Pope Benedict XVI has appointed new heads of several Vatican departments, naming Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec as prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. Cardinal Ouellet, 66, will head the office that helps the pope choose bishops for Latin-rite dioceses around the world. It’s the first time a North American cardinal has been placed in charge of the powerful congregation… Read more »

On Thursday, 15th July, 2010, Archbishop Paul Cremona OP met Maltese missionaries who at present are in Malta, at Dar l-Emigrant, Valletta. The Secretariat for Maltese Priests Overseas, SMPO, organized this meeting for all the priests, religious and lay missionaries who at present are in Malta on holiday. During the meeting the missionaries had the opportunity to share their experiences about pastoral and missionary related work… Read more »

Italy defended the display of the crucifix in public schools before Europe’s human rights court, arguing that it is a symbol of the country’s cultural heritage and not an imposition of religious belief on students. In a hearing June 30 before the appeals body of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, a representative for the Italian government urged the court to overturn a November 2009 ruling that banned the custom as a violation of religious freedom… Read more »

“We believe it inappropriate to put same-sex marriages on the same footing as heterosexual marriages and give same-sex couples the right to adopt children, for this would undermine the fundamental and irreplaceable role of both mother and father in the life of the family”.

It was written by Mgr Anton Stres, president of the Slovenian Bishops’ Conference and archbishop of Ljubljana, and Nedzad Grabus, president of the Islamic Community in Slovenia, in a joint statement signed today in Ljubljana in which – as reported by the Slovenian Bishops’ Conference Press Office – the two religious leaders reaffirmed “the need for their respective communities of faithful to uphold the value of marriage between a man and a woman and of the family”… Read more »

“German Churches congratulate Christian Wulff for being elected Federal President of Germany” on 30th June. Msgr. Robert Zollitsch, President of the Bishops’ Conference, and Nikolaus Schneider, President of the Council of the Evangelical Church gave the newly elected president their best wishes. The new president, said Msgr. Zollitsch, “accepts the task in a difficult situation”. As for Schneider, he points out “the great expectations and hopes linked to this election”… Read more »

On Friday, 9th July, 2010, Archbishop Paul Cremona OP attended the graduation ceremony at the Caritas Centre of San Blas. Archbishop Cremona praised the sense of initiative shown by Caritas especially since 17 graduates could start their lives all over again.

The Prime Minister of Malta, Dr. Lawrence Gonzi, opposition leader, Dr. Joseph Muscat and Caritas director, Mgr Victor Grech were present for the ceremony… Read more »

WYD 2011 logo

Registration for World Youth Day Madrid is an act of solidarity, for it will help young people from countries with economic difficulties participate in the 2011 event. This is the message of the advertising campaign, featuring about 300 young people from different countries, that was launched last Tuesday to promote registration for World Youth Day Madrid.

The campaign is multilingual (in Spanish and English) and is to be broadcast on the Internet (social networks) and through the media, television and radio… Read more »