Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

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Pope Francis greets the crowd at his Sunday Angelus address on Jan. 29, 2023.

Pope Francis: The devil uses ‘three widespread and dangerous temptations’ to divide us

Feb 26, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope also offered advice for how to overcome temptations using the Word of God. Read more

Pope Francis prayed for peace in the Holy Land at the end of his Angelus address on Jan. 29, 2023.

Pope Francis expresses sorrow over ‘spiral of death’ in the Holy Land

Jan 29, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In his Sunday Angelus address, the pope expressed “great sorrow” for the death of Palestinians killed in an Israeli military... Read more

With a cane in his right hand, 86-year-old Pope Francis delivers his 10th Christmas "Urbi et Orbi" blessing on Dec. 25, 2022.

On Christmas Day, Pope Francis prays for Prince of Peace to end ‘third world war’

Dec 25, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 25, the pope offered the traditional “Urbi et Orbi”... Read more

Pope Francis gives his weekly Angelus address on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022.

‘Violence kills the future’: Pope Francis condemns Israeli-Palestinian conflict after 2 boys die

Nov 27, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

“I hope that the Israeli and Palestinian authorities will more readily take to heart the search for dialogue...” Pope Francis... Read more

Members of the Holy Land Coordination meet with young people of Jerusalem at St James the Apostle Beit Hanina parish, May 21, 2022.

Bishops lament threats facing Jerusalem's Christians

May 26, 2022

By CNA Staff

At the end of a trip to the Holy Land, a group of European bishops lamented the threats to Jerusalem’s... Read more

Pope Francis meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at Vatican on Nov. 4, 2021. Vatican Media.

Pope Francis meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at Vatican

Nov 4, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The Holy See has long supported a two-state solution. Read more

Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, April 4, 2021.

Jerusalem patriarch calls for peace, cooperation in Holy Land

May 24, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

The Patriarch of Jerusalem urged peace, mutual understanding, and cooperation among religious groups in his homily on Saturday, underscoring the... Read more

Pope Francis addresses new ambassadors accredited to the Holy See in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall, May 21, 2021.

Pope Francis calls for global prayer for peace in the Holy Land

May 21, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

The pope was addressing ambassadors newly accredited to the Holy See. Read more

Buildings destroyed by airstrikes in the Gaza Strip

Remember the humanity on both sides of Israel-Gaza conflict, Catholic aid group insists

May 20, 2021

Catholics must be mindful of the humanity on both sides of conflict in Israel and Gaza, said a top official... Read more

Theodosios (Atallah Hanna), the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia, delivers a speech during a demonstration in Beit Jala in the West Bank May 17, 2021 to express solidarity with Gaza and Sheikh Jarah. Credit: Hazem Bader/AFP via Getty Images.

Gaza's only Catholic priest calls Israel-Gaza violence 'extremely serious'

May 17, 2021

By Blanca Ruiz

The sole Catholic priest in the Gaza Strip has warned of the severity of the recent violence between Israel and... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister, on May 17, 2021.

Pope Francis meets with Iran’s foreign minister, speaks to Turkish president about Palestinians

May 17, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Iran's foreign minister said that he and the pope “exchanged views” on Palestine, interfaith dialogue, and U.S. sanctions on Iran. Read more

Pope Francis delivers a Regina Coeli address at the Vatican.

Pope Francis: Children’s deaths in Israel-Gaza conflict ‘terrible and unacceptable’

May 16, 2021

The pope said that the violence risked “degenerating into a spiral of death and destruction.” Read more

U.S. bishops pray for peace as Israel-Hamas conflict rages

May 13, 2021

The U.S. bishops’ conference offered prayers for peace in the Holy Land on Thursday, as conflict between Israel and Hamas... Read more

The Old City of Jerusalem.

Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem says violence requires ‘an urgent intervention’

May 11, 2021

By Courtney Mares

“It is our duty not to ignore injustice nor any aggression against human dignity regardless of who is committing them.” Read more

A bishop of the Holy Land Coordination surveys the construction of the separation wall in Palestine's Cremisan Valley, Jan. 17, 2017.

Bishops reiterate need for direct Israel-Palestine negotiations if there is to be peace

Jan 24, 2021

A group of Christian leaders who advocate for the Holy Land this week reiterated a call for Israeli and Palestinian... Read more

Cross atop the seminary in Beit Jala, Palestine.

Israeli forces remove 6th-century baptismal font from Palestinian town

Jul 22, 2020

Israeli forces on July 20 carried out an operation to retrieve a Byzantine-era baptisimal font that they said was stolen... Read more

A bishop surveys the construction of a separation wall in Palestine's Cremisan Valley, Jan. 17, 2017.

Vatican tells Israel, US that annexation could jeopardize peace process

Jul 2, 2020

Ahead of possible Israeli action to annex Palestinian territories, Holy See Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin met with the... Read more

Old City Jerusalem.

Vatican expresses concern over potential West Bank annexation

May 20, 2020

By Courtney Mares

As Israel’s new government considers annexing parts of the West Bank, the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s chief negotiator appealed to the... Read more

Palestinians mourn the death of Mohammed Hamayel, 15, during his funeral in Beita in the West Bank, March 11, 2020, after he was shot by Israeli forces.

Israeli forces kill Palestinian minor in West Bank

Mar 11, 2020

Mohammed Hamayal, a 15-year-old Palestinian boy, was shot and killed by Israeli troops Wednesday during a clash in the West... Read more

A bishop of the Holy Land Coordination surveys the construction of a separation wall in Palestine's Cremisan Valley, Jan. 17, 2017.

US bishops: Israel and Palestine must 'negotiate directly' if there is to be peace

Feb 5, 2020

After US president Donald Trump and Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu last month proposed a two-state peace plan for Israel and... Read more