Middle East - Africa News
There were over 800 extremist attacks in West Africa in 2019
Extremist attacks have risen dramatically in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, from 180 incidents in 2017 to more than 800... Read more
Cathedral in Iraq's largest Christian town to be rebuilt in 2020
The Great Al-Tahira Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Bakhdida remains charred black inside, five years after the Islamic State plundered and... Read more
‘Adopt a family’ of Christian refugees in Lebanon this Christmas
As Lebanon’s economic crisis worsens, a Lebanese priest is asking for people to spiritually and charitably adopt a persecuted Christian... Read more
For Gaza Christians, no Christmas travels to Bethlehem and Jerusalem
Church leaders in Jerusalem are appealing to Israeli authorities to reverse a decision that prohibits the Christmastime travel permits that... Read more
Group of South Sudanese clerics, laity reject Juba archbishop appointment
A group of three priests and five laymen from the Archdiocese of Juba wrote Thursday to the Congregation for the... Read more
Lebanese bishops concerned about Christian emigration
Aid to the Church in Need spoke about the situation in Lebanon with Melkite Archbishop Georges Bacouni of Beirut. Read more
Cardinal Sako orders muted Christmas celebrations in Iraq
Christmas celebrations among Iraqi Christians will be subdued this year in a show of solidarity with anti-government protesters. Read more
Iraqi cardinal pleads for help for Christians on Nineveh Plain
Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako has appealed for financial and spiritual aid for Christians in the Middle East, especially in Iraq. Read more
Burkina Faso bishop: As violence continues, 'nobody is listening'
Following the death of more than a dozen Christians in a church shooting over the weekend, a Burkina Faso bishop... Read more
Christian activist’s arrest in Egypt prompts warnings of crackdown on dissent
Human rights groups have voiced concern over the arrest of a Coptic Christian activist in Egypt, on terrorism-related charges. Critics... Read more
Lebanon on the brink: Syrian crisis threatens 'last safe haven' for Christians
A new report claims that the Syrian refugee crisis is severely burdening Lebanon’s limited resources and threatens its pluralism, requiring immediate... Read more
In West Africa, Church leaders meet to discuss humanitarian crisis
Bishops and Catholic leaders from West Africa concluded a two-day meeting last week by reaffirming their commitment to work for... Read more
Pope, Abu Dhabi crown prince make joint commitment to improving health of the poor
In a joint statement signed Monday, Pope Francis and Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, committed... Read more
Statement of 11 nations opposes 'reproductive rights' focus of Nairobi Summit
On the sidelines of the Nairobi Summit, the US and 10 other nations delivered a joint statement Thursday indicating their... Read more
Armenian Catholic priest killed in Syria; ISIS claims responsibility
The Islamic State (ISIS) militant group on Monday claimed responsibility for the shooting of an Armenian Catholic priest and his... Read more
Chaldean patriarch calls for fasting, prayer amid Iraq protests
The Chaldean patriarch has called for three days of fasting and prayer “for an end to the chaos and violence... Read more
African bishops say UN Nairobi Summit will be destructive of pro-life agenda
Bishops in Africa have raised concerns about the agenda of the Nairobi Summit, a United Nations gathering being held next... Read more
Nigerian priest abducted and released, officials increase security measures
The vice-rector of a seminary in Nigeria was kidnapped earlier this week and released two days later, the latest in... Read more
United Arab Emirates pledges to help rebuild Catholic churches in Mosul
The United Arab Emirates is partnering with UNESCO to rebuild two Catholic churches in Mosul that were destroyed in 2014... Read more
Bishops in Middle East urge prayer for northern Syria
Bishops in Syria and Iraq have called for worldwide prayer as fighting between Turkish and Kurdish forces further destabilizes northern... Read more
