Pope meets Israeli president, discusses ‘tragic’ situation in Gaza September 4, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News As Israeli military operations in Gaza continued, Pope Leo XIV met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the Vatican.
Catholic aid workers help rebuild shattered West Bank economy amid war September 1, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News As the Israel-Hamas War nears the two-year mark, Catholic humanitarians are working to create jobs and livelihoods amid the shattered economy of the West Bank, the area between Israel and the River Jordan that is home to more than 3 million Palestinians and some 700,000 Jews.
Pope pleads with Israel, Hamas to end violence August 27, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV appealed to Israel and Hamas to stop the violence that has caused “so much terror, destruction and death.”
Catholic leaders demand end to ‘barbarism in plain sight’ in Gaza August 26, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Catholic leaders from multiple organizations are calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to attacks on Gaza, amid ongoing civilian casualties, famine and threats of forced population transfers.
Vatican ‘appalled’ by situation in Gaza, cardinal says August 26, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Even though what is happening in Gaza is shocking and prospects for peace in Ukraine seem more complicated than ever, Catholics must continue praying and hoping, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.
Journalists killed in Gaza hospital strike, following global day of prayer for peace August 25, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Journalism, News, World News Days after the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem expressed hope that “hearts can change even in the Holy Land,” at least 20 people — including five journalists — have been reported killed in Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital, located in southern Gaza.
Vatican studying possible papal trip to Turkey, Lebanon August 21, 2025By Cindy Wooden OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News A plan for Pope Leo XIV to visit Lebanon as well as Turkey in late November and early December is being studied, a Vatican official said.
Cardinal: When all hope seems to disappear in Holy Land, hope of Christ’s resurrection remains August 20, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of Marseille, France, said his visit to the Holy Land was intended as a gesture of solidarity with the local Christian community and a demonstration of support for “all the friends of peace.”
Pope sets Aug. 22 as day to pray, fast for peace in Ukraine, Holy Land August 20, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Pope Leo XIV asked Catholics to observe Aug. 22 as a day of prayer and fasting for peace and justice, particularly in Ukraine and in the Holy Land.
For Gazans, the deep silence of hunger has replaced noise of daily life August 13, 2025By Diaa Ostaz OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News The streets of Gaza are quieter than they used to be — not because peace has returned. The deep silence of hunger has replaced the noise of daily life.
Radio Interview: The situation in Gaza with Catholic Near East Welfare Association August 11, 2025By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, CR Radio, Feature, Local News, News, Radio Interview In this episode of Catholic Review Radio, Editor Christopher Gunty talks with Joseph Hazboun, regional director for Catholic Near East Welfare Association, a pontifical mission. Hazboun says the situation in the Gaza Strip is unspeakably tragic.
Ambassadors call attention to starving Israeli hostages, Gazan civilians August 7, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV, like Pope Francis before him, consistently has called on Hamas to release the hostages it kidnapped in Israel almost two years ago and has pleaded with Israel to allow the delivery of more humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
