Peace

The Latest

Pope Francis gives the Wednesday general audience in St. Peters Square Oct. 2, 2013.

Pope Francis issues peace plea to all Holy See embassies

Jul 30, 2014

By Elise Harris

Signed by Vatican secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, a “nota verbale” was sent to all embassies accredited to the... Read more

Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Permanent Observer of Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva, in Rome July 1, 2014.

Holy See calls for immediate ceasefire, lasting peace in Gaza

Jul 24, 2014

By Andrea Gagliarducci

In a statement issued during a special session of the Human Rights Council, the Holy See urged an immediate ceasefire... Read more

Palestinian soldier stands guard duing Pope Francis' May 25, 2014 Mass in Bethlehem's Manger Square.

Pope Francis makes phone call to Israel, Palestine presidents

Jul 18, 2014

By Elise Harris

In wake of the rising death toll in Gaza due to increased tensions between Israel and Palestine, Pope Francis made... Read more

Msgr. Melchor Sanchez, undersecretary at the Pontifical Council for Culture, holds a sign with the hashtag in front of the Vatican.

Vatican lauds wide reach of #PAUSEforPeace campaign

Jul 16, 2014

In wake of the Vatican’s viral campaign urging faithful worldwide to pause for a moment of silence during the world... Read more

Pope Francis gives the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on Oct. 2, 2013.

Pope Francis prays for peace during Angelus

Jul 13, 2014

By Elise Harris

Following his reflections on the Sunday’s Gospel parable of the sower and the seed, Pope Francis called for peace in... Read more

Flag of Colombia.

Catholics, Jews and Muslims sign peace statement in Colombia

Jul 11, 2014

Catholic, Jewish and Muslim representatives in Colombia have signed a historic joint statement for peace in a July 1 ceremony... Read more

Jerusalem. Photo

Violence begets violence, Church leaders in Holy Land declare

Jul 9, 2014

By Elise Harris

In a declaration issued by the Catholic Ordinaries in the Holy Land, Church leaders decried ongoing violence in the region,... Read more

Bishop William Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem, speaks with CNA May, 26 2014.

Revenge only perpetuates violence, Jerusalem bishop observes

Jul 2, 2014

By Elise Harris

In wake of escalating tensions between Israel and Palestine following the murder of three Israeli teens, Bishop William Shomali has... Read more

Pope Francis prayes during his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on Oct. 2, 2013.

Peace in Middle East can flourish again, Pope assures

Jun 27, 2014

By Elise Harris

In an audience with aid organizations assisting Oriental churches, Pope Francis explained that peace is a gift from God, which... Read more

Pope Francis prays during his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on Oct. 2, 2013.

Peace in Middle East can flourish again, Pope assures

Jun 26, 2014

By Elise Harris

In an audience with aid organizations assisting Oriental churches, Pope Francis explained that peace is a gift from God, which... Read more

(L-R) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Pope Francis, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Invocation for Peace in the Vatican Gardens June 8.

Vatican prayer meeting brings hope for Holy Land peace

Jun 10, 2014

By Adelaide Mena

Pope Francis’ recent prayer meeting with the Israeli and Palestinian presidents is a call for peace in the region that... Read more

(L-R) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Pope Francis, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Invocation for Peace in the Vatican Gardens June 8.

Pope prays for peace with Israeli and Palestinian presidents

Jun 8, 2014

Pope Francis welcomed the presidents of Israel and Palestine to the Vatican on Sunday evening for an unprecedented meeting of... Read more

A view of Jerusalem with the Dome of the Rock and the Wailing Wall.

Three faiths pray for Holy Land peace

Jun 8, 2014

Representatives of Judaism, Christianity and Islam said prayers from their respective religious communities at Sunday’s historic “Invocation for Peace” at... Read more

Pope Francis praying.

Palestinian, Israeli leaders to pray with Pope at Vatican June 8

May 29, 2014

An encounter among Pope Francis, the Palestinian president, and the Israeli president at the Vatican to pray for peace in... Read more

Mayor of Bethlehem Vera Baboun speaks with CNA in her office on May 24, 2014

Vatican is the 'oil' keeping Bethlehem's star lit, mayor observes

May 29, 2014

By Elise Harris

The first woman mayor of the town where Jesus was born referred to the strong connection they have with the... Read more

A flooded cemetery in the Archdiocese of Vhrbosna in Sarajevo.

Religious tensions subside amid Balkan floods

May 27, 2014

Amid the “inconceivable amount of devastation” caused by floods in Bosnia-Herzegovina, people are crossing ethnic and religious lines to help... Read more

A view of Jerusalem with the Dome of the Rock and the Wailing Wall.

Pope Francis lauds fraternal dialogue with Muslims, Jews

May 26, 2014

Pope Francis spent a large part of the third day of his pilgrimage to the Holy Land meeting with Muslim... Read more

A chandelier of candles hangs in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Israel.

Pope prays at Holocaust memorial, Western Wall

May 26, 2014

On the last day of his Holy Land pilgrimage Pope Francis stopped to pray at two sacred sites in Jerusalem.  Read more

George Zenee watches over an entrance to Pope Francis Mass in Bethlehem's Manger Square on May 25, 2014

We came to pray with our Pope, says papal Mass volunteer

May 25, 2014

By Elise Harris

A leader of one of the Boy Scout troops manning the entrances to Pope Francis’ Mass in Bethlehem today explained... Read more

Pope Francis kisses the altar during Mass in Bethlehem's Manger Square on May 25, 2014.

Israeli, Palestinian presidents accept invitation meeting at Vatican

May 25, 2014

Today Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that they have accepted Pope Francis’ invitation to join... Read more