Middle East - Africa News

Pope Francis met with bishops, priests, and religious in St. Theresa Cathedral in Juba, South Sudan, on Feb. 4, 2023.

Pope Francis holds moment of silence for slain priests and religious in South Sudan

Feb 4, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis met with bishops, priests, and religious on the second day of his historic visit to South Sudan. Read more

Pope Francis addresses South Sudan’s government and members of the diplomatic corps Feb. 3, 2023.

‘No more bloodshed,’ Pope Francis begs South Sudan’s leaders

Feb 3, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

On the first day of his peace pilgrimage, Pope Francis begged the leaders of South Sudan to work together to... Read more

On Jan. 25, 2023, 60 youth and 24 adults, including Bishop Christian Carlassare (center) and Sister Orla Treacy (right) started on a nine-day, 255-mile pilgrimage from Rumbek to Juba, South Sudan for Pope Francis’ Feb. 3-5 visit.

Youth walk 9 days and 250 miles across South Sudan to see Pope Francis

Feb 3, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The peace pilgrimage, an initiative of the Diocese of Rumbek in central South Sudan, began from Holy Family Cathedral on... Read more

Pope Francis landed in South Sudan on Feb. 3, 2023, becoming the first pope to visit the country and fulfilling a yearslong hope to carry out an ecumenical trip to the war-torn country.

Pope Francis lands in South Sudan, fulfilling yearslong dream of visit to war-torn country

Feb 3, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope has called his Feb. 3-5 visit to Juba, South Sudan’s capital, a “pilgrimage of peace.” Read more

Pope Francis met the Catholic bishops of the Democratic Republic of Congo on his final day in Kinshasa on Feb. 3, 2023

Pope Francis: Congolese Catholics are ‘a lung’ for the universal Church

Feb 3, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“Thank you, because you are a lung that helps the universal Church breathe!” Pope Francis said at his final meeting... Read more

An artisanal miner carries a sack of ore at the Shabara artisanal mine near Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Oct.12, 2022.

Here’s what Pope Francis said about exploitative mining in the Congo

Feb 2, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The Democratic Republic of Congo exports 70% of the world's cobalt, a once-obscure element now in great demand because it’s... Read more

On Feb. 2, 2023, a vandal desecrated an image of Jesus at the Church of the Flagellation located on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, the route that Christ walked to Mount Calvary, where he was crucified.

American tourist desecrates statue of Christ in Catholic church in Jerusalem

Feb 2, 2023

By CNA Staff

The attack occurred at the Church of the Flagellation located on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, the route that Christ... Read more

Speaking in Our Lady of Congo Cathedral in Kinshasa on Feb. 2, 2023, the pope encouraged priests and religious to continue to bring the Congolese people Jesus, who “heals the wounds of every human heart.”

Pope Francis to priests in Congo: Bring people Jesus, who ‘heals the wounds of every heart’

Feb 2, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Speaking in Our Lady of Congo Cathedral in Kinshasa on Feb. 2, the pope encouraged priests and religious to continue... Read more

Pope Francis greets South Sudanese President Salva Kiir at the Vatican, April 11, 2019.

Pope Francis kissed his feet. Who is the cowboy-hat-wearing president of South Sudan?

Feb 2, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

At a Vatican retreat in 2019, Pope Francis kissed the feet of President Salva Kiir — and those of his... Read more

Pope Francis interacted with an energetic crowd of 65,000 young adults and catechists at Martyrs' Stadium in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on Feb. 2, 2023.

Pope Francis to Congolese youth: Prayer is your secret weapon for peace

Feb 2, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis interacted with an enthusiastic crowd of about 65,000 young people and adults, some of whom traveled days to... Read more

On his second day in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa, Feb. 1, 2023, Pope Francis listened to the stories of victims of violence from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s conflict-ridden eastern region.

Pope Francis to Congolese charities: ‘It’s not philanthropy, but faith’

Feb 1, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The pope praised the work being done to assist those in poverty and emphasized the importance of Christian charity as... Read more

Young people from eastern Congo lay down the machetes and knives used to kill their families at the foot of Christ’s cross to symbolize their forgiveness in a moving encounter with Pope Francis during his trip to the country Feb. 1, 2023.

Pope Francis ‘left without words’ after children’s shocking stories of violence in eastern Congo

Feb 1, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The moving encounter with the pope provided a potent reminder of the horrors taking place in eastern Congo. Read more

Pope Francis celebrated Mass with around 1 million people in Kinshasa, DRC, on Feb. 1, 2023.

1 million attend joyful Mass with Pope Francis in Democratic Republic of Congo

Feb 1, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Catholics danced and sang songs, including a chant of “Maman Maria,” which means “Mama Mary” in French, as they awaited... Read more

Pope Francis is greeted at the N’Dolo Airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Jan. 31, 2023.

‘Hands off Africa!’ Pope Francis says in Democratic Republic of Congo

Jan 31, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis urged the international community to give the central African country its autonomy while not turning a blind eye... Read more

A group of school girls receiving the sacraments of baptism and confirmation in Onitsha, Anambra, Nigeria, on May 30, 2022.

Where is Mass attendance highest? One country is the clear leader

Jan 29, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

A compilation of new data by researchers at Georgetown University sheds light on the countries around the world that have... Read more

Syrian archbishop-elect Father Jacques Mourad.

New Syrian Catholic archbishop tells how he survived captivity by Islamic State

Jan 23, 2023

By Ana Paula Morales

The appointment of Father Jacques Mourad, a Syrian priest, as archbishop was confirmed by Pope Francis on Jan. 7. Read more

Some victims of the attack at the hospital in Agan and Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria.

Priest describes ‘horrifying’ new attack on Catholics in Nigeria that leaves at least 11 dead

Jan 20, 2023

By Jude Atemanke

Alleged Fulani herdsmen on Jan. 19 attacked a village near Makurdi, the capital of Nigeria’s Benue State. Read more

Fr. Marcel Uwineza was only 14 years old when he witnessed the painful experience of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. He saw his father, mother, two brothers, and a sister murdered during the civil war between the Tutsis and Hutus.

Rwandan priest forgives his family’s killer: ‘We shared a drink and we were shedding tears’

Jan 17, 2023

By Jude Atemanke

Father Uwineza said he was “invaded by something higher than him. It’s something we can’t forgive on our own. ...... Read more

Father Michael Mithamo King’ori embraces Archbishop Anthony Muheria during his Jan. 14, 2023, ordination Mass.

First-ever blind Catholic priest in Kenya is ordained

Jan 17, 2023

By Magdalene Kahiu

Archbishop Anthony Muheria of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri reflected on the Jan. 14 ordination to the priesthood of Father... Read more

Map of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Islamic State bombs church service in Congo

Jan 16, 2023

By Courtney Mares

At least 10 people were killed and more than three dozen injured in the terrorist attack on a church in... Read more