Jerusalem patriarch, back in Holy Land, reflects on conclave, ‘inconceivable’ Gaza situation May 14, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News The importance of continuity and diversity as well as the issues of war and peace were a main topic of conversation for the 133 cardinals as they gathered to vote in the conclave May 7-8, said Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem.
Francis’ final gift to Gaza: Popemobile will be transformed into mobile clinic for children May 5, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Remembering Pope Francis, World News With the declining situation in Gaza always in his heart, in his final months, Pope Francis bequeathed his popemobile to Caritas Jerusalem and directed the agency to turn it into a mobile health station for the children in Gaza.
4,000 process in Jerusalem for Palm Sunday amid Israeli bombardment of Gaza April 14, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News For the second year in a row, few foreign pilgrims were in attendance at the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives into the Old City of Jerusalem due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. But even the gray skies that threatened rain didn’t dampen the spirit of the 4,000 participants.
Tens of thousands of Israelis line streets for funeral procession for Bibas family February 26, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Tens of thousands of mourners Feb. 26 lined the streets as the funeral procession for Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir, made its way nearly 40 miles from Rishon Lezion in central Israel to Tsoher Regional Cemetery in southern Israel.
Israel devastated by ‘macabre’ return of child hostages’ bodies as ceasefire holds February 21, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Israel has identified three of the bodies of hostages returned Feb. 20 but said the body of Shiri Bibas — mother of two red-headed boys who became a symbol of Israeli hostage suffering, both confirmed dead — was not returned as promised by Hamas.
Pilgrimages are ‘safe,’ Holy Land church leaders say, telling pilgrims: ‘We’re waiting for you’ January 22, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Catholic leaders in the Holy Land called on Christian pilgrims to return to the region following the implementation of the long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
As ceasefire starts, first Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners return home January 20, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News In the West Bank, scenes of joy were delayed but the streets erupted in cheers as the first 90 prisoners, mostly women and teens, freed from Israeli prisons, were brought home in white Red Cross buses after midnight Jan. 20 as in the Gaza Strip first caravans of those displaced by 15-month war attempted return to their homes — of which scores are flattened — and first 600 trucks of aid entered the strip.
Change of heart key to Holy Year indulgence, Latin patriarch says in Nazareth December 30, 2024By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Jubilee 2025, News, World News An indulgence granted during the Jubilee Year is not just an occasion to “get something” but rather is a sign of the Holy Year, of the moment where the faithful must put themselves in front of God to discover the reality of oneself and see the need for forgiveness, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem said Dec. 29.
Patriarch: Amid ‘turmoil of hatred, violence,’ Christians in Holy Land keep spiritual life alive October 7, 2024By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News In a year filled with the “turmoil of hatred and violence” — which Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa described as “terrible, horrible,” it has been very important to keep the “spiritual life of the Christian community,” as well as his own, “alive,” the patriarch said.
In the ‘bleeding region,’ Gaza Strip’s Christian community lifts each other up, defying reality October 6, 2024By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Even though death surrounds them every day, Gaza Strip’s Christian community tries to “relieve the suffering” by assisting each other with spiritual and material needs.
A ‘living hell’: Survivor of Oct. 7 attack, father of hostage reflect as conflict approaches one year October 4, 2024By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Almost 100 families still await news of their loved ones who continue to be held hostage in the Gaza Strip after being abducted last year. Among those taken on Oct. 7, 2023, is Sagui, the 35-year-old American-Israeli who is the son of Jonathan Dekel-Chen.
Israel plunges into massive protests as Israeli-American, 5 other hostages found dead in Gaza tunnel September 2, 2024By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News In what was a devastating Sunday morning for hostage families, Israel said Sept. 1 that it had recovered the bodies of six hostages in Gaza, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose parents became outspoken global advocates for all hostages to be released.
