Middle East - Africa News

Jesuit Father Paolo Dall'Oglio speaks with CNA in Rome.

Exiled Jesuit priest still hopeful for Syria's future

Sep 6, 2012

The Italian Jesuit who was exiled from Syria after criticizing President Bashar al-Assad says he is still hopeful for the... Read more

Vandals sprayed blasphemous graffiti on the walls and set fire to the door of the Abbey of Latroun.

Vandals hit Catholic monastery in Holy Land with fire and graffiti

Sep 5, 2012

Vandals set fire to the door of the Latroun Monastery near Jerusalem on the morning of Sept. 4 and spray... Read more

CNA

Imam allegedly faked evidence in Pakistan blasphemy case

Sep 5, 2012

Several witnesses have charged that a Muslim cleric fabricated evidence against a Down syndrome Christian girl accused of violating Pakistan’s... Read more

CNA

Thousands of Christians trapped in Syrian village

Aug 25, 2012

By Kevin J. Jones

Syrian rebel forces have trapped over 12,000 Greek Catholics in a village near the Lebanese border, causing shortages of food,... Read more

Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai of the Maronite Catholic Church.

Pope to proceed with Lebanon trip despite Syria violence

Aug 23, 2012

As fighting in neighboring Syria rages on, Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed that he will proceed with his trip to... Read more

President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan.

Mentally impaired child arrested under Pakistan's anti-blasphemy law

Aug 21, 2012

A young girl who suffers from Down's Syndrome has been arrested in Pakistan for allegedly burning a page from the... Read more

Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai of the Maronite Church.

Maronite patriarch warns Syrian conflict could spread to Lebanon

Aug 19, 2012

Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai of Antioch, the head of the Maronite Catholic Church, has warned that the armed conflict in... Read more

Bishop Camillo Ballin, MCCJ, Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia.

Catholic vicariate moves from Kuwait to Bahrain

Aug 14, 2012

The Catholic Church’s Vicariate of Northern Arabia will move its headquarters from Kuwait to Bahrain, saying the country’s location is... Read more

The wreckage of an Egyptian military vehicle after militants drove it through a security fence into Israel from Egypt on August 6, 2012.

Church leaders urge Egyptian troops to rescue Sinai hostages

Aug 9, 2012

“Dramatic changes” in the Sinai peninsula region offer Egypt's government a chance to rescue trafficking and torture victims, an assembly... Read more

CNA

Christian community in Nigeria rocked by new wave of attacks

Aug 7, 2012

Nigerian Christians are losing patience after an Aug. 6 attack on a church service in a central region of the... Read more

Patriarch Gregorios III Laham.

Syrian Christians begin traditional fast amid continuing violence

Aug 3, 2012

The head of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church encouraged Syria's Eastern Catholics to offer prayers for peace during their church's... Read more

CNA

Islamists attack Christians, Iraqi refugees in Damascus

Jul 23, 2012

The Syrian rebels’ attack on Damascus has allowed radical Islamist groups to attack Iraqi refugees, Christians allegedly loyal to the... Read more

Archbishop Samir Nassar of Damascus.

Syrian archbishop laments continued violence

Jul 18, 2012

Maronite Archbishop Samir Nassar of Damascus spoke out against the violent conflict between government and rebel forces in Syria, drawing... Read more

CNA

Gold coins from the Crusades found in Israel

Jul 16, 2012

Israeli archeologists have found more than one hundred gold coins from the time of the Crusades, when conflict arose between... Read more

CNA

Franciscans in Syria call for dialogue not weapons

Jul 14, 2012

The Franciscans in Syria are calling upon foreign powers to stop sending arms to the country after reports that over... Read more

Coptic Catholic Bishop Kyrillos William.

Interim leader of Egyptian Catholic Copts is hopeful after election

Jul 13, 2012

Coptic Catholic Bishop Kyrillos William has said he is optimistic about the future of Egypt following the country’s presidential election.  Read more

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama.

Nigerian archbishop hopes for definitive end to violence

Jul 9, 2012

Archbishop Ignatius A. Kaigama is concerned over the seemingly endless violence against Christians that claimed at least 58 lives this... Read more

Two boys from Syria are among the thousands of Syrian refugees receiving food and other emergency assistance from Caritas Jordan.

Catholics providing Syrian refugees with medical treatment

Jul 8, 2012

It was the end of March when the violence in Syria became unbearable for Salwa, a young mother who lived... Read more

Pope Pius XII.

Holocaust museum praised for corrections to Pius XII exhibit

Jul 5, 2012

Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial has made changes to a controversial exhibit on Pope Pius XII, presenting a more balanced... Read more

Patriarch Gregorios III.

Christians are loyal to Egypt, Melkite patriarch tells president

Jul 2, 2012

Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorios III emphasized Egyptian Christians' national loyalty, as well as their need for guaranteed human rights,... Read more