Middle East - Africa News
South African bishops welcome president's resignation
Catholic leaders in South Africa applauded news of President Jacob Zuma’s resignation, stressing the need to root out corruption at... Read more
Respect freedom of speech, Kenyan bishops say after media restrictions
Kenya’s government has shut down several TV stations after the leader of an opposition political party declared himself the “people's... Read more
Bishops in Tanzania denounce government for suppressing freedoms
The bishops of Tanzania spoke out this week against the suppression of several constitutional freedoms within the country, saying the... Read more
Coptic Orthodox to dedicate church to New Martyrs of Libya
The Coptic Orthodox Church will dedicate on Thursday a new church to the 21 Martyrs of Libya, who were beheaded... Read more
Bishops urge Nigerian president to address deadly violence & kidnappings
Amidst violent clashes between nomadic-herdsmen and settled farmers in central Nigeria, Catholic bishops met with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, urging... Read more
The return home: Syriac Christians celebrate Eucharistic liturgy in ravaged church
For the first time in nearly six years, Christians from the eastern city of Deir Ezzor in Syria were able... Read more
Holy Land pilgrimages on the rise, despite political tensions
While the transition of the American embassy to Jerusalem has exacerbated regional tension in recent months, the number of Christian... Read more
Reported message from kidnapped nun calls on Pope for help
A reported video message from a Colombian nun kidnapped almost a year ago in Mali appeals to Pope Francis for... Read more
In Nigeria, brutal attacks and a story of survival
It is common in Nigeria that nomadic herdsmen clash with farmers over the use of land. However, in the past... Read more
Crisis in Cameroon: Cardinal Tumi criticizes military violence
A Cameroonian cardinal has spoken out against the recent use of military violence in the country's Southwest Region against Anglophone... Read more
Iraqi newborn rescued from near death, aid group reports
A newborn baby was sentenced to death after Iraqi tribal leaders discovered it had been conceived in rape committed by... Read more
Congolese cardinal denounces violent crackdown on protesters
After security forces killed at least six people participating in Church-organized protests this weekend, the Archbishop of Kinshasa has likened... Read more
Pence in Israel: US is committed to persecuted Christians, peace process
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence reaffirmed America’s commitment to both peace and persecuted Christians during his four-day trip to Israel... Read more
Damascus bombing kills 9 in Christian districts
An estimated nine people were killed in a bombing on Monday afternoon in Damascus. The shelling targeted the Bab Touma... Read more
Scholars decode one of the last fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls, which are among the oldest extant biblical manuscripts, have been a topic of interest since they... Read more
Nigerian bishops deplore dehumanizing trends of violence
Nigeria's bishops challenged government authorities Tuesday to resolve the country’s violent disputes, especially after recent attacks by Fulani herdsmen have... Read more
On Iraq’s Nineveh Plains, a ten-year-old girl dares to dream again
Ten-year old Helda Khalid Jacob Hindi, a fifth-grader, is not at a loss for words. She is passionate about her... Read more
Bishop: Congo 'gained heroes' when protesters shed blood
The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo held a memorial Mass Friday for protesters killed last month while... Read more
Syrian bishop narrowly avoids death in bombing
A bomb fell in the bedroom of the Maronite Archbishop of Damascus last week. He was spared death, he says,... Read more
In Cairo, a Christmas season tinged with sorrow
A Coptic child lights a candle at a church in Cairo. Credit: Christopher Rose via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0). Read more
