Middle East - Africa News
Bethlehem grottos open extended hours to mark Franciscan anniversary
In order to celebrate the 660th anniversary of the presence of the Franciscans in the Holy Land, the Bethlehem grottos... Read more
Christians continuing exodus from Holy Land
Leaders from the international Catholic pastoral charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) on Tuesday reported on their recent... Read more
Holy See and Israel close to bilateral agreement, says Israeli ambassador
The Holy See and Israel are “very close to a historic conclusion” to the Fundamental Accord signed in 1993 and... Read more
Catholic Navy chaplain shares story of Iraqi conversion
Recently, CNA had the opportunity to send a writer to the Anbar Province of Iraq to cover the experiences of a... Read more
Biblical wall discovered, archaeologists claim
A team of archaeologists in Jerusalem claims to have discovered part of a wall described in the book of Nehemiah. Read more
Protests against “Muhammed teddy bear” teacher break out, execution called for
"Shame, shame on the U.K.," thousands of armed Sudanese protestors shouted, as they spilled out of their mosques after their... Read more
Bishops satisfied by commitment to peace in the Holy Land
Two important Church officials, Cardinal Renato Martino and the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Michel Sabbah, have expressed their satisfaction at... Read more
Kenyan Archbishop Kirima dies
After a long-time battle with kidney problems, Archbishop Nicodemus Kirima of Nyeri, Kenya, died today in a Nairobi hospital at... Read more
British teacher faces blasphemy charges over "Muhammed" teddy bear
A teacher from England was thrown into a Sudanese jail on Monday after being arrested for insulting the Prophet Muhammed... Read more
Delegation from Holy See sent to Annapolis, hope expressed by leaders
The path to peace in the Middle East could take a fortuitous turn today as leaders from 40 different organizations... Read more
New Iraqi cardinal: "pray for us, pray for Iraq"
At a Mass at Saint Peter's Basilica on Saturday elevating twenty-three clerics to the cardinalate, Pope Benedict XVI created the... Read more
Bishop of Arabia responds to Muslim scholars' letter
The Catholic Bishop of Arabia has published an article examining the call to dialogue made by 138 Muslim scholars in... Read more
African and European bishops denounce “new slaveries” that plague Africa
In a press release issued Tuesday, the bishops of Africa and Europe have called for more attention to be paid... Read more
Pope appeals for peaceful solution to crisis in Somalia
"Distressing news is reaching us, concerning the precarious humanitarian situation in Somalia,” Pope Benedict said today following his general audience... Read more
Iraqi Christians unable to return due to violence
Father Zacaria Sulaqa of Basora said this week the Christian community in his region “has almost disappeared. Of the nearly... Read more
U.S. Bishops’ International Policy Chairman speaks about Israeli-Palestinian conflict
In an exclusive interview with CNA earlier this week, Bishop Thomas Wenski took time to explain why the Bishop’s Conference... Read more
Future cardinal asks Iraqi president to guarantee teaching of Christian religion in schools
The director of cultural affairs of the Patriarchate of Babylonia of the Chaldeans and the rector of Babel College, Auxiliary... Read more
Eritrea’s record on religious freedom one of the worst
The expulsion of 14 Catholic missionaries from Eritrea two days ago is part of a plan of the Maoist dictatorship... Read more
U.S. Bishops support "responsible transition" in Iraq
The U.S. Catholic Bishops' Conference on Tuesday released a statement calling for a responsible transition of power in Iraq in... Read more
Holy See delegation to UN endorses two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the apostolic nuncio heading the Holy See's Permanent Observer mission to the United Nations, endorsed a two-state... Read more
