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.”
‘We have nothing except our church — faith is stronger than war,’ says young Gaza Christian December 19, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The world has become small and dangerous for the 600 Palestinian Gaza Christians sheltering at the Holy Family Parish church compound in Gaza City almost since the start of the Israeli-Hamas war Oct. 7.
Israeli army denies targeting Gaza church where Pope Francis says ‘unarmed civilians’ were ‘targets’ December 18, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Following a series of attacks on Christians in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces Dec. 16, including the killing of a mother and daughter at a Catholic church, the Israeli Defense Forces said that it “takes claims regarding harm to sensitive sites with the utmost seriousness.”
Pope condemns targeting of unarmed civilians in Gaza December 18, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis condemned the Israeli military’s killing of two Christian women sheltering at a Catholic parish in Gaza and an attack on a convent, noting that in the current fighting “unarmed civilians are targets for bombs and gunfire.”
Priest: Gaza Christians suffer much as Israeli strikes on strip continue but aren’t losing hope December 12, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As the humanitarian crisis escalates in Gaza — amid tens of thousands of Palestinians gathered near Gaza’s border with Egypt, attempting to flee, and a health care system on the verge of collapsing — a Gaza priest warned that Christians in Gaza are suffering a lot.
Pope asks Mary to watch over Ukrainians, Palestinians, Israelis December 8, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Mary’s conception, free from original sin, shows that the destiny of humanity lies in life, brotherhood, harmony and peace rather than death, hate, conflict and war, Pope Francis said on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Senate Republicans block Ukraine-Israel emergency aid over border, raising Catholic concerns December 8, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, U.S. Congress, War in Ukraine, World News Senate Republicans Dec. 6 blocked an emergency spending bill to provide billions of dollars in wartime aid to Ukraine and Israel while calling for strict new policies at the U.S.-Mexico border opposed by some Catholic immigration advocates.
