Latest News – Holy Land News

Two days after 7 January, Christmas Day for the Oriental Churches (with the exception of the Armenians who celebrate it on 19 December),  the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land visited the various Orthodox communities to exchange Christmas greetings. The understanding with the Greek Orthodox The morning started with the appointment at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. In the speeches of

On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, the Latin Church in Jordan welcomed Monsignor Iyad Twal, who was appointed by His Holiness Pope Francis on December 17 as an auxiliary bishop of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Latin patriarchal vicar for Jordan. The procession of the new bishop set off from the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, heading to the Patriarchal Vicariate

 His Majesty King Abdullah II on Sunday received Secretary of State of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin at Al Husseiniya Palace. According to a royal court statement., His Majesty conveyed to Cardinal Parolin his greetings to Pope Francis. The meeting, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, His Majesty’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and

Representative of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein, His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi Ibn Muhammad, Chief Advisor to His Majesty the King for Cultural and Religious Affairs, Legate of His Holiness Pope Francis, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, Dear brothers and sisters, May the Lord give you peace!   It is with great pride

On Friday, January 10, 2025, the Catholic Church celebrated a historic milestone with the inauguration of the Church of the Baptism of Christ on the banks of the Jordan River at Al-Maghtas. The pontifical mass was led by His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, representing His Holiness Pope Francis. Among the distinguished attendees were

At the end of the last century, the Holy See proposed that bishops from various countries to coordinate their interests and involvement in the life of the Churches in the Holy Land. He suggested it would be preferable for bishops from countries that have historically influenced events in the Holy Land to organise this themselves. This should emphasise pastoral care

This year I have had the joy and grace to celebrate Christmas twice. On December 25, I celebrated the birth of Jesus like all Catholics in the parish of Shubra, in Cairo. Then, on January 7, I celebrated Christmas with my Catholic brothers of the Coptic rite in the village of Kom Ghareeb (كوم غريب), where I have been for

The Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced this week the opening of a historical exhibit in Vatican City titled “Jordan: Dawn of Christianity.” This pioneering event aims to explore the origins of Christianity in Jordan. The announcement was made at a special press event at the St. Regis Hotel in Amman on Wednesday, Jan. 8, and provided a glimpse

More than a month after Syria’s political shift, Christians there are vocalizing a sense of relief as initial assurances for their safety and security by the de facto government have reportedly been provided. Christians continue to seek more concrete guarantees, although opinions differ on what form these guarantees should take. For some Christians, the Church remains their primary safeguard, as

Christmas in the Holy Land, usually full of people, smiles, celebrations, and journeys, had a different flavor this year. More than a festive moment, our colleagues Andrea Avveduto and Giacomo Pizzi, who traveled to the Middle East from Christmas to early January, recall a period suspended between tension and silence. "We spent most of the trip in Jerusalem, then ventured south