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World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay has expressed grave concern over the findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine regarding the deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children. "Such actions deprive children of their families, language, culture, and homeland, inflicting deep psychological and spiritual harm," said Pillay. "The... Read More

Anger and apathy, Bankers and BREXIT, Corruption and COVID, the ABC of Britain's decline, has determined our recent history. The Venerable Bede wrote in the 8th century that history should record the "evil of wicked men" to avoid sin, while describing the "good things of good men" to encourage virtue. James Macintyre's insightful and balanced Gordon Brown: Power with Purpose, Bloomsbury 2026, fal... Read More

Usama Nicola writes in Bethlehem Updates: Today, (21 March) we celebrate Mother's Day in Palestine and across the Middle East, a day of love, gratitude, and family warmth. Yet this year it carries a deeper weight. I send my heartfelt love and prayers to my precious mother, my beloved wife, my mother-in-law, my sisters in law, my brothers' wives, and to all the incredible mothers everywhere. May ... Read More

21 March 2026 John 7:40-52 At that time: When the crowd heard these words of Jesus some of the people said, 'This really is the Prophet.' Others said, 'This is the Christ.' But some said, 'Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?' So there was a division among the people ... Read More

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem remains indefinitely closed to the public. The 4th century church, believed to be where Jesus was buried, and rose from the dead, was officially shut on 28 February 2026. Israeli authorities cite "security reasons" and "heightened alert" due to escalating regional tensions and the ongoing conflict involving Israel and Iran. The shutdown is part of a b... Read More

A priest has warned that terrorists are "sneaking" into villages after a suspected suicide attack in north-east Nigeria resulted in multiple deaths. Father Joseph Fidelis, from Maiduguri Diocese, told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that attacks by extremists had been happening in nearby villages for two weeks before Monday's (16th March) devastating attack, which saw 28 killed. F... Read More

CAFOD is calling for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, alongside the Catholic church and other aid agencies. Following a dramatic surge in violence over the past two weeks, more than 1,000 people have been killed and over 2,500 injured. CAFOD is responding to the crisis in Lebanon alongside local community groups and partners, by: supporting displaced families in Ein El Helweh camp (the largest P... Read More

Nonviolence is not weakness - it is action. Deliberate, organized, faithful, and rooted in the Gospel - that was the message from Professor Nicolas Paz, Director of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, and Associate Professor at the Pontifical University of Salamanca during his inspiring keynote address to a packed audience at an event at Farm Street Jesuit Centre last Saturday, organised by Pax C... Read More

Peter, this week's guest on the All Kinds of Catholic podcast, explores the impact on his life and his faith of managing both the brewery and the estate at England's only Trappist monastery. The episode joins the library of more than 90 weekly All Kinds of Catholic podcast conversations, uncovering how Catholics are living their faith in today's world. Here, Peter talks about learning to make pro... Read More

Following the resignation of the Right Reverend Ralph Heskett CSsR.as Bishop of Hallam, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Marcus Stock as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Hallam. This appointment is in addition to his office as Bishop of Leeds and additional responsibilities as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Middlesbrough. "I feel very humbled by the trust ... Read More

Gospel of 20 March 2026 John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 At that time: Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. After his brothers and sisters had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, 'Is not this the man whom they seek t... Read More

Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin has shared what he would say if he met President Trump in person: "End the war as soon as possible!" Speaking at the launch in Rome of the book: Leo XIV: Who Do You Say I Am? I Am a Son of Saint Augustine, written by Vatican journalist Ignazio Ingrao and Augustinian Father Giuseppe Pagano, Cardinal Parolin responded to journalists' questions a... Read More

Israeli settlers have escalated their incursions into Taybeh, the West Bank's last fully Christian town, raising concerns over further land appropriation. Parish priest, Father Bashar Fawadleh, is appealing for international intervention, as residents face mounting restrictions, and calls for peace, justice, and protection. While much of the world's media is focussed on Iran and Lebanon, radical ... Read More

Jesuits Among Muslims in Asia (JAMIA) and the Islamic Studies Association (ISA) send Eid al-Fitr greetings to all our Muslim brothers and sisters. Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastry for Interreligious Dialogue, Vatican, expressed his "closeness, solidarity and respect" in a message to "Muslim brothers and sisters" ahead of Eid Al-Fitr, the closing of Ramadan. In his message, ... Read More