Middle East - Africa News
Catholic Relief Services calls for ‘immediate humanitarian access’ to Gaza Strip
The charity group on Saturday asked for aid access “before a dire humanitarian situation becomes a catastrophe.” Read more
Praying for peace: Franciscans hold special prayer services in Jerusalem
This past weekend, Franciscan friars joined with other religious and laypeople to pray for peace in the Holy Land one... Read more
Heads of churches in Jerusalem call on Israel to allow humanitarian aid to go to Gaza
“We call upon all parties to de-escalate this war in order to save innocent lives while still serving the cause... Read more
Israel urges civilians in northern Gaza to evacuate
In a message posted to its X account on Friday, the Israeli government “call[ed] on civilians in northern Gaza to... Read more
Cardinal denounces enslavement, violence against African migrants en route to Europe
Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero said: “We are talking about robberies, violence, rape, and being sold as slaves.” Read more
In face of war and natural disasters, Church in Syria seeks to maintain people’s faith
Syrian Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo Denys Antoine Chahda said the Church is working to “motivate [the people] not to leave... Read more
Catholic patriarch calls day of prayer and fasting for peace in the Holy Land
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa has urged Catholics to organize times of prayer with Eucharistic adoration and recitation of the rosary. Read more
Caritas Jerusalem suspends activities in Gaza and Israel but announces emergency plan
Caritas Jerusalem, which serves the needs of people in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem, reported that some of... Read more
Update: Over 1,000 killed, including 22 Americans, in Saturday terrorist attacks on Israel
President Joe Biden on Tuesday called the attack a moment of “pure unadulterated evil” unleashed by Hamas, who he said... Read more
Israeli woman whose 80-year-old father was among those taken hostage: ‘Save their lives’
“Dozens of terrorists invaded the kibbutz and started butchering the residents, going house by house,” Noam Perry said. “They butchered... Read more
In the Holy Land, Franciscans are keeping doors to holy sites open — for now
Jerusalem is semi-deserted, with many shops, schools, and offices closed, but the Custody of the Holy Land has kept holy... Read more
Sisters issue appeal for ‘safe release’ of 3 nuns who were abducted from Nigerian diocese
The vicar general of the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae in Nigeria said five people were abducted Oct. 5 in... Read more
Pastor of only Catholic church in Gaza: ‘Never have we seen things like this time’
Father Gabriel Romanelli expressed his gratitude for the closeness, concern, and prayers, along with the “hundreds of messages” he receives... Read more
Nearly 300 reported killed by Hamas insurgents at Israeli music festival
The Supernova music festival being held near Kibbutz Re’im in southwestern Israel, just a few miles from the Gaza Strip,... Read more
Dozens killed in surprise Hamas attacks on Israel; Netanyahu says country ‘at war’
Surprise attacks by Hamas on Israel early on Saturday killed at least dozens of people. Read more
Suspects arrested in killing of seminarian in Nigerian parish rectory fire
Seminarian Na’aman Danlami died after Fulani bandits reportedly attacked St. Raphael Parish Fadan Kamantan on the night of Sept. 7... Read more
Pope Francis sends telegram to Iraqi Christian community after tragic wedding fire
An Iraqi Christian community in Qaraqosh, northern Iraq, was devastated by a massive fire at a crowded wedding reception that... Read more
Iraq archbishop calls for prayers after tragic wedding fire
More than 100 died after a fire at a Syriac Catholic wedding celebration is the Nineveh Plains of Iraq. Read more
Cameroon archbishop: ‘No room for distraction’ for delegates to Synod on Synodality
“We are not going to allow ourselves to be distracted by the social media antics,” Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya said. Read more
Abducted priest in Nigeria released, diocese ‘grateful’
Father Marcellinus Obioma Okide, a parish priest at St. Mary Amofia-Agu Affa Parish in the Enugu Diocese, was set free... Read more
