Constantinople: message for Lent” “

Although the Churches are discussing the possibility of celebrating Easter on the same day, differences in the liturgical calendar still persist. Thus, while Catholics and Angelicans began Lent with the celebration of Ash Wednesday on 1st March, the Orthodox did so a week later, on 6 March. As a consequence the dates for Easter also […]

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From challenges to opportunities” “

It was supposed to be the week of the European tour of Mamhoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority. But the assault of the Israeli army on the prison in Jericho and the violent popular reactions in the Gaza Strip forced the Palestinian leader to interrupt his trip. Nor were “tough issues” lacking in Strasbourg, […]

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"Lorenzo Natali" Prize” “

This year’s “Lorenzo Natali” Prizes for journalism (named after the former Vice-President of the EU Executive) have been awarded by the European Commission. The aim of the event, now a fixed date on the calendar, is to commend not only European articles and reportage devoted to the cause of human rights and democratization. This year […]

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Fresh funds for refugees” “

The European Commission approved last week a further allocation of 4 million euros to support and reinforce programmes for the protection of refugees run by the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). The sum will be primarily used to improve rapid reaction capacity in response to emergencies: it is estimated that some 500,000 refugees – […]

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Humanitarian aid: closer coordination with the UNO” “

The European Commission and the European Office for Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) have allocated 3 million euros to support and reinforce systems of information essential for the coordination of humanitarian aid within the UN Office for the coordination of humanitarian aid (OCHA). The funding is aimed at the Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) run by OCHA, […]

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European Consumers Day” “

With the contribution of the Austrian Presidency of the EU and the Economic and Social Committee, the eighth European Consumers Day was celebrated throughout Europe on 15 March. Ever since 1999 – on the initiative of the said Committee – the Day has been the European corollary of the World Consumers Day promoted by the […]

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European dailies and periodicals” “

A comment signed by G.H. and published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (16/3) analyses the results of a new survey on demographic trends in Germany, which confirms that the regions that are most economically disadvantaged are those most badly affected by the decline in the birth rate. This especially involves the Länder of the former […]

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Patriarch of many peoples” “” “

“St. Benedict – Patron of many peoples”: that’s the title of a new book on the Patron Saint of Europe recently presented to the Italian public. The book describes, with favour and fascination, not only the life of the Saint born in Norcia, but the whole mentality and spirituality of this man who had no […]

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Turkey: attack on the church in Mersin” “

Violence and intimidation against Christian communities are continuing in Turkey. An attack on the church in Mersin was reported by the Asianews wire service on 14 March. According to what was reported by the friars of the parish to journalists during a press conference, “this action forms part of a violent campaign aimed at driving […]

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Scandinavia: street children, "pastoral priority"” “

“The problem of children and adolescents who do not feel accepted at home must form one of the top priorities of the pastoral action of the Church”, declared the Scandinavian bishops, at the end of their twice-yearly assembly, held in Copenhagen, in Denmark, in recent days. After analysing the final document of the 1st international […]

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