Pope Leo XIV accepts resignation of Iraqi Cardinal Louis Sako March 10, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Louis Sako, the Iraq-based Chaldean Catholic patriarch of Baghdad, ending his 13-year tenure leading Iraq’s largest Christian denomination, the Vatican said.
Cardinal Mathieu in Rome after evacuation from Iran March 10, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Belgian Cardinal Dominique Mathieu of Tehran-Isfahan surfaced in Rome after days of uncertainty about his whereabouts following the start of a U.S. and Israel-Iran war.
Christians ‘most persecuted religious community in the world,’ Vatican tells UN March 9, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News The Vatican’s permanent observer to the United Nations in Geneva called on governments and international organizations to strengthen religious freedom protections for persecuted Christians.
Pope urges peace, warns about wider Middle East conflict March 9, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV called for an end to the war in Iran and warned that the conflict could drag more countries in the Middle East into instability.
As Middle East chaos grows, Jerusalem abbey becomes refuge for prayer, interfaith solidarity March 6, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Amid the escalating chaos of another war in the Middle East, Benedictine Father Nikodemus Schnabel said the abbey where he resides has become an “island of hope in an ocean of suffering” where even people of different faiths have found refuge.
Prayer, unity essential as conflict spreads to Gulf States, says apostolic vicar of region March 4, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia warned that the current military escalation in the Persian Gulf amid the U.S. and Israel-Iran war is a conflict with “ancient roots” that poses a serious threat to the Middle East and the wider world.
Young Catholics want doctrinal clarity, not adaptability, Irish bishop says March 3, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, World News, Youth Ministry The next generation of young Catholics is less interested in a Church that adapts to modern culture and more drawn to one with a solid doctrinal foundation that is firmly anchored against a fragmented world, an Irish bishop said.
Lebanese archbishop: Innocents are ‘paying the price’ of Middle East war March 3, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News As the scourge of war spreads across the Middle East, including Lebanon, the ones paying the ultimate price are the innocent men, women and children who want to live in peace, said Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop Georges Iskandar of Tyre.
Bishops, Christian leaders call for peace, urge diplomacy as Middle East conflict escalates March 2, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As the United States and Israel continued their campaign against Iran and the newest war continued to spread across the Middle East, bishops and Christian leaders appealed for peace before the conflict escalates any further, with the Catholic Church’s humanitarian giant Caritas saying it “unequivocally” condemns the attacks which would “destabilize” the region.
Church governance begins with holiness, not bureaucracy, Bishop Varden says at Curia retreat February 27, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Lent, News, World News Church governance depends more on holy, prayerful leaders than on bureaucratic expertise, Norwegian Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim said during the Roman Curia’s Lenten retreat.
Spanish bishops clarify Pope Leo XIV’s remarks following media reports February 25, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News The executive commission of the Spanish bishops’ conference clarified a recent report that alleged Pope Leo XIV had warned about attempts by far-right political parties in the country to “weaponize the Church.”
Sydney Archdiocese welcomes record numbers at Rite of Election February 25, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Evangelization, News, World News The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney said it welcomed a record number of catechumens and candidates during the annual Rite of Election at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
