Text 689, 47 rader
Skriven 2005-07-05 08:55:18 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
===================================================
Hello All!

                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

IN BRIEF

FOR THE OCCASION OF THE "MAKE POVERTY HISTORY" RALLY in Edinburgh, Scotland,
the Holy Father sent a message, through Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo
Sodano, to Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien, archbishop of St. Andrews and
Edinburgh. The rally was held on Saturday, July 2, in Edinburgh, in the lead up
to the G8 summit meeting, due to be held near Edinburgh from July 6-8. In his
message, the Pope writes that "people from the world's richest countries ...
should urge their leaders to fulfil the pledges made to reduce world poverty,
especially in Africa, by the year 2015." He also asks world leaders to "play
their part in ensuring a more just distribution of the world's goods."

THE SPECIAL COUNCIL FOR AFRICA OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS, presided by Archbishop
Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, celebrated its 14th
meeting on June 21 and 22 in the synod's Rome headquarters. The aim of the
meeting - attended by four cardinals and seven archbishops and bishops - was to
continue preparations for the Second Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops
for Africa, called by John Paul II and confirmed by Benedict XVI. The
participants presented various proposals concerning the themes of the
forthcoming special assembly: evangelization, the social activities of the
Church, reconciliation and peace. The next meeting is scheduled to take place
on February 23 and 24, 2006.

A DELEGATION FROM THE GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION FOR RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam, headed by its director, Ngo Yen Thi, was in Rome
from June 27 to July 2. According to a communique, the visit, the second since
that of 1992, aimed to promote relations between Church and State and to
achieve a more direct and deep understanding of the Holy See. During the work
sessions in the Secretariat of State, attention was given to various aspects of
the Catholic Church's activities in Vietnam, especially to advances made since
the last meeting and problems that still remain. Special attention was given to
a new Vietnamese government law concerning beliefs and religions published in
November last year. The question of relations between Vietnam and the Holy See
was also examined, in the hope that they become normalized as soon as possible.
.../IN BRIEF/... VIS 050704 (380)

SUMMARY

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS New Orleans 1-504-897-6006 USR 33.6k (1:396/45)