On Easter, pope asks Christ to ‘roll away’ the stones of war worldwide March 31, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Easter, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Just as Jesus removed the stone that sealed his tomb on the morning of the Resurrection, on Easter Christ alone “has the power to roll away the stones that block the path to life” and which trap humanity in war and injustice, Pope Francis said.
Pope praises friendship of grieving Israeli, Palestinian fathers March 27, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Of the thousands of people packed into the Paul VI Audience Hall for Pope Francis’ weekly general audience, two visitors received special praise from the pope for their unlikely friendship.
Pope writes to Holy Land Catholics living under ‘dark clouds of Good Friday’ March 27, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis told Catholics in the Holy Land that he knows Holy Week this year is “so overshadowed by the Passion and, as yet, so little by the Resurrection.”
‘We are not alone, abandoned or afraid,’ patriarch of Jerusalem says on Palm Sunday March 25, 2024By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News When Christians gathered in Jerusalem to remember Jesus’ entry into the city, it was one of a few joyful moments in the Holy Land, “crushed by so much hatred” in the months following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
U.S. bishops ask faithful to pray during Holy Week for end to Israel-Hamas war March 25, 2024By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, Lent, News, World News The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace called upon the faithful to renew prayers during Holy Week for an end to the Israel-Hamas war.
Work brings back their dignity, say West Bank priests who support unemployed Christians March 24, 2024By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israeli communities that left 1,200 dead and over 250 kidnapped, Lo’ay Ayyad, 48, a father of two and a successful veteran tour guide in the region, has been largely unemployed as the tourism industry has come to a halt and he has used up almost all his savings.
‘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.
