Patriarchs, church leaders urge Holy Land’s Christians to ‘stand strong’ In Advent message November 14, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Christmas in Bethlehem and the Holy Land this year will be one of solemnity, prayer and fasting as the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem called upon the faithful to forgo any “unnecessarily festive activities” during the Christmas season this year and to “stand strong” with those facing the afflictions of war, focusing more on the spiritual meaning of Christmas.
Dominican Father on Israel-Gaza peace possibilities: ‘too many wounds on both sides’ November 9, 2023By Caroline de Sury OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News For Father Pérennès, the human tragedy both in Israel and in Gaza is one thing that is difficult to cope with. The other is the loss of many projects that were running in the region — particularly in Gaza, preserving the Christian legacy — which causes the priest’s “immense grief.”
Pope prays for ‘just peace’ in Middle East and Ukraine November 8, 2023By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News As the wars, violence and deaths continue in Ukraine and in the Holy Land, Pope Francis again urged people to pray for peace.
Catholic community at Cornell University responds to hate posts with prayer, outreach November 7, 2023By Mike Latona OSV News Filed Under: Colleges, Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The incident at Cornell University reflected the religious and ethnic tensions, often involving Jews and Muslims, that have escalated at colleges nationwide since the Israel-Hamas war began Oct. 7.
Jordan’s Christians cancel Christmas celebrations in solidarity with suffering Gaza November 7, 2023By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Churches in Jordan are canceling Christmas celebrations in solidarity with Gaza as violence in the Palestinian enclave mounts.
Wars in Gaza, Ukraine, ‘kill’ the future of children, pope says November 6, 2023By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News The wars being fought in Gaza, Ukraine and other parts of the world are destroying the future of the children who live in those nations, Pope Francis said.
‘Without faith, I couldn’t continue,’ says Palestinian Christian November 3, 2023By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The absence of pilgrims has left the local economy in ruins, affecting all sectors that rely on religious tourism, from hotels and restaurants to olive wood craftsmanship and souvenir sales.
Cardinal Dolan sharply rebukes surging religious hatred in U.S. amid Israel-Hamas war November 2, 2023By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York has issued a sharp rebuke against surging religious hatred in the U.S. amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Violence in Holy Land shows need to support local Christians, cardinal says November 1, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As leaders of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem prepared to meet in Rome, the explosion of violence between Israel and Hamas highlighted the importance of their prayers and their material support for local Christians, leaders of the order said.
As world prays for peace in Holy Land, Israeli-Hamas war intensifies by air, on ground October 30, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As the world prayed for peace in the Holy Land Oct. 27, Pope Francis called for the war to halt and prayers to continue during the Angelus Oct. 29, as death toll in Gaza passed 8,000 and Israeli troops gradually increased their ground activity in the Gaza Strip, without calling it an “invasion.”
Radio Interview: Catholic Near East Welfare Association and the Israel-Hamas war October 30, 2023By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, Local News, News, Radio Interview Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talked with Michael La Civita, director of communications for CNEWA, and his colleague Joseph Hazboun, regional director of CNEWA’s Jerusalem office about the impact of the war on those who live in Israel and Gaza and how CNEWA is helping meet the needs on the ground.
Pope calls for cease-fire in Holy Land; Vatican-Iranian diplomats talk October 30, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The day after Pope Francis called for a cease-fire in the Holy Land, his foreign minister spoke by phone with the foreign minister of Iran, “reiterating the absolute need to avoid escalating the conflict,” the Vatican press office said.
