Middle East - Africa News

Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako

Iraqi government must support Christians, Chaldean Catholic patriarch says

Dec 2, 2022

By ACI MENA

Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Cardinal Louis Sako warned that if the government doesn’t change its policies it could spell the end... Read more

Father Charbel Mhanna offers Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary in Doha, Qatar.

What it is like to be a Catholic priest in Qatar

Nov 29, 2022

By Courtney Mares, Elias Turk

When Father Charbel Mhanna needs to acquire altar wine for Mass, he must use a special card issued by the... Read more

CNA

The Worldwide Women’s Rosary is coming to the United Arab Emirates

Nov 22, 2022

By CNA Staff

Women from all over the world will join together Dec. 8 for the public recitation of a rosary to Our... Read more

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I

Why Catholics and Orthodox might once again celebrate Easter on the same date

Nov 18, 2022

By AC Wimmer

The spiritual leader of the world’s Eastern Orthodox Christians has come out in support of finding a common date to... Read more

St. Paul’s Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in Mosul, Iraq

Bell rings out from Catholic cathedral in Mosul for the first time since ISIS occupation

Nov 15, 2022

By Courtney Mares, Rody Sher

A church bell that was kept hidden by a Muslim family during the Islamic State’s occupation of Mosul rang out... Read more

In March 2022, these Stations of the Cross in the diocese of Augsburg, southern Germany, were vandalized.

Hate crimes against Christians on the rise in Europe, report says

Nov 15, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The Observatory for the Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe documented more than 500 anti-Christian hate crimes in 2021. Read more

Saint Nicholas church in Paphos, Cyprus

Analysis: A divided island faces uncertain future after death of Cyprus Orthodox archbishop

Nov 8, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Archbishop Chrysostomos II died on Monday at age 81. Who will be able to collect the legacy of the head... Read more

Pope Francis takes questions from members of the press on the flight to Rome from Bahrain.

Pope Francis: ‘We have to keep fighting for women’s equality’

Nov 6, 2022

By CNA Staff

Returning from Bahrain, the pope was asked if he supports the efforts of women and young people in Iran to... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Catholics living on the Arabian Peninsula during a prayer service in Sacred Heart Church in Manama, Bahrain, on Nov. 6, 2022.

Pope Francis tells Catholics on the Arabian Peninsula to be bold in proclaiming the Gospel

Nov 6, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Sacred Heart Catholic Church — built in 1939 in Manama, Bahrain — was the first Catholic Church in the Persian... Read more

Pope Francis participated in a meeting with youth at the Sacred Heart School in Awli, Bahrain, on Nov. 5, 2022.

Pope Francis to youth in Bahrain: ‘The Church needs you!’

Nov 5, 2022

By Shannon Mullen

The pope’s historic trip to Bahrain continued Sunday with a meeting with young people at a Catholic school. Read more

Pope Francis greets the crowd in Bahrain's national soccer stadium before offering Mass on Nov. 5, 2022.

Catholics travel from Saudi Arabia to attend Pope Francis’ stadium Mass in Bahrain

Nov 5, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis offered the first public papal Mass in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a Muslim-majority island country in the Persian... Read more

Pope Francis with the Muslim Council of Elders in Bahrain, Nov. 4, 2022

Pope Francis calls for restoring Christian unity during Bahrain visit

Nov 4, 2022

By Katie Yoder

The Holy Father addressed Christian leaders Friday at the Ecumenical Meeting and Prayer for Peace at the Cathedral of Our... Read more

Pope Francis attending the closing of the “Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence” with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Nov. 4, 2022.

Pope Francis urges Muslim-Catholic collaboration for peace during visit to Gulf kingdom of Bahrain

Nov 4, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis met with Muslim leaders in the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain on Friday, saying Catholics and Muslims alike are... Read more

Pope Francis meets with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the Sakhir Royal Palace in Bahrain, Nov. 3, 2022.

Pope Francis calls for end of death penalty during Bahrain visit

Nov 3, 2022

By Katie Yoder

The pope made his comments Thursday during his meeting at the Sakhir Royal Palace amid his Nov. 3–6 apostolic journey... Read more

Pope Francis arriving in Bahrain, Nov. 3, 2022

Pope Francis becomes first pope to visit Bahrain

Nov 3, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis landed in the Kingdom of Bahrain Thursday, becoming the first pope to visit the Muslim island nation located... Read more

Archbishop Bashar Warda speaking at the R20 Summit in Indonesia, Nov. 2, 2022

Iraqi archbishop calls for courageous dialogue among religions, end to violent persecution

Nov 3, 2022

By AC Wimmer

Addressing the Group of Twenty’s first-ever forum on religion on Nov. 2, Archbishop Bashar Warda drove home the need for... Read more

Catholic elementary school in Gbeji, Benue State, Central Nigeria.

Dozens of Catholic villagers reportedly killed in Central Nigeria raid

Oct 29, 2022

By Douglas Burton

The state police commissioner says no more than 10 people were slain, but a county official claims more than 70... Read more

Bishop Aloysius Fondong Abangalo with the five priests who were among the nine captive released Oct. 22, 2022.

Cameroonian diocese urges prayers of thanksgiving for release of captives

Oct 25, 2022

By CNA Staff

The Diocese of Mamfe has directed that prayers of thanksgiving be said for the release on Saturday of nine people... Read more

The Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harrissa.

How the economic crisis is transforming the Christian population in Lebanon

Oct 23, 2022

By Elias Turk

Christians, like all Lebanese, today face rising unemployment, bank withdrawal limits, the suspension of international payments, electricity, water, and internet... Read more

Sister Marie-Sylvie Kavuke Vakatsuraki, who was killed in Maboya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Oct. 19, 2022.

Islamist rebels kill nun, six others at Catholic hospital in DR Congo

Oct 21, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

A Catholic nun serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was among the seven people killed Wednesday evening when... Read more