Fighting in Holy Land, bombing in Philippines prompt prayers from ailing Pope December 4, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The end of the temporary cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas “means death, destruction, misery,” Pope Francis said.
Israel-Hamas truce has been extended by two days; more hostages scheduled to be released November 27, 2023By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Qatar’s foreign affairs ministry said Nov. 27 that an agreement has been reached to extend the Israel-Hamas truce for another two days. The announcement was made by a ministry’s spokesperson on X on the final day of a four-day cease-fire in which hostages abducted by Hamas in October have been released in exchange for Palestinian […]
Biden celebrates release of some Hamas hostages, says it is ‘only a start’ November 27, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News President Joe Biden said Nov. 26 that he and first lady Jill Biden, “together with so many Americans are praying,” for 4-year-old Abigail Edan, an Israeli-American child who was in the third group of hostages released a few hours earlier by Hamas.
For ‘Red Week,’ parish remembers suffering of Jews and Muslims along with persecuted Christians November 23, 2023By Sam Lucero OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News A prayer service to spotlight the persecution of Christians around the world expanded its focus this year as one Wisconsin parish included both Muslims and Jews in its remembrance.
Pope holds separate meetings with Israelis, Palestinians at Vatican November 22, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News With hopes growing for a temporary, humanitarian cease-fire, Pope Francis met at the Vatican Nov. 22 with relatives of Israelis held hostage by Hamas and, separately, with relatives of Palestinians suffering under the Israeli siege of Gaza.
Israel agrees to hostage deal with Hamas; church leaders hope it will lead to end of war November 22, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, expressed his happiness at the late-night hostage-exchange agreement reached between Israel and Hamas Nov. 21, and said he hoped it would lead to end to the war which broke out after an Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack on 22 southern Israeli agricultural communities along the border with Gaza.
Pope launches appeals to pray for peace, prevent ‘mountain of dead’ November 22, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis appealed for perseverance in praying for peace, especially in the Holy Land where the conflict is no longer “warfare,” but has become “terrorism.”
Catholics and Jews and Jesus, the King November 16, 2023By Jaymie Stuart Wolfe OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Conflict in the Middle East Antisemitism has continued to rise around the world for the past decade, but what has unfolded since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israeli civilians demands our attention and response.
March for Israel draws busloads to National Mall to protest antisemitism November 15, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, World News An estimated tens of thousands of people gathered on the National Mall Nov. 14 in a show of solidarity for Israel in the wake of the terrorist group Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on that country and a protest of antisemitism around the globe. Protesters also demanded the release of hostages abducted by Hamas.
USCCB president calls for continued prayer in world where ‘peace seems so far away’ November 14, 2023By Julie Asher OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, Local News, News, U.S. Bishops Meeting - Fall 2023 The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Nov. 14 urged his brother bishops gathered in Baltimore and all the Catholic faithful to “continue to pray” when “peace seems so far away” in today’s world.
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.”
