Patriarch Pizzaballa: ‘A year after October 7 we ask for peace’

Patriarch Pizzaballa: ‘A year after October 7 we ask for peace’

Vatican news Ahead of the day of prayer and fasting for peace called by Pope Francis, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, shares his reflections with Vatican News on these 12 months of war, suffering, and fear in the Middle East, which began on that tragic day of October 7, 2023. By Roberto…

Holy Land: Education as a crucial tool of hope in the darkest of times

Holy Land: Education as a crucial tool of hope in the darkest of times

Vatican news As Israeli bombs continue to hit schools in the Gaza Strip, the director general of Latin Patriarchate schools in Palestine and secretary general of Christian schools in the region, speaks about the effects of the ongoing war on students and its commitment to teaching peacemaking and conflict resolution through dialogue. By Olivier Bonnel…

Pope prays for victims of floods in Asia, renews calls for peace

Pope prays for victims of floods in Asia, renews calls for peace

Vatican news After Sunday’s Angelus, Pope Francis prayed for flood victims in Vietnam and Myanmar, noted the beatification of Father Moises Lira Serafin, remembered those affected by ALS and issued a renewed appeal for world peace. By Christopher Wells In his reflections on Sunday’s Gospel, Pope Francis reminds us that it is important to know…

Holy Land Churches implore political leaders to reach agreement for peace

Holy Land Churches implore political leaders to reach agreement for peace

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…

Pope Francis decries grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza, appeals for ceasefire

Pope Francis decries grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza, appeals for ceasefire

Vatican news During the Angelus of the Solemnity of the Assumption, Pope Francis entrusts to Mary, Queen of Peace, the concern and pain of the peoples who suffer because of conflicts and war. He recalls the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and remembers all the peoples of the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan and Myanmar. By…

Cardinal Parolin and President Pezeshkian of Iran speak by phone

Cardinal Parolin and President Pezeshkian of Iran speak by phone

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Iran’s new President, Masoud Pezeshkian, discuss issues of common interest in a phone call, with Cardinal Parolin expressing the Holy See’s deep concern about the risk of an extension of the war in the Middle East. By Vatican News On Monday morning, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State…

Custos of Holy Land joins call for prayers for peace on Solemnity of Assumption

Custos of Holy Land joins call for prayers for peace on Solemnity of Assumption

Vatican news The Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Patton OFM, writes to the friars of the Custody to invite them to dedicate the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15, to prayer for peace in the Middle East and in the world. By Vatican News The Latin Patriarch of…

Pope recalls WWII atomic bombings, appeals for peace in war-torn countries

Pope recalls WWII atomic bombings, appeals for peace in war-torn countries

Vatican news Pope Francis renews call for peace in war-torn places and prays for victims of airliner crash in Brazil. By Devin Watkins “Let us renew our intense prayer for peace, especially in martyred Ukraine, in the Middle East, in Palestine, in Israel, in Sudan and in Myanmar.” Pope Francis made the appeal Sunday as…

Pope: Do not stifle the word of the God of Peace, war is a defeat

Pope: Do not stifle the word of the God of Peace, war is a defeat

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…

Pope appeals for Olympic Truce for war-torn nations

Pope appeals for Olympic Truce for war-torn nations

Vatican news Pope Francis expresses his hope that the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games will be an opportunity to establish a truce in ongoing wars and that athletes will be messengers of peace. By Linda Bordoni Pope Francis expressed hope Sunday that the Paris Olympics and Paralympics will provide an opportunity for warring nations to…