Israeli minister asks pope to clarify remarks about genocide claims in Gaza December 20, 2024By Carol Glatz Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Israel’s minister of diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism asked Pope Francis to clarify his remarks about the need to investigate whether the current war in Gaza constitutes a genocide.
Why I’m spending Christmas in Bethlehem this year December 20, 2024By Father Patrick Briscoe OSV News Filed Under: Christmas, Commentary, Conflict in the Middle East The small, struggling city where Jesus Christ was born holds a deeper urgency — and a quiet, heartbreaking beauty.
King Charles III attends Advent service of London branch of pontifical charity December 17, 2024By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, World News King Charles III attended a special Advent service Dec. 17 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Mayfair, London. The event, co-hosted by Pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need, celebrated the resilience of Christian communities and marked the 10th anniversary of the Islamic State group invasion of Mosul and the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq.
Pope, Palestinian president meet at Vatican December 12, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News As the fighting in Gaza drags on, Pope Francis welcomed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the Vatican.
With Assad’s fall, Syria’s papal nuncio prays for nation’s reconciliation, new prosperity December 8, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The apostolic nuncio to Syria says he hopes the war-torn nation will “move toward reconciliation” and at least “some prosperity” under democratic rule, following former Syrian President Bashar Assad’s ouster in a lightning offensive by rebel groups.
Christians in Aleppo feel an uneasy calm amid rebel takeover of Syrian city December 5, 2024By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News An uneasy calm hangs over Aleppo, Christian leaders report, following the recent lightning takeover of Syria’s second-largest city by Islamist rebels driving out forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Concerns also mount over government airstrikes.
Christmas celebratory again in Holy Land amid ongoing war; patriarch urges pilgrims to return December 5, 2024By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Christmas this season in the Holy Land will be celebratory, despite ongoing bloodshed and war, the patriarchs of the Holy Land said, as Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa encouraged pilgrims to come back to the birthplace of Jesus.
Catholic agency ‘will follow’ Lebanon’s displaced ‘wherever they settle’ after ceasefire December 3, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News The head of a Catholic humanitarian agency in Lebanon told OSV News the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire appears to be intact, as he and his team vow to assist those displaced by the conflict “wherever they settle.”
Ceasefire, dialogue are the only paths to peace, pope says December 2, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Pope Francis praised a new ceasefire reached in Lebanon, prayed for Israeli hostages and Palestinians in Gaza, and appealed to world leaders to help put an end to the war in Ukraine.
Lebanon’s hospitals are on the front lines amid ongoing violence of war November 29, 2024By Leo Morawiecki OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News In Lebanon, hospitals and the health care sector have become the front and center of attention — and an imminent target — following the most recent bout of violence due to heavy clashes in southern Lebanon between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters.
Bishop Zaidan: Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire sparks ‘profound hope,’ inspiration for lasting peace November 27, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News A ceasefire brokered by the U.S. and France between Israel and the Lebanese-based militant group Hezbollah is being welcomed with “profound hope,” said Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace.
Blinken praises pope’s LGBTQ advocacy, talks Lebanon ceasefire at Vatican November 27, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News After meeting Pope Francis and top Vatican officials, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken praised the pope’s commitment to upholding the dignity of LGBTQ people.
