Tag: Middle East

St Michael the Archangel Melkite Catholic Cathedral held an interfaith candlelight vigil on 19 March for the Syrians massacred in recent weeks, mostly members of the minority Alawite community who live on the nation’s coastline.

As the 15-month devastating war reached a point of a ceasefire 15 January, US Bishop A Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon expressed hope and optimism following the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, viewing it as a significant step toward peace in a region long marred by violence.

The Vatican's top diplomat met with papal representatives to various Middle Eastern countries to discuss possible avenues toward peace in the region and the state of the Catholic Church there.

Although Christian leaders in Syria are trying to stay positive about the new Islamist interim government in Damascus, others are pointing to worrying concerns about what lies ahead for the country's diverse population.

The seizure of the city of Aleppo by jihadist rebels leaves an uncertain future for some 25,000 Catholics in Syria.

With war and violence plaguing so many parts of the world, Christians can look to the saints to discover from their example the true meaning of peace, Maronite Auxiliary Bishop Paul Rouhana of Beirut told participants at the Synod of Bishops.

As the Israel-Hamas war expands to include attacks in Lebanon—where the Iran-backed Shia militia Hezbollah is based—OSV News interviewed Michel Constantin, regional director for the CNEWA-Pontifical Mission.

Maronite Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay has called on all faithful to pray for peace, as Israel began a “targeted ground operation” in southern Lebanon on 1 October, following airstrikes that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other senior commanders in a Beirut bunker on 27 September.

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon meant to target Hezbollah militants have led to over 550 deaths, including 50 children and 94 women, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Rai expressed "profound sorrow" over the "devastating toll" of Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, the country’s state news agency NNA reported 22 September.

More than 20 relatives of victims of the 4 August 2020 Beirut port explosion met with Pope Francis at the Vatican, calling for an investigation into the blast that killed more than 200 people and injured another 7000. 

On 12 August, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, had a phone call with the newly elected President of Iran over concern of the escalation of violence in the Middle East.