Church in Middle East
The Latest
Novena for peace in the Near East announced for Christians, innocents in region
The novena, which will take place July 16–24, will implore protection for Christians and all innocent civilians in the region,... Read more
Joy in Syria: Pope Francis gives ‘green light’ for canonization of ‘Martyrs of Damascus’
The Vatican has announced that eight Franciscan friars and three laymen who were killed for their faith in Syria will... Read more
Qatar’s St. Charbel Maronite Church prepares to welcome worshippers
Once completed, St. Charbel will be Qatar’s largest Catholic church and the second Catholic church in the country. Read more
Maronite Catholic leader calls on international community to ‘help save Lebanon’
Lebanon’s Maronite patriarch called on Tuesday for the United Nations to help resolve the country’s crisis by convening an international... Read more
Catholic leader outlines vision for Lebanon as the ‘Switzerland of the East’
Lebanon’s Maronite patriarch issued a memorandum Monday outlining a vision for the restoration of the country’s neutral status as the... Read more
Patriarchs meet in Lebanon to discuss political neutrality amid crisis
As Lebanon reels from an economic crisis, Catholic patriarchs met Thursday and reaffirmed the importance of the country’s neutrality in... Read more
Middle East patriarchs discuss plight of Christian minorities with Pope Francis
Six Catholic patriarchs from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq met with Pope Francis at the Vatican Friday to discuss the... Read more
Iraqi archbishop longs for better times for his Church and his people
Archbishop Petros Mouche heads the Syriac-Catholic Archdiocese of Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, which was captured by ISIS in the summer... Read more
Youssef Absi elected Patriarch of Melkite Greek Catholic Church
The synod of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church elected on Wednesday Archbishop Youssef Absi as the Church's new patriarch, who... Read more
Pope: MidEast Christians reflect heroism of St. Stephen
Pope Francis has said the heroic martyrdom of St. Stephen is mirrored in the persecution of modern-day Christians, particularly in... Read more
Christianity returns to the towns of Iraq's Nineveh Plain
Two years after the sound of church bells was replaced by the sound of explosives in Bashiqa, Iraq, just north... Read more
In Hungary, anti-Christian persecution prompts government action
The Hungarian government has established a new office on the persecution of Christians to address both persecutions of Christians in... Read more
The next US president must aid persecuted Christians – Knights' head
Christians can’t be second-class citizens if they are to remain in the Middle East, and the next United States administration... Read more
Those who've stayed – what now for Christians in Syria and Iraq?
War in Iraq and Syria have taken a heavy toll on the Chaldean Christians of the Middle East. Now Chaldean... Read more
Iraqi Christians who fled Islamic State share their story
The plight of Christians in the Middle East was the focus of an educational and fundraising event in Denver on... Read more
Despite terror attack, Christians in Tunisia have reasons to remain hopeful
In the wake of a June 26 terrorist attack on tourists in Tunisia which killed 38 people, one of the... Read more
'The unthinkable is real,' author warns about persecutions of Middle East Christians
Growing unrest in the Middle East is causing great concern for the Christian community around the world, and author George... Read more
Christians belong in Middle East, Antioch patriarchs say in call for peace
The five Christian patriarchs of Antioch met in Syria on Monday, calling for peace in the Syrian civil war while... Read more
For Arab Christianity, new women saints give encouraging example
The Catholic Church’s celebration of the canonization of two new women saints from Palestine on Sunday helps recognize both women’s... Read more
A Christmas with tears – Pope Francis' words to Middle East
In a Christmas message to Christians of the Middle East, Pope Francis grieved the violence that has ravaged and displaced... Read more
