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.
Pope Leo XIV’s diplomatic efforts may impact U.S. foreign policy, analyst says June 16, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News In a little over a month since his election to the papacy, Pope Leo XIV has appeared to embrace his role as a head of state to promote Catholic principles about peacebuilding, an analyst told OSV News. His actions as a head of state could also impact U.S. diplomacy.
Pope urges peace, warns against escalation in Middle East conflict June 15, 2025By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News As conflict in the Middle East escalated with Israeli airstrikes on nuclear sites in Iran and retaliatory drone attacks on Israel, Pope Leo XIV appealed for restraint and renewed the church’s calls for nuclear disarmament and peaceful dialogue.
In Syria, doubts raised about discovery of body said to be that of kidnapped priest June 4, 2025By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The announcement of the discovery of a body believed to be that of Jesuit Father Paolo Dall’Oglio has prompted church officials in Syria, including the apostolic nuncio, to urge prudence as investigations continue.
Colorado faith leaders express sorrow over attack on rally for release of Hamas hostages June 3, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As Boulder residents reeled from a violent attack on peaceful demonstrators June 1 who called for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, area faith leaders expressed sorrow over the attack and urged an end to such violence.
Holy See calls for respect for human dignity, international law as civilian deaths soar May 29, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News As civilian casualties from multiple conflicts have soared, the Holy See’s diplomat to the United Nations has called for a renewed respect for human dignity and international law, along with restrictions in armaments and a commitment to end the scourge of war.
As Trump returns from Middle East with massive arm deals, patriarch says ‘no’ to weapons May 16, 2025By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News As U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Gulf Arab countries, ending May 16, brought “the largest defense cooperation agreement” Washington has ever done, according to the White House fact sheet, Catholic leadership in the region expressed its concern to resolve long-standing conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, peacefully.
Jerusalem patriarch, back in Holy Land, reflects on conclave, ‘inconceivable’ Gaza situation May 14, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News The importance of continuity and diversity as well as the issues of war and peace were a main topic of conversation for the 133 cardinals as they gathered to vote in the conclave May 7-8, said Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem.
Francis’ final gift to Gaza: Popemobile will be transformed into mobile clinic for children May 5, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Remembering Pope Francis, World News With the declining situation in Gaza always in his heart, in his final months, Pope Francis bequeathed his popemobile to Caritas Jerusalem and directed the agency to turn it into a mobile health station for the children in Gaza.
