World

In a video message to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in the United States, marking the 70th anniversary of their founding, Pope Leo highlights the beauty of different communities, charisms, and histories that work together to "make the mission and mystery of the Church visible in our world." He offered "prayerful good wishes" to the women and men religious in different congregations ... Read More

The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations is appealing for churches everywhere to join a Worldwide Prayer for Ukraine during the 30th anniversary commemoration of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organisations on 16 July 2026 in Kyiv, Ukraine, attended by the ecumenical delegation from the World Council of Churches. Photo: Deacon Andrii Sydor/Orthodox Church of U... Read More

Nearly a thousand people gathered in Avila, the birthplace of Saint Teresa of Jesus, from 80 countries and participated in the first World Meeting of the Secular Order of the Discalced Carmelites. Though readers should note that it was felt that 'encuentro' or encounter was a better word than meeting or conference, because this really was a tangible experience of the Teresian family being together... Read More

The last Christian town in the West Bank, Taybeh, has been declared a closed military zone by the Israeli army. The army, the IDF, says that this is to address ongoing attacks by illegal settlers on the town. Bishop James Curry, Lead Bishop for the Holy Land for the Bishops' Conference, has expressed his concern at the move. "I was deeply alarmed to hear that Taybeh has been declared a closed mili... Read More

Following the confirmation that more than 2,000 people have now died from Ebola in eastern DRC, Christian Aid's Head of Global Humanitarian Response Salome Ntububa, who is based in Goma, said: "This is a terrifying time for people in eastern DRC. The fact it took nearly three months for the first 1,000 people to die from Ebola but less than three weeks to reach the grim milestone of 2,000 deaths s... Read More

Emergency aid is to be sent to Colombia by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in response to the earthquake that has devastated parts of the country. Within 36 hours of the 7.4 quake that struck during the morning rush hour yesterday (Monday, 10th August), ACN agreed to provide funding to assist immediate needs. The charity has opened an appeal for funds and for prayer amid reports of widespread suff... Read More

Fr Abedrabbo, parish priest of the Latin church in Ein Arik, near Ramallah in the West Bank writes on Facebook today: It was supposed to be an ordinary journey: leaving Ramallah in the morning, crossing the bridge into Jordan, attend the ceremony of religious vows for three dear sisters, and later returning with my mother. Geographically, it is not a long distance, and under normal circumstances,... Read More

A national disaster has been declared in Colombia following the 7.4 magnitude earthquake. More than 160 people have died, with rescue operations underway to prevent further loss of life. The epicentre was in San José Del Palmar, in the Choco region, which is one of the poorest and most affected by natural catastrophes. It is also impacted by the ongoing armed conflict. The true scale of the trag... Read More

Bishop James Curry, Lead Bishop for Freedom of Religion and Belief, has written to the Prime Minister to ask him to follow the lead of his predecessors in doing everything possible to secure the release of Jimmy Lai. Mr Lai, a British citizen, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison under the Hong Kong government's national security laws which have been widely condemned. Bishop Curry said: "Jimmy... Read More

The Israeli army (IDF) has declared the Christian town of Taybeh - the last entirely Christian community in the occupied West Bank - a 'closed military zone' - prohibiting Israelis, foreign nationals, and journalists from entering. The army says this is to protect Taybeh from the illegal settlers that have been attacking the town for months. Taybeh Mayor Suleiman Khoury said that restricting forei... Read More

The year 2030 will mark 2,000 years since the traditional date of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist, which took place in what is now Al-Maghtas, Jordan. On Monday, 10th August, Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan August chaired the first meeting of the National Committee for the Preparation of the Celebration of the Second Millennium of the Baptism of Jesus Christ. The committee, which inclu... Read More

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, was in Assisi this week, for the inauguration of the Global House of Friendship and Hope, a new international project promoted by the Elijah Interfaith Institute. During his visit he spoke with journalists about his concerns over the situation in the Holy Land.. Asked about the upcoming Israeli elections on 27 October, he said: ... Read More

Haiti's gangs are trying to silence the Church as it remains the last institution challenging their stranglehold, a bishop has warned as worsening violence pushes back elections. Bishop Joseph Gontrand Décoste of Jérémie told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): "We are the last remaining bulkhead - moral, ethical, spiritual and prophetic… That is why they want to eliminate us." Legislative and p... Read More

The Holy See has announced that Pope Leo will make an Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in November 2026. The Holy Father will visit Montevideo, Paysandú and Florida from 6 to 8 November; Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján from 8 to 11 November; and Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa from 11 to 17 November. Uruguay, where Catholics make up only 36% of the population, is the country ... Read More