Middle East - Africa News

A Yemeni man hold a rifle in Aden, Sept. 14, 2006.

A bishop's plea: Don't forget victims of war and cholera in Yemen

Aug 11, 2017

By Kevin J. Jones

A deadly cholera outbreak in Yemen could continue indefinitely without an end to the civil war, says a bishop in... Read more

The scene of a May 2015 attack on Christians in Aleppo.

Aleppo's Melkite archbishop looks to rebuild city from the ashes

Aug 10, 2017

By Matt Hadro

After the Syrian city of Aleppo lost over half its Christian population during the conflict among government forces and various... Read more

Soldiers survey damaged inflicted by Islamic State forces on Al Tamera Syriac Catholic church in Bakhdida, Iraq. Photo courtesy of Fr. Roni Momika

After years of exile, Dominican sisters return to Iraq's Nineveh Plain

Aug 9, 2017

After three years in exile from Iraq's Nineveh Plain while it was occupied by the Islamic State, the Dominican Sisters... Read more

Bishops attending a meeting of religious and clerics with Pope Francis at St. Mary's School in Nairobi, Nov. 26, 2015.

Vote wisely, seek peace, bishops say ahead of Kenya's elections

Aug 4, 2017

With Kenya’s elections fast approaching, the country’s Catholic bishops are asking voters to choose wisely and encouraging all Kenyans to... Read more

Catholic media representatives at a January 2015 workshop in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Malawi's government encourages local Catholic media

Aug 3, 2017

Mawali's information, communication and technology ministry praised the country's Catholic media this week for their evangelization efforts as part of... Read more

Children in the school yard at St Kizito parish school in Dar El Salam, Sudan. Photo courtesy of Aid to the Church in Need.

Catholic schools are a pillar of Church in Sudan

Aug 1, 2017

By Oliver Maksan

Dust and mud brick houses everywhere – as far as the eye can see. The houses are indistinguishable in color... Read more

A Church on mission – Zambia celebrates 125 years of the Catholic faith

Jul 27, 2017

As Zambia concluded a year of celebration marking 125 years since the Church was established in the country, its bishops... Read more

An Israeli border police officer is seen during a Friday prayer in the Ras el-Amud Area outside the Old City of Jerusalem, July 21, 2017.

How can the Church promote peace in the Holy Land?

Jul 25, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

As conflict has erupted once again between Israelis and Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the Latin Patriarchal Vicar said that the... Read more

Bishops plea for two priests abducted in DRC

Jul 18, 2017

Gunmen have abducted two Catholic priests in the Democratic Republic of Congo, prompting the country’s bishops to plead that the... Read more

Razzouk Tattoo in Old City Jerusalem, Israel.

Holy tattoo! A 700-year old Christian tradition thrives in Jerusalem

Jul 9, 2017

By Adelaide Mena

In the Old City of Jerusalem it's hard to escape the ancient history that's still alive within its walls.  Read more

Archbishop Jean Zerbo of Bamako speaks at a forum on religious leaders' contribution to the peace process in Mali, Aug. 2, 2016.

Mali's first cardinal, Archbishop Jean Zerbo

Jun 27, 2017

Among those bishops who will be created cardinals at the June consistory is Archbishop Jean Zerbo of Bamako, a man... Read more

Zambian president Edgar Lungu, who was recently rebuked by Christian leaders, addresses the United Nations, Sept. 29, 2015.

Christian leaders in Zambia warn against government abuses

Jun 26, 2017

The leaders of three major Christian groups in Zambia have issued a strongly worded letter on the political state of... Read more

Aleppo as it appeared before Syria's civil war, in October 2009.

How the Church is helping Christians return to Aleppo

Jun 23, 2017

Christians who fled Aleppo because of the four year battle for the city are now returning, and in the face... Read more

The Melkite Greek Basilica of St. Paul in Harissa, Lebanon.

Youssef Absi elected Patriarch of Melkite Greek Catholic Church

Jun 22, 2017

The synod of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church elected on Wednesday Archbishop Youssef Absi as the Church's new patriarch, who... Read more

Southern DRC violence has left more than 3,000 dead

Jun 20, 2017

More than 3,300 people have been killed since October alone in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kasai region, said... Read more

Bishop Jean Marie Benoît Bala of Bafia, who was murdered May 31, 2017.

Cameroon's bishops ask state action to protect clergy in wake of murder

Jun 15, 2017

After determining that one of their confreres was murdered two weeks ago, the bishops of Cameroon have called on the... Read more

Nigerian priest shares harrowing story of being kidnapped

Jun 12, 2017

It was supposed to be a quiet retreat weekend last April for Fr. Sam Okwuidegbe, a Nigerian Jesuit priest and... Read more

Catholics at a camp for internally displaced persons near Malakal, South Sudan, Jan. 13, 2016.

Want Pope Francis to visit South Sudan? Work for peace, bishops say

Jun 11, 2017

The news that Pope Francis will not be able to visit South Sudan this year prompted the nation's bishops to... Read more

Autopsy raises questions about circumstances of African bishop's death

Jun 7, 2017

Local news reports say that “signs of torture” have been found on the body of a Cameroonian bishop whose body... Read more

Muslims and Christians unite to rebuild Mosul monastery

Jun 5, 2017

As government forces pry apart the Islamic State's three yearlong grip on Mosul, Muslims and Christians have united to rebuild... Read more