International Union of Catholic Esperantists
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The International Union of Catholic Esperantists (in Esperanto IKUE: Internacia Katolika Unuiĝo Esperantista) is an organization of Catholic Esperanto speakers. It was founded in 1910 in Paris, and is now headquartered in Rome.
[edit] Activities
IKUE organizes masses during Esperanto meetings, and also each year its own week-long international convention. Associations and local groups of catholic esperantists also offer meetings (bible weekends, youth camps, etc.)
IKUE is publishing Christian literature in Esperanto, e.g. in 2001 the ecumenical prayer and hymnbook ADORU of 1,472 pages, and in 2006 the encyclical Deus Caritas Est. Its magazine Espero Katolika (Catholic Hope) first appeared in 1903.
[edit] Recognition from the Vatican
All popes from Pius X onwards welcomed and supported the Esperanto movement.
In 1977, Vatican Radio began regular broadcasts in Esperanto (three times a week since 1998). In 1990, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has approved the Esperanto translation of the prayers of the mass. The Esperanto Missal and Lectionary for Sundays and Feastdays was published in 1995. In 1994, Pope John Paul II began to include Esperanto among the languages of his annual Easter and Christmas greetings; at Easter 2006, Pope Benedict XVI has continued this tradition of his predecessor.
