Iran

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Iranian miners look on at the scene of a blast at a coal mine in Tabas in Iran’s Khorasan province on Sept. 22, 2024. The blast caused by a gas leak at the coal mine in eastern Iran has killed at least 50 people, state media said Sept. 22, in one of Iran’s deadliest work accidents in years.

Pope Francis offers prayers for victims of Iran coal mine explosion

Sep 25, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis said Wednesday he is praying for the dozens of victims of a deadly coal mine explosion in Tabas,... Read more

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin (left) and Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Vatican urges Iran to avoid ‘in any way’ escalating conflict in Middle East

Aug 12, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, spoke on the phone on Monday morning with Iran’s new president, Masoud... Read more

People participate in a funeral procession of president Ebrahim Raisi and his seven aides in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan province, on May 21, 2024.

Pope expresses ‘spiritual closeness’ to Iran after death of president in helicopter crash

May 21, 2024

By Daniel Payne

In a telegram, the Holy Father sent “condolences upon the deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and ... Read more

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York.

New York’s Cardinal Dolan ‘safe and secure’ after sheltering amid Iranian airstrikes

Apr 15, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Cardinal Timothy Dolan was visiting Israel in his role as chair of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association and was... Read more

A road in Enugu State, Nigeria.

Christianity growing despite world’s worst persecutions, new report says

Nov 8, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

A new report from a Christian advocacy group says that Christianity continues to thrive and grow despite brutal repression. Read more

Pope Francis waves from a window of the Apostolic Palace during his weekly Sunday address and Angelus on Oct. 8, 2023. He spoke about the importance of having gratitude for the gifts one has received, especially the gifts of life and faith from God.

Pope Francis speaks with president of Iran about Israel-Hamas war

The Vatican has limited itself to confirming that the call took place at the request of the president of Iran,... Read more

Iran’s minister of foreign affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and Vatican foreign minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher.

Vatican, Iranian foreign ministers discuss Israel-Hamas war amid risk of wider conflict

Oct 30, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican foreign minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher spoke by phone with his counterpart in Iran on Monday morning regarding the Israel-Hamas... Read more

Pope Francis takes questions from members of the press on the flight to Rome from Bahrain.

Pope Francis: ‘We have to keep fighting for women’s equality’

Nov 6, 2022

By CNA Staff

Returning from Bahrain, the pope was asked if he supports the efforts of women and young people in Iran to... Read more

European Court of Human Rights.

Germany denies refuge to Christian convert from Iran

Aug 12, 2022

By Madeleine Teahan

The European Court of Human Rights has dismissed the case of an Iranian convert to Christianity, who is appealing his... Read more

A baptismal font in St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria.

Adults from Afghanistan, Iran, prepare to be baptized as Catholics in Vienna

Oct 22, 2021

By CNA Staff

Some have had ‘very deep religious experiences.’ 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

Archbishop Dominique Mathieu (center) after his consecration as archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan, Iran, in Rome’s Basilica of the Twelve Apostles. Credit: Vatican Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

‘Offer the light of the Gospel’: Tehran’s new Catholic archbishop is ordained

Feb 18, 2021

By Courtney Mares

A Franciscan friar was ordained archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan this week and commissioned to “offer the light of the Gospel” in... Read more

Tehran skyline, Iran.

Iran sentences Christian convert to 10 lashes for 'disturbing public order'

Apr 23, 2020

Iran has sentenced a 21 year-old Christian woman to prison and lashing for “disturbing public order,” after she protested the... Read more

Archbishop Jose Gomez.

Archbishop Gomez urges prayers for peace amid Iran tensions

Jan 8, 2020

Archbishop Jose Gomez, president of the USCCB, has urged Catholics to pray for peace amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran.  Read more

A picture taken Jan. 8, 2020 in Bardarash in the Dohuk governorate shows shrapnel from a reportedly Iranian missile initially fired at Iraqi bases housing US troops.

Archbishop Warda: US-Iran tensions threaten Iraq's Christian communities

Jan 8, 2020

By Courtney Mares

After Iran attacked an air base in Erbil early Wednesday, the Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil said the current tensions between... Read more

Pope Francis April 18, 2018.

Pope Francis prays for 176 victims of Iran plane crash

Jan 8, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has offered his prayers for the souls of the 176 passengers of a Ukrainian International Airlines flight, who... Read more

Iranians gather around the caskets of Qasem Soleimani and others during a funeral procession after the bodies arrived in Qom, Jan. 6, 2020.

Iranian nuncio appeals for negotiation, not revenge

Jan 7, 2020

By Courtney Mares

As tensions escalate between Iran and the United States following the killing of Qasem Soleimani, the pope’s diplomat in Tehran... Read more

Drone flying over mountains on sunset background. Via Shutterstock

Are targeted drone strikes allowed under 'just war theory'?

Jan 3, 2020

By Matt Hadro

A U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian official on Friday has ignited discussion of the Catholic Church’s teaching... Read more

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaks at a press conference in Romania, Novemebr 2016.

New Iran sanctions continue discussion on 'proportionality'

Aug 2, 2019

By Matt Hadro

The Trump administration added another high-ranking Iranian official this week to its list of sanctions against Iran, inviting continued discussion about the... Read more

Pro-government demonstrators march in support of the regime after the weekly Friday Prayers on January 05, 2018 in Tehran, Iran.

Are economic sanctions on Iran just?

Jul 3, 2019

By Matt Hadro

As some observes warn that sanctions on Iran are beginning to restrict the availability of daily necessities, questions have arisen... Read more