Israel-Hamas war

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Pope Francis holds his rosary beads during a rosary prayer for peace at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome on Oct. 6, 2024.

Pope Francis prays rosary for peace on eve of first anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack

Oct 6, 2024

By Courtney Mares

On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, the pope implored Our Lady, Queen of... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for his Angelus reflection on Oct. 6, 2024.

Pope Francis urges married couples to ‘be open to life’

Oct 6, 2024

By Courtney Mares

In his Sunday Angelus address, the Holy Father asked couples to reflect on whether their married life is fully open... Read more

Archbishop Timothy Broglio is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and also leads the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.

Archbishop Broglio calls on faithful to join in prayer on anniversary of Oct. 7 attacks

Oct 3, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

Archbishop Timothy Broglio invited the faithful throughout the country to join in prayer on the first anniversary of the Oct.... Read more

Pope Francis greets the crowd at the end of a Mass for the opening of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in St Peter's Square.

Pope Francis calls for global day of prayer, fasting amid escalating conflict in Holy Land

Oct 2, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The pope’s surprise announcement comes the morning after Iran launched hundreds of missiles toward Israel. Read more

Pope Francis meets with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, at a meeting with other Arab bishops on Aug. 28, 2024, at the Vatican.

Jerusalem patriarch announces ‘day of prayer and fasting’ on Oct. 7 anniversary

Sep 26, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

“May each of us with the rosary or in whatever form he or she sees fit ... find a moment... Read more

St. George Maronite cathedral beside the Mohammad Al-Amin mosque in Beirut, the Lebanese capital.

Lebanon’s Christians also affected by Israel’s attacks

Sep 25, 2024

By Andrés Henríquez

The large-scale bombings Israel unleashed this week against Hezbollah in Lebanon are affecting all of Lebanon’s residents, including Christians. Read more

After his Angelus on Sept. 15, 2024, Pope Francis appealed for the release of the remaining Hamas hostages and said he is praying for the victims and their families.

Pope Francis urges release of Hamas hostages, end of conflict in Israel and Palestine

Sep 15, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis on Sunday urged the release of the remaining Hamas hostages as he remembered 23-year-old American Hersh Goldberg-Polin and... Read more

Sabeen Rahil and Elias Johny Al Arja in Bethlehem. In the background behind them is the bell tower of the Church of the Nativity, which stands on the site where Jesus was born.

Staying in Bethlehem: Christian couple opts to marry and put down roots despite hardships

Sep 7, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

Two young Christians from Bethlehem have decided to marry and settle down in their hometown despite the ongoing war and... Read more

Speaking to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus prayer on Sept. 1, 2024, the pope called for peace in the Holy Land, urging the release of the remaining hostages and humanitarian aid for the polio outbreak in Gaza. The pope also expressed his closeness to the people of Burkina Faso after hundreds of people were killed in a terrorist attack there on Aug. 24. Afterward the pope asked for prayers for his apostolic journey beginning tomorrow to Oceania and Southeast Asia.

Pope Francis urges release of hostages, aid for polio outbreak in Gaza

Sep 1, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The pope appealed for peace in Gaza and for aid to continue and also expressed his closeness to the people... Read more

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, the leader of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, discussed prospects for peace in the war in Gaza Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in a conversation with Bernhard Scholz, president of the Meeting for Friendship Amongst Peoples Foundation.

Pope Francis and Cardinal Pizzaballa open lay Catholic meeting against backdrop of war

Aug 20, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis urged the meeting’s participants not to be discouraged by war and the challenges of today but to search... Read more

Opposition supporters attend the “Ganó Venezuela” opposition protest on Aug. 3, 2024, in Caracas, Venezuela. President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election over his rival, Edmundo Gonzalez. The result has been questioned by the opposition and internationally.

Pope Francis urges prayers for victims of crises in Venezuela, Myanmar, and Middle East

Aug 4, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Pope Francis on Sunday urged prayers for those suffering in the world due to political conflict, violence, and natural disasters. Read more

In a July 24, 2024, press release, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem — a diocese that includes Jordan, Cyprus, Palestine, and Israel — announced that 40 tons of nonperishable food kits were delivered by Malteser International to a newly-established distribution center near the patriarchate’s compound in the region for people in northern Gaza.

Second round of aid delivered to Gaza by Latin Patriarchate and Order of Malta

Jul 26, 2024

By Gigi Duncan

The Latin Patriarchate and Sovereign Order of Malta signed the Memorandum of Understanding agreement in May, which aims to supply... Read more

A group of young people from the Apostolic Movement of Jish, led by Father Sandy Habib, during prayer before the meal on July 12, 2024, at the Maronite convent in Jerusalem. The aim is “bringing ourselves closer to Jesus,” Habib explained to CNA. “We try to achieve this through spiritual activities, social activities like trips, and by announcing Jesus Christ.”

Faith amid bombs: Priests minister to Christians in border towns of Lebanon and Israel

Jul 16, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

Christian communities on both sides of the Lebanon-Israel border have been put to the test since Hamas’ attack on Israel... Read more

Palestinian women react as they look at the badly damaged Latin Patriarchate Holy Family School after it was reportedly hit during Israeli military bombardment in Gaza City on July 7, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas.

Bishop Zaidan condemns ‘any targeting of civilians’ at Holy Family School in Gaza

Jul 10, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

“I join the Latin Patriarchate in condemning any targeting of civilians in the [Holy] Family School in Gaza,” Bishop A.... Read more

Palestinians stand on the rubble and debris of the Latin Patriarchate Holy Family School after it was hit during an alleged Israeli military bombardment in Gaza City on July 7, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas.

Latin Patriarchate condemns reported raid by Israeli forces on Gaza Catholic school

Jul 8, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The patriarchate said in a Sunday press release that it was “monitoring, with grave concern, the news of the raids,... Read more

An emergency novena will take place between July 16-24, including the feast days of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Charbel Makhlouf.

Novena for peace in the Near East announced for Christians, innocents in region

Jul 4, 2024

By Gigi Duncan

The novena, which will take place July 16–24, will implore protection for Christians and all innocent civilians in the region,... Read more

Danny Miran shows the T-shirt with a photo of his son Omri, one of the Israelis kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, and who is still being held hostage in Gaza. On the T-shirt, the Hebrew inscription reads: “Bring them home now!”, the motto of the campaign to bring back the hostages. A few days after Oct. 7, Danny Miran, 79, left his home in northern Israel and joined the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Tel Aviv. His life’s purpose has become bringing his son back home.

Father of Israeli hostage who met with pope is on a mission to ‘bring them all home’

Jul 4, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

Danny Miran met Pope Francis at the Vatican in April. In mid-June he shared his testimony with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi... Read more

An Israeli army convoy leaves the Gaza Strip as seen from a position on the Israeli side of the border on July 3, 2024 in southern Israel.

Israeli embassy criticizes Holy Land Catholic leaders for statement on ‘just war’

Jul 3, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

In a statement June 30, the Justice and Peace Commission of the Holy Land suggested Israel’s behavior in Gaza goes... Read more

A group of cello students from the Magnificat Institute of Jerusalem performs on May 30, 2024. Today, the Magnificat Institute welcomes over 200 students each year (as young as 5 years old) and relies on the collaboration of 25 teachers. It has a choir (which also serves the liturgies of the Custody of the Holy Land) and several orchestras.

Jerusalem’s Magnificat Institute: ‘Every day we witness a small but significant miracle’ 

Jun 26, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

The Magnificat Institute brings Jews, Christians, and Muslims together to make music — not an easy feat as the longest... Read more

Pope Francis said he prays every day for an end to the war in Israel and Palestine during a prayer service June 7, 2024, in the Vatican Gardens, commemorating 10 years since the symbolic planting of an olive tree in the presence of the presidents of Israel and Palestine in 2014.

Pope Francis recalls 2014 embrace of Palestine and Israel presidents at prayer for peace

Jun 8, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

A prayer service in the Vatican Gardens marked the 10th anniversary of the 2014 “prayer for peace in the Holy... Read more

Latest news

More than 400 priests, bishops, and cardinals concelebrated a Mass with Pope Francis to open the second assembly of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 2, 2024, in St. Peter’s Square.

Live updates: The Synod on Synodality debates the Catholic Church’s future

Pope Francis holds his rosary beads during a rosary prayer for peace at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome on Oct. 6, 2024.

Pope Francis prays rosary for peace on eve of first anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for his Angelus reflection on Oct. 6, 2024.

Pope Francis urges married couples to ‘be open to life’

Pope Francis creates new cardinals at a consistory in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 5, 2019.

Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals, including archbishops of Tehran and Toronto

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U.S. bishops invite faithful to pray mental health novena

The Maronite Catholic eparch of Batroun, Bishop Mounir Khairallah, attends a Synod on Synodality press conference on Oct. 5, 2024, at the Vatican.

Lebanese bishop makes impassioned plea for peace at synod briefing

Mark Houck and other pro-life activists share the severe suffering they have experienced due to the pro-abortion policies of the Biden-Harris administration at the Pray Vote Stand Summit in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.

Panelists at Pray Vote Stand Summit slam government’s pro-abortion agenda

Among the various ceremonies at the inauguration of the first female Mexican president, Claudia Scheinbaum, in the capital city’s Constitution Plaza — commonly known as Zócalo — a group of Indigenous women performed a “sacred ceremony.”

Cardinal, exorcists have differing takes on ‘cleansing’ ritual performed on Mexican president 

Devout Catholic actor Jonathan Roumie, known for his role as Jesus Christ in "The Chosen," is an executive producer and narrator of the new film "Heart of a Servant: The Father Flanagan Story."

Actor Jonathan Roumie calls Father Flanagan’s mission portrayed in new film ‘timeless’

The tomb of St. Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938) in Łagiewniki, Poland.

10 quotes on suffering and humility from the diary of St. Faustina Kowalska

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