S i g n i s I n d i a

ROME, May 12, 2010-- Benedict XVI is thanking the children of Avola, Italy, for their message of support, and wishing them a life full of joy and peace.

Monsignor Peter Wells, an official at the Secretariat of State, wrote the children on the Pope's behalf. The Holy Father was responding to a letter that came from an initiative begun by Father Fortunato Di Noto and the Virgin of Carmel parish. The priest began the Meter Association, which works against pedophilia and violence against children.read more »

MANILA, May 12, 2010-- The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) has released partial and unofficial precinct results out of 68,083 precincts or 89.03 percent of the total 76,475 precincts as of 8:01 pm.

The data is broken down as follows:

Presidential Candidates

PRESIDENT read more »

JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 5, 2010--Concern over the hardships faced by many domestic workers, has prompted several Church groups in Jakarta archdiocese to offer programs aimed at raising political awareness and improving working conditions.

The Communion of Domestic Workers (Paperta), which was established by the archdiocese in 2006, now has more than 200 members. “We hope more domestic workers will join this communion,” Paperta coordinator Maria Gorethi told UCA News on May 4.read more »

CZESTOCHOWA, Poland, May 7, 2010--In honor of the Year for Priests, some 3,000 clergy made a pilgrimage to Czestochowa, recalling their brethren murdered in World War II and during the Communist regime.

The theme of the pilgrimage echoed that of the priestly year, which ends June 19: "Fidelity of Christ, Fidelity of the Priest."

The priests were joined by 50 Polish bishops, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, and Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the Archbishop of Krakow and former secretary of John Paul II.read more »

SHANGHAI, China, May 12, 2010--Shanghai diocese launched its “Year of Matteo Ricci” on May 11, the 400th death anniversary of the pioneering Italian Jesuit missioner to China.

The special “year,” which ends on Dec. 11, aims to boost evangelization work among priests, nuns and laypeople, said Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian of Shanghai at the ceremony.

The event was held in Sheshan Seminary on the outskirts of the city.read more »

VATICAN, May 8, 2010-- The Holy Father accepted the resignation of German Bishop Walter Mixa on Saturday. The bishop had filed his resignation less than a month ago after allegations surfaced that he had physically abused children in the 70s and 80s.

Bishop Mixa had been nominated to lead the Diocese of Augsburg, Germany by Pope Benedict XVI shortly after his election as Peter's Successor in 2005.read more »

FATIMA, Portugal, May 12, 2010-- Benedict XVI today told priests and consecrated men and women that especially for them, the greatest concern must be fidelity, as "faithfulness over time is the name of love."

The Pope spoke of the special vocation of consecrated persons and priests when he celebrated vespers with them at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Fatima.

The Holy Father is on his second day of a four-day trip to Portugal.read more »