Peace by force is a ‘troubling’ idea, Iran cardinal says July 23, 2025By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran has brought about fear and anxiety in the country and tested the faith of its small Catholic community, said Belgian Cardinal Dominique Mathieu of Tehran-Isfahan.
U.S. to withdraw, again, from UNESCO over Palestine and UN development goals July 23, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The Trump administration on July 22 said the United States would withdraw from the United Nations’ cultural agency UNESCO, a group that has partnered with the Holy See on human development and cultural heritage projects.
Christ is not absent from Gaza, but crucified in the wounded, patriarchs say after visit July 22, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Amid the destruction witnessed during their July 18–20 pastoral visit to Gaza, following the Israeli shelling of the Holy Family Parish church compound that killed three people and injured 10, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III said they found something more enduring — “the dignity of the human spirit.”
Syrian Christian leaders say Islamist government can’t protect them or Druze July 22, 2025By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Syrian Christian leaders say they cannot trust the Islamist-led Syrian government of Ahmed al-Sharaa to provide the safety they need after a week of deadly clashes that claimed the lives of 1,000 people in the southern region of Sweida and urged international protection.
Patriarch’s visit hailed ‘a miracle,’ while parishioners in Gaza feel horror, desperation July 21, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Parishioners of Gaza’s Holy Family Church are feeling “horror” and almost a sense of “desperation” after an Israeli tank shell struck the church, killing three elderly people sheltering there and injuring 10, said regional director of the Jerusalem office of Catholic Near East Welfare Association, or CNEWA, Joseph Hazboun.
Pope, Palestinian president discuss humanitarian tragedy in Gaza during phone call July 21, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News The humanitarian tragedy in the Gaza Strip and the need for urgent assistance were part of discussions between Pope Leo XVI and Mahmoud Abbas, president of Palestine and the Palestinian National Authority.
Gaza’s Catholic pastor recalls ‘terrible’ attack as Parolin decries ‘war without limits’ July 21, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Father Gabriel Romanelli, lightly injured in the leg during the Israeli military strike on the Holy Family Parish compound in the Gaza Strip July 17 told L’Osservatore Romano that what happened in the parish was “terrible” and that “the situation continues to be very serious.”
Pope condemns Israel’s attack against church, calls for end to ‘barbarity’ July 21, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The “barbarity of war” and forced displacement of people have to end, and civilians and places of worship have to be protected, Pope Leo XIV implored.
Huckabee demands Israel punish settlers for ‘act of terror’ on West Bank church July 21, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Religious Freedom, World News U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the desecration of any holy place an “act of terror” and a “crime” that required “harsh consequences,” following a visit to the West Bank village of Taybeh.
Three dead, Holy Family Gaza pastor injured after mid-morning Israeli attack July 17, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Two people were confirmed dead and several were injured, including a parish pastor, following what initial reports say was a mid-morning Israeli tank attack on the Holy Family Parish Church in Gaza on July 17.
Pope calls for ceasefire, dialogue, peace after church hit in Gaza July 17, 2025By Carol Glatz OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News After an early morning attack on the Holy Family Church in Gaza, Pope Leo XIV called for an immediate ceasefire, dialogue and peace in the region.
Patriarchs support Christian communities attacked by Israeli settlers in solidarity visit July 15, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News During a solidarity visit to the West Bank village of Taybeh on July 14, the Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of the Holy Land called on Israeli authorities to hold extremist settlers accountable for escalating attacks on agricultural lands and holy sites.
