Unity, dialogue, respect: On first trip, pope highlights paths to peace December 3, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Spending time with Catholics, other Christian leaders and top Muslim clerics in Turkey Nov. 27-Nov. 30 and Lebanon Nov. 30-Dec. 2, the pope made formal speeches about how believing in God as the father of all means recognizing one another as brothers and sisters.
Situation in Gaza remains ‘critical’ despite peace plan, say Catholic leaders December 3, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News As Pope Leo XIV urged in Turkey Nov. 27 that “the future of humanity is at stake” with ongoing conflict in the Middle East and days after a United Nations Security Council endorsement of a U.S.-backed peace plan, Catholic leaders warn that conditions in Gaza remain grave, especially as winter approaches.
Choose the way of peace, pope says as he leaves Lebanon December 2, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV ended his stay in Lebanon with what he termed “a heartfelt appeal: may the attacks and hostilities cease.”
Lebanese have what is needed to build a future of peace, pope says December 1, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Even in the face of difficulties and the constant threat of war, the young people of Lebanon and the country’s religious leaders have enormous resources that can build a better future for all people, Pope Leo XIV said.
Love without fear, pope tells Lebanese church workers December 1, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News At a shrine topped by a 28-foot-tall statue of Our Lady of Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV listened to stories of unshakable faith amid war, injustice and suffering.
Pope urges Lebanese not to give up on peace or each other November 30, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Acknowledging the existence of “circumstances that are highly complex, conflictual and uncertain,” Pope Leo XIV arrived in Lebanon preaching peace.
Holding inflight news conference, pope talks about peace in Gaza, Ukraine November 30, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News On his first foreign papal trip, Pope Leo XIV showed reporters that the inflight news conferences of his predecessors would continue.
Pope arrives in Turkey giving thanks, preaching peace November 27, 2025By Cindy Wooden OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV began his first papal trip speaking of dialogue, peace and thanksgiving — referring to both the holiday and his own gratitude.
Lebanese long for peace ahead of Pope Leo’s visit November 27, 2025By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Lebanese Catholics yearn for the upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV to achieve something lost in recent years. Signs bearing the pontiff’s photo along newly rebuilt roadways express their longing: “Lebanon wants peace.”
Pope prays for Christians in war zones, especially the Middle East November 27, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics to join him in praying for Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East.
Pope’s first trip to focus on religious harmony, peacemaking November 20, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News By choosing to make his first trip as pope to Turkey and Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV will shine a huge spotlight on the faith Christians share and on the yearnings for peace and prosperity common to all people.
UN vote on Trump’s Gaza plan ‘sends powerful message’ for peace in Holy Land, says Bishop Zaidan November 19, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace told OSV News he was heartened by a United Nations move to approve President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip by installing international transitional governance and military forces there.
