Vatican news At least 15 rescue workers from a civil defense team have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in eastern Lebanon. By Nathan Morley At least 15 rescue workers from a civil defense team have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in eastern Lebanon. The strike near Baalbek destroyed a building of the civil…
Vatican news Patriarch Bechara Boutrous Ra’i, head of Lebanon’s Maronite Catholic Church, renews his call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East. By Joseph Tulloch “In war, everyone is a loser, defeated and broken.” This was stated by Patriarch Bechara Boutrous Ra’i, head of the Maronite Catholic Church of Lebanon, during mass on Sunday…
Vatican news In this week’s news from the Eastern Churches, produced in collaboration with L’Œuvre d’Orient, Lebanese Christians pray for peace, Jerusalem celebrates Our Lady of Palestine and Major Archbishop Shevchuk is visiting France. This week’s Oriental News: Eucharistic adoration in Kfarshima Lebanese Christians from the village of Kfarshima, close to the fighting between Israel…
At an international conference on the crisis in Lebanon, the Holy See said it was “imperative” for the international community to support the country. By Joseph Tulloch Mgr. Mirosław Stanisław Wachowski, undersecretary for relations of the Holy See with States, called on the international community to safeguard the “independence, unity and territorial integrity” of Lebanon….
Vatican news As Pope Francis canonizes 14 new saints, including the 11 martyrs of Damascus, Bishop Simon Faddoul congratulates the three lay Maronites among them for having testified to their fidelity to Christ. By Devin Watkins “I think we are witnessing a marriage of holiness.” Mgr Simon Faddoul took stock of the canonization which took…
Vatican news Pope Francis urges political and civil authorities in Amazonian countries to safeguard the fundamental rights of the indigenous Yanomami people, who live on the border between Venezuela and Brazil. By Devin Watkins “I call on the political and civil authorities to ensure the protection of the people (yanomami) and their fundamental rights, and…
Vatican news As the war between Israel and Hezbollah continues to intensify in Lebanon, the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) announces an emergency campaign to raise at least US$1 million to help the Church Lebanese government to face the worsening humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. country. By Lisa Zengarini In response to…
Following Pope Francis’ audience with the families of those killed in the 2020 Beirut port explosion, Elie and Tatiana Hasrouty, who lost their father in the deadly blast, discuss the solace they have found in faith and how to work together for peace in Lebanon. By Deborah Castellano Lubov “We are not alone and we…
Vatican news A statement issued by the patriarchs and heads of the churches of Jerusalem expresses grave concern over the heightened tensions that are putting the region on the brink of all-out war and calls for a negotiated settlement for peace. By Linda Bordoni As the twelfth month of “the current devastating war” approaches and…
Vatican news In his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis called for peace in the Holy Land, condemned violence, urged dialogue in Venezuela, prayed for flood victims in India and honored recently beatified Lebanese Stefano Douayhy. By Michele Raviart Pope Francis is deeply concerned about the situation in the Middle East and the risk of…