FROM THE WORLD
BELGIUM
Pro-life activists in the streets of Brussels
On Sunday 30 March 2014, a Pro-Life march had walked in the streets of the capital city of Belgium – Brussels for the fifth time. It was attended by about 2 thousand people, including a group of 50 pro-life activists belonging to the Catholic Association ‘Civitas Christiana’ in Szczecin, especially in one of its section – Brotherhood of Little Feet.
During the march there was also archbishop of Brussels Mechelen present and the Primate of the Kingdom of Brussels – Andre-Joseph Leonard, who, despite many attacks from liberal groups, consistently supports every effort in defence of life and its dignity.
Organizers of this year’s pro-life manifestation expressed a definite opposition towards euthanasia understood as an action aimed at causing death in order to relieve pain. Participants of the march demand the development of palliative care, not euthanasia.
Joanna Szałata
A PRAYER BEFORE CANONIZATION
White vigil prayer in Rome
On the eve of canonization of popes John XXIII and John Paul II there are going to be three vigil prayers. First, on Wednesday 22 April at 8.30 p.m. in the Basilica of St. John at Lateran there are going to be young people. The meeting will be presided over by the papal vicar for the Roman diocese, cardinal Agostino Vallini. Speeches will be given by postulators of canonization issues of both Popes: prelate priest Sławomir Oder and Fr. Giovangiuseppe Califano OFM. The catechesis will be preached by Fr. Fabio Rosini, a director of the Vocation Service of the Vicariate of Rome. Whereas, on Saturday 26 April at 6 p.m. in the Basilica of St. John at Lateran there are pilgrims from Bergamo, the home diocese of John XXIII. On the same day, at 9 p.m., in the churches of the downtown of Rome ‘the white night of prayer’ will start. In 11 churches liturgical animation will be provided- in the Polish language in the church of St. Agnieszka on Piazza Navona.
Ignazio Marino
The mayor of Rome Ignazio Marino informed that on 27 April 2014, during the canonization of popes John XXIII and John Paul II, it is estimated that there are going to be about 3 million people. – It is difficult to estimate the number of participants because many pilgrims are going to arrive by ships and will have their accommodation on the board – said Marino and added that over 2 milliard of people are going to watch this event on TV.
As the mayor of the Eternal City informed, wide streets from Via dei ForiImperiali to Coliseum will be excluded from traffic. On 27 April three big screens will be placed there, on which one will be able to watch the ceremony. Other 4 screens will be on: Piazza Navona, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore and near the Castle of Angel.
New patriarch of Syria
Wishes of further development of relations between the Catholic Church and the Syrian Orthodox Church were told by pope Francis in a congratulation telegram to his new superior – patriarch Ignacy Efrem II. He was elected the 123rd patriarch of Antioch and the whole East on 31 March 2014, and who is the supreme superior of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church. The election was done by the participants of the Holy Synod of this religious community with the headquarters in Damascus. The Syrian Orthodox Church, also called Jacobean, with the Coptic Church and Armenian and Ethiopian Church belong to the Ancient Eastern Churches, called ‘not Chalcedon’. This name derives from the fact that the Churches did not accept decisions of the Synod in Chalcedonin the year 451, which condemned the heresy of monophysitism , that is the opinion that Jesus had only one, godly nature, not the human one. The Syrian Church has about 3.5 million believers all over the world.
Briefly
Ukrainian economy is experiencing difficult moments. Hryvnia has lost half of value for half a year. The new government has increased taxes and excise duties, and it decreased among the others, social help. There are also going to be redundancies in the office staff.
Russia introduced a prohibition of importing processed pork meat from Poland and Lithuania. This is a punishment for Polish engagement in Ukraine.
Vatican Radio makes archive papal statements from 1931 till now available in the digital form. So, it will be possible to hear the voices of the popes, without any player: Pius XI, Pius XII, John XXIII and John Paul II.
The post of the general secretary of the NATO will be taken over on 1 October 2014 by the prime minister of Norway Jens Stoltenberg.
The West is close to acknowledge Ukraine as a Russian sphere of impacts. In return the United States wants to place its armies in Central Europe, including Poland – informed ‘Rzeczpospolita’.
On Majdan in Kiev the organization of mass homicides of demonstrators was run by the president of Ukraine at that time, Wiktor Janukowycz, and some accomplices are hiding in Kremlin – stated the chief of the Safety Service of Ukraine Wałentyn Naływajczenko.
In the Northern Italy gunmen arrested 24 separatists, under the allegation of terrorism, subversive actions and preparation of plans for ‘people’s uprising’, who had found the movement of supporters of separating the region of Veneto from the rest of the country.
UNO informed that the number of refugees who escaped from Syria to neighbouring Lebanon, exceeded a million. Every day 2.5 thousand refuges arrive at Lebanon.
Chile was afflicted by the earthquake of the force of 8.2 degrees in Richer’s scale. Waves of tsunami exceeded 2 metres. 6 people were killed and a few thousand were evacuated.
(AA)
"Niedziela" 15/2014