‘Lay down your weapons,” pope says in Palm Sunday call for peace March 30, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Marking the start of Holy Week, Pope Leo XIV used his first Palm Sunday Mass to issue a forceful plea for peace, urging an end to war as he reflected on Christ’s Passion.
Jerusalem Church leaders decry escalating war, urge peace efforts amid ‘deep darkness’ March 30, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News On the threshold of Holy Week and amid the U.S. and Israel-Iran war gaining new fronts, and harvesting new victims daily, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem issued an annual Easter message, calling the war an “expanding wreckage” and its timing a “deep darkness.”
Israel to allow Church leaders to celebrate Holy Week, Easter at holy sites, Latin patriarchate says March 30, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said an agreement has been reached with Israeli authorities to allow Holy Week and Easter celebrations to take place at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher after they were initially barred from celebrating Palm Sunday.
Residents turn to resistance in faith as settler violence terrorizes West Bank Christian village March 26, 2026By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The takeover of the quarry raises “significant concerns about attempts to impose new facts on the ground,” said Taybeh’s Christ the Redeemer parish priest Father Bashar Fawadleh.
Jerusalem patriarchate cancels Palm Sunday procession, postpones chrism Mass amid war March 24, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Easter, Feature, News, World News The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said wartime restrictions have forced the cancellation or postponement of key Holy Week observances, urging the faithful to remain united in prayer despite the inability to gather for traditional celebrations.
Eastern Catholic bishops issue ‘cry for peace and justice’ as global conflicts rage March 24, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, War in Ukraine, World News The bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches in the U.S. have issued “a cry for peace and justice,” as they are “anguished” by atrocities and suffering in the nations where their respective communities originated.
Pope Leo: Death and pain caused by wars a scandal for entire human family March 23, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News As the U.S. and Israel-Iran war enters its fourth week, and amid a deep humanitarian crisis throughout the region, Pope Leo XIV appealed during his Sunday Angelus prayer March 22: “Persevere in prayer, so that hostilities may cease and paths of peace may finally open up, based on sincere dialogue and respect for the dignity of every human person.”
Custody of the Holy Land: Prayer continues at Holy Sepulchre amid ‘time of trial,’ restricted access March 23, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Easter, News, World News The Church of the Holy Sepulcher remains a place of continuous prayer despite restricted access to the faithful, according to a statement released March 21 by the Custody of the Holy Land, which also said uncertainty persists over upcoming Holy Week and Easter celebrations.
Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem remains closed March 20, 2026By Barb Fraze OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Israeli authorities closed Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher as part of wider closures for security concerns, beginning Feb. 28, when Israel and the United States launched attacks against Iran.
Cardinal Pizzaballa: Using God’s name to justify war is ‘the gravest sin’ March 18, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa said the use of God’s name to justify war is a grave sin, stressing that God is present with those who suffer and die in conflict, not with those who exploit religion for political ends.
Pope Leo XIV urges media to show human face of war, not propaganda March 16, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Journalism, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV has urged the media to show the human face of suffering amid war and to verify news so as not to recirculate “propaganda” or become a “mouthpiece for those in power.”
Christians in Holy Land face further despair, suffering, Latin Patriarchate official says March 16, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As retaliatory strikes from Iran, as well as from Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, continued, people in the Holy Land — especially Christians — face a dire present and an uncertain future.
