Christians’ testimony in Gaza a ‘true miracle’ amid nonstop war, says Holy Land guardian January 15, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As the world marked 100 days since the Hamas militants attacks that unleashed hell in the Holy Land, images of the children from Holy Family Parish — the only Catholic parish in the Gaza Strip — dressed in white albs to receive the sacrament were a stark and welcome contrast in a land that has had little reason to smile since Oct. 7.
Modern war is ‘crime against humanity,’ pope says January 15, 2024By Cindy Wooden Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News With massive civilian deaths and the destruction of cities and their infrastructure, modern “war is in itself a crime against humanity,” Pope Francis said.
Catholic aid agency’s staff remain in Yemen amid coalition strikes January 12, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Staff from Caritas Poland will remain in Yemen following U.S. and U.K.-led strikes on Houthi rebels, mission head Radoslaw Sterna told OSV News.
Relocation of Palestinians cannot be a solution to Gaza crisis, U.S. officials say January 9, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has insisted that Palestinians must not be pressured into leaving Gaza and must be allowed to return to their homes once conditions allow, Christians in the Holy Land worry the Israeli statements may threaten other small communities in the Holy Land, including theirs.
Analysis: Israel’s war on Hamas raises significant moral concerns as Gaza death toll soars January 4, 2024By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News With more than 22,100 deaths and 57,000 injured as reported by Jan. 2 by Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the question is being asked: Can Israel’s conflict conduct be considered a “just war” under the Catholic understanding of the concept?
War represents defeat, madness, pope says, calling for prayer January 3, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News War is madness, Pope Francis said, calling for prayers for all people in the world affected by today’s conflicts.
Desperation of war, tragic loss of life marks ‘sad’ 2023 on the global stage December 31, 2023By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News From Ukraine to Nigeria, and from Nicaragua to the Holy Land, 2023 was full of tragic situations that deeply affected the church and faithful. OSV News revisited four places clinging to hope that the new year will bring an improvement in the lives of people living in societies torn by conflict and persecution.
Middle East Christians sad, but hopeful on Christmas amid constant Gaza bombardment December 28, 2023By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Amid ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military — despite the Christmas season — Christian clergymen in the Middle East are decrying attacks on their community’s dwindling numbers.
‘Don’t give up,’ NY bishop urges survivors of Hamas attack, families of hostages December 27, 2023By Steven Schwankert OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Members of the group meeting in Manhattan at AJC wore T-shirts and carried placards with their relative’s photo and age displayed on them and carrying the message, “Bring Her/Him Home Now!”
‘Jesus, you take over,’ papal envoy cried out in Bethlehem amid wartime Christmas celebrations December 27, 2023By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Christmas, Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Christmas in Bethlehem was celebratory but not as festive as usual this year, given the outbreak of war in the Holy Land two-and-a-half months ago.
Papal almoner will spend Christmas in the Holy Land in a ‘journey of closeness’ December 22, 2023By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, prefect of Vatican Dicastery for the Service of Charity, landed in Israel on Dec. 22, starting a “journey of closeness” as papal envoy to the Holy Land during a difficult wartime Christmas season.
In times of darkness, faith is all you have, says Cardinal Pizzaballa December 20, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News While faith cannot change anything in moments of great darkness such as the one Israelis and Palestinians are currently living through in the Israeli-Hamas war, it can, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa said, create “a small light” which will give “orientation.”
