World

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

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

Aid agencies today expressed grave concern as the UK government announced damaging overseas aid cuts. CAFOD Director of Advocacy, Neil Thorns, said: "The aid budget and international climate finance are important commitments to our brothers and sisters around the world who are facing increasing climate impacts and conflict and the news today shows the pain that these cuts will cause. "Peace and ... Read More

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday expressed his belief that "Universal health coverage is not merely a technical goal to be achieved; it is primarily a moral imperative for societies that wish to call themselves just," but also to prevent injustice from becoming a cause of conflict. The Pope was addressing participants in the 'Today who is my neighbour?' conference organised by the Council of the Bishops'... Read More

Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN UK) has joined forces with a coalition of leading civil society organisations - including HART, CSW, PSJ UK and Open Doors - in urging the UK Government to use the opportunity of Nigerian President's upcoming state visit to the United Kingdom to raise the plight of Christian communities in Nigeria. In a joint letter to David Smith MP, the UK Special ... Read More

Yesterday in New York, HE Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, delivered a statement at the Event in Commemoration of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the Permanent Observer Mission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to the United Nations. The Permanent Observer stres... Read More

In a meeting yesterday with Italian journalists from Rai 2, the Italian state-owned TV channel, on their 50th anniversary, Pope Leo warned against the media becoming a "megaphone" for power, especially in times of conflict. "Always, but especially in the dramatic circumstances of war such as those we are experiencing, information must guard against the risk of turning into propaganda," he said. I... Read More

This morning there was the loudest boom so far. At first it was unclear whether the rocket had struck just north of Bethlehem, near the settlements of Gilo or Har Homa, or farther away. On social media it looked as though there had been an impact opposite the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem. Mary contacted an acquaintance who lives there to ask how he was doing. Thank God, everything was fine, he replied.... Read More

As war rages across the Middle East, the dire situation of communities in the Gaza and the West Bank is being compounded by the state's decision to block aid - according to the head of the Church's development office. George Akroush, director of the Development Office of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (LPJ), told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that, despite the ceasefire in ... Read More

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel has safely evacuated its 11 accompaniers from their posts in the Holy Land, but they will continue their work from their home countries to accompany and document human rights violations and the voices of communities facing great challenges. In their shortened time on the ground, the accompaniers - the 10... Read More