Syria Conflict
The Latest
Papal peace vigil draws positive response
Pope Francis’ four-hour Saturday prayer vigil is part of a “major peace initiative” that is receiving a favorable reaction across... Read more
Tourists and pilgrims pray for peace at Vatican vigil
As the sun set over St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Rhode Islander Angeline Martin stood in line for confession and... Read more
Jerusalem Patriarchate to participate in prayer vigil for Syria
Joining in Pope Francis' call to make Sept. 7 a day of fasting and prayer for the people of Syria,... Read more
Pope asks world leaders to reject 'futile' military action in Syria
As world leaders meet in St. Petersburg, Russia, for the G20 summit, Pope Francis has sent a message urging against... Read more
Vatican rejects report that Pope Francis telephoned Assad
A Vatican official denied a news story that claimed that Pope Francis had telephoned the Syrian president, Bashar Al-Assad. Read more
Twenty-thousand Syrian Kurds forced to take refuge in Iraq
Following recent clashes in Syria between al-Qaeda linked opposition groups and Kurdish forces, 20,000 Syrian refugees have fled to Iraqi... Read more
Murdered Syrian priest's friend feels closeness of martyrdom
Franciscan Friar Ibrahim Alsabagh says that remembering the June 23 killing of his friend, a Syrian priest, at a Mass... Read more
Slain Syrian priest remembered at Mass in Rome
Father Francois Mourad, a monk killed last week in the ongoing violence in Syria, is being prayed for and remembered... Read more
Cardinal says foreign pressures fuel violence in Nigeria, Syria
At a conference of interfaith leaders in Milan, Cardinal John O. Onaiyekan suggested that Islamist violence in his country of... Read more
Parents of kidnapped journalist grateful for Pope's words
The parents of kidnapped American journalist Austin Tice have appealed again for his release, voicing gratitude for Pope Francis' words... Read more
Pope to Syrian Christians: you have 'great task' of remaining
Pope Francis vigorously appealed for peace in Syria and told the Christians there that they have “the great task” of... Read more
Mideast Christians unite in prayer for abducted bishops
Orthodox and Catholic Christians in the Middle East gathered this week to pray for and appeal for the realease of... Read more
Mass held in Rome for kidnapped Syrian bishops
Eastern Catholic clergy celebrated a Mass in Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin to pray for two archbishops and... Read more
Syrian patriarch asks Vatican to increase peace efforts
The most powerful Catholic leader in Syria met Pope Francis today to ask the Vatican to get more involved in... Read more
Papal agency working to help displaced Syrians
Catholic Near East Welfare Association is working with local Churches in and around Syria to help refugees and those who... Read more
After two years of Syrian violence, religious sisters continue aid
While the world marks the second anniversary of demonstrations that began what is now the Syrian civil war, the Sisters... Read more
Vatican officials arrive in Jordan as refugee crisis continues
Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, is visiting Jordan to take stock of the serious refugee... Read more
Catholic hospital in Jordan struggles to help Syrian refugees
A Jordanian Catholic hospital is appealing for more money to help with the growing influx of Syrian refugees fleeing the... Read more
Pope asks diplomats to seek peace, appeals for Syria
Pope Benedict gave a wide-ranging address to a group of ambassadors and diplomats that urged an end to the “slaughter”... Read more
Syrian conflict could worsen Christian exodus
Fighting in Syria continues to put pressure on the minority Christian population, leading to fears that more Syrians will join... Read more
