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.
Gaza’s Christian community persevering amid hardship and hope July 14, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The parish priest of Gaza Strip’s small Christian community admitted his flock is exhausted by war and a severe lack of food.
Pope: Resist the ‘temptation’ of embracing weapons June 18, 2025By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News The world must resist the allure of modern weapons which threaten to give conflicts a ferocity surpassing that of previous wars, Pope Leo XIV said.
As ‘new nightmare’ unfolds between Israel and Iran, ‘never-ending tragedy’ in Gaza continues June 17, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As Israel’s continued bombardment of Iran entered its fifth day, Catholic clergy in both countries called for peace and an end to further bloodshed in the Holy Land and the Middle East.
U.S. bishop calls for ardent prayer, diplomacy as Israel-Iran strikes continue June 16, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News A U.S. bishop called for ardent prayer and robust diplomacy, as Israel and Iran traded strikes for the fourth day.
