Middle East - Africa News

Gregory Peter XX Ghabroyan, Armenian Patriarch of Cilicia. Photo courtesy of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg in the USA and Canada.

Pope Francis honors the late Armenian Catholic patriarch on the day of his funeral

May 29, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis paid tribute to the late Armenian Catholic Patriarch Gregory Peter XX Ghabroyan in a letter read aloud at... Read more

Fr. Joseph Keke, 75,  was kidnapped on May 21, 2021, in Katsina State, Nigeria.

‘Our only weapon is prayer’: Nigerian bishop seeks release of kidnapped priest

May 27, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Fr. Joseph Keke, 75, was kidnapped by gunmen on May 21. Read more

The Cathedral of St. Elias and St. Gregory the Illuminator in Beirut, Lebanon, the cathedra of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate of Cilicia.

Leader of Armenian Catholic Church dies at age 86

May 26, 2021

By CNA Staff

Catholicos-Patriarch Gregory Peter XX Gabroyan died on May 25. Read more

Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, April 4, 2021.

Jerusalem patriarch calls for peace, cooperation in Holy Land

May 24, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

The Patriarch of Jerusalem urged peace, mutual understanding, and cooperation among religious groups in his homily on Saturday, underscoring the... Read more

Fr. Joe Keke, left, remains missing. Fr. Alphonsus Bello, right, was killed at age 33.

Catholic priest killed, another kidnapped in attack on Nigerian parish

May 21, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Fr. Alphonsus Bello was found dead on May 21. Read more

Nigerian flag

Catholic priest among 11 people kidnapped in Nigeria’s Kaduna archdiocese

May 19, 2021

By ACI Africa

Gunmen in northern Nigeria killed eight people and kidnapped 11 others. Read more

Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa blesses the congregation at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on April 4, 2021.

Israel-Gaza conflict: Patriarch Pizzaballa asks Catholics to pray for peace and justice

May 18, 2021

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem issued the appeal as the death toll mounts in the Holy Land. Read more

Theodosios (Atallah Hanna), the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia, delivers a speech during a demonstration in Beit Jala in the West Bank May 17, 2021 to express solidarity with Gaza and Sheikh Jarah. Credit: Hazem Bader/AFP via Getty Images.

Gaza's only Catholic priest calls Israel-Gaza violence 'extremely serious'

May 17, 2021

By Blanca Ruiz

The sole Catholic priest in the Gaza Strip has warned of the severity of the recent violence between Israel and... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister, on May 17, 2021.

Pope Francis meets with Iran’s foreign minister, speaks to Turkish president about Palestinians

May 17, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Iran's foreign minister said that he and the pope “exchanged views” on Palestine, interfaith dialogue, and U.S. sanctions on Iran. Read more

The Old City of Jerusalem.

Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem says violence requires ‘an urgent intervention’

May 11, 2021

By Courtney Mares

“It is our duty not to ignore injustice nor any aggression against human dignity regardless of who is committing them.” Read more

Saint Macarius Monastery in Egypt's Beheira governorate, November 2010.

Former Coptic Orthodox monk hanged for bishop's murder

May 10, 2021

Wael Saad, a former monk of the Coptic Orthodox Church, was executed on Sunday for the 2018 murder of Bishop... Read more

Fr. Camillus Mbaka. Courtesy photo.

Nigerian priest whose followers stormed cathedral apologizes to bishop

May 10, 2021

By Jude Atemanke

Fr. Camillus Mbaka, whose followers, believing him to be missing, vandalized the cathedral and episcopal residence in Enugu last week,... Read more

Holy Ghost Cathedral in Enugu, Nigeria.

Enugu bishop declares week of prayer after cathedral desecrated by priest’s followers

May 7, 2021

By Agnes Aineah

The Bishop of Enugu announced on Thursday a week of prayer in atonement and reparation following the desecration of the... Read more

Fr. Ejike Mbaka

Nigerian priest thought missing resurfaces after followers storm episcopal residence

May 6, 2021

By Magdalene Kahiu

A priest of the Diocese of Enugu who founded Adoration Ministry resurfaced Wednesday, hours after his followers stormed the episcopal... Read more

'Mosques are springing up everywhere', Congolese bishop says amid fear of Islamization

May 5, 2021

By Agnes Aineah

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been engulfed in a cloud of fear owing to the increasing attacks that... Read more

Bishop-elect Christian Carlassare of Rumbek recovers at a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.

‘I offer the pain I’m going through’: Shot Catholic bishop-elect prays for purification of S Sudan diocese

May 5, 2021

By CNA Staff

Bishop-elect Christian Carlassare says he is imploring God for an end to “violence, division, [and] selfish desires.” Read more

The Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, northern Israel.

Rosary marathon: Nazareth’s Basilica of the Annunciation leads prayer for expectant women and unborn

May 4, 2021

By CNA Staff

The basilica marks the spot where tradition holds that the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary. Read more

Fr. Christian Carlassare, Bishop-Elect of Rumbek, recovering at a hospital in Nairobi April 27 after having been shot in his rectory in Rumbek the previous day. Credit: ACI Africa.

'I'm well, improving, I'll be with you': Bishop-elect to S Sudan's Rumbek diocese

Apr 28, 2021

The Bishop-Elect of Rumbek, who is in a Nairobi hospital recovering from gunshot injuries, sought on Tuesday to reassure his... Read more

Bishop Hilary Nanman Dachelem of Bauchi, Nigeria.

Catholic charity to give $9.5 million in aid to Africa’s persecuted Christians

Apr 27, 2021

By Courtney Mares

“In no other region have so many priests, religious and church workers been murdered in the last three years.” Read more

Catholic clerics among 12 arrested after bishop-elect shot in South Sudan

Apr 27, 2021

Bishop-elect Christian Carlassare was shot in both legs by two armed men. Read more