Holy See: Father Federico Lombardi appointed Director of the Press Room

The new Director of the Holy See’s Press Room is Father Federico Lombardi. Benedict XVI has, in fact, accepted the resignation presented by Joaquín Navarro-Valls as Director of the Vatican’s Press Room and “thanked him for his long and generous service”, says a statement put out by the Press Room on 11 July. Father Lombardi […]

di Redazione

Belgium: hunger strike of the sans-papiers

The bishops of Belgium have asked the sans-papiers to interrupt the hunger strike called by approximately 150 illegal immigrants in the churches they are occupying (some 40). The hunger strikers are pressing for regularization in the country. Msgr. Jozef De Kesel, auxiliary bishop of Brussels, has stressed that “the Church supports a dignified and humane […]

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Turkey: an ecumenical celebration

Christians and Muslims joined together for the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, celebrated on 29 June in a special way by the Christian community of Antioch in southern Turkey, which is the “Antioch of Syria” mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. The parish priest of the local Catholic community, Father Domenico Bertogli, has […]

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France: national pilgrimage to Lourdes

The 133rd national pilgrimage of France to the Marian sanctuary of Lourdes will take place from 12 to 17 August. It will be led by Archbishop André Vingt-Trois of Paris, who will propose each day a catechesis for all the pilgrims, couples, families, single persons, disabled, young and old. Over 2000 youth are expected to […]

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Portugal: bishop and poet

A bishop poet, who writes lyrics for musical oratorios: that’s a label that fits a Portuguese prelate, Joaquim Gonçalves, bishop of Vila Real. He has always cultivated his passion for poetry and, on the recent 25th anniversary of his ordination as priest, even had his work staged in the theatre of his diocese. The title […]

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ECUMENISM AND DIALOGUE

Common responses

Some 200 leaders of over 40 countries representing various religions accepted the invitation of the Interfaith Council of Russia to take part in the world summit of the great religions that ended in Moscow in recent days. The delegations present at the summit included one of the Holy See, led by Cardinal Walter Kasper, President […]

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EUROPEAN UNION

Investing new energies

The constitutional process, future enlargement, “economic competitiveness based on innovation and research”, and the necessary “creation of a space of security and liberty” in which “the threats to the citizen” and “illegal immigration” can be combated: these are some of the key points on the agenda of the revolving Presidency of the European Council, which […]

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Asylum and immigration, enhanced powers for the Eu

“Improving the jurisdictional protection for matters covered by Title IV through a boosting of the powers of the European Court of Justice”: that’s one of the recommendations made by the European Commission to the member states in the framework of the Report on the application of the Programme of The Hague on the space for […]

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Eu Directive on family reunification

With a sentence issued on 27 June 2006, the Court of Justice of the European Community rejected the appeal presented by the European Parliament on Directive 2003/86/CE of 22 September 2003 relating to the right of family reunification for citizens of third countries legitimately resident on the territory of member states. In particular, the Court […]

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PRIMA PAGINA

Culture e religioni in dialogo

L’Unione europea intende dichiarare il 2008 “Anno del dialogo interculturale”. Le istituzioni dell’Ue stanno gettando le basi dell’iniziativa: la proposta della Commissione Europea è stata deliberata e votata dal Parlamento europeo. La decisione finale relativa al lancio e allo stanziamento dei fondi sarà presa congiuntamente dal Parlamento europeo e dal Consiglio.La Commissione e il Parlamento […]

di Noël Treanor Comece - Europe Infos