The Ecclesiastical Court starts a specialized 3-day session for new lawyers
JERICHO – On Friday afternoon, November 25th, till Sunday noon, November 27th, the Ecclesiastical Court of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem and Nazareth is organizing a specialized course about canon law at the Oasis Hotel, formerly known as the Intercontinental Hotel, in Jericho. 40 lawyers from different parts of Jerusalem, the West Bank and Galilee will attend this 3-day meeting. All
A global famine of peace
May the world leaders heed the warning disseminated by Pope Francis by eliminating the threat of violence and wars while help shine the sun of peace and prosperity. During Pope Francis' recitation of the Angelus prayer after Mass on the Solemnity of Christ the King in Asti and prayers for an end to wars on 20 November 2022, he made an impressive
The solemn entrance of the Custos of the Holy Land in Bethlehem and the start of Advent
The solemn entrance of the Custos of the Holy Land, fr. Francesco Patton in Bethlehem and the first vespers of the first Sunday of Advent in St Catherine’s church, mark the start of the time until Christmas in the land of Jesus. The celebrations started on the morning f 26th November, where fr. Patton met the representatives of the Latin parish and the deputy
Deadly wave of violence in Israel and West Bank
Israel and the occupied West Bank have been experiencing their deadliest wave of violence since 2015. On Wednesday, twin blasts shook Jerusalem, killing an Israeli-Canadian teenager and injuring at least 18 others. The explosions went off at a busy bus stop near the entrance of the city during the morning rush hour while the second device exploded about half an
Why Are We So Cynical About Peace on Earth?
Sometimes it takes new horrors of war to remind us that our world is not a peaceful place. Against the long-standing backdrop of violence in Myanmar, Yemen, Syria, Ethiopia, Somalia, Afghanistan, and beyond, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine took center stage for months this year. As Christians, we believe the world is supposed to be at peace and that, one day,
SYRIA – Armenian Catholic Patriarchate: let us pray for the end of Turkish military operations in north-east Syria
Aleppo - The Armenian Catholic Patriarchate has issued an invitation to pray during the Advent season, asking the coming Savior Jesus, to also bring peace, the end of suffering and danger to the population of northeastern Syria. Area that has long been the target of shelling and military raids carried out by the Turkish armed forces against Kurdish targets. This
IRAQ – Around 20 families a month: Patriarch Sako laments the emigration of Iraqi Christians
Baghdad - Iraqi Christians, living mainly in the cities of the Nineveh Plains and other areas of northern Iraq, continue to leave the country. This is happening "at a rate of around 20 families a month," said Iraqi Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Church, in a reflection on the situation of Christians in Iraq. In a statement
Catholic charity blasts Syria sanctions, says they hurt only the poor
ROME – Frontline aid workers in Syria have called for an end to international sanctions, saying the situation in the country is dire and is being made worse by the Ukraine conflict and the cumulative toll of sanctions on national infrastructure. Speaking to Crux, Riad Sargi, executive director of Caritas Syria, said international sanctions and the United States’ Caesar Act “really
Stories from the refugee camp of Rhodes. The interview with Father Luke.
On the Greek island of Rhodes, some of the poorest migrant families arrive after a long crossing from Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq in particular. Father Luke Gregory welcomes and helps hundreds of families by offering them shelter, food, water, clothing and precious words of comfort. The Christmas light that spreads from Bethlehem also reaches the refugee camps in Greece, despite the painful stories that come to
Christmas is approaching in Syria
Christmas is approaching in Syria and winter is almost upon us. Families prepare for the cold and bad weather, stockpiling dried seasonal vegetables and fruit, clothes and warm clothing and where possible making small repairs to poorly insulated homes. The past winter has left a considerable mark on the minds of Syrian families afflicted by the strong economic crisis in progress: not only was