Pope evaluating Trump’s invitation to join Board of Peace, Vatican’s secretary of state says January 21, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV is currently evaluating an invitation by U.S. President Donald Trump to join his “Board of Peace,” an international body chaired by the president to oversee the governance and reconstruction of Gaza, the Vatican secretary of state said.
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.
Cardinal Pizzaballa visits Gaza City’s Holy Family Parish before Christmas December 19, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Christmas, Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News In a sign of closeness as Christmas approaches, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Latin Patriarchal Vicar Bishop William Shomali and a small delegation, arrived in Gaza Dec. 19 for a pastoral visit to the Holy Family Parish.
Pope, Israeli president speak by phone about Sydney attack, peace in Gaza December 17, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Gun Violence, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV and Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke by telephone Dec. 17, just days after a terrorist attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Australia led to the deaths of 15 people.
Amid ‘fragile’ ceasefire, Caritas Jerusalem seeks to ‘replant hope’ in Gaza this Christmas December 17, 2025By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Christmas, Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News As the celebration of Christ’s birth draws near, the traditional Christmas tree lighting in various places, including Bethlehem and the Vatican, is meant as a sign of joyful expectation for the coming of salvation.
Jerusalem patriarch: Holy Land needs world’s prayers, support amid ‘disaster’ December 11, 2025By Daniel Meloy OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Since the October ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war, people in Palestine are living in abject ruin, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa said at a news conference in Plymouth, a western suburb of Detroit.
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.
The story behind young woman who wept while hugging Pope Leo in Beirut December 5, 2025By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News As Pope Leo XIV was wrapping up his first apostolic trip to Turkey and Lebanon recently, the world was moved by the sight of a young Lebanese woman crying and hugging the pontiff as he was meeting with victims of the deadly 2020 Beirut port explosion.
Unity, dialogue, respect: On first trip, pope highlights paths to peace December 3, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Spending time with Catholics, other Christian leaders and top Muslim clerics in Turkey Nov. 27-Nov. 30 and Lebanon Nov. 30-Dec. 2, the pope made formal speeches about how believing in God as the father of all means recognizing one another as brothers and sisters.
Situation in Gaza remains ‘critical’ despite peace plan, say Catholic leaders December 3, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News As Pope Leo XIV urged in Turkey Nov. 27 that “the future of humanity is at stake” with ongoing conflict in the Middle East and days after a United Nations Security Council endorsement of a U.S.-backed peace plan, Catholic leaders warn that conditions in Gaza remain grave, especially as winter approaches.
Choose the way of peace, pope says as he leaves Lebanon December 2, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV ended his stay in Lebanon with what he termed “a heartfelt appeal: may the attacks and hostilities cease.”
