Middle East - Africa News

Ave Maria Parish Church, outside Mupoi, South Sudan.

In war-torn South Sudan, two Spanish priests build a shrine to Our Lady of the Rosary

May 31, 2019

Ave Maria, the parish church outside Mupoi, South Sudan, fell into disrepair decades ago. It was abandoned at the beginning... Read more

A man drives past a church in Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso.

Four killed in attack on parish in Burkina Faso

May 29, 2019

Four people were killed Sunday during an attack on a Catholic church in Burkina Faso. There have been several such... Read more

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Catholic bishops lament setbacks for Holy Land peace, but call for a better path

May 25, 2019

Peace, mutual equality, and respect must be the foundation of progress in Israeli-Palestinian relations, despite continued setbacks, the Assembly of... Read more

Pope Francis greets South Sudanese president Salva Kiir at the Vatican, April 11, 2019.

South Sudan president: I was ‘almost trembling’ as Pope Francis begged me to make peace

May 20, 2019

By Jonah McKeown

In an unprecedented gesture last month, Pope Francis kissed the feet of several South Sudanese leaders, who were visiting the... Read more

Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil speaks at Georgetown University on Feb. 15.

Archbishop of Erbil: Is the US abandoning Christians at risk in Iraq?

May 17, 2019

Archbishop Bashar Warda, one of the leading voices on behalf of persecuted and displaced Christians in Iraq, released today an... Read more

Four more Burkina Faso Catholics killed in new attack

May 15, 2019

Just one day after six Catholics were murdered by gunmen in Burkina Faso, four more Catholics were shot and killed... Read more

Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, Maronite Patriarch, in Johannesburg, South Africa, May 11, 2008

Maronite patriarch emeritus dies at age 98

May 14, 2019

By CNA Staff

Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, who served as the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1986 to 2011, died Sunday just days... Read more

President Elect of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa delivers a speech on May 12, 2019.

South African bishops: New president must tackle corruption, poverty

May 13, 2019

In the wake of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s successful reelection bid last week, South Africa’s Catholic bishops are applauding the country’s... Read more

To promote peace, Ghana's chief Muslim cleric goes to Mass

May 13, 2019

As part of his efforts to increase interreligious peace, Ghana’s chief imam attended Easter Mass ahead of his 100th birthday... Read more

Protestors demonstrate against terrorism in central Ouagadougou on August 19, 2017.

Gunmen kill six during Mass in Burkina Faso

May 12, 2019

A group of gunmen burned down a Catholic Church during Sunday Mass and killed at least six people, including a... Read more

Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, editor of ACI-Africa, stands with the image of Mother Mary Angelica, foundress of EWTN.

EWTN to launch African news agency

May 10, 2019

EWTN Global Catholic Network announced Friday that it will launch a news service for the African continent.    Read more

Death toll in DRC Ebola outbreak reaches 1,000

May 9, 2019

The Ebola outbreak that began last August in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has now claimed more than 1,000... Read more

Military position at the Kerem Shalom border crossing to the Gaza strip.

Ceasefire called in Gaza as Vatican UN ambassador sees ‘glimmer of hope’

May 6, 2019

Over the weekend, approximately 700 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip. While the majority of the rocket fire was... Read more

Sister Ester of South Sudan's "Blue Sisters."

In South Sudan, the 'Blue Sisters' bring hope to abused women

May 4, 2019

They were founded three decades ago in southern Sudan, and named the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But in... Read more

Bishop Eduardo Kussala of Tombura-Yambio.

How the South Sudanese bishops are working to promote peace

May 3, 2019

By Perry West

The president of the Sudanese Bishops’ Conference said he believes peace in South Sudan is possible, but the process will... Read more

Cyclone Kenneth before landful just east of Pema, Mozambique, April 25, 2019.

Catholic Relief Services aids cyclone-stricken nothern Mozambique

May 2, 2019

Catholic Relief Services is appealing for additional aid after Cyclone Kenneth struck northern Mozambique last week, the second such storm... Read more

John Bradburne with Jeromia at the Mutemwa Leper Settlement. Photo courtesy of the John Bradburne Memorial Society.

Zimbabwean bishops reportedly approve beatification cause of lay missionary

May 2, 2019

The bishops' conference of Zimbabwe approved Wednesday the opening of the cause for canonization of John Bradburne, a lay missionary... Read more

Rwandan bishops apologize for letter urging pardon for genocide perpetrators

Apr 25, 2019

The Catholic bishops of Rwanda have apologized for calling for the release of old and ill prisoners convicted for crimes... Read more

Aleppo, Syria, in 2009.

Church in Syria suffers 'bleeding wound' of emigration

Apr 16, 2019

The number of Christians in Aleppo, Syria, fell dramatically during the civil war, from 180,000 before the war to 32,000... Read more

Cyprien and Daphrose Rugumba. Copyright Archives de la Communauté de l'Emmanuel.

Killed in the Rwandan genocide, this couple is being considered for sainthood

Apr 8, 2019

The story of Cyprien and Daphrose Rugumba is a story of atheism and devout faith, of a strained marriage and... Read more