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An example for Europe

“The Church must breathe with two lungs!”. The well-known expression of John Paul II is becoming ever more actual in contemporary Russia: a country in transition, a country with an extremely complex economic, political and social context, a country that comprises various nations and religious confessions. A reality that has a particular impact on the […]

di Victor Khroul Russia

ecumenism

By little steps

“My house is also your house!”: these were the words of welcome that Patriarch PAVLE of the Serbian Orthodox Church addressed to the participants in the 9th plenary session of the “International Mixed Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church as a whole” on 18 September, in the course of […]

di Redazione

Hungary: “truth and justice” for the country

“We cannot remain silent on the moral crisis of recent days. The solution must be sought in truth and in justice. No healthy society can be based on lies”, declare the Hungarian bishops, intervening on the violent demonstrations and clashes between police and anti-government factions that have continued in Budapest since Sunday 17 September, with […]

di Redazione

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 […]

di Redazione

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 […]

di Redazione

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 […]

di Redazione

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. […]

di Redazione

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 […]

di Redazione

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

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 […]

di Redazione