Cyprus: an "exciting" pontificate” “

An “exciting” pontificate: in the view of Father Umberto Baratto, Latin vicar of Nicosia (Cyprus) the twenty-five years of John Paul II’s pontificate have been unforgettable. “We cannot forget – declares Father Baratto – the constant appeals to forgiveness, peace and reconciliation. And for us who live in a divided country [partitioned between Turkey and […]

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France: courage to preach the Gospel

Good wishes on behalf of all the French bishops and the Catholics of France were expressed to the Pope by the president of the French Episcopal Conference, Archbishop Jean Pierre Ricard of Bordeaux. “On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of your pontificate – writes Msgr. Ricard to the Pope – I wish to express […]

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In the heart of Bulgaria” “” “

Bulgarian politicians, intellectuals, artists, and religious leaders, all united by their gratitude and esteem for the Pope. Last year Bulgaria received a visit from John Paul II. The people had been waiting for it for years. It was an extraordinary occasion for the Catholic minority in a country that is largely Orthodox, in which 10% […]

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The Christian Churches appeal to the European Union” “

The need for “the peculiar identity, rights and role of the Churches, to be clearly recognized, in the sign of freedom and reciprocal collaboration between religious and civil institutions”, was reaffirmed by the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), Cardinal Camillo Ruini, during the meeting held in Rome between the representatives of the Christian […]

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The cost of solidarity” “

The members of the Social Affairs Commission of COMECE held a meeting on “Reflections from the viewpoint of social ethics on solidarity in the European Union and the debate on the future financial prospects of the EU” on 4-5 October. We present a memorandum issued at the end of the meeting. The issue discussed over […]

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parishes" "

The various faces of the parish (2)” “

We continue our report on the experiences and projects of parish communities in European cities, large and small (the first part of our report was published in SirEurope 68/2003). Bulgaria, a “multinational” community. The parish of St. Joseph in Sofia is the only Catholic parish of Latin rite in the Bulgarian capital. Here communities of […]

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Evangelization in Brussels ” “

“Each age is characterised by obstacles that make the task of evangelization difficult, but each age also constitutes fertile ground for the Word of God. Today it is in the cities that the most challenging questions are encountered, and it is there that the search for the right balance between the person and the community […]

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Open house in Slovenia” “

“Catholics comprise 83% of the population of Slovenia. There are three dioceses, Koper (Capodistria), Ljubliana and Maribor, subdivided into 803 parishes, grouped together in 60 deaneries; 188 parishes don’t have a priest of their own. There are 1,022 priests (0.6 for every thousand Catholics) but only 8 permanent deacons. There are considerable differences between the […]

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European Churches" "

France: no to violence against women” “

“It’s not only the women’s associations that ought to denounce such violence. It’s not just a female campaign: we must act together, men and women, to reconstruct the future of those who have been abused in body and soul”. The words are those of Dominique Jacquemin-Mangé, general secretary of Catholic Action for women in France […]

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Germany: Catholic prize for the media” “

Cardinal Karl Lehmann, president of the German Episcopal Conference, handed over the Catholic award for the media in recent days. The annual award, now in its first year, went to Regina Buckreus and Gert Krautbauer for their reportage “Gregoire’s List” on the life of the mentally disabled in Africa and to Karla Krause for a […]

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