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Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

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.

The famous Banksy’s Armored Dove of Peace, the painting of a peace dove wearing a flak jacket. The dove is painted on a wall near the separation wall between Bethlehem (Palestinian Territories) and Israel. Nov. 18, 2023. | Credit: Marinella Bandini

PHOTOS: Christmas Celebrations Canceled in Bethlehem in the Midst of War

Nov 26, 2023

The strands of lights are falling down one after another, forming a kind of curtain of threads in front of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Following the municipality’s decision to suspend Christmas events and remove decorations, workers are busy dismantling the light canopy on Nativity Square and at other locations in the city.

Pope Francis invoke the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Peace and Mother of Mercy at a prayer vigil for peace in St. Peter's Basilica, Friday, Oct. 27. | Credit: Courtney Mares

Pope Francis to meet with families of Israeli hostages and Palestinians with relatives in Gaza

Nov 18, 2023

Vatican spokesman says that with these meetings, "exclusively humanitarian in nature," Pope Francis wants to show his spiritual closeness to the suffering of each person.

SACBC President, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka. Credit: SACBC

Southern African Bishops Call for Ceasefire, “humane” Solution to Israel-Palestine War

Oct 17, 2023

Members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) are appealing for a ceasefire to the Israel-Palestine war and advocate for a “humane” solution to the violent conflict. 

Bishop William Shomali, an auxiliary bishop of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. | Credit: Paul Fifield/CNA

Jerusalem Bishop Discusses Hopes for Cease-fire, "two-state solution" to Israel-Hamas War

Oct 16, 2023

Bishop William Hanna Shomali’s interview with EWTN New’s “Vaticano” program aired Oct. 15.

A cross atop the seminary in Beit Jala, Palestine. | Aid to the Church in Need.

Vatican Calls for Peace in Holy Land, Offers to Mediate Between Hamas and Israel

Oct 13, 2023

Vatican’s secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin said any mediation would have to take into account "the issue of Israeli settlements, security, and the issue of the city of Jerusalem."

Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa blesses the congregation at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on April 4, 2021. | Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Catholic Patriarch Calls Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in the Holy Land

Oct 12, 2023

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa has urged Catholics to organize times of prayer with Eucharistic adoration and recitation of the rosary.

Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza at Christmas 2021. | Credit: Anas-Mohammed/Shutterstock

Pastor of Only Catholic Church in Gaza: "Never have we seen things like this time"

Oct 10, 2023

Father Gabriel Romanelli expressed his gratitude for the closeness, concern, and prayers, along with the “hundreds of messages” he receives every day.

Alexandra Lande / Shutterstock.

Pope Francis Calls Gaza Priest as Israel Announces Blockade

Oct 10, 2023

The pope called Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Church, the only Catholic Church in Gaza City and in the Gaza Strip, Oct. 9, AgenSir reported.

Pope Francis prays during a general audience in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 20, 2023. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, patriarch of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, celebrates Easter Sunday Mass at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on April 4, 2021. | Credit: (L) Daniel Ibanez/CNA. (R) Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Pope Francis, Jerusalem Patriarch React to Violence Between Israel and Hamas

Oct 8, 2023

The pope issued an appeal Sunday to “please stop weapons attacks!”

Smoke increases after Israeli airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 10, 2023. | Credit: Anas-Mohammed/Shutterstock

Dozens Killed in Surprise Hamas Attacks on Israel; Netanyahu Says country "at war"

Oct 7, 2023

Surprise attacks by Hamas on Israel early on Saturday killed at least dozens of people.

Pope Francis at the Angelus from St. Peter's, July 9, 2023 | Vatican News

Pope Francis: Do We Allow Ourselves to be Amazed at God's Works?

Jul 9, 2023

The residents of three rich cities in the time of Jesus were incapable of marveling at his works and message, Pope Francis noted, seeing in their example a warning for the faithful of today.

Pope Francis greets the crowd at his Regina Caeli address on May 14, 2023. | Vatican Media

Pope Francis Prays for Cease-fire Between Israelis and Palestinians

May 14, 2023

Pope Francis prayed Sunday that the recently signed cease-fire between Israelis and Palestinians will be maintained and that “the weapons will be silenced.”

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

Pope Francis: The Devil Uses "three widespread and dangerous temptations" to Divide Us

Feb 26, 2023

On the first Sunday of Lent, Pope Francis warned of three “widespread and dangerous temptations” that the devil uses to separate us from God and divide us from each other.

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

Pope Francis Expresses Sorrow Over "spiral of death" in the Holy Land

Jan 29, 2023

In his Sunday Angelus address, the pope expressed “great sorrow” for the death of Palestinians killed in an Israeli military raid and seven Israelis killed in a shooting.

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

On Christmas Day, Pope Francis Prays for Prince of Peace to end "third world war"

Dec 25, 2022

In his Christmas Day blessing, Pope Francis prayed that leaders will listen to the “cries of the Prince of Peace” and bring an immediate end to the war in Ukraine and “the other theaters of this third world war.”

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

"Violence kills the future": Pope Francis on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict after 2 Boys Die

Nov 27, 2022

Pope Francis has spoken out against violence in the Holy Land, after one teenager died in a blast in Jerusalem and another teenager died in armed clashes in Palestine last week.

Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Shutterstock

South African Archbishop Expresses Solidarity with Victims of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

May 21, 2021

The Archbishop of South Africa’s Cape Town Archdiocese has expressed solidarity with the people of God in the Middle Eastern nations of Israel and Palestine following days of violence that saw hundreds killed, thousands displaced, and property destroyed.