Apr

25

Holy See: Biofuels Shouldn’t Block Right to Food

April 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment

The Holy See is asking for measures to keep the production of biofuels from bringing about increased food prices to the point of threatening starvation in many countries.
Monsignor Renato Volante, the permanent observer of the Holy See at the Rome-based U.N. Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO), participated in the FAO Regional Conference for Latin […]

Apr

25

Mass in Rome Marks Armenian Massacre

April 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Monsignor Hopes World Comes to Recognize Genocide
By Robert Cheaib
A Mass in Rome celebrated by the rector of the Pontifical Armenian College was among many events marking the 93rd anniversary of the slaughter of thousands of Armenians.
Monsignor Hovsep Kelekian celebrated the Mass in the Armenian church of St. Nicholas of Tolentine.
He lamented the lack of an […]

Apr

25

Media to Mark Jubilee in Lourdes

April 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Journalists, editors, publishers, marketing professionals and all those involved in the field of social communications will join in a special jubilee celebration in Lourdes this May, as part of the itinerary marking the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady.
The May 29-30 jubilee is being organized by the communications council of the French episcopal […]

Apr

25

Great Cordiality between Pope and Italian Head of State

April 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment

  Given below is the text of a declaration by Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. concerning the meeting between the Holy Father and Giorgio Napolitano, president of the Italian Republic, prior to yesterday evening’s concert in the Paul VI Hall:
  “During the meeting, which lasted around 15 minutes and was characterised […]

Apr

25

Australian Bishops: Lawful Abortion Is Still Wrong

April 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Bishops in the state of Victoria are urging Australians to keep abortion as part of the Crimes Act, even though the state already has abortion on demand in practice.
In a pastoral letter signed by six prelates and an apostolic administrator, Church leaders urged Victoria to adopt laws that maintain abortion as a crime, and to […]

Apr

25

Damascus to Become Focus of Pauline Year

April 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Just as the road to Damascus was instrumental in the life of St. Paul, so the city of Damascus will be instrumental in the Pauline jubilee year declared by Benedict XVI.
Patriarch Gregorios III Laham of Antioch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church — with the help of the Franciscan custodians of the Holy Land, and […]

Apr

25

Message to Russians Reveals “Warmhearted” Pope

April 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Benedict XVI’s video message to the people of Russia gave viewers a look at the “warmhearted” Pope of “great dignity,” affirmed the Russia specialist for Aid to the Church in Need.
Peter Humeniuk gave this analysis of the response to a documentary that aired in Russia on the state channel Vesti on April 16, the Holy […]

Apr

25

Focolare Youth to Run For Unity

April 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Youth from the Catholic lay Focolare movement will run a relay race to express their commitment to building a united world.
Run4Unity 2008 is scheduled for May 10. Youth in locations around the world will participate, passing batons from one time zone to another, across borders of countries at war, and in forgotten areas of cities.
The […]

Apr

25

Spiritual Value of Music Infuses Us with Hope

April 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment

  Yesterday evening in the Vatican, the Pope attended a concert marking the third anniversary of his election to the Pontificate, offered in his honour by Giorgio Napolitano, president of the Italian Republic,.
  The Giuseppe Verdi symphony orchestra and choir of Milan conducted, respectively, by Oleg Caetani and Erina Gambarini, played pieces by Luciano Berio, […]