Israel-Hamas war

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The lighting of the first Hanukkah candle during the interfaith event organized by the Kehilat Zion on the first night of Hanukkah on Dec. 7, 2023, in Jerusalem.

PHOTOS: Hanukkah events in Jerusalem focus on finding light, hope, and faith in dark times

Dec 14, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

On Dec. 7 and 12, Hanukkah events in Jerusalem brought together Jews, Christians, and representatives of other faiths to celebrate... Read more

Pope Francis gazes at a nativity scene during a meeting with two delegations at the Vatican Dec. 9, 2023 — a community from Macra, located in the Alps who provided this year’s Christmas tree, and people from the Diocese of Rieti, who donated this year's Nativity scene.

Pope Francis: Vatican Nativity scene should prompt prayers for the Holy Land 

Dec 9, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

The pope made his remarks in a Saturday morning audience in Paul VI Hall with two delegations who donated the... Read more

Father Gabriel Romanelli (center), the Latin parish priest of Gaza, is among the celebrants at a Mass to celebrate the feast day of Our Lady, Queen of Palestine and the Holy Land at the shrine dedicated to her at Deir Rafat on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023.

‘These are very hard times’: Pastor of Gaza Catholic church gives update on Christians’ plight

Dec 6, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

“The pope called us daily, to check on us,” said Father Gabriel Romanelli in a recent interview where he discussed... Read more

The small procession of Franciscan friars, with the Custos of the Holy Land, arrives in Manger Square, in front of the Basilica of the Nativity, in Bethlehem on Saturday, Dec. 2, the day of the solemn entrance for the beginning of Advent. The Square, typically crowded with local believers and pilgrims, was empty. Dec. 2, 2023.

PHOTOS: Bethlehem welcomes Advent 2023 with quieter procession, still with hope

Dec 4, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

To mark the beginning of Advent, the custos of the Holy Land and the Franciscan friars made their annual procession... Read more

Papal aide Monsignor Paolo Braida reads Pope Francis' prepared remarks for the Sunday Angelus on Dec. 3, 2023, from the chapel at the papal residence at Casa Santa Marta.

Pope Francis on first Sunday of Advent: ‘I’m improving, but my voice still doesn’t work’

Dec 3, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis, for the second consecutive Sunday, was assisted by an aide in praying the Angelus, as he continues to... Read more

Altar of the Child Jesus and the relic of the manger in the Church of Saint Catherine (Basilica of the Nativity) in Bethlehem.

New Holy Land virtual Advent pilgrimage hopes to fill ‘holy sites with peace’

Dec 2, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

With the Israel-Hamas war, pilgrims can’t get to many holy sites this Advent and Christmas, so the Magdala Tourist Center... Read more

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MAP: Are Holy Land pilgrimage sites threatened by the Israel-Hamas war?  

Nov 30, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Amid the uncertainty of war, what is the outlook for the Holy Land’s many precious sites? CNA spoke to Father... Read more

Pope Francis and Mons. Paolo Braida during the Sunday Angelus address, Nov. 26

Papal aide relays Pope Francis’ remarks at Sunday Angelus while pope recovers from flu

Nov 26, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

During this week’s Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis spoke not from the window of the Apostolic Palace but via livestream from... Read more

The road leading from checkpoint 300, one of the main entrances to Bethlehem, to the city is completely deserted. Since Oct. 7, when the war broke out, the gate has been closed. Nov. 18, 2023.

PHOTOS: Christmas celebrations canceled in Bethlehem in the midst of war

Nov 26, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

The patriarchs and leaders of the Churches in Jerusalem have urged the faithful to focus on the spiritual meaning of... Read more

Pope Francis meets with relatives of Palestinians living in Gaza on Nov. 22, 2023.

Pope Francis meets with relatives of Palestinians living in Gaza

Nov 22, 2023

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

The pope’s meeting with families of Palestinians in Gaza took place on the same day he met wth relatives of... Read more

Pope Francis meets with families of the hostages taken by Hamas on Nov. 22, 2023.

Pope Francis meets with families of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza

Nov 22, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis’ meetings with the Israeli and Palestinian delegations occurred as news emerged that a four-day cease-fire agreement had been... Read more

Weekday Mass is celebrated in the Church of Sts. Simeon and Anne in Jerusalem, where the Hebrew-speaking Catholic community (keilla) gathers together.

‘A battle inside us’: Hebrew Catholics in the Holy Land wrestle with challenges of war

Nov 19, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

The Israel-Hamas war has brought challenges to Hebrew Catholics in Israel, but the diverse and vibrant community holds on to... Read more

Pope Francis invoke the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Peace and Mother of Mercy at a prayer vigil for peace in St. Peter's Basilica, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Pope Francis to meet with families of Israeli hostages and Palestinians with relatives in Gaza

Nov 18, 2023

By Courtney Mares

A Vatican spokesman said that with these meetings, Pope Francis wants to show his spiritual closeness to the suffering of... Read more

A woman sits with a child by drying laundry outside a classroom at a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 14, 2023, where internally displaced Palestinians have taken refuge amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Catholic Relief Services calls for ‘immediate cessation of violence’ in Gaza to allow aid

Nov 16, 2023

By Daniel Payne

CRS is supporting four churches in Gaza where “they are running out of food, running out of water, and are... Read more

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, speaks at the USCCB fall plenary assembly Nov. 14, 2023.

USCCB president urges evangelization amid wars and challenges facing Church

Nov 14, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Archbishop Timothy Broglio’s remarks opened the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ annual fall meeting in Baltimore on Tuesday. Read more

Vandalized tombstones are seen at the Jewish Mount Carmel Cemetery, Feb. 26, 2017, in Philadelphia.

Antisemitic incidents in U.S. up by more than 300% since Israel-Hamas war, study says

Nov 13, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The Anti-Defamation League shared a map plotting the antisemitic incidents throughout the U.S., with an average of at least two... Read more

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Mother of Israeli hostage thanks Pope Francis for his efforts to free captives in Gaza

Nov 10, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

“Holy Father, thank you for taking the time to try to help us free the 240 human beings who are... Read more

Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil in Iraq.

Iraqi archbishop fears war in Holy Land could spread to entire region

Nov 9, 2023

By Andrés Henríquez

Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar Warda fears a possible escalation in the conflict will end up unleashing a wave of migration... Read more

Catholics in Jerusalem gather on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, for a prayer vigil to implore from God the gift of peace for their land.

PHOTOS: Catholics gather in Jerusalem for a prayer vigil for peace

Nov 9, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

The event took place at the Terra Sancta High School of the Custody of the Holy Land, located in the... Read more

Rashida Tlaib, a Democratic representative from Michigan and the sole Palestinian-American member of Congress, addressed a demonstration at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, to show her support for the Palestinian cause.

Congress censures Rep. Rashida Tlaib for ‘calling for the destruction’ of Israel

Nov 8, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

The resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib passed in a 234-188 vote, with 22 Democrats joining nearly all Republicans voting... Read more