A ‘living hell’: Survivor of Oct. 7 attack, father of hostage reflect as conflict approaches one year October 4, 2024By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Almost 100 families still await news of their loved ones who continue to be held hostage in the Gaza Strip after being abducted last year. Among those taken on Oct. 7, 2023, is Sagui, the 35-year-old American-Israeli who is the son of Jonathan Dekel-Chen.
Since Oct. 7 attacks and start of war, pope calls Gaza every day, lifting up suffering community October 2, 2024By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Since Hamas’ attack on Israel Oct. 7, 2023, and the immediate start of the Israel-Hamas war, Pope Francis has provided daily spiritual solace to Gaza Strip’s only Catholic parish.
‘Déjà vu, only worse’: Catholic aid workers ‘at risk everywhere in Lebanon’ October 1, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News As the Israel-Hamas war expands to include attacks in Lebanon — where the Iran-backed Shia militia Hezbollah is based — OSV News interviewed Michel Constantin, regional director for the Catholic Near East Welfare Association-Pontifical Mission in Palestine.
Just war theory morally ‘devalued’ in today’s world, U.S. cardinal says September 30, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, War in Ukraine, World News The concept of just war, which has guided Catholic teaching on war and peace since the fourth century, has become “devalued as a moral instrument” due to its application in modern conflicts, said Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of San Diego.
Iraqi archbishop says rift with Chaldean patriarch is a ‘misunderstanding’ September 30, 2024By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Iraqi Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil said tensions between himself and Cardinal Louis Sako, the Baghdad-based Chaldean Catholic patriarch, were the result of a misunderstanding and denied accusations he was working against the patriarch.
Excessive force, even after an attack, is immoral, pope says September 30, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News During a brief question-and-answer period with reporters on the papal plane returning to Rome from Belgium Sept. 29, the pope was asked specifically whether he thought Israel had gone too far in its most recent strike on Lebanon.
‘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.
