‘Return to Holy Land!’ bishop says, urging pilgrims to visit West Bank, support Christians March 14, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News A bishop in Jerusalem has appealed for Christians to start returning to the Holy Land on pilgrimage, insisting they should visit holy places located within Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
Who’s Holy Land is it? A history of the most contested swath of land in the Middle East March 8, 2024By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The Holy Land remains perhaps the most hotly contested piece of territory in the Middle East, if not the world.
Irish bishops urge immediate end to Israel-Hamas hostilities as children in Gaza face starvation March 6, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Ireland’s Catholic bishops called on Israel and Hamas to immediately end hostilities in the Holy Land as the war triggered by the Oct. 7 attacks enters its sixth month, and U.N. agencies warn that children are dying of starvation in Gaza.
Church leaders condemn ‘wanton attack’ at aid site; Israelis demand hostage release March 4, 2024By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem condemned a “wanton attack” by Israeli soldiers against Palestinian civilians in Gaza City who were waiting for delivery of humanitarian aid Feb. 29. Gaza health authorities said the attack left more than 100 people dead.
Pope calls for cease-fire in Gaza; calls disarmament ‘moral duty’ March 4, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis repeated his call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and said the international community has a “moral duty” to pursue disarmament worldwide.
War is pointless, will never solve problems, pope says after Angelus February 20, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News War will never solve problems, Pope Francis said, appealing for prayers that God inspire people to concretely work for peace.
White House seeks pause in Israel-Hamas war as Lenten prayer campaign for cease-fire begins February 16, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As Lent began Feb. 14, some Catholics gathered in front of the White House to pray for such a cease-fire as Israel readies a new offensive and Palestinian civilian casualties have soared.
Israeli embassy objects to cardinal’s remarks on Gaza death toll February 14, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Israeli Embassy to the Holy See has defined as “regrettable” remarks by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, saying that Israel’s attacks on Gaza have been excessive.
Senate advances national security supplemental bill with aid for Ukraine, Israel February 9, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, U.S. Congress, War in Ukraine, World News The Senate voted Feb. 8 to proceed with debate on a bill that would provide military and humanitarian aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, among other measures.
Mother of Israeli hostage says pope gave her ‘permission to not lose faith in humanity’ February 7, 2024By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Since her 23-year-old son Hersh had his left arm blown off at the elbow and was taken hostage into Gaza by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, Rachel Goldberg-Polin has gone from the self-described “Jane Doe” anonymity of Jewish woman, to becoming the international voice for hostage families.
Benedictine abbot calls Jerusalem spitting incident against him ‘heartbreaking’ February 6, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, World News The head of the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem has described as “heartbreaking” an incident of being spat at by Jewish extremists in the Old City, describing the suspects as “hooligans of religion.”
Pope, in letter to Jews in Israel, condemns antisemitism as a sin February 5, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, Vatican, World News In a letter addressed to “my Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel,” Pope Francis expressed his heartbreak at the violence unleashed by the Hamas attack on Israel in October and he repeated the Catholic Church’s condemnation of all forms of antisemitism and anti-Judaism.
