will be […]

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