Drone strike on Iraqi Catholic church complex reopens old wounds March 5, 2026By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The Catholic community in northern Iraq has been shaken by the attack of an explosive drone hitting the Chaldean Catholic complex in Ankawa, outside of Irbil.
Cardinal Parolin questions whether missiles, bombs are solution to Iranian people’s aspirations March 4, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News The Vatican secretary of state appealed for peace and diplomacy on the fifth day of the U.S. and Israel-Iran war, warning that recognition of any country’s right to wage “preventive war” according to their own criteria would risk the world “being set ablaze.”
Prayer, unity essential as conflict spreads to Gulf States, says apostolic vicar of region March 4, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia warned that the current military escalation in the Persian Gulf amid the U.S. and Israel-Iran war is a conflict with “ancient roots” that poses a serious threat to the Middle East and the wider world.
Amid U.S. and Israel-Iran war, Palestinian sisters find refuge in prayer at Jerusalem hospital March 4, 2026By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Among the belongings Asma Isyed, 68, brought from her West Bank village of Zababdeh in October were a small Bible and a booklet of prayers by St. Mariam Baouardy, a Palestinian saint.
Lebanese archbishop: Innocents are ‘paying the price’ of Middle East war March 3, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News As the scourge of war spreads across the Middle East, including Lebanon, the ones paying the ultimate price are the innocent men, women and children who want to live in peace, said Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop Georges Iskandar of Tyre.
Congress expected to consider war powers resolution after US, Israel strikes on Iran March 2, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, U.S. Congress, World News President Donald Trump’s decision to initiate major combat operations against Iran in concert with Israel has raised debate within Congress over its war powers prerogatives. It has also raised questions about the justice of committing the U.S. into a new Middle East war.
Bishops, Christian leaders call for peace, urge diplomacy as Middle East conflict escalates March 2, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As the United States and Israel continued their campaign against Iran and the newest war continued to spread across the Middle East, bishops and Christian leaders appealed for peace before the conflict escalates any further, with the Catholic Church’s humanitarian giant Caritas saying it “unequivocally” condemns the attacks which would “destabilize” the region.
Pope Leo’s prayer to St. Francis: a call to peace in a divided world March 2, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Conflict in the Middle East, Vatican As tensions escalate following the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, we share this prayer to St. Francis of Assisi — a timeless intercessor for peace — which Pope Leo XIV shared with leaders of the Franciscan order on the beginning of the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death in January 2026.
Sorrow, shock, prayer for Catholics in Middle East as U.S. and Israel strike Iran amid negotiations March 2, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Catholics across the Middle East are reeling with shock and sorrow, and responding with prayer, amid joint strikes Israeli and U.S. forces launched on Iran Feb. 28.
Pope Leo warns of ‘irreparable abyss,’ if diplomacy doesn’t take over violence in Iran, Middle East March 2, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV issued a fervent appeal for return of diplomacy in “these dramatic hours” in the Middle East and Iran, condemning use of weapons that cause “destruction, pain, and death.”
USCCB president: Prayer, diplomacy needed in Middle East to avert ‘tragedy of immense proportions’ March 2, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The leader of the U.S. Catholic bishops has echoed Pope Leo XIV’s call for deescalation and dialogue in the Middle East, following the joint attacks on Iran launched Feb. 28 by the U.S. and Israel, which killed Iran’s longtime supreme leader, 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Inviting pilgrims back is more than business, it’s family history, Holy Land shop owners say February 27, 2026By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Lent, News, World News As Lent begins in Jerusalem, the usually crowded streets of the Old City remain quiet, with only a small number of international pilgrims returning after years of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Israel-Hamas war.
