Middle East - Africa News

A shell lays in the middle of the street in Homs, Syria, a remnant of the heavy attack levelled on the city 11 June 2012.

Report: Syrian rebel group makes Christians low-status subjects

Mar 5, 2014

An ultimatum allegedly from a jihadist group has demanded that Syrian Christians live as “dhimmis,” low-status subjects who must pay... Read more

Iraq Archbishop Louis Sako.

Iraqi patriarch urges prayer, fasting that Christians remain

Feb 27, 2014

Archbishop Louis Raphael I Sako, the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Babylon, has issued an urgent appeal to mark the beginning... Read more

Cardinals praying together at the consistory held Feb. 22, 2014.

Ivory Coast's new cardinal intends to advance peace in his country

Feb 26, 2014

Cardinal Jean-Pierre Kutwa, the newly-elevated cardinal from Ivory Coast, has said he wants to combat politicians' “verbal violence,” and is... Read more

Cardinal Ouedraogo's Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Ouagadougou.

Cardinal Ouedraogo, the advocate of Burkina Faso’s poor

Feb 24, 2014

Philippe Ouedraogo, the newly-created cardinal from west Africa’s Burkina Faso, is known for his backing for the inclusion of the... Read more

Fr. Tojy Jose, OFM, visits Mrs. Anadavally in Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israel.

Indian chaplain in Holy Land lauds woman’s bravery

Feb 20, 2014

An Indian-born caregiver in Israel who rushed into a burning apartment building in a heroic attempt to save her sick... Read more

Empty Bullet Casings.

Nigeria archbishop laments failure to stop Boko Haram

Feb 20, 2014

Amid continuing attacks in Nigeria attributed to the Islamic militant group Boko Haram, one of the country's leading bishops has... Read more

Syrian Christian refugees.

Filmmakers draw attention to plight of Middle East Christians

Feb 19, 2014

By Adelaide Mena

Christians in the West must take seriously their duty to support those suffering in the Middle East, the birthplace of... Read more

Refugees from South Sudan.

Starvation, disease threaten South Sudan

Feb 19, 2014

Violence in South Sudan has put people in parts of the Diocese of Malakal at risk of starvation, as well... Read more

Archbishop Sebastian Shaw of Lahore.

New Pakistan archbishop emphasizes social harmony between religions

Feb 17, 2014

The new Archbishop of Lahore, Pakistan, has asked people to pray that he has “courage and faith,” stressing the need... Read more

A man holds a machete (aka Balaka in Songo) on Nov. 8, 2013 in the outskirts of Bangui, Central African Republic.

Archbishop warns of genocide in Central African Republic

Feb 14, 2014

A Central African bishop has reported signs of genocide in the growing conflict there, urging an effective security response and... Read more

Bishop Bernadin Francis Mfumbusa.

Tanzanian bishop sees hope, despite growth of extremism

Feb 8, 2014

A bishop of a north-central diocese in Tanzania has expressed concern over the growth of radical Islamist violence in the... Read more

Refugees from South Sudan.

Bishops say South Sudan faces decisive moment after conflict

Feb 2, 2014

The Catholic bishops of Sudan and South Sudan have said South Sudan is at a turning point, urging repentance and... Read more

Catholics from Beit Jala in the Cremisan Valley gathered for a Mass for justice, Jan. 17, 2014.

Bishops urge end to confiscation of land in Palestine

Jan 30, 2014

The U.S. bishops' international justice and peace representative has called on the state department to pressure the Israeli government to... Read more

Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria.

Dozens killed in attacks on Nigeria's Christian villages

Jan 30, 2014

At least 99 people were reportedly left dead after attacks on two Christian villages in northeast Nigeria this week, suspected... Read more

Thousands of Syrians streamed across a bridge over the Tigris River, entering Iraq on Thursday, August 15, 2013.

Syrian patriarch: aid needed to calm Christian flight

Jan 29, 2014

Syria’s leading Catholic bishop has said that humanitarian aid should be increased in and near Syria to help contain Christians’... Read more

Bishops of the Holy Land Co-ordination visiting Rafah, on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, Jan. 2014.

International bishops call Gaza Christians a 'people of hope'

Jan 23, 2014

A group of bishops from around the world who visited the Gaza Strip this month has praised the “courageous” Christian... Read more

Gregorios III, Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch.

Syrian patriarch calls for prayer as peace talks begin

Jan 22, 2014

The Patriarch of Antioch has called for prayers “in every home in Syria” and around the world for a successful... Read more

Jerusalem.

Holy Land Christians prepare for Church unity week

Jan 21, 2014

Christians of varying Churches and ecclesial communities in Palestine and Israel will gather for ecumenical prayer services at the churches... Read more

St. Teresa parish in Assiut, the see of Coptic Bishop Kyrillos William Samaan, after an Aug. 2013 attack.

Egyptian bishop backs newly drafted constitution

Jan 18, 2014

A Catholic Coptic bishop has said he “very strongly” encourages Christians to accept Egypt's draft constitution for Egypt, voted on... Read more

Refugees from South Sudan.

Amid violence, South Sudan Catholics outline steps to peace

Jan 10, 2014

Voicing “anguish and dismay” at the deteriorating situation in South Sudan, a Catholic bishop shared his diocese’s ten proposals to... Read more