World

Pope Leo XIV today spoke by phone with Father Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, and assures all those who turn to the parish of his concern, closeness, and prayers. Overnight, just an hour before midnight, the Israeli army launched a massive ground offensive, with media in the Gaza Strip reporting 37 attacks in 20 minutes, and a mass flight of the remaining p... Read More

As bombs continue to fall on Gaza City as part of Israel's intensifying military operation, families with starving children are being pushed southwards from one "hellscape" to another, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said today . The development followed reports that the Israeli military has stepped up its ground offensive in Gaza City, ordering residents to leave the area. Speaking from the south... Read More

Pope Leo gave his first major interview in July, extracts of which were published this week by Crux on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Speaking with journalist Elise Ann Allen for an upcoming biography he reflected on his decades working as a missionary in Peru, how he has been adapting to the role of pope, his hopes for world peace, concerns about the growing disparity between rich and poor an... Read More

Recently, I received an invitation from the Dicastery for Dialogue in Rome and the Apostolic Nunciature in Bangladesh to join a delegation from Rome during its visit to Dhaka, Bangladesh, for a week-long programme on engaging in dialogue with people of other faiths, particularly Muslims. This esteemed group included His Eminence George Jacob Cardinal Koovacad, the Cardinal Prefect; Monsignor Indun... Read More

Dr Swee Ang, Catholic orthopaedic surgeon and co-founder of Medical Aid for Palestine has joined with other medics in an Open Letter to President Trump, appealing for him to use his power and position to stop the genocide and erasure taking place in Gaza. Dr Ang plans to deliver the letter to the US Embassy in Beirut when she attends the 43rd anniversary of the Sabra Shatilla Massacre on 16-18 Sep... Read More

Birthday greetings have been arriving from all over the world for Leo XIV, who today, 14 September, turns 70. Offering them "on behalf of the Italian people, together with his sincere wishes for spiritual and personal well-being," is President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella. In his message, the Head of State highlights the Pope's "urgent appeals for a ceasefire and the resumption of the path of... Read More

The Israeli army began arresting hundreds of men and boys in the streets of the occupied West Bank town of Tulkarem around midday on Thursday. The raids started after two Israeli soldiers were lightly injured in an explosion at a military checkpoint. Local news sources report that for more than 10 hours Israeli occupation forces (IOF) carried out mass abductions in the town, detaining almost every... Read More

Christians who survived jihadist attacks in northern Iraq have come together to celebrate a major festival which will proclaim that Faith is still alive in the region. From 9th-13th September 2025 Christians from across the different traditions - Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean, Syriac Catholic and Syriac Orthodox - are joining together for an extended celebration of the feast of the Exaltat... Read More

In the Gaza Strip, hope may be all that is left but it is not enough to keep people alive, a veteran humanitarian said on Friday, calling for more action to end the conflict and stop the bloodshed. Olga Cherevko, Spokesperson in Gaza for the UN aid coordination office OCHA, warned that history will not judge the international community "based on the speeches that we made" but rather on actions. Sp... Read More

A Christian leader has hit out at violent squatters who have seized vast areas of territory in his diocese - and refuse to leave. Archbishop Inácio Saure of Nampula, Mozambique, held a press conference on Wednesday (3rd September), denouncing the illegal occupation of Church land. Archbishop Saure said: "They came and cut down many trees, and the wood was removed by truck. "When we came to ask th... Read More

More than 900 British citizens joined Daesh, also known as Islamic State in the Levant. 425 returned to the UK, and yet only 32 have been prosecuted. The British taxpayer has funded the collection of evidence against Daesh through the UN body UNITAD. Yet, Parliament has been told that the police responsible for investigating international crimes "don't think" they have ever asked UNITAD for the e... Read More

Religious Sisters in Mozambique have thanked a Catholic charity for a new four-wheeled drive which helps them reach those in need. A Toyota Land Cruiser was dispatched to the Daughters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in Pemba, Cabo Delgado. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) responded to their cry for help to meet the demands of their growing congregation. Sister Aparecida said to ACN that the vehic... Read More

A Vatican commission comprising historians, theologians and other experts has documented the stories of more than 1,600 men and women killed over the past 25 years for being Christian. The work was supported by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Pope Leo XIV has invited representatives from all Christian denominations to take part in a celebration in the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Wall this S... Read More

Reflecting at the weekly General Audience on the crucifixion, Pope Leo XIV stressed that Jesus' cry from the cross reveals "the final stage of a love that is given up to the very end," and encourages everyone to avoid seeing crying as a weakness but rather as an act of extreme prayer. Pope Leo said Jesus did not die in silence. "He does not fade away gradually, like a light that burns out, but rat... Read More