Christians in the Middle East
The Latest
Armenian patriarch to represent Catholics at Middle East Council of Churches
Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian has led the Armenian Catholic Church since September 2021. Read more
EWTN launches Arabic-language news agency based in Iraq
EWTN Global Catholic Network has launched an Arabic-language news service headquartered in Erbil, Iraq. Read more
Iran is squeezing Christians and other minorities out of the Middle East, researcher says
A researcher with the Philos Project told journalists today that Iran is using incremental strategies to squeeze non-Muslims out of... Read more
Holy Land Christians need more protection, Christian leaders in Jerusalem warn
Christian leaders in Jerusalem are seeking an “urgent dialogue” with local authorities to discuss further protections for Christians in the... Read more
Pope Francis meets Afghan Christian whose parents were killed by the Taliban
“It was beautiful,” one Afghan refugee told CNA after meeting the pope. Read more
Nonprofit seeks to provide computers to Iraqi Christian schools
While Christian schools in Iraq continue to suffer, a non-profit that promotes positive engagement in the Middle East is aiming... Read more
Bishops propose Arab World Youth Day for Middle East Catholics
Bishops from the Middle East have proposed a regional youth gathering similar to World Youth Day for young Catholics from... Read more
Middle East patriarchs discuss plight of Christian minorities with Pope Francis
Six Catholic patriarchs from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq met with Pope Francis at the Vatican Friday to discuss the... Read more
Four aid workers missing in Iraq
Four men working in Iraq for the French humanitarian organization SOS Chrétiens d'Orient went missing last week in Baghdad. Read more
Pope Francis and Iraqi president discuss securing a future for Christians
Pope Francis met Saturday with Iraqi President Barham Salih, and discussed the need to secure the future of Iraq’s deep-rooted... Read more
Syrian Christians face new threat from Turkey, human rights group warns
Endangered Christian populations in the Middle East face renewed risks as the United States removes troops from Syria, a leading... Read more
Pompeo meets pope to discuss religious freedom, Middle East Christians
Pope Francis met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss the preservation of Christian communities in the Middle East... Read more
Iraqi church formerly defaced by ISIS rededicated on Assumption feast
An Iraqi church damaged and defaced by the Islamic State in 2014 was rededicated Thursday for the parish’s celebration of... Read more
Pope Francis gives thousands of rosaries to Christians in Syria
Pope Francis announced Thursday that he is giving 6,000 blessed rosaries to Catholic communities in Syria as a sign of... Read more
US Congress passes bill to relieve Christians, Yazidis in Iraq and Syria
The US House of Representatives passed Tuesday H.R. 390, a bill titled “Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act,”... Read more
Pope and Assyrian Patriarch: Blood of Middle East martyrs is ‘seed of Christian unity’
Pope Francis and the Assyrian Patriarch Mar Gewargis III have pledged ecumenical unity in support of persecuted Christians in the... Read more
Cardinal O'Brien: Don't let Holy Land become a 'museum'
Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, told journalists Wednesday that the order of... Read more
Controversial Israeli law excludes non-Jews, Latin Patriarchate says
A recently-adopted Israeli law that strongly affirmed the country’s link with the Jewish people and avoided mention of non-Jews wrongly... Read more
Religious structures next step in Iraqi building process
Since 2014 international charity organization Aid to the Church in Need has spent some 40 million euros [$46.6 million] funding... Read more
Christians an 'essential element of balance' in the Middle East
For two cardinals helping to organize Pope Francis' upcoming trip to Bari, the event is a chance to highlight not... Read more
