Middle East - Africa News

Israel Antiquities Authority excavation in Rahat (aerial view), May 2024.

Archaeological discovery sheds light on Christian pilgrimages to Holy Land 1,500 years ago

May 23, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority have discovered a Byzantine-period church in the northern Negev desert with wall art displaying... Read more

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, listens to a question during the May 20, 2024, press briefing with a small group of journalists at the Latin Patriarchate headquarters in Jerusalem about his recent visit to visit the Catholic community in Gaza.

Cardinal Pizzaballa meets with journalists to discuss visit to Catholic parish in Gaza 

May 20, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

After returning from the Catholic parish in northern Gaza, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch, spoke to the press about... Read more

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa gives the homily at a Mass in which he took possession of his titular church, St. Onuphrius, in Rome on May 1, 2024.

Cardinal Pizzaballa visits Gaza in show of support, solidarity with ‘suffering population’

May 16, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Pizzaballa “entered Gaza and reached the Parish of the Holy Family for a pastoral visit,” said a press release issued... Read more

Joe Abdel Sater, a swimming instructor in the seaside town of Bouar, Lebanon, built the world's largest rosary on the ocean. With the help of family and friends, his vision took shape and was launched on May 11, 2024, during the feast of Our Lady of the Seas.

Beacon of faith: Lebanese town builds giant floating rosary at sea

May 16, 2024

By Marguerita Kallassy

On the feast of Our Lady of the Seas, Joe Abdel Sater, a swimming instructor in the seaside town of... Read more

CNA

Nigeria diocese orders immediate closure of Catholic school after attack

May 10, 2024

By Jude Atemanke

The Diocese of Makurdi in Nigeria has ordered the immediate closure of Father Angus Frazer Memorial High School after an... Read more

Ongoing construction work on St. Charbel Maronite Church in Doha, Qatar, in April 2024.

Qatar’s St. Charbel Maronite Church prepares to welcome worshippers

May 10, 2024

By Georgena Habbaba

Once completed, St. Charbel will be Qatar’s largest Catholic church and the second Catholic church in the country. Read more

An external view of the Chapel of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem during the procession of the Franciscan friars after the first vespers of the Ascension solemnity on May 8, 2024. The procession circled the chapel three times.

PHOTOS: Catholics gather at site of Jesus’ ascension in Jerusalem

May 9, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

“I’m excited to have come to pray in the actual place of the Ascension... I want to be closer to... Read more

Angelic Molen of Zimbabwe was ordained a deaconess in the Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and of All Africa, a part of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Orthodox Church ordains female deacon 

May 9, 2024

By Martin Barillas

The Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa ordained Zimbabwean Angelic Molen as a deaconess in the Orthodox Church. Read more

Bishop Anthony Pascal Rebello of the Catholic Diocese of Francistown in Botswana.

Botswana diocese mourns loss of bishop who collapsed during Mass

May 8, 2024

By Jude Atemanke

The Kenyan-born member of Society of the Divine Word of Indian origin turned 74 on March 18. Read more

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Uganda’s Catholic dioceses notified of limited stock of altar wine for Mass

May 7, 2024

By Jude Atemanke

Catholic dioceses in Uganda have been notified of a limited stock of wine for Masses due to delays in shipping. Read more

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III exits the Aedicule of the Holy Sepulcher on May 4, 2024, in Jerusalem, showing the faithful the two candles just lit from the oil lamp that is believed to have been miraculously ignited inside Jesus' tomb.

‘Holy Fire’ ceremony at Jesus’ tomb marks beginning of Orthodox Easter celebrations

May 5, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

Though its authenticity is disputed, the “Holy Fire” refers to a flame of purported divine origin that ignites inside Jesus’... Read more

Archbishop Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias of Angola’s Archdiocese of Luanda.

Angola archdiocese announces monthly Eucharistic adoration ahead of Church’s 2025 Jubilee

May 5, 2024

By João Vissesse

Eucharistic adoration facilitates “a true encounter with Christ,” said Archbishop Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias of Luanda, Angola. Read more

Professor Mouna Maroun is the first Arab to be elected as the rector of an Israeli university, the University of Haifa. Maroun belongs to the Arab minority in Israel, the Christian minority among Arabs, and the Maronite minority among Christians. She says she is proud of her religious affiliation and wears a golden crucifix around her neck. "My election is an important message that everything is possible in the Israeli academia," she told CNA.

First Arab Christian woman to lead Israel’s University of Haifa

May 4, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

The announcement of Professor Mouna Maroun’s appointment was made amid tensions with Iran and as anti-Israel protests were mounting around... Read more

Father Paul Tatu Mothobi, a member the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata (CSS/ Stigmatines) and former Media and Communications Officer of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), was found dead of gunshot wounds in South Africa, on April 27, 2024.

Priest shot dead in South Africa; Catholic bishops there decry ‘pandemic’ of murder

May 2, 2024

By ACI Africa

Father Paul Tatu Mothobi, CSS, was found dead of gunshot wounds last weekend in South Africa. Read more

A family of religious Jews walks at the beginning of Armenian Quarter Street, the entry point to the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem in April 2024. Behind them stands the complex of the Tower of David Museum.

Orthodox rabbis in Jerusalem call on Jews to stand against spitting at Christians

May 1, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

Several posters and pamphlets appeared in the streets of the Old City calling on the public to avoid harassment toward... Read more

Lara Al-Sayegh, a Catholic from Gaza, collapsed and died of heatstroke as she and her mother tried to leave Gaza and find safe haven in Egypt on April 24, 2024. The 19-year-old lived in northern Gaza and the family had already lost their father and husband after he died at Gaza’s Latin Holy Family Church due to a lack of adequate medical care.

19-year-old Catholic woman dies attempting to flee Gaza with her mother

Apr 30, 2024

By Sanad Sahelia

The tragic death of Lara Al-Sayegh highlights the suffering of Gaza’s dwindling Christian minority. Read more

Palestinians carry empty pots during a demonstration held by the displaced Palestinians gathered in a protest carrying empty pots and pans asking for more relief aid and fuel to reach Gaza strip in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

World Central Kitchen resumes relief efforts, dedicates operation to slain Catholic worker 

Apr 29, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

“We are restarting our operation with the same energy, dignity, and focus on feeding as many people as possible,” said... Read more

Members of the Provincial Episcopal Assembly of Bukavu (ASSEPB).

Democratic Republic of Congo bishops: Amid growth of Church ‘the Congolese state is dead’

Apr 28, 2024

By Jude Atemanke

Catholic bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo have denounced the insecurity and violence... Read more

A view of the modern area of the Catholic cemetery located on the southern hillside of Mount Zion in April 2024. In the background are the buildings of the Arabic neighborhood of Abu Tor.

Franciscans file petition to stop cable cars from passing over Holy Land Catholic cemetery

Apr 27, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

The Jerusalem Development Authority is exploring the opportunity to use the piece of land in the cemetery to place a... Read more

There are now more than 100 priests in the four dioceses of Sierra Leone.

Most priests in Sierra Leone are sons of Muslims, bishop says

Apr 26, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

“Most priests are sons of Muslims. Why? Because of the schools,” explained Bishop Natale Paganelli, who was apostolic administrator in... Read more