New Coptic Catholic leader receives Pope's approval

Jan 18, 2013 - 03:00 pm .-  Pope Benedict XVI approved Bishop Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak as the new Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts in Egypt, granting him "ecclesiastical communion.''

Catholic hospital in Jordan struggles to help Syrian refugees

Jan 17, 2013 - 11:52 am .- A Jordanian Catholic hospital is appealing for more money to help with the growing influx of Syrian refugees fleeing the conflict in their homeland.

Catholic official says Mali relieved by French intervention

Jan 17, 2013 - 12:03 am .- French military invention in Mali has “greatly comforted” the country's people who feared jihadist rebels could expand far into the country’s south, a Catholic Church official has said.

Syrian conflict could worsen Christian exodus

Jan 4, 2013 - 02:03 am .- Fighting in Syria continues to put pressure on the minority Christian population, leading to fears that more Syrians will join the many Christians who have already left the Middle East.      

Iranian pastor's Christmas arrest worries religious liberty advocates

Jan 2, 2013 - 06:15 pm .- A Christian pastor who spent nearly three years in an Iranian prison for his religious conversion was reportedly arrested again on Christmas Day, contrary to a previous agreement.

Jerusalem patriarch's Christmas message surveys Middle East situation

Dec 27, 2012 - 04:11 am .- The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Fouad Twal, has issued a Christmas message that both laments the violence and refugee situation in the Middle East and calls on Christians to live out their faith.

Amid struggle, Palestinian Christians look ahead to Christmas

Dec 18, 2012 - 12:02 am .- Armed conflicts and a decline in tourists and pilgrims from overseas will cause difficulties for Palestinian Christians, but they will still celebrate Christmas.

Papal nuncio to Ivory Coast killed in car accident

Dec 11, 2012 - 12:10 am .- Archbishop Ambrose Madtha, the papal nuncio to the Ivory Coast, died on Saturday evening in a serious car accident on his way to an ordination in the West African country.

Eritrea's forced military service drains Church manpower

Dec 4, 2012 - 12:25 am .- The Eritrean government’s practice of forced military conscription means that seminarians and other church workers are being forced into the army, causing a personnel shortage for the Catholic Church.

Car bombs terrorize Syrian Christians in Damascus

Nov 30, 2012 - 02:05 am .- Two deadly car bombs that exploded in a Damascus suburb Nov. 28 killed at least 34 people and are “terrorizing” the Christian population, a local priest says.

Advent calendar to promote work of Bethlehem hospital

Nov 29, 2012 - 04:19 am .- Supporters of Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem will launch an internet Advent calendar to help the world learn more about the patients and staff at the maternity hospital located only 500 yards from what is traditionally considered the birthplace of Jesus.

Yad Vashem honors Italian cardinal who rescued Jews

Nov 28, 2012 - 12:12 am .- Israel’s official Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem has named the World War II-era Archbishop of Florence, Cardinal Elia Dalla Costa, as “Righteous Among the Nations” for his help in rescuing hundreds of Jews from Nazi persecution.

Pope warns Gaza conflict could spread in Middle East

Nov 21, 2012 - 11:02 am .- Pope Benedict XVI is warning violence could spread through the region, after Israel continued bombing Gaza and a suicide bomb rocked Tel Aviv.

Benin's president thinks Pope is right about hope in Africa

Nov 20, 2012 - 04:10 pm .- Just one year after Pope Benedict XVI visited the African country of Benin, its president believes that it can live up to his challenge of becoming a place of hope.

Court dismisses blasphemy case against Christian teen

Nov 20, 2012 - 03:16 pm .- The Islamabad High Court has dismissed all charges leveled against a disabled Christian girl accused of violating Pakistan’s blasphemy law.

Jerusalem bishop laments new Israeli-Palestinian violence

Nov 16, 2012 - 04:09 am .- Amid renewed military action between Israel and the Gaza Strip, a bishop from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem is lamenting the “vicious circle of violence.”

Nigerian Catholics respond to attack with prayer and fasting

Nov 13, 2012 - 12:17 am .- After his parish in southern Nigeria was desecrated on Nov. 4, Monsignor Obiora F. Ike called on his parishioners to observe a week of prayer and penance.

Middle East to host Catholic youth conference

Nov 7, 2012 - 02:02 am .- At least 1,500 Catholic youth from across the Middle East will gather at Abu Dhabi’s St. Joseph’s Cathedral for Arabia’s second Catholic youth conference this Nov. 15-17.

Bishops' delegation says international support critical for Syrian refugees

Nov 2, 2012 - 01:30 pm .- A delegation from the U.S. bishops’ conference that recently visited the Middle East believes that the Syrian refugee crisis is getting worse and that without increased aid to surrounding countries it could become a disaster.

After Catholic church bombing, Nigerians call for security

Nov 1, 2012 - 01:42 am .- Following the deadly suicide bombing on a Catholic Church in north Nigeria, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has said local Catholics are showing “apprehension and consternation” at the apparent government failure to provide security and capture the perpetrators.