Church in Middle East
The Latest
New Coptic Catholic leader receives Pope's approval
Pope Benedict XVI approved Bishop Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak as the new Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts in Egypt, granting... Read more
Catholic hospital in Jordan struggles to help Syrian refugees
A Jordanian Catholic hospital is appealing for more money to help with the growing influx of Syrian refugees fleeing the... Read more
Jerusalem patriarch's Christmas message surveys Middle East situation
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Fouad Twal, has issued a Christmas message that both laments the violence and refugee... Read more
Pope warns Gaza conflict could spread in Middle East
Pope Benedict XVI is warning violence could spread through the region, after Israel continued bombing Gaza and a suicide bomb... Read more
Pope cancels delegation to Syria, focuses on aid work
A delegation of bishops from the recent synod on the New Evangelization will not go to Syria as violence continues... Read more
Middle East to host Catholic youth conference
At least 1,500 Catholic youth from across the Middle East will gather at Abu Dhabi’s St. Joseph’s Cathedral for Arabia’s... Read more
Violence postpones papal delegation to Syria
The Vatican Secretary of State told the synod on the New Evangelization that the planned peace mission to Syria will... Read more
Pope prays for Middle East Christians in Arabic
After his recent visit to the Church in Lebanon, Pope Benedict added Arabic to the list of official languages used... Read more
Christians excited to hear Pope's messages in Arabic
Arab Christians are reacting positively to the decision to include Arabic as one of the official languages used at the... Read more
Pakistan urged to end blasphemy law abuses
An international hearing sponsored by the World Council of Churches called on Pakistan to end abuse of the nation's blasphemy... Read more
Iraqi archbishop: make Christian survival focus of papal meeting
Iraqi Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk has asked the Catholic patriarchs and bishops of the Middle East to speak with... Read more
Pope to proceed with Lebanon trip despite Syria violence
As fighting in neighboring Syria rages on, Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed that he will proceed with his trip to... Read more
Mentally impaired child arrested under Pakistan's anti-blasphemy law
A young girl who suffers from Down's Syndrome has been arrested in Pakistan for allegedly burning a page from the... Read more
Maronite patriarch warns Syrian conflict could spread to Lebanon
Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai of Antioch, the head of the Maronite Catholic Church, has warned that the armed conflict in... Read more
Catholic vicariate moves from Kuwait to Bahrain
The Catholic Church’s Vicariate of Northern Arabia will move its headquarters from Kuwait to Bahrain, saying the country’s location is... Read more
Church leaders urge Egyptian troops to rescue Sinai hostages
“Dramatic changes” in the Sinai peninsula region offer Egypt's government a chance to rescue trafficking and torture victims, an assembly... Read more
Interim leader of Egyptian Catholic Copts is hopeful after election
Coptic Catholic Bishop Kyrillos William has said he is optimistic about the future of Egypt following the country’s presidential election. Read more
Christians are loyal to Egypt, Melkite patriarch tells president
Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorios III emphasized Egyptian Christians' national loyalty, as well as their need for guaranteed human rights,... Read more
Cardinal Schönborn: Loss of Mid-East Christians would be 'tragedy for the region'
World leaders and diplomats must help prevent a total loss of Middle Eastern Christianity, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna warned... Read more
Pope prays for Syria as worries of larger conflict loom
Pope Benedict XVI is praying that Syria ends its internal conflict, which he believes could have very serious consequences for... Read more
