Middle East - Africa News

St. Patrick’s Pontifical University confers a theology doctorate on Sister Orla Treacy.

Irish Loreto sister receives honorary doctorate for work with girls in South Sudan crisis

Oct 8, 2025

By Agnes Aineah

St. Patrick’s Pontifical University has conferred an honorary doctorate to Sister Orla Treacy, whose work in South Sudan has transformed... Read more

Churches in Jerusalem face ongoing tax pressures amid long-standing negotiations.

Jerusalem churches face mounting tax pressures under Israel’s ‘Arnona’ property levy

Oct 7, 2025

By Sanad Sahelia

The Vatican-Israel dispute over Church taxes in Jerusalem remains unresolved after 30 years. Read more

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa tours the war-torn area surrounding Holy Family Church with the parish’s pastor in Gaza, Father Gabriel Romanelli.

Ceasefire deal, hostage release a ‘first step’ for peace, Latin patriarch says

Oct 6, 2025

By Kate Quiñones

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, called the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal brokered by the U.S. a “first step”... Read more

Faithful take part in the “Walking Towards You” procession in Lebanon to honor Father Bechara Abou Mrad in Joun on Oct. 4, 2025.

Thousands join procession in Lebanon in honor of humble priest up for sainthood

Oct 6, 2025

By Romy Haber

Lebanese Catholics gathered for the “Walking Towards You” procession Oct. 4 in honor of Father Bechara Abou Mrad, a Melkite... Read more

A student receives his diploma during a graduation ceremony at the Catholic University of Erbil in Iraq on Sept. 30, 2025.

Catholic University in Erbil celebrates fifth graduating class

Oct 2, 2025

By Georgena Habbaba

This week, Catholic University in Erbil, Iraq, graduated 114 students amid a strong church and diplomatic presence. Read more

Nigerian security officers during a military operation ahead of the gubernatorial elections in Benin City, Edo, Nigeria, on Sept. 17, 2020.

Nigeria rights groups seek release of 850 Christians held in notorious jihadist village

Oct 1, 2025

By ACI Africa

Testimonies of Nigerians kidnapped by jihadist Fulani herdsmen have revealed that hundreds of Christians are still being held by the... Read more

Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa presents a Bible to a catechism teacher on Sept. 27, 2025, in Galilee.

Cardinal to catechists: If your faith isn’t meaningful to you, it won’t be to your students

Sep 30, 2025

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa told catechism teachers that if faith is not meaningful in their lives, then it will not be... Read more

“Where are the kids protesting this?” Bill Maher said of the Christian genocide in Nigeria during the Sept. 26, 2025, edition of his HBO program “Real Time with Bill Maher.” 

Top U.S. political satirist draws attention to plight of Christians in Nigeria

Sep 30, 2025

By Kate Quiñones

Political satirist Bill Maher, who has often been a vocal critic of Christianity, recently called attention to the persecution of... Read more

Some of the coffins of 73 Christians from Benue State, central Nigeria, massacred by Fulani jihadists in 2018.

There is a strategy to annihilate all Christians and Islamize Nigeria, expert says

Sep 29, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

Criminologist and researcher Emeka Umeagbalasi has spent 30 years denouncing human rights violations in his country and is clear that... Read more

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Christian leaders in Zimbabwe urge debt cancellation to alleviate economic burden

Sep 29, 2025

By Sabrine Amboka

Zimbabwe is struggling with an $8.3 billion debt (in U.S. dollars), which blocks access to affordable international financing and slows... Read more

St. Thomas Mission service at Mar Qardakh International School.

From Ohio to Erbil: Student missionaries help revive Catholic education in Iraq

Sep 28, 2025

By Georgena Habbaba

Franciscan University’s St. Thomas Mission blends teaching, faith, and service in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Read more

Nigerian security officers during a military operation ahead of the gubernatorial elections in Benin City, Edo, Nigeria, on Sept. 17, 2020.

Christian persecution in Nigeria: 1,200 churches destroyed annually, hundreds killed

Sep 26, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

Violence against Catholic priests and members of other Christian groups in Nigeria continues to increase, especially in the eastern part... Read more

Father Gabriel Romanelli leads Eucharistic adoration at Holy Family Parish in Gaza in December 2024.

Gaza’s only Catholic priest: ‘For mercy’s sake stop this war and stop killing people’

Sep 25, 2025

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The only parish priest in Gaza, Father Gabriel Romanelli, pleaded in a video posted Sept. 23 for an end to... Read more

Father Matthew Eya, a parish priest in the Diocese of Nsukka in Nigeria, was shot and killed on the evening of Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, while returning to his parish after a pastoral assignment.

Catholic priest killed in ‘senseless act of violence’ in Nigeria

Sep 23, 2025

By Jude Atemanke

Father Matthew Eya was shot on Sept. 19 while returning to his parish after a pastoral assignment, according to Diocese... Read more

Archbishop Zeferino Zeca Martins of Angola’s Archdiocese of Huambo has urged members of the Catholic Men Organization to be involved in the fight against societal voices, strengthen faith practice in their respective families, and exemplify integrity.

Angola’s Catholic men urged to ‘strengthen families, be examples of integrity’

Sep 23, 2025

By João Vissesse

Archbishop Zeferino Zeca Martins has urged members of the Catholic Men Organization in Angola to be involved in the fight... Read more

Eucharistic edoration at the Holy Family Parish in Gaza, led by the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, in December 2024.

Gaza churches provide shelter and hope amid escalating conflict

Sep 19, 2025

By Sanad Sahelia

Amid military esclation, Holy Family Catholic Church in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood of southern Gaza has become both a spiritual center... Read more

Gunmen on motorbikes reportedly shot dead at least 22 people at a baptism ceremony in an attack on a village in western Niger. The Sept. 15, 2025, attack happened in the Tillaberi region near Burkina Faso and Mali, where jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group are active.

Gunmen on motorbikes kill 22 at baptism ceremony in Niger amid rising violence

Sep 18, 2025

By Jude Atemanke

Multiple media reports indicate that the Sept. 15 attack happened in a region near Burkina Faso and Mali, where jihadist... Read more

In his homily at the Sept. 13, 2025, diaconate ordination of nine Mill Hill Missionaries members, Bishop John Oballa Owaa of the Diocese of Ngong in Kenya lauded young members of the congregation for not allowing anything to stand in their way to evangelize.

Kenyan bishop lauds courage of seminarians choosing dangerous missionary work

Sep 18, 2025

By Agnes Aineah

Bishop John Oballa Owaa lauded nine young members of the Mill Hill Missionaries congregation for not allowing anything to stand... Read more

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa visits a kindergarten in Haifa.

Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem forgives school debt of all diocesan families

Sep 17, 2025

By Andrés Henríquez

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has decided to forgive the school debts of all families in the diocese for the... Read more

Nigeria is “sinking in many fronts,” the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has said.

Nigeria bishops’ conference president: Country now full of ‘fear, flight, and funerals’

Sep 17, 2025

By Agnes Aineah

Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, said Nigerians are grappling with the many effects... Read more