Syria

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The entrance into the Franciscan church in Aleppo, Syria, of the twins George and Johnny Jallouf, friars of the Custody of the Holy Land, who were ordained priests on July 6, 2024. The two ordinands are wearing the priestly vestments with which they were clothed during the ordination rite. They were 15 when the war in Syria broke out. Their vocation was born and grew amid the Battle of Aleppo. “I tried to attend Mass every day,” George recounted. “I was afraid, but I kept repeating to myself ‘I fear nothing because you are with me.’ This phrase guided me, reassured me, gave me peace.”

Different paths to same vocation: Twin brothers ordained priests in Aleppo, Syria

Jul 10, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

It marked the first priestly ordination in 17 years at St. Francis Church in Aleppo, a city that suffered massive... Read more

A moment of prayer during the procession through the narrow streets of the Christian quarter of Bab-Touma (St. Paul) in the Old City of Damascus on July 9, 2023, in celebration of the liturgical feast of the Martyrs of Damascus.

Joy in Syria: Pope Francis gives ‘green light’ for canonization of ‘Martyrs of Damascus’ 

May 23, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

The Vatican has announced that eight Franciscan friars and three laymen who were killed for their faith in Syria will... Read more

Over a year after the earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey in February 2023, restoration of Aleppo's Church of St. George has been completed.

A year after earthquake, Aleppo’s St. George Church rises again

Apr 23, 2024

By Souheil Lawand

The Melkite Greek Catholic community celebrated this week as the Church of St. George reopened its doors after undergoing restoration... Read more

A damaged street in Syria after the Feb. 6, 2023, earthquake.

In face of war and natural disasters, Church in Syria seeks to maintain people’s faith

Oct 12, 2023

By Ana Paula Morales

Syrian Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo Denys Antoine Chahda said the Church is working to “motivate [the people] not to leave... Read more

The new Bishop Hanna Jallouf, OFM, walks down the center aisle of St. Francis Church in Aleppo, Syrian, after his episcopal ordination, Sept. 17, 2023.

Franciscan friar in Syria becomes bishop of Latin-rite Catholics in Aleppo 

Sep 18, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

On Sunday, Sept. 17, Father Hanna Jallouf, OFM, was ordained a bishop and became apostolic vicar of Aleppo for the... Read more

Young Salesians in Syria.

How the Salesians are helping youth in Syria, a country in its 12th year of civil war

Mar 16, 2023

By Abel Camasca

March 15 marked the 12th year of civil war in Syria, where bombs, poverty, and earthquakes have destroyed the country. Read more

Damage to the neighborhood near the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Aleppo, Syria

Priest laments that economic sanctions are preventing post-war recovery and reconstruction in Syria

Mar 9, 2023

By Ana Paula Morales

"The economic blockade is causing great suffering today," said Father Hugo Alaniz, an Argentine missionary of the Institute of the... Read more

Archbishop Jacques Mourad, the new Syrian Catholic archbishop of Homs, Syria.

Syrian Catholic monk once kidnapped by ISIS consecrated archbishop

Mar 6, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Father Jacques Mourad was consecrated as the new archbishop of Homs, Syria. Read more

A pedestrian uses a smartphone as she walks past a collapsed building in Antakya, southern Turkey on Feb. 21, 2023. A 6.4-magnitude earthquake late Feb. 20, 2023, rocked Turkey's southern province of Hatay and northern Syria.

Archbishop asks for prayers following new 6.4-magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria

Feb 21, 2023

By Ana Paula Morales

Antoine Chahda, the Syrian Catholic archbishop of Aleppo, Syria, asked for prayers after a new 6.3-magnitude earthquake shook Turkey and... Read more

Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti with Pope Francis

Vatican archbishop to visit Catholics in Syria and Turkey as they confront earthquake fallout

Feb 16, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

A Vatican archbishop will visit Catholics in Syria and Turkey as they continue to help those affected by the result... Read more

Pope Francis at his Angelus address on Jan. 29, 2023.

Pope Francis contributes to earthquake relief efforts in Syria and Turkey

Feb 15, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Boxes of thermal shirts took sail from the port of Naples, Italy, destined for Turkey, on the morning of Feb.... Read more

Pope Francis delivers the Angelus address on Feb. 12, 2023.

Pope Francis urges support for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria

Feb 12, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis prayed Sunday for the people of Turkey and Syria who are suffering after devastating earthquakes killed more than... Read more

Greek Catholic priest Father Fadi Najjar, who serves in Aleppo, Syria, appealed for prayers as his community faced the death and devastation after an earthquake struck Syria and Turkey on Feb. 6, 2023.

Priest after earthquake in Syria: We have seen death before us

Feb 10, 2023

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

Greek Catholic priest Father Fadi Najjar related how he and his community have faced the devastation caused by the Feb.... Read more

Syrians build a temporary camp to house families made homeless by a deadly earthquake in the town of Harim in Syria’s rebel-held northwestern Idlib province on the border with Turkey, on Feb. 8, 2023, two days after a deadly earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.

Christian leaders in Syria call for an end to ‘unjust’ sanctions that they say hamper aid to the needy

Feb 8, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Three prominent Christian leaders in Syria issued a joint letter Tuesday calling for an end to sanctions against Syria. Read more

Pope Francis prayed for victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria during his general audience on Feb. 8, 2023.

Pope Francis leads Hail Mary for victims of earthquake in Turkey and Syria

Feb 8, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“We pray that Our Lady will protect them,” the pope said at the end of his Wednesday general audience. Read more

Image of the Virgin Mary in the rubble of the Cathedral of Alexandria in Turkey, Feb. 6, 2023.

Statue of Mary untouched in earthquake that demolished cathedral in Turkey

Feb 7, 2023

By CNA Staff

The image of Our Lady was unharmed in the quake that brought down Annunciation Cathedral in the city of Alexandretta... Read more

A Syrian woman and her children warm by a stove at an emergency shelter in the center of the city of Maarat Misrin, in the rebel-held northern part of the northwestern Idlib province Feb. 7, 2023, one day after a deadly earthquake hit Syria and Turkey.

Catholic aid agencies respond after devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria

Feb 7, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

According to the latest available estimates as of midday Tuesday, the 7.8-magnitude quake ​​has left at least 6,200 people dead... Read more

A woman reacts as rescuers search for survivors through the rubble of collapsed buildings in Adana, Turkey, on Feb. 6, 2023, after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country’s southeast. The combined death toll for Turkey and Syria after the region’s strongest quake in nearly a century is in the thousands.

Pope Francis, Syriac Patriarch call for prayers after devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

Feb 6, 2023

By AC Wimmer

The series of earthquakes — up to 7.8 magnitude — killed an estimated 1,700 people and injured thousands more, with... Read more

Syrian archbishop-elect Father Jacques Mourad.

New Syrian Catholic archbishop tells how he survived captivity by Islamic State

Jan 23, 2023

By Ana Paula Morales

The appointment of Father Jacques Mourad, a Syrian priest, as archbishop was confirmed by Pope Francis on Jan. 7. Read more

Aftermath of the attack on the inauguration of Hagia Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in Al-Suqaylabiyah, Syria, July 24, 2022.

Casualties reported after attack on church inauguration in Syria

Jul 24, 2022

By CNA Staff

At least one person was killed and several were injured Sunday in an attack on the inauguration of a Greek... Read more