Middle East - Africa News

Cross erected in Telekuf-Tesqopa, Iraq.

Iraqi Christians erect large cross in area liberated from ISIS

Feb 23, 2017

After years of darkness, hope has returned to Telekuf-Tesqopa. Located just 17 miles from Mosul, the village is rebuilding after... Read more

Damage at the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Malole seminary, which was struck by arson Feb. 18, 2017. Photo courtesy of Aid to the Church in Need.

In DR Congo, an upsurge of violence against the Church

Feb 22, 2017

In the wake of an attack on a Catholic seminary, the leader of the Church in the Democratic Republic of... Read more

Nun in Mali kidnapped by alleged jihadists

Feb 10, 2017

The Colombian bishops are asking for prayers after a religious sister from Colombia was kidnapped for the home where she... Read more

Bishop says the Christian influence in Jordan is still strong

Feb 10, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

Jerusalem Bishop William Shomali, newly appointed to the Latin Patriarchate of Jordan, says that although Christians are a very small... Read more

Pope Francis visits children in Bangui, Central African Republic, Nov. 29, 2015.

Proceeds of Vatican art project will go to children's hospital in CAR

Feb 7, 2017

Inspired by Pope Francis’ trip to Central African Republic in 2015, a children’s hospital in the country will receive a... Read more

Abuja, Nigeria.

Nigerian bishop: Evangelize through family, social media

Feb 1, 2017

For one Catholic bishop in Nigeria, social media and family life are two keys for evangelization and sharing the values... Read more

Rebel soldiers in Ivory Coast, August 2004.

Ivory Coast bishops call for dialogue, prayer after mutinies

Jan 26, 2017

After two weeks of mutinies over pay by Ivory Coast's army and paramilitary, the nation's bishops are calling for open... Read more

Mortars left by Islamic State fighters before a house in Qaraqosh, Iraq, November 2016.

Christians assess damage on Iraq's Nineveh plain, ravaged by ISIS

Jan 24, 2017

“I don't understand how people can harm each other so much,” sighs security guard Louis Petrus. Petrus recently returned to... Read more

A bishop of the Holy Land Coordination surveys the construction of the separation wall in Palestine's Cremisan Valley, Jan. 17, 2017.

'We must never become accustomed' to the Holy Land occupation

Jan 20, 2017

The 50 year-long of occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza by Israel must be at the attention... Read more

A Catholic church in Abuja, Nigeria, February 2006.

Don't give in to complacency, Nigerian archbishop warns

Jan 19, 2017

A prominent Nigerian archbishop last week advised his fellow clergy against a sense of complacency and security which ends up... Read more

Is a Christian pastor facing trumped-up charges in Sudan?

Jan 8, 2017

Charges have been dropped against one Christian pastor in Sudan, but another pastor could face execution for what his defenders... Read more

St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral, Cairo.

Egyptian cathedral restored after December bombing

Jan 5, 2017

The Egyptian army corps of engineers has completed the restoration of Saint Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Cairo, where a terrorist... Read more

Tawadros II, Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, presides over a funeral liturgy for victims of the Dec. 11, 2016 bomb attack on his cathedral.

In Egypt, Christians maintain trust in God amid sorrow

Jan 4, 2017

Coptic Catholic Bishop Kyrillos William of Assiut, Egypt, commenting on the Dec. 11, 2016 suicide bomber attack that killed 26... Read more

Destroyed church.

What Christians are finding as they return to the Nineveh Plain

Jan 3, 2017

By Matt Hadro

As villages on Iraq’s Nineveh Plain are liberated from Islamic State forces, the Christians who lived there have returned, only... Read more

A Fulani herdsman in Cameroon.

In Nigeria, Fulani herdsmen are new Islamist terror threat to Christians

Jan 3, 2017

Islamist violence and terrorism has killed more than 12,000 Christians in Nigeria, destroying some 2,000 churches. Boko Haram has perpetrated... Read more

Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil.

Kidnapped priest appeals for Pope’s help

Dec 26, 2016

A Salesian priest kidnapped in Yemen on March 4 personally appealed for Pope Francis’ help in an unconfirmed video posted... Read more

Children in South Sudan, which has suffered civil war since December 2013.

Year of Mercy was especially needed in South Sudan, bishop notes

Dec 14, 2016

By Matt Hadro

The Jubilee Year of Mercy was observed throughout the world but one bishop in South Sudan, suffering from war and... Read more

ISIS may be gone, but Mosul still faces a long winter ahead

Dec 14, 2016

Christians, Muslims and other victims of ISIS feel relief over the terrorist group being pushed back from the Nineveh Plain... Read more

St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, as it appeared in 2011.

Attack on Cairo's Coptic Orthodox cathedral kills 25

Dec 11, 2016

At least 25 persons were killed Sunday when a bomb exploded at a chapel attached to St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox... Read more

South Africa says assisted suicide will remain illegal

Dec 9, 2016

While countries around the world such as Canada, Germany and Japan have passed legislation to legalize physician assisted suicide, one... Read more