Middle East

The Latest

The Missionaries of Charity convent located on the compound of Holy Family Parish, the only Catholic church in Gaza, was damaged by rocket fire on Dec. 16, 2023.

Priest of only Catholic parish in Gaza calls for peace, says Gaza is ‘a prison’

Apr 9, 2025

By Kate Quiñones

Father Gabriel Romanelli is the pastor of Holy Family Parish in Gaza, which has become a refuge for the Christian... Read more

Human-rights lawyer Jared Genser is advocating on behalf of all Armenian prisoners of war and refugees of Nagorno-Karabakh and for true peace and stability between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Human-rights lawyer says Trump administration poised to help Armenian Christian POWs

Apr 3, 2025

By Madalaine Elhabbal

“Our request up front to the administration has been quite clear: [A] deal for the release of Armenian Christian POWs... Read more

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin arrives prior to a Mass for the consecration of the church at the site of Jesus’ baptism on Jan. 10, 2025, in Al-Maghtas, Jordan. Pope Francis appointed Parolin as papal legate to consecrate the Church of the Baptism of Jesus at Al-Maghtas, also known as “Bethany Beyond the Jordan.” Parolin met with 14 Middle East pontifical representatives in Jordan on Jan. 13, 2025, to discuss challenges in the region including ongoing hostilities there.

Cardinal Parolin: Christians essential for peace, ‘fraternal coexistence’ in the Middle East

Jan 14, 2025

By Kristina Millare

Parolin met with the papal representatives of Bahrain, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine,... Read more

Bishop-elect Iyad Twal was appointed by Pope Francis on Dec. 17, 2024, as auxiliary bishop of the patriarchal diocese of Jerusalem of the Latins for Jordan and as titular bishop of Siminia.

Pope Francis appoints new auxiliary bishop for Jordan and the titular see of Siminia

Dec 17, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for Father Iyad Twal’s appointments. Read more

St. Elie and St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Cathedral in Beirut.

Who are the Christians in Lebanon?

Oct 8, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

For a Middle Eastern nation, Lebanon has a large and influential Christian population. Read more

Pope Francis meets with the bishops of the Arabian region on Aug. 28, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis meets Middle East Catholic bishops amid fears of all-out war in region

Aug 28, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Holy Father encouraged the bishops to “bear witness to faith in [the Lord], also through respectful and sincere dialogue... 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

Opposition supporters attend the “Ganó Venezuela” opposition protest on Aug. 3, 2024, in Caracas, Venezuela. President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election over his rival, Edmundo Gonzalez. The result has been questioned by the opposition and internationally.

Pope Francis urges prayers for victims of crises in Venezuela, Myanmar, and Middle East

Aug 4, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Pope Francis on Sunday urged prayers for those suffering in the world due to political conflict, violence, and natural disasters. Read more

null

Uganda’s Catholic dioceses notified of limited stock of altar wine for Mass

May 7, 2024

By Jude Atemanke

Catholic dioceses in Uganda have been notified of a limited stock of wine for Masses due to delays in shipping. Read more

Security forces guard St. John’s Catholic Church in Youhanabad, Lahore, Pakistan, in 2019.

Pakistan ends mandatory Islamic studies for non-Muslim students

Jan 26, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

Pakistan is ending its mandatory study of Islam for non-Muslim children in first through 12th grade and implementing a new... 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

Workers distribute medical aid and medicines to Nasser Medical Hospital in the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, which recently arrived through the Rafah crossing on Oct. 29, 2023, in Khan Yunis, Gaza.

U.S. bishops renew call for peace in the Holy Land

Oct 31, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The U.S. bishops are renewing their call for peace in the Holy Land as the Israel-Hamas war moves towards it... 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

A general view of tents set up for Palestinians seeking refuge along the Gaza Strip on Oct. 20, 2023, in Khan Yunis, Gaza.

Catholic Relief president on aid to Gaza: Let’s ‘get it going,’ ‘take care of these people’

Oct 20, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

The leader said he was hoping for a quick reopening of border access in Gaza and deployment of aid to... Read more

A Palestinian man injured during an air strike is wheeled into the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis on the southern Gaza Strip on Oct. 17, 2023.

Hamas says Israel behind deadly hospital blast; Israel blames terrorist group

Oct 17, 2023

By Daniel Payne

News reports on Tuesday said Al-Ahli Arabi Baptist hospital had been hit with a strike that killed as many as... Read more

Israel unleashed an attack in the northern Gaza Strip on Oct. 12, 2023, in Gaza City, Gaza.

U.S. bishops urge faithful to join in day of prayer and fasting for peace in Holy Land

Oct 16, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The Latin Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, last week urged Catholics to devote Oct. 17 to prayer. Read more

CNA

Catholic Relief Services calls for ‘immediate humanitarian access’ to Gaza Strip

Oct 16, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The charity group on Saturday asked for aid access “before a dire humanitarian situation becomes a catastrophe.” Read more

Cars are seen on fire following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel, on Oct. 7, 2023.

Dozens killed in surprise Hamas attacks on Israel; Netanyahu says country ‘at war’

Oct 7, 2023

By Daniel Payne

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

Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian.

Armenian patriarch to represent Catholics at Middle East Council of Churches

May 27, 2022

By CNA Staff

Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian has led the Armenian Catholic Church since September 2021. Read more

Latest news

Pope Leo XIV delivers the Angelus address on July 13, 2025 from Liberty Square in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, where he is spending a two-week summer break.

Pope Leo XIV prays by name for Gaza parish strike victims, renews plea for ceasefire

Pope Leo XIV greets a young woman along the streets of Albano, Italy before offering Mass in the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Pancras near Castel Gandolfo on July 20, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV: Summer is a time to savor prayerful moments with God

Members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia say the situation currently in Ethiopia “calls more than ever” for a unified voice.

Catholic bishops in Ethiopia call for ‘unified voice’ in confronting violent conflicts

An image of Servant of God Julia Greeley in a parish.

New short documentary highlights the life of Servant of God Julia Greeley

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa (L) and a members of a Christian visit the Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City on July 18, 2025.

Jerusalem bishop shares distress over conditions in Gaza after accidental Israeli strike

Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski talks to "EWTN News in Depth" Anchor Catherine Hadro on Friday, July 18, 2025

Amid deportations, Catholic clergy rally for immigrants

Joseph Hazboun, the regional director at the Pontifical Mission in the Jerusalem field office, speaks to Tara Mergener on "EWTN News Nightly," Friday, July 18, 2025

Director of Jerusalem Pontifical Mission assesses situation in Gaza after church attack

For more than 40 years, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception has welcomed visitors to its annual summer organ recital series.

National Shrine’s organ recital series showcases world-class musicians

St. Thomas More.

St. Thomas More’s skull may be exhumed from Canterbury vault for saint’s 500th anniversary

Market in Shevchenkove settlement in Kharkiv Oblast of Ukraine after a 2023 Russian rocket strike.

‘Charity doesn’t go on vacation’: Pope Leo XIV sends food to families in Ukraine

Liturgical Calendar Show this year
Jul 20
St. Margaret of Antioch
Today's readings

TRENDING