World

On 24 June, two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck northern Venezuela, causing deep sorrow, loss of life and severe material damage in various regions of the country. In the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes, the emergency is far from over. Thousands of families remain without safe shelter, while communities continue to grieve the loss of loved ones, search for missing family members ... Read More

Toine van Teeffelen writes from Bethlehem: One of the reasons for us to live over the years in the West Bank, apart from practical considerations such as caring for family, is the opportunity to take remarkable walks through the often breathtaking rolling hills. The landscape is surprisingly diverse. From Bethlehem, for example, a twenty-minute drive is enough to reach the desert. Along the way, y... Read More

The Catholic Diocese of Lokoja in central Nigeral has announced the death of one of its priests, Rev Fr Samuel Opeyemi Oyetoro. The official announcement was contained in an statement issued by the Diocese's Chancery Office on July 29, 2026. "It is with profound sorrow and in the hope of the resurrection that the Catholic Diocese of Lokoja announces the passing of our beloved priest, Fr Samuel Ope... Read More

Fr Yacoub Rafidi in conversation with Edmund Adamus and Brendan Metcalfe Friends of the Holy Land recorded at the WeBelieve festival for Radio Maria. Charlotte (Radio Maria): This upcoming session is very special. It is called 'What's Going On in the Holy Land?' The Holy Land often reaches us through headlines, statistics and political arguments. This afternoon, we have the privilege of hearing d... Read More

Today, Emancipation Day, we observe 188 years since full emancipation and the abolition of slavery in T&T (and across the British Empire) on August 1, 1838, and 160 years since the 13th Amendment abolished it in the USA in December 1865. To people of African origin, emancipation means liberation, cultural reclamation, and an ongoing journey towards dignity/human rights. It commemorates the end... Read More

Most pilgrims to the Holy Land will have visited the Shepherds' Fields, in Beit Sahour, near Bethlehem. These fields and ancient caves are where, according to tradition, the shepherds heard the angels singing on the night Jesus was born in Bethlehem. For many years pilgrims have come here to pray. But a new illegal Israeli settlement outpost, 'Shadma Yitziv,' is being rapidly constructed in the Us... Read More

On Friday morning, July 31, Pope Leo received Patti Smith, the singer-songwriter, poet, and artist, widely recognized as the 'Godmother of Punk' for her pioneering fusion of rock and poetry that shaped the punk movement. Like the Pope she is originally from Chicago. Fr Antionio Spadaro SJ, from the Dicastery for Culture and Education, commented on X: "When that door opened, something happened… a... Read More

In a brief interview with American broadcaster NBC yesterday, after the Peace Concert with Andrea Bocelli and the international children's choir at Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo highlighted the importance of immigration to the history of the United States, and said he hoped to visit the country of his birth in the next couple of years. Asked what he thought of being the first American Pope, Pope Leo ... Read More

Amid growing concern for the survival of Christianity in Iraq, the country's bishops are set to assess a new scheme helping Christian families who fled jihadist terror to return. Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the country's bishops will be meeting next month to discuss the government plan aimed at encouraging Christians to come back to Iraq. The... Read More

A statement by Mary Robinson, Graça Machel, Helen Clark and Hina Jilani following their visit to the Middle East, 11-16 July 2026. We have just concluded a visit to the West Bank, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. From all that we have witnessed and heard, our inescapable conclusion is that the government of Prime Minister Netanyahu, and in particular Ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, aim to make Pales... Read More

Pope Leo joined the 'Canticle of Peace' this evening at Borgo Laudato si', in the Pontifical Gardens of Castel Gandolfo, with Andrea Bocelli and the ABF Voices choir, made up of 164 children from Uganda, the Holy Land and Italy. Organized by the Laudato si' Higher Education Center in partnership with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, the gathering was part of the celebrations marking the 800th annive... Read More

The parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza, Fr Gabriel Romanelli, has renewed his appeal for urgent humanitarian assistance, warning that the situation in the Strip has deteriorated to the point where even the word "disastrous" is no longer sufficient to describe it. "When people say the situation here is disastrous, believe me: it really is disastrous-if anything, it calls for an even st... Read More

With great sorrow, the Caritas Internationalis family shares the following communication from Caritas Ukraine, following the tragic death of Yana Zhernovskaya, a 40 year-old social worker at Caritas Kharkiv, who was killed in a missile strike on Sunday, 26 July. Please join CAFOD in holding Yana, the Zhernovskaya family and the Caritas Ukraine team in your thoughts and prayers at this terrible mo... Read More

Pope Leo XIV left Castel Gandolfo this evening, Monday, 27 July, to return to the Vatican, after a three week break. As his car left the papal residence, the Pope greeted a group of people who had gathered to see him off and blessed several children waiting with their parents. He will return to Castel Gandolfo on Wednesday, 29 July, to attend 'Canticle of Peace' (Cantico di Pace), an evening ga... Read More