On third day of cease-fire, more Hamas hostages freed; Israel releases more Palestinians November 27, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: News, World News The Hamas militant group Nov. 26 released a third group of hostages numbering 17, who include 12 Israelis, one American woman and an Israeli-American child and three Thai nationals, according to The Associated Press, and Israel confirmed it freed another 39 Palestinians.
Biden celebrates release of some Hamas hostages, says it is ‘only a start’ November 27, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News President Joe Biden said Nov. 26 that he and first lady Jill Biden, “together with so many Americans are praying,” for 4-year-old Abigail Edan, an Israeli-American child who was in the third group of hostages released a few hours earlier by Hamas.
Pope leads Angelus from his residence because of illness November 26, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Explaining that he had a “problem with inflammation of my lungs,” Pope Francis led the recitation of the Angelus prayer from the chapel of his residence rather than from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square.
Catholic leaders, White House officials talk climate change as COP28 nears November 25, 2023By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: Environment, Feature, News, World News A group of delegates, including three U.S. Catholic bishops and the head of a conference of women religious, met with Biden administration officials Nov. 17 to discuss the Catholic Church’s priorities for what Pope Francis has called “our suffering planet.”
Coadjutor archbishop proposes relocating Vatican, ordaining women deacons November 24, 2023By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: News, World News In a wide-ranging interview, Coadjutor Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne of Hartford spoke about working as a bartender, his hopes for the Catholic Church in Hartford, women’s ordination to the diaconate and relocating the Vatican.
Pope: Contemplate greatness of God’s love in simplicity of a crèche November 24, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Advent, Books, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Marking the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi putting together the first Christmas crèche in a cave in Greccio, Italy, the Vatican publishing house compiled texts by Pope Francis about Nativity scenes and asked him to write a special introduction.
Destination Dubai: Pope heads to climate conference to press for action November 24, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Environment, Feature, News, Vatican, World News When Pope Francis visits Dubai in the United Arab Emirates Dec. 1-3 to address the opening of the U.N. Climate Change Conference, he will be the first pope ever to attend one of the global gatherings that began in 1995.
For ‘Red Week,’ parish remembers suffering of Jews and Muslims along with persecuted Christians November 23, 2023By Sam Lucero OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News A prayer service to spotlight the persecution of Christians around the world expanded its focus this year as one Wisconsin parish included both Muslims and Jews in its remembrance.
Jesuits minister to migrants waiting in dangerous Mexican border cities November 23, 2023By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, World News Celebrating an outdoor Mass in a camp for migrants amid a cold and unrelenting rain, Jesuit Father Brian Strassburger preached patience. He spoke of “The Parable of the Ten Virgins” from the Gospel of Matthew, urging the assembled migrants to “wait well” as they bided their time in trying conditions.
Pope holds separate meetings with Israelis, Palestinians at Vatican November 22, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News With hopes growing for a temporary, humanitarian cease-fire, Pope Francis met at the Vatican Nov. 22 with relatives of Israelis held hostage by Hamas and, separately, with relatives of Palestinians suffering under the Israeli siege of Gaza.
Israel agrees to hostage deal with Hamas; church leaders hope it will lead to end of war November 22, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, expressed his happiness at the late-night hostage-exchange agreement reached between Israel and Hamas Nov. 21, and said he hoped it would lead to end to the war which broke out after an Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack on 22 southern Israeli agricultural communities along the border with Gaza.
Pope launches appeals to pray for peace, prevent ‘mountain of dead’ November 22, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis appealed for perseverance in praying for peace, especially in the Holy Land where the conflict is no longer “warfare,” but has become “terrorism.”
