World

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa delivered the following message during the Palm Sunday Procession in Jerusalem today: "Hosanna to the Son of David. blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. hosanna in the highest." (Mt 21:9) Dearly beloved, May the Lord give you peace! I greet to all of you here, faithful of our diocese, the few pilgrims present. I also send greetings to those who are no... Read More

Pope Francis appeared in person briefly after the Palm Sunday Mass of the Lord's Passion, celebrated in a sunny Saint Peter's Square, to greet the crowd of more than 40,000 pilgrims. In his homily, read out by Argentinian Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Pope called on us all to reflect on the Lord's compassion that knows no limits, "how we are meant to carry o... Read More

Airstrikes by the regular army have destroyed another Catholic church in Chin, Myanmar's only Christian-majority state, marking yet another tragic chapter in country's ongoing civil war between the military junta and resistance forces that continues to severely impact Christians and their places of worship. The Church of Christ the King in the town of Falam, part of the Diocese of Hakha, was hit ... Read More

In a statement today Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) condemn the bombing of Al-Ahli Hospital this morning, and demand protection for the Christian community and all in Gaza. They say: "On this blessed day of Palm Sunday, Christians around the world gather to worship and commemorate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem during one of the most sacred times of year as Holy Week begins. Churches for M... Read More

In the early hours of today, 13th April, Israel launched a devastating attack on our partner, the Al Ahli Arab 'Baptist' Hospital in Gaza City. Israel gave the hospital 20 minutes to evacuate patients onto the surrounding streets before launching a missile attack that destroyed the hospital's emergency unit, its main entrance and a facility holding medical oxygen for intensive care patients. The p... Read More

On Saturday afternoon, on the eve of Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week, Pope Francis visited the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome. According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, the Pope entered the Basilica to pray before the icon of the Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani. The Holy Father's devotion to Salus Populi Romani (Our Lady Protectress of Rome) is well known. U... Read More

Despite fears that tensions could erupt into all-out war between religions, a bishop in the Central African Republic (CAR) has said relations have improved between Christians and Muslims. Bishop Aurelio Gazzera, coadjutor bishop of Bangassou Diocese, told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): "Today the relationships between Christians and Muslims are fairly good. Everyone is very careful not to set ... Read More

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) has condemned the killing of 14-year-old American Palestinian Amir Rabee by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank on April 6 and calls for an investigation into his death. They state: "The loss of this young life is an unspeakable tragedy and a devastating reminder of the human cost of ongoing violence and occupation. "Such actions must never be accepted or... Read More

When human rights activist Hala Al-Karib testified to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sudan, she described the systematic rape of girls as young as seven years old and women in their eighties. As the war in Sudan enters its third year, Al-Karib was in the UK representing SIHA, (the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa). "Women are the centre of this war, and mass sexual viole... Read More

Pope Francis made a surprise outing from Casa Santa Marta to St Peter's Basilica on Thursday morning. Though the Pope's visit was brief, the news of his presence in the Basilica quickly spread, and the faithful lined up to greet him. Among them were some restorers working behind protective screens on a couple of projects currently undertaken by the Fabbrica di San Pietro. They were able to shake t... Read More

Top UN officials issued a statement on Monday urging the international community to act with urgency to save Palestinians in Gaza. Across Gaza, Israeli attacks continue unabated, causing systematic, large-scale civilian casualties. People - including many children - are being killed, injured or maimed for life. Humanitarian aid has not entered Gaza for a month. 2.1 million people are besieged as f... Read More

A catechist in Burkina Faso has given a harrowing account of his four months in captivity with his pregnant wife in the hands of militant extremists. Speaking out now about his ordeal, Mathieu Sawadogo told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that he "never stopped praying" after armed men seized him at his home in broad daylight. He said: "I remember one night that I prayed 700 Hail ... Read More

There was a lot of hope in recent months first with the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, followed by a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The guns stopped, Israeli hostages were released and the humanitarian supplies flowed in large quantities to Gaza bringing temporary relief that was thought to be the beginning of the end of this very long, bloody, and destructive war. Moving to the second phase of t... Read More

King Charles and Queen Camilla had a private meeting with Pope Francis this afternoon. The date marked their 20th wedding anniversary and the fourth anniversary of the death of the King's father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh The meeting took place at Casa Santa Marta, where the Pope has been convalescing for the past two weeks after being released from Gemelli Hospital. In a statement released... Read More