Middle East - Africa News
Catholics asked to support the Holy Land on Good Friday
The Franciscan friars taking care of the Holy Land sites have asked Catholics for prayers and financial support as they... Read more
Catholic priest in Nigeria recovering after week-long kidnapping ordeal
A Catholic priest in Nigeria is recovering after a week-long kidnapping ordeal. Read more
Malawi legislature blocks debate of bill to expand grounds for abortion
Malawi’s National Assembly earlier this month declined to debate a bill that would expand the grounds for procuring an abortion. Read more
Catholic diocese in Nigeria urges prayers for ‘speedy release’ of kidnapped priest
A Catholic diocese in Nigeria has appealed for prayers for the “speedy release” of a priest abducted on Monday. Read more
Discovery of biblical scrolls shows importance of Greek Old Testament, scholar says
Israeli archaeologists announced this week the discovery of several new sets of Dead Sea Scrolls— ancient fragments of biblical text... Read more
On 10th anniversary of Syria’s war, Catholic charity urges US and EU to help aid reach poor
On the 10th anniversary of Syria’s war, a Catholic charity has urged the U.S. and E.U. to remove obstacles to... Read more
Catholic campaign to aid Syrian children who ‘have known nothing but war’
Ahead of the 10th anniversary of the start of the Syrian war, the Catholic charity Caritas has launched a campaign... Read more
Vatican cardinal to Catholics: This year’s Good Friday collection vital for Holy Land Christians
Christians will struggle to remain in the Holy Land without financial help from Catholics worldwide on Good Friday, a Vatican... Read more
Scammer arrested after attempt to sell Turkish basilica
Turkish authorities have arrested a scam artist who reportedly attempted to claim ownership of and sell a famous Catholic basilica... Read more
Bishop appointed for S Sudan's Rumbek diocese after nearly 10 years' vacancy
Father Christian Carlassare, who was appointed Bishop of Rumbek on Monday, nearly 10 years since the death of the diocese’s... Read more
Full text: Pope Francis’ in-flight press conference from Iraq
Please read below for CNA’s full transcript of Pope Francis’ in-flight press conference from Baghdad, Iraq to Rome, Italy on... Read more
Pope Francis blesses Marian statue desecrated by Islamic State
A statue of the Virgin Mary that had been desecrated by the Islamic State was present at Pope Francis’ Mass... Read more
Pope Francis confirms plans to go to Hungary for International Eucharistic Congress
Pope Francis on Monday confirmed that he planned to visit Hungary for the closing Mass of the International Eucharistic Congress,... Read more
‘This is the pure Gospel’: Pope Francis moved by Iraqi Christians’ witness
Pope Francis said Monday that the sight of the destroyed churches and ruins in Mosul and the Nineveh Plains in... Read more
Pope Francis: Meeting with Iraq’s top Shiite cleric offered ‘universal message’ of fraternity
On his flight to Rome from Baghdad on Monday, Pope Francis said that Iraq’s top Shiite cleric is a “humble and... Read more
Pope Francis returns historic prayer book saved from Islamic State to the Nineveh Plains
During his trip to Iraq, Pope Francis returned a historic Aramaic prayer manuscript which was restored after the Islamic State... Read more
Pope Francis in Iraq meets with father whose children died as refugees in shipwreck
Pope Francis met Sunday with a father who lost his wife and two children in a shipwreck as Syrian war... Read more
Full text: Pope Francis’ homily at Mass in the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil
Here is the full text of Pope Francis’ homily, delivered March 7, 2021, in the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil,... Read more
Pope Francis in Erbil: ‘Today I can see at first hand that the Church in Iraq is alive’
Pope Francis on Sunday expressed joy at the vitality of the Church in Iraq despite years of fierce persecution. Read more
Full text: Pope Francis’ Angelus address in the Nineveh Plains
Here is the full prepared text of Pope Francis’ Angelus address, delivered March 7, 2021, in Bakhdida (Qaraqosh), Iraq. Read more
