Jerusalem Church leaders decry death penalty law, ‘lifeless’ holy city ahead of Easter April 1, 2026By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Church leaders in Jerusalem expressed sorrow over the news of the passage by the Israeli Knesset of a death penalty law — by hanging — for Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks on Israelis, noting that Easter, which celebrates life, represents the opposite.
Residents turn to resistance in faith as settler violence terrorizes West Bank Christian village March 26, 2026By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The takeover of the quarry raises “significant concerns about attempts to impose new facts on the ground,” said Taybeh’s Christ the Redeemer parish priest Father Bashar Fawadleh.
Amid U.S. and Israel-Iran war, Palestinian sisters find refuge in prayer at Jerusalem hospital March 4, 2026By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Among the belongings Asma Isyed, 68, brought from her West Bank village of Zababdeh in October were a small Bible and a booklet of prayers by St. Mariam Baouardy, a Palestinian saint.
Inviting pilgrims back is more than business, it’s family history, Holy Land shop owners say February 27, 2026By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Lent, News, World News As Lent begins in Jerusalem, the usually crowded streets of the Old City remain quiet, with only a small number of international pilgrims returning after years of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Israel-Hamas war.
Historic restoration to begin at Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity Grotto After 600 years February 7, 2026By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Arts & Culture, News, World News Restoration is set to begin at the grotto of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem for the first time in 600 years.
Historic altar at St. Mark’s monastery in Jerusalem unveiled for first time in 350 years January 13, 2026By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Arts & Culture, News, World News The historic altar of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Monastery of St. Mark in Jerusalem has been unveiled for the first time in nearly 350 years, following an extensive restoration.
Israel bans dozens of aid groups from Gaza, including Caritas, drawing condemnation January 2, 2026By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Disaster Relief, News, World News Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Jerusalem are among the 37 international aid organizations that Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs has banned from operating in Gaza by March 1.
Cardinal Pizzaballa: Gaza’s Christians long to rebuild life after two years of war December 22, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News People have a deep desire to return to their lives despite the dire and complex situation in Gaza following two years of war, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, said at an annual Christmas press conference on Dec. 22.
Bethlehem celebrates first Christmas tree lighting since war as pilgrims slowly return December 8, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Christmas, Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Bethlehem rejoiced with the festive celebration of lighting of a 65-feet Christmas tree at the edge of Manger Square Dec. 6 — for the first time since December 2022 and the start of Israel-Hamas war 10 months later.
Amid post-war healing, Catholic youth in Israel find unity through faith October 20, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The retreat, organized by the St. James vicariate for Hebrew-speaking Catholics and the Latin patriarchate’s general secretariat for the youth in Galilee in collaboration with the Youth Pastoral Office of the Latin Patriarchate, brought together about 200 young people from the Arabic and Hebrew-speaking Catholic communities.
Holy Land patriarch welcomes announcement of initial peace deal ‘with joy’ as ‘first step’ October 9, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem welcomed “with joy” the announcement of an initial agreement between Hamas and Israel in an Oct. 9 statement, but also stressed the “absolute urgency” for the “immediate” and “unconditional” entry of humanitarian relief and sufficient aid into Gaza.
Cardinal Pizzaballa welcomes ceasefire talks as first step, urges prayer, perseverance October 6, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As indirect ceasefire talks began in Egypt between Israel and Hamas Oct. 6 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt — aimed at finalizing a ceasefire deal based on a proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump — the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem lauded it as an “important and long-awaited first step.”
