• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Pope Francis poses for a photo with members of the Conference of Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions, which includes bishops from Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Djibouti, Egypt, Cyprus and the Persian Gulf at the Vatican Aug. 28, 2024. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Pope to bishops in Middle East: ‘Keep hope burning’

August 28, 2024
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis asked Catholic bishops in the Middle East to always be “signs of hope, a presence that nurtures words and gestures of peace, brotherhood and respect.”

“May the Lord always give you the strength to witness faith in him, including through respectful and sincere dialogue with everyone,” the pope told members of the Conference of Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions Aug. 28 during their plenary meeting in Rome.

Pope Francis greets Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem and president of the Conference of Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions, during a meeting at the Vatican Aug. 28, 2024. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

The conference includes Latin-rite bishops whose dioceses cover Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Djibouti, Egypt, Cyprus and the Persian Gulf nations.

Repeatedly offering prayers for the bishops and their people, the pope noted how “the Middle East is experiencing moments of heightened tensions, which in some contexts are erupting into open clashes and flashes of war.”

Apparently referring to the current fighting between Israel and Hamas, Pope Francis said that “instead of finding an equitable solution, the conflict seems to be becoming chronic, with the risk that it will spread to ignite the entire region.”

Hamas’ attack on Israel Oct. 7 and the fighting that has ensued, he said, “has caused thousands and thousands of deaths, enormous destruction, with immense suffering and the spread of feelings of hatred and resentment, which prepare the ground for new tragedies.”

The role of Christians, and especially of bishops in such a situation, the pope said, is to “keep hope burning!”

Pope Francis asked the bishops to be “a presence that, in itself, invites people to reasonableness, to reconciliation, to overcome with goodwill the divisions and enmities that have stratified and hardened over time and which are becoming more and more inextricable.”

“Thank you for being the flame of hope where it seems to be extinguished,” the pope told them.

Even as tensions in the region continued, the bishops discussed common pastoral initiatives and challenges during their meeting.

Pope Francis said he hoped they would “identify the best and most effective way to ensure adequate Christian formation for public school students in contexts where the Christian presence is a minority,” especially so that the students grow in their faith and their ability to share Christian hope with others.

The pope’s standard parting comments to groups is a request that they pray for him. But with the bishops of the Middle East, he ended by saying, “May Our Lady keep you and comfort you. I bless you from my heart. And let us pray for one another.”

Read More Crisis in Israel

Syrian Christian leaders say Islamist government can’t protect them or Druze

Patriarch’s visit hailed ‘a miracle,’ while parishioners in Gaza feel horror, desperation

Pope, Palestinian president discuss humanitarian tragedy in Gaza during phone call

Gaza’s Catholic pastor recalls ‘terrible’ attack as Parolin decries ‘war without limits’

Pope condemns Israel’s attack against church, calls for end to ‘barbarity’

Huckabee demands Israel punish settlers for ‘act of terror’ on West Bank church

Copyright © 2024 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Cindy Wooden

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Father Robert Wojsław dies at 52

  • Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith

  • NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best

  • New Catholic scouting patch honors Pope Leo XIV

  • Top Republican appears to walk back probe of Catholic entities amid charged committee hearing

| Latest Local News |

Construction underway on new north addition to St. Joseph’s Nursing Home 

Prince of Peace merges with St. Francis de Sales in Harford County

Radio Interview: Youth ministry changing with the times

Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith

Lay associates journey with the Oblate Sisters of Providence

| Latest World News |

Syrian Christian leaders say Islamist government can’t protect them or Druze

Kidnapped Nigerian priest who served in Alaska freed

Archbishop Wenski leads Knights on Bikes to pray rosary at Alligator Alcatraz

Poland’s government clashes with bishops over migration remarks while cardinal urges a shift in language

Patriarch’s visit hailed ‘a miracle,’ while parishioners in Gaza feel horror, desperation

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Construction underway on new north addition to St. Joseph’s Nursing Home 
  • Prince of Peace merges with St. Francis de Sales in Harford County
  • A Miracle for a Baby in Rhode Island (and for all of us)
  • Syrian Christian leaders say Islamist government can’t protect them or Druze
  • Kidnapped Nigerian priest who served in Alaska freed
  • Archbishop Wenski leads Knights on Bikes to pray rosary at Alligator Alcatraz
  • Poland’s government clashes with bishops over migration remarks while cardinal urges a shift in language
  • Patriarch’s visit hailed ‘a miracle,’ while parishioners in Gaza feel horror, desperation
  • Pope celebrates Apollo 11 anniversary with peek at the heavens, call to astronaut

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en