Israel

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A cloud of smoke erupts during an Israeli air strike on the village of Sujud in southern Lebanon on Sept. 25, 2024. Israel announced dozens of new air strikes on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon on Sept. 24, a day after 492 people, including 35 children, were killed in the deadliest bombardment since a devastating war in 2006.

As Lebanon faces increasing conflict, Christians stand firm against war

Sep 29, 2024

By ACI MENA

“No to war!” has become a rallying cry among Lebanon’s Christians, who have maintained this stance since clashes began to... Read more

Father Marwan Ghanem recounts his survival of the Sept. 17, 2024, pager attack in Beirut in an interview with ACI Mena, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner.

Maronite priest recounts his experience witnessing Beirut’s pager explosions

Sep 26, 2024

By Elias Turk

Father Marwan Ghanem shared his story of witnessing some of the pager explosions that rocked the country on Sept. 17. Read more

After his Angelus on Sept. 15, 2024, Pope Francis appealed for the release of the remaining Hamas hostages and said he is praying for the victims and their families.

Pope Francis urges release of Hamas hostages, end of conflict in Israel and Palestine

Sep 15, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis on Sunday urged the release of the remaining Hamas hostages as he remembered 23-year-old American Hersh Goldberg-Polin and... Read more

An Israeli army convoy leaves the Gaza Strip as seen from a position on the Israeli side of the border on July 3, 2024 in southern Israel.

Israeli embassy criticizes Holy Land Catholic leaders for statement on ‘just war’

Jul 3, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

In a statement June 30, the Justice and Peace Commission of the Holy Land suggested Israel’s behavior in Gaza goes... Read more

Pope Francis said he prays every day for an end to the war in Israel and Palestine during a prayer service June 7, 2024, in the Vatican Gardens, commemorating 10 years since the symbolic planting of an olive tree in the presence of the presidents of Israel and Palestine in 2014.

Pope Francis recalls 2014 embrace of Palestine and Israel presidents at prayer for peace

Jun 8, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

A prayer service in the Vatican Gardens marked the 10th anniversary of the 2014 “prayer for peace in the Holy... Read more

The entrance of Jaffa Gate (interior), one of the main access points to the Old City of Jerusalem, was almost empty around noon on Friday, May 24. According to data from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, just over 80,000 people entered the country in April 2024, a decrease of 77 percent compared to April 2023. The same decrease was recorded for the first quarter of 2024.

Where are all the pilgrims? The current state of religious tourism in the Holy Land

Jun 4, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

During the month of May in Jerusalem, the major holidays of the three major religions passed with an almost total... Read more

A refugee camp in Gaza houses those displaced by the war.

Catholic Relief Services unable to provide aid to southern Gaza amid ongoing war

May 30, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

“Most of the aid crosses through Rafah, and the Rafah crossing has been closed since early May because of the... Read more

Bishop Bart van Roijen walked the length of the Gaza Strip on April 29 in support of those suffering due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Catholic bishop walks length of Gaza Strip in support of cease-fire

May 6, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

A Catholic bishop in eastern Canada walked the length of the Gaza Strip on April 29 in support of those... Read more

Professor Mouna Maroun is the first Arab to be elected as the rector of an Israeli university, the University of Haifa. Maroun belongs to the Arab minority in Israel, the Christian minority among Arabs, and the Maronite minority among Christians. She says she is proud of her religious affiliation and wears a golden crucifix around her neck. "My election is an important message that everything is possible in the Israeli academia," she told CNA.

First Arab Christian woman to lead Israel’s University of Haifa

May 4, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

The announcement of Professor Mouna Maroun’s appointment was made amid tensions with Iran and as anti-Israel protests were mounting around... Read more

An improvised barricade covered with barbed wire. In the background, the tent of activists from the “Save the Armenian Quarter” (ArQ) association who are guarding the “Cow’s Garden” parking lot.

New episode involving land dispute shakes Armenian community in Jerusalem again 

Apr 5, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

According to a communique, on April 3 “an unlawful eviction was initiated by Israeli police on the grounds of the... Read more

Israeli Ambassador to the Holy See Raphael Schutz meets with Pope Francis on Feb. 2, 2024.

In letter to ‘Jewish brothers and sisters’ Pope Francis laments ‘terrible increase’ in attacks against Jews

Feb 3, 2024

By Ken Oliver-Méndez, ACI Stampa

Pope Francis lamented the “terrible increase in attacks against Jews around the world” that has taken place since the outbreak... Read more

Pope Francis appears in the window of the Apostolic Palace to give his Sunday Angelus address on Jan. 14, 2024.

Pope Francis: ‘War itself is a crime against humanity’

Jan 14, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Speaking at the end of his Angelus address, the pope urged people to pray for all who are suffering due... Read more

Moral theology professor Joseph Capizzi speaks with Tracy Sabol on “EWTN News Nightly” Dec. 22, 2023.

CUA theology dean: Just war doctrine requires Israel to avoid civilian casualties

Dec 28, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Joseph Capizzi, a professor of moral theology and ethics at the Catholic University of America, said the Israeli military “cannot... Read more

Israeli Ambassador to the Holy See Raphael Schutz. רפי שוץ, CC BY-SA 3.0

Israeli ambassador accuses Latin patriarch of Jerusalem of ‘blood libel’

Dec 22, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

In an interview with Crux published Dec. 22, the ambassador, Raphael Schutz, denied that IDF soldiers targeted the women. Read more

Roman Catholic Church of Holy Family in Gaza City.

Nahida and Samar: Mother and daughter killed in attack on Gaza parish

Dec 18, 2023

By Eduardo Berdejo

Vatican News reported Dec. 16 that Samar Anton was killed while she was trying to help her mother, Nahida Anton,... Read more

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, speaks at the USCCB fall plenary assembly Nov. 14, 2023.

U.S. bishops renew call for peace after Christian women reportedly killed in Gaza Church

Dec 18, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

The U.S. bishops over the weekend renewed their call for peace in the Holy Land amid reports on Saturday that... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims during his Angelus address on Dec. 17, 2023.

Pope Francis condemns reported Israeli sniper attack on Gaza Catholic church

Dec 17, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

The Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem reported that two women were shot by the IDF on Dec. 16. Read more

Smoke billows over the northern Gaza Strip during Israeli bombardment from southern Israel on December 14, 2023 amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Two women killed amid Israeli attack at Holy Family Parish in Gaza, Latin Patriarchate says

Dec 16, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said two women were targeted by an Israeli sniper on Dec. 16. Read more

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, meets with reporters in Baltimore on Nov. 15, 2022.

USCCB president urges Israel to ‘find a way to negotiate’ to protect civilians

Nov 14, 2023

By Zelda Caldwell

The president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, on Tuesday called on Israel to pursue negotiations in its... Read more

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem.

Latin patriarch of Jerusalem asks for donations in face of suffering, hatred in Holy Land

Nov 7, 2023

By Andrés Henríquez

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa explained that it is “charity and prayer” that have animated the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem “in times... Read more