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Israel-Hamas war

Pope Francis greets the crowd at the end of a Mass for the opening of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in St Peter's Square. / Credit: ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images

Pope Francis Calls for Global Day of Prayer, Fasting amid Escalating Conflict in Holy Land

Oct 2, 2024

The pope’s surprise announcement comes the morning after Iran launched hundreds of missiles toward Israel.

Pope Francis meets with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, at a meeting with other Arab bishops on Aug. 28, 2024, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Jerusalem Patriarch Announces "day of prayer and fasting" on October 7 Anniversary

Sep 26, 2024

“May each of us with the rosary or in whatever form he or she sees fit ... find a moment to pause and pray,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa wrote.

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. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Urges Release of Hamas Hostages, End of Conflict in Israel and Palestine

Sep 15, 2024

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

Speaking to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus prayer on Sept. 1, 2024, the pope called for peace in the Holy Land, urging the release of the remaining hostages and humanitarian aid for the polio outbreak in Gaza. The pope also expressed his closeness to the people of Burkina Faso after hundreds of people were killed in a terrorist attack there on Aug. 24. Afterwards the pope asked for prayers for his apostolic journey beginning tomorrow to Oceania and Southeast Asia. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Urges Release of Hostages, Aid for Polio Outbreak in Gaza

Sep 1, 2024

The pope appealed for peace in Gaza and for humanitarian aid to continue and also expressed his closeness to the people of Burkina Faso after a terrorist attack there on Aug 24.

Members of ACLI (Italian Christian Workers' Associations) hold a sign with the word "peace" in Italian, in St. Peter's Square on June 1, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis: Building Peace Requires "taking a risk"

Jun 1, 2024

Being peacemakers in the style of Jesus Christ, while necessary and valuable, can also be risky, Pope Francis said at the Vatican, as conflicts continue to rage around the world.

Catholics in Gaza are Burying Dead in Muslim Cemeteries

Apr 16, 2024

Muslim cemeteries have opened to receive the bodies of Christians and give them a dignified burial. 

Students and teachers from Jerusalem Christian schools walk the Way of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. The yearly event was organized by the Custody of the Holy Land on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, on the occasion of Lent. / Credit: Marinella Bandini

In Letter to Holy Land Christians, Pope Francis Deplores the War, Expresses Closeness 

Mar 27, 2024

“Dear brothers and sisters, allow me to tell you once more that you are not alone. We will never leave you alone,” the pope wrote in his Holy Wednesday letter.

Celebration of Mass at Holy Family Parish in Gaza. | Credit: ACN & Holy Family Parish

Christians in Gaza Face "worst period" Since Start of War, Report Says

Mar 14, 2024

The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need reported that the Christian community in Gaza “is going through the worst period” since the start of the war.

Injured parishioners receive Communion on the third Sunday of Advent, Dec. 17, 2023, at Holy Family Parish in Gaza. The Pontifical Collection for the Holy Land provides community aid and assistance for parochial activities for Holy Family Parish, the only Roman Catholic parish in Gaza. | Credit: Father Gabriel Romanelli/Facebook

Vatican’s Good Friday Holy Land Collection to Aid Humanitarian Efforts in Gaza 

Mar 12, 2024

The Vatican has overseen the Pontifical Collection for the Holy Land since 1974. Last year it raised more than $7 million.

Speaking in his Angelus address on March 3 about the Israel-Hamas war, Pope Francis made an emotional plea for negotiations to reach a deal that both frees the hostages immediately and grants civilians access to humanitarian aid. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Urges "an immediate cease-fire in Gaza" that Frees Hostages, Grants Aid 

Mar 3, 2024

In his Angelus address on March 3, the pope made an emotional plea for a deal that both frees the hostages and grants humanitarian aid.

CRS CEO Sean Callahan visits the Holy Land. | Credit: CRS

In Holy Land visit, Catholic Relief Services Head Sees "hope and resiliency" amid Chaos

Feb 7, 2024

Sean Callahan said he was able to witness the countless displaced individuals and families that have struggled in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas conflict began.

Israeli Ambassador to the Holy See Raphael Schutz meets with Pope Francis on February 2, 2024. | Credit: Vatican Media

In Letter, Pope Francis laments ‘terrible increase’ in attacks against Jews

Feb 3, 2024

In a letter addressed to “my Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel" and released today, Pope Francis lamented the “terrible increase in attacks against Jews around the world” that has taken place since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war last October.

On the afternoon of Jan. 6, three Franciscan friars portrayed the Magi in Bethlehem. After the Second Vespers of the Epiphany, they descended in the Grotto of the Nativity, in Bethlehem, where they brought their gifts to the places of Jesus' manifestation. | Credit: Marinella Bandini

The Magi reach Bethlehem, finding smaller crowd of faithful amid ongoing war

Jan 7, 2024

The Magi made their appearance for the recitation of the Second Vespers of the Epiphany, marking the conclusion of the solemnity and also the end of the Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, spoke about the "courage" and the "madness" of working for peace during his homily during the Mass of the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God, on Jan. 1, 2024, in the Pro-Cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate, in Jerusalem. | Credit: Marinella Bandini

The Church in the Holy Land Rings in the New Year with Pleas for Peace

Jan 1, 2024

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, urged the faithful "to cherish the desire for encounter, to cultivate freedom in relation to all, to overcome ethnic, religious, and identity boundaries."

Zubair Simonson, OFS, is a convert who was raised Muslim. | Credit: The Journey Home/EWTN Global Catholic Network

From Hatred to Love: Christmas Reflections of a Muslim Convert to Catholicism

Dec 29, 2023

For Zubair Simonson, Hamas’ propaganda efforts do great harm to the Palestinian people, who end up paying the price of the war with their innocent blood.

French priest and Holocaust expert counters attempts to exploit Jesus for anti-Israel agenda

Dec 28, 2023

Father Patrick Desbois said in an interview this week that “if he had been born today, Jesus would be a target of missiles or a hostage in Gaza.”

A moment at the vigil in preparation for Christmas, held on Dec. 22 at the Church of St Saviour in Jerusalem. | Credit: Marinella Bandini

Catholics in the Holy Land Gather at Prayer Vigil to Prepare for Christmas

Dec 23, 2023

The weekend before Christmas began with an evening of prayer and music at the Church of St. Saviour, the Latin parish of Jerusalem.

Papal almoner Cardinal Konrad Krajewski. | lvivadm via Wikimedia (CC BY 3.0).

Pope Francis Sends Papal Almoner to Holy Land for Christmas as a Sign of Solidarity

Dec 22, 2023

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who serves as the papal almoner, will spend Christmas in Jerusalem, where he will join the local Christian community in praying for peace.

Olive harvest season in the southern border town of Rmeish, Lebanon, in the midst of a crisis situation. | Credit: Rmeish’s Facebook page

Almost All Christians Have Fled Southern Lebanon amid Israel-Hezbollah Bombing

Dec 21, 2023

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shia militant group in Lebanon, began attacking Israel at the Israeli-Lebanese border following the beginning of the conflict.

Stephen Cardinal Brislin. Credit: SACBC

Let’s Pray for “end to this horrifying violence”: South African Cardinal on Gaza Conflict

Dec 19, 2023

Stephen Cardinal Brislin has called for prayer for an end to the Israel-Hamas war following the reported December 16 attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza and on the Centre for Disabled Children, which the Missionaries of Charity run within the Parish compound.