JERUSALEM (OSV News) -- The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem denounced a series of attacks on Christians in Gaza by Israeli forces, including the killing of a mother and daughter at a Catholic parish. In a Dec. 16 statement, the patriarchate said that
Christians must be open to the Word of God and to welcoming and serving others, Pope Francis said.
"'Be open,' Jesus says to every believer and to his church: be open because the Gospel message needs you to witness to it and proclaim
"It is very difficult and the parish is suffering very much," said Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Parish, in an interview with Vatican News Dec. 6. He said there is little water, gas, food, medicine or diesel fuel needed to
JERUSALEM (OSV News) -- Following long days of delicate and intense negotiations between Israel and Hamas with the mediation of Qatar, Egypt and the U.S., the first group of hostages held by Hamas has been freed. Twenty-four hostages -- 13 Israeli civilians,
NANTUCKET, Mass. (OSV News) -- President Joe Biden celebrated the Nov. 24 release of some hostages held by Hamas, but said it is "only a start" in resolving the conflict. Hamas released 24 hostages -- women and children -- held captive in
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With hopes growing for a temporary, humanitarian cease-fire, Pope Francis met at the Vatican Nov. 22 with relatives of Israelis held hostage by Hamas and, separately, with relatives of Palestinians suffering under the Israeli siege of Gaza. Announcing
Churches in Jordan are canceling Christmas celebrations in solidarity with Gaza as violence in the Palestinian enclave mounts.
The leaders of Jordan's Council of Churches announced Nov. 5 the cancellation of all festivities and events to express deepening concern over the escalating humanitarian
JERUSALEM (OSV News) -- As the Israel-Hamas war nears its fourth week, the pastor of Gaza's only Catholic church urged prayers for peace, the release of hostages and delivery of humanitarian aid, telling OSV News his parishioners are experiencing "a terrible situation,
Several hundred people had been sheltering at the St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church campus, many of them sleeping, when the explosion went off the night of Oct. 19. The Hamas Ministry of Interior in Gaza blamed the explosion on an Israeli airstrike
President Joe Biden arrived in Israel Oct. 18 to demonstrate the United States' support for its ally amid the conflict, and suggested "the other team" was responsible for a blast at a hospital in Gaza that killed hundreds, according to a claim