Middle East - Africa News

Rocket shells are left on the grass outside a house where civilians and soldiers were killed by Hamas militants days earlier, Oct. 11, 2023, in Be'eri, Israel.

Israeli woman whose 80-year-old father was among those taken hostage: ‘Save their lives’

Oct 11, 2023

By Daniel Payne

“Dozens of terrorists invaded the kibbutz and started butchering the residents, going house by house,” Noam Perry said. “They butchered... Read more

Daily procession of the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land (Calvary, Latin Chapel), Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem. Oct. 9, 2023.

In the Holy Land, Franciscans are keeping doors to holy sites open — for now

Oct 11, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

Jerusalem is semi-deserted, with many shops, schools, and offices closed, but the Custody of the Holy Land has kept holy... Read more

Three nuns, a seminarian, and the driver of the vehicle they were in were abducted in Nigeria’s Imo State on Oct. 5, 2023. The nuns’ order, the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae, appealed for their safe release in an Oct. 6 statement.

Sisters issue appeal for ‘safe release’ of 3 nuns who were abducted from Nigerian diocese

Oct 11, 2023

By Jude Atemanke

The vicar general of the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae in Nigeria said five people were abducted Oct. 5 in... Read more

Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza at Christmas 2021.

Pastor of only Catholic church in Gaza: ‘Never have we seen things like this time’

Oct 10, 2023

By Julieta Villar

Father Gabriel Romanelli expressed his gratitude for the closeness, concern, and prayers, along with the “hundreds of messages” he receives... Read more

A picture taken in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on Oct. 7, 2023, shows burnt-out vehicles outside a residential building hit in a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 300 reported killed by Hamas insurgents at Israeli music festival

Oct 9, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The Supernova music festival being held near Kibbutz Re’im in southwestern Israel, just a few miles from the Gaza Strip,... Read more

Cars are seen on fire following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel, on Oct. 7, 2023.

Dozens killed in surprise Hamas attacks on Israel; Netanyahu says country ‘at war’

Oct 7, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Surprise attacks by Hamas on Israel early on Saturday killed at least dozens of people. Read more

A screen grab from a video shared with ACI Africa that shows the parish house at St. Raphael Fadan Kamantan Catholic Church of the Diocese of Kafanchan in flames Sept. 7, 2023.

Suspects arrested in killing of seminarian in Nigerian parish rectory fire

Oct 5, 2023

By Jude Atemanke

Seminarian Na’aman Danlami died after Fulani bandits reportedly attacked St. Raphael Parish Fadan Kamantan on the night of Sept. 7... Read more

The Christian community in Qaraqosh, in Iraq’s Nineveh Plains, was devastated last week after a fire broke out at a Syriac Catholic wedding celebration.

Pope Francis sends telegram to Iraqi Christian community after tragic wedding fire

Oct 2, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

An Iraqi Christian community in Qaraqosh, northern Iraq, was devastated by a massive fire at a crowded wedding reception that... Read more

A mourner holds up an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the funeral on Sept. 27, 2023, of victims who were killed when a fire ripped through a crowded wedding hall in the mainly Christian northern city of Qaraqosh, Iraq, also known as Hamdaniyah. At least 100 people were killed, officials said, pointing to indoor fireworks as the likely cause for the blaze that sparked a panicked stampede for the exits.

Iraq archbishop calls for prayers after tragic wedding fire

Sep 27, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

More than 100 died after a fire at a Syriac Catholic wedding celebration is the Nineveh Plains of Iraq. Read more

Archbishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea of the Archdiocese of Bamenda in Cameroon.

Cameroon archbishop: ‘No room for distraction’ for delegates to Synod on Synodality

Sep 27, 2023

By ACI Africa

“We are not going to allow ourselves to be distracted by the social media antics,” Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya said. Read more

Father Marcellinus Obioma Okide was reportedly abducted from Nigeria’s Enugu Diocese on Sept. 17, 2023.

Abducted priest in Nigeria released, diocese ‘grateful’

Sep 25, 2023

By Jude Atemanke

Father Marcellinus Obioma Okide, a parish priest at St. Mary Amofia-Agu Affa Parish in the Enugu Diocese, was set free... Read more

Father Paul Sanogo (left) and seminarian Melchior Maharini, who were kidnapped from their community of Missionaries of Africa in Nigeria’s Diocese of Minna on Aug. 3, 2023, said the terrifying experience helped their faith grow stronger.

‘We came back stronger’: Priest, seminarian abducted in Nigeria recall three-week ordeal

Sep 22, 2023

By Agnes Aineah

“When the men took us, I had so much fear in my heart, thinking of the worst that could happen... Read more

A group of women and children guarded by security forces in Mucimboa da Praia of Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province in early September 2023.

Catholic peace organization condemns sexual enslavement of Mozambican Christians

Sep 21, 2023

By Agnes Aineah

In an interview with ACI Africa, the director of the Denis Hurley Peace Institute confirmed reports of a leaked Islamic... Read more

A road in Enugu State, Nigeria.

Human rights group to Nigeria security agents after priest’s kidnapping: ‘Act or resign’

Sep 20, 2023

By Agnes Aineah

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law has condemned the Sept. 16-17 kidnapping of more than 30... Read more

At least 11 people were killed Sept. 15, 2023, after members of the Islamic State attacked a village in Mozambique and opened fire on Christians after hand-picking them from Muslims, the Catholic pontifical and charity foundation Aid to the Church in Need International reported.

11 killed as Islamist jihadists reportedly target Christians in Mozambican village

Sep 20, 2023

By Agnes Aineah

After separating the Christians from the Muslims, “they opened fire on the Christians,” a Sept. 18 Aid to the Church... Read more

Father Marcellinus Obioma Okide was reportedly abducted from Nigeria’s Enugu Diocese on Sept. 17, 2023.

Nigerian diocese calls for prayers for kidnapped priest

Sep 19, 2023

By Jude Atemanke

Father Marcellinus Obioma Okide was on his way back to his parish in the Enugu Diocese on Sept. 17 when... Read more

The new Bishop Hanna Jallouf, OFM, walks down the center aisle of St. Francis Church in Aleppo, Syrian, after his episcopal ordination, Sept. 17, 2023.

Franciscan friar in Syria becomes bishop of Latin-rite Catholics in Aleppo 

Sep 18, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

On Sunday, Sept. 17, Father Hanna Jallouf, OFM, was ordained a bishop and became apostolic vicar of Aleppo for the... Read more

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

New discoveries may change what we know about Jerusalem’s Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher

Sep 17, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

Ongoing archaeological investigations have now allowed scientists to trace “the entire material history of the religious complex.”  Read more

A man carries donated bedding on Sept. 13, 2023, past buildings that were ruined in the Sept. 8 earthquake in Ardouz, Morocco.

Catholic leader in Morocco: It may take years to rebuild after earthquake 

Sep 13, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The 6.8-magnitude earthquake, which hit near the historic city of Marrakesh Friday night, has killed more than 2,900 people as... Read more

People look at the damage caused by flash floods in Derna, eastern Libya, on Sept. 11, 2023.

Floods in Libya reportedly kill up to 10,000; pope ‘deeply saddened,’ offers prayers

Sep 12, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The pope “sends the assurance of his prayers for the souls of the deceased and all who mourn,” said a... Read more

Latest news

Georgetown University President John DeGioia attends a ceremony at which an honorary degree was bestowed on AFL-CIO President John Sweeney on Sept. 3, 2009, in Washington, D.C.

Georgetown president John DeGioia to step down after 23 years

Pope Francis addresses pilgrims gathered for his Wednesday general audience on Nov. 20, 2024, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Pope Francis calls for study of Church history free from ideologies

Indian Christians pay their respects to the remains of St. Francis Xavier during the 17th exposition of the saint's body at the Se Cathedral in Goa on Nov. 22, 2014.

St. Francis Xavier’s relics draw 12,000 in Goa, India, for decennial exposition

Pope Francis signs two bottles of bourbon presented to him by Father Jim Sichko at the Vatican on May 1, 2024.

Bottles of bourbon signed by Pope Francis expected to fetch up to $20,000 for charity

null

No, ‘AI Jesus’ isn’t actually hearing confessions: fact check

Pope Francis meets with the Dicastery for Culture and Education at the Vatican on Nov. 21, 2024.

Pope Francis: Desire and Christian hope can overcome ‘dangerous plague’ of nihilism

From left: John Hinshaw, Jonathan Darnel, Lauren Handy, Joan Bell, and Jean Marshall are among the pro-life activists who are still in prison or awaiting prison sentences on federal charges brought by President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice for protests at abortion clinics — but President-elect Donald Trump has signaled he will likely grant them presidential pardons.

Meet the pro-life prisoners whom Trump is expected to pardon

St. John’s Cathedral in the Netherlands is lit up for Red Wednesday on Nov. 23, 2022.

Churches around the world lit up red in honor of persecuted Christians

Despite an online petition posted to change.org in mid-October that garnered over 53,000 signatures in protest of the evergreen to be used for the Vatican Christmas tree being chopped down, the tree arrived as scheduled in St. Peter’s Square at 7 a.m. on Nov. 21, 2024.

Vatican Christmas tree wreathed in controversy over environmental objections

Father Max Josef Metzger, a Catholic priest executed by the Nazi regime in 1944 for his peace activism and ecumenical work, was beatified Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Freiburg, Germany.

Church beatifies German priest who was executed by Nazis in 1944

Liturgical Calendar Show this year
Nov 21
Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today's readings

TRENDING