Gaza Archives - Page 4 of 8

Gaza

Gaza’s only Catholic church damaged by shrapnel

December 11, 2023

The sole Catholic church in Gaza was damaged over the weekend as a result of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed that shrapnel from Israeli military strikes on buildings in the vicinity of the Holy Family Church had destroyed water tanks and solar panels on the roof of

Christian homes and a Catholic school among buildings destroyed in Gaza

November 16, 2023

MORE than 50 Christian family homes and a Catholic school have been destroyed, and other Christian buildings have been badly damaged by airstrikes in Gaza, according to a charity’s project partner. One of the buildings destroyed has been the Rosary Sisters School, which had 1,250 students, both Christian and Muslim, and was one of the

Church leaders ask Christians in Holy Land to refrain from Advent and Christmas celebrations

November 14, 2023

The patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem have asked that Christians in the region refrain from usual festivities during the Advent and Christmas seasons in honour of those who have lost homes or family members. In a Nov. 10 statement, church leaders in both Europe and the Holy Land called for acts of solidarity

Vatican has unique role to play in tempering Iran

November 07, 2023

ROME – As the war between Israel and Hamas intensifies on the Gaza Strip, so too does diplomatic activity intended to prevent a wider regional conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, for instance, currently is setting new records for frequent flyer miles in a single week, visiting virtually every Middle Eastern capital of note.

CRS warns of ‘unprecedented suffering’ in Gaza if aid isn’t allowed in immediately

October 19, 2023

NEW YORK – Following an Oct. 18 announcement from Israel and President Joe Biden that humanitarian aid will be allowed into Gaza from Egypt, the president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services is calling for the implementation of a plan to do so immediately. The call comes as more than a million people remain trapped

Pope calls for October 27 day of prayer after Gaza hospital bombing

October 18, 2023

ROME – Amid international tensions surrounding the war in Gaza following the deadly bombing of a hospital, Pope Francis has called for another day of prayer and fasting for peace, saying war “cancels the future” and breeds hatred and revenge. Speaking to faithful attending his Oct. 18 General Audience, Francis said to the sound of

Latin Patriarch offers himself in exchange for Jewish Israeli hostages in Gaza

October 18, 2023

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and highest ranking prelate in the Holy Land, has said that he would be willing to exchange himself for Israeli children taken hostage by Hamas. The Islamist group are believed to have taken 199 people, among whom a significant number are children, hostage after their latest assault

Cardinal Pizzaballa: For Christians in Gaza, the great temptation is to look for a better future elsewhere

October 16, 2023

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the highest representative of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, happened to be in Italy on the day of Hamas’s attack on Israel and the beginning of this Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, he managed to return to Jerusalem a week ago, where he had left at the end