Maronite Catholic Church

The Latest

A man checks a destroyed building on Jan. 8, 2024, after an Israeli air raid in the village of Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon, amid ongoing cross-border tensions as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza.

Lebanese bishops call for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war 

Jan 10, 2024

By Joe Bukuras

The bishops also denounced a group aligned with the country’s Islamist militant terror organization Hezbollah for calling for an investigation... Read more

A man walks through the rubble of destroyed buildings following strikes on the the town of Naqura in southern Lebanon close to the border with northern Israel on Jan. 4, 2024. Four Hezbollah fighters were killed overnight in southern Lebanon, the Iran-backed movement announced on Jan. 4, in what Lebanese state media said were Israeli strikes on the border town of Naqura.

Hezbollah-aligned group accuses Lebanese Catholic bishops of treason

Jan 4, 2024

By Joe Bukuras

The two bishops were said to have attended a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog that is held annually by... Read more

Dafne Gutierrez’s sight was restored after two years of blindness after she prayed for the intercession of St. Charbel Makhlouf.

She was blind, but now she sees, after prayers before St. Charbel's relic

Dec 31, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

A Phoenix resident believes her sight was restored because of a visit to a Maronite Catholic church where a relic... Read more

Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles is the chairman-elect for the U.S. bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace.

U.S. bishops make ‘the suffering of Lebanon’ priority with election of Maronite to key post

Nov 20, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles said his homeland is in... Read more

Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church in Toronto replaced a vandalized statue of Mary with a replica of the Lebanese shrine Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa on Sept. 11, 2022.

A ‘piece of Lebanon’ comes to Toronto Maronite Catholic church

Sep 18, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

A replica of the Our Lady of Lebanon statue in Harissa, Lebanon, was blessed at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite... Read more

null

Increase your eucharistic devotion by doing these 7 things, Maronite bishop says

Sep 17, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Here are seven ways Bishop Gregory Mansour is asking the faithful of his eparchy to increase their devotion to the... Read more

A scene from a papal visit to Lebanon, Sept. 14, 2012.

After Maronite archbishop detained in Lebanon, U.S. bishops voice solidarity

Aug 15, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

A Maronite Catholic archbishop was bringing aid back to Lebanon when he was wrongly detained by Lebanese authorities at the... Read more

Pope Francis speaks during his general audience in Paul VI Hall on Aug. 3, 2022.

Pope Francis calls for 'justice and truth' ahead of Beirut blast anniversary

Aug 3, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Lebanon will mark the anniversary of the Beirut port explosion with a National Day of Mourning. Read more

Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, head of the Maronite Church. Credit: Aid to the Church in Need.

Cardinal: Lebanon’s political crisis poses challenge for papal trip

Mar 1, 2022

By Courtney Mares

‘We need stability,’ said Cardinal Rai. Read more

Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, the Maronite Patriarch, at the Vatican March 5, 2013.

Maronite Catholic patriarch welcomes Lebanon’s new government

Sep 14, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The move paves the way for a potential papal visit. Read more

Bechara Boutros Cardinal Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch, at the Vatican March 5, 2013.

Maronite patriarch threatened by Hezbollah supporters after calling for Lebanese neutrality in region

Aug 13, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The leader of the Maronite Catholic Church received threats from Hezbollah supporters this week after calling for an end to... Read more

Pope Francis greets Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai during a previous private audience at the Vatican, on Feb. 7, 2020.

Pope Francis invites Lebanese Christian leaders to Vatican to pray for peace

May 30, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Lebanon has faced a financial and political crisis for months, as political leaders have failed to form a government to... Read more

Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, Maronite Patriarch, in Johannesburg, South Africa, May 11, 2008

Maronite patriarch emeritus dies at age 98

May 14, 2019

By CNA Staff

Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, who served as the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1986 to 2011, died Sunday just days... Read more

CNA's Hannah Brockhaus at Midnight Mass in the Cathedral of St. George in Beirut.

Midnight Mass in Beirut

Dec 25, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

CNA's Hannah Brockhaus reports on celebrating Christmas at Midnight Mass in Beirut, Lebanon.  Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims during the General Audience on Feb. 26, 2014.

Priesthood isn't an assignment – it's a mission, Pope tells seminarians

Feb 16, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Friday Pope Francis met with the community of the Pontifical Maronite College, explaining how their seminary formation isn’t about... Read more

Syrian refugees in the Bekaa valley of Lebanon.

How the US needs to stick up for the Middle East's Christians

Sep 13, 2017

By Matt Hadro

Christians in the Middle East are heroic witnesses to the faith, and the U.S. must help ensure they can stay... Read more

(CC0 1.0).

Cyprus archbishop, Caritas presidential prospect: caring for creation means putting people first

May 13, 2015

By Elise Harris

Maronite Archbishop Joseph Soueif of Cyprus, one of two candidates to be the next president of Caritas International, has said... Read more

Pope Francis waves to the crowd at the May 22, 2013 general audience.

Pope gives American Maronites youthful bishop

Jul 10, 2013

Pope Francis has appointed a new bishop for one of only two Maronite Catholic territories in the United States, while... Read more