‘Peace is only possible if it is wanted,’ Cardinal Parolin tells U.N. assembly September 30, 2024By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Amid ongoing and potentially escalating conflict in both the Middle East and Ukraine, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin cautioned gathered delegates at the 79th session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York Sept. 28 that, “peace is only possible if it is wanted.”
‘Catastrophic’ situation faces Lebanon, says U.N. rep September 30, 2024By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Hezbollah’s central headquarters in Beirut’s southern suburbs were struck multiple times Sept. 27 by Israeli missiles, shaking the Lebanese capital. The next day Iran-backed Hezbollah confirmed the military organization’s leader Hassan Nasrallah died in the strike.
Cardinal urges day of prayer, penance on anniversary of Oct. 7 attack, start of Israel-Hamas war September 30, 2024By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Oct. 7 will mark a year since the brutal Hamas attack on Israeli communities and the no less brutal Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that immediately followed.
Stop the wars while there is still time, pope tells Sant’Egidio peace summit in Paris September 25, 2024By Caroline de Sury OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News For three days, Paris welcomed several thousand participants from around the globe who took part in the 38th “International Meeting for Peace,” organized Sept. 22-24 by the Community of Sant’Egidio.
Churches shelter people escaping violence as death toll from Israeli attacks climbs in Lebanon September 25, 2024By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon meant to target Hezbollah militants have led to over 550 deaths, including 50 children and 94 women, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. Christian churches in the country are sheltering people escaping violence.
Pope calls escalation of conflict in Middle East ‘unacceptable’ September 25, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis called the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East “unacceptable,” after Israel and Hezbollah exchanged increased airstrikes, with Israeli missiles killing hundreds in Lebanon.
U.S. cardinal: Church should prioritize nonviolence, not ‘just war’ September 23, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News The Catholic Church should focus on promoting active nonviolence, rather than refining just war theory as conflicts continue to flare up around the world and threaten peace, U.S. Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego said.
Lebanese cardinal decries attacks he calls ‘devoid of humanity’ September 23, 2024By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Rai expressed “profound sorrow” over the “devastating toll” of Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, the country’s state news agency NNA reported Sept. 22.
Lebanese cardinal condemns pager attacks as second wave terrorizes the country September 19, 2024By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Catholic church leaders in the Middle East condemned a second wave of explosions of hand-held devices across Lebanon and in the capital, Beirut, apparently targeting the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.
Pope recalls Israeli-American killed in Gaza, calls for hostages’ release September 16, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis lamented the death of an Israeli-American hostage abducted by Hamas and called for the immediate release of all hostages being held in Gaza.
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.
As war frightens away tourists, Catholic activists pray for peace during Holy Land pilgrimage September 2, 2024By Paul Jeffrey OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The Holy Land’s sacred sites overflow with tourists in normal times, but with war in Gaza, most airlines have canceled flights to the region. The streets of the Old City of Jerusalem are deserted with merchant’s stalls shuttered.
