Ain Ebel, Rmeich and Debl, known locally as the “Delta of Resilience”, are the last inhabited Christian towns in Lebanon’s border region. Since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalated into a full-scale war in 2024, residents have endured deaths, destruction and growing isolation from the rest of the country.

Today, even returning home has become a grueling journey. With the usual roads damaged or inaccessible, residents must travel in organized convoys through military checkpoints and Israeli-occupied territory, an ordeal some have come to call “road to Calvary.”

Convoys travel to the villages almost daily, usually accompanied by Caritas and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Carrying humanitarian assistance, they usually include approximately 30 cars and trucks. Yet a journey that once took around two hours from Beirut can now last 12 hours or more.

The day begins at approximately 5 a.m., and the convoy may not reach the villages until after 6 p.m. One of the first stops is a Lebanese Army checkpoint, where residents are required to remain inside their vehicles for hours. Meanwhile, the sound of airstrikes and the sight of their impact on the surrounding hills heighten the fear and tension.

The convoy then enters roads running through Israeli-occupied territory, where Israeli flags line the route. At Naqoura, residents can see the Mediterranean Sea, which they are no longer permitted to access, before another period of waiting begins. This can last for hours, with passengers prohibited from leaving their vehicles, even in the summer heat.

Just feet away, Israeli soldiers can be seen inside buildings they have taken over, while Israeli military vehicles pass alongside the convoy. Many residents describe the experience as humiliating: They are in their own country, yet must wait for permission from a foreign military to reach their homes. As the hours pass, one question remains: Will the convoy be permitted to proceed, or will they be forced to return to Beirut after an entire day of waiting?

If permission is finally granted, the last stage of the journey begins. Residents travel along severely damaged roads, past destroyed houses and through routes that require vehicles capable of navigating the difficult terrain, before finally reaching their villages.

Many of those making the journey are elderly or ill and had been forced to travel to Beirut for medical treatment. Some underwent surgery only days earlier yet must spend long hours inside a vehicle under the sun, sometimes without enough water or access to a bathroom.

Others travel to the capital for life’s most basic necessities. Pregnant women go to Beirut to give birth and then make the difficult return journey with their newborn babies, while parents travel to enroll their children in universities. The convoys often transport livestock, including pigs and cattle, some of which have died after being kept for hours in the intense heat.

Maroun Louka, a father who was waiting in a convoy with his wife and children after a medical emergency forced the family to travel to Beirut, told ACI MENA the hardship begins even before the journey itself, with the registration of names and the wait for approval.

“We are suffering greatly,” he said. “Sometimes we wait an entire week to receive approval and be able to return to our village.”

“My uncle and my cousin were killed. Our homes were damaged, as were my brothers’ homes,” Louka continued. “I cannot even reach my olive press or my house. Life is extremely harsh and difficult.”

Asked why he was determined to return, Louka said his family had no alternative. “Our parents and grandparents are deeply rooted in this village. They spent their lives here, and some were killed and buried here. Can we, today, simply come and abandon it? No. Leaving it would be extremely difficult.”

While the journey reveals the harsh realities of war and occupation, it also reflects the faith, strength and resilience of those who continue to live in these villages.

Father Najib al-Amil, a priest in Rmeish, told ACI MENA that the Church has played a central role in helping residents remain on their land.

“Through our homilies, we encouraged the people and led them in prayer,” he said. “Every day, we prayed the rosary and held Eucharistic adoration.”

The priests also encouraged parish groups to remain active by visiting the sick, checking on families and assisting the poor and others in need.

Asked how the Vatican has supported the community, Father al-Amil pointed to the presence of Archbishop Paolo Borgia, the apostolic nuncio to Lebanon, whom he calls “the saintly nuncio.”

“Despite the danger, the strikes and the shelling, he continued to come,” the priest said. “He insisted on reaching us here, sitting with the people, speaking with them and celebrating Mass with us.”

The resilience of these communities is also sustained by Catholic organizations providing the material assistance families need to remain in their homes.

Father Samir Ghaoui, president of Caritas Lebanon, said there had been a clear decision by the Maronite Church and the wider Catholic Church to stand beside these Christian villages, and ensure that their essential needs were met.

“Since the beginning of the war, we have not abandoned them. Our decision was that we would stand beside every Christian household that chose to remain in its home and on its land. We will try to provide everything they need,” Father Ghaoui said. “They have the right to live with dignity in their own homes and with their families.”

He expressed hope that residents would one day be able to support themselves once again through their own work.

“But as long as there is war and as long as there is need, we at Caritas, in the name of the Church, will remain beside them,” he said. “Whatever the difficulties, we will continue finding a way to reach them.”

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Each session follows a simple but carefully structured program. It begins with approximately 40 minutes devoted to explaining and exploring a passage from the Bible, followed by approximately 15 minutes of spiritual reflection. Participants then move on to an interactive segment featuring games and questions about the Bible or other topics related to the Christian faith, such as Marian apparitions. The gatherings are free and held under the supervision of Catholic priests.

Behind each session, however, lies an extensive preparation process. Jimmy Chaaya, one of the initiative’s founders, explained that he seeks to vary the topics from week to week and studies the selected passage with a hermit.

His research includes examining the original Greek words in Scripture, their meanings, and the cultural context in which they were used alongside the Church Fathers’ interpretations of the text. He also consults Jewish writings, geography books, papal homilies, and other sources. Once his research is complete, Chaaya submits the material to several priests for review and approval before presenting it to participants.

Initially, the Bible study gatherings took place on Mondays. As attendance grew, the team added a second session on Tuesdays and is now preparing to introduce a Wednesday gathering as well. Chaaya said the team hopes to expand beyond its current location in the town of Antelias.

To that end, the organizers are training people to lead similar gatherings in other parts of Lebanon while their long-term vision extends beyond the country’s borders.

Charbel El Hage, another founder, said the team hopes to bring the initiative to other countries, particularly in the Middle East, where he sees considerable potential for such efforts to grow.

El Hage noted that the initiative has benefited from the support of the Maronite Archdiocese of Antelias from the outset as well as broad support within the Church. This backing, he said, has helped the project develop smoothly.

Attendance is not limited to Catholics. According to Chaaya, Christians from various churches and denominations — including Orthodox Christians and Protestants — have joined the gatherings, alongside people from other religious backgrounds, including Muslims. He added that a number of participants are currently preparing to receive the sacrament of baptism.

Although the initiative is aimed primarily at young people, team member Majd Samia stressed that there are no strict age limits. “Everyone needs Jesus,” he said, which is why the gatherings are open to all. For Samia, the strong turnout reflects young people’s thirst to hear the word of God and explore it more deeply.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

The situation prompted the schools to suspend classes beginning Tuesday, marking the second such decision this year. Classes were also suspended last January for the same reason.

In a statement, the schools said the measures were imposed suddenly and without prior notice, directly affecting their preparations for the beginning of the academic year.

They explained that the absence of so many employees affects not only classroom instruction but also administrative work, health and cleaning services, and security and safety procedures. As a result, the schools said they could not guarantee students a safe and stable start to the academic year.

The schools said they decided to suspend classes after consulting and coordinating with the relevant authorities, representatives of parents, and other Jerusalem schools. The suspension will remain in effect until the necessary permits for teachers and staff members are reissued or renewed.

They also warned that the recurrence of such measures undermines the stability of educational institutions and hinders their ability to fulfill their mission, while also affecting students, their families, school personnel, and the wider community.

The schools recalled that for centuries their institutions have carried out an educational and humanitarian mission and have formed an integral part of Jerusalem’s identity and its cultural and social fabric.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to providing high-quality education and forming generations grounded in knowledge, values, a sense of belonging, and responsibility.

Concluding their statement, the schools expressed hope that the crisis would be resolved quickly, allowing students and staff members to return to their schools and the academic year to proceed normally.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Tammy Ben-Haim, head of religious and interfaith affairs at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told EWTN News that a May meeting in Washington, D.C., with CCAA Director Simone Rizkallah, a first-generation American of Egyptian-Armenian descent, convinced her of the importance of engaging the organization and its supporters.

“I was so impressed by Simone and the vision she had for the organization to combat antisemitism,” including CCAA’s network of key influencers throughout the American Catholic world, Ben-Haim said.

Signatories to the CCAA’s “Statement of Solidarity and Action,” a statement developed in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack against Israel that also affirms the above-referenced right of the Jewish people “should not jeopardize the right of Palestinians to also live in safety and security,” include dozens of the country’s top Catholic thought leaders and personalities.

“When Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) decided to begin engaging Catholics more proactively and wanted to design a trip specifically for Catholic leaders, it made sense that they would reach out to us,” Rizkallah said.

As a result, the MFA organized a government-sponsored weeklong trip for 13 American Catholic influencers (including EWTN News) that addressed firsthand both concerns for the security of Israelis in the country’s Gaza and Lebanon border regions as well as honest discussions with Israeli Arab and Palestinian Catholics about the conditions and challenges they face.

Signaling the importance of the initiative, the government of Israel highlighted the group’s visit on social media, noting that the journey of the American Catholic community leaders was one of “friendship and solidarity” that served to both “deepen their commitment to standing against antisemitism and strengthening the bonds between Christians and Jews.”

Instagram post

During the visit, the group, which included representatives from various U.S. Catholic educational institutions, media, think tanks, and lay apostolates, came face-to-face with the existential threats Israel has faced in recent years. The group visited sites of the Oct. 7, 2023, invasions into Israel by thousands of Hamas militants from Gaza, meeting with survivors of the attacks that killed over 1,000 Israelis.

From a mountaintop overlooking Israel’s border with southern Lebanon and as multiple explosions could be heard in the distance, the group received a sobering briefing on Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operations to neutralize the threat from Hezbollah in the neighboring country.

In addition, the Government of Israel facilitated the group’s direct interaction with various Christians in the disputed lands internationally known as the West Bank (known in Israel by their biblical names of Judea and Samaria) as well as in Haifa, in northern Israel. To varying degrees, these Christians also see themselves as facing existential threats.

The group’s guide in Bethlehem, the Palestinian-controlled West Bank town of Jesus’ birth, lamented that just in recent weeks the town has lost several large, leading Christian families, who have emigrated to Greece.

Bethlehem continues to experience a devastating loss of its Christian population. From once having constituted a robust majority, the percentage of Christians there is now estimated in the single digits, with conditions for those remaining further exacerbated by the dearth of pilgrims and severe limitations, since the atrocities of Oct. 7, on permissions for Palestinians to enter Israel for work.

In Haifa, the group met with Archbishop Youssef Matta of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Israel’s largest Christian community. Melkite Greek Catholics represent nearly 40% of Israel’s total Christian population of 185,000. Nazareth, Haifa, and Jerusalem, respectively, are the country’s largest Christian population centers.

In a meeting also attended by Ben-Haim and Cesare Marijeh, senior director of the Christian Department of Israel’s Ministry of Interior Affairs, Matta addressed several challenges facing his community, including alleged extortion rackets by Muslim and Jewish organized crime families as well as discrimination in government subsidies for the Church’s schools, of which there are five under his jurisdiction.

At a luncheon with the delegation, Monsignor Simon Khoury, a Melkite Greek Catholic priest who serves a parish in Cana, asserted that the government has deliberately turned a blind eye to the criminal extortion rackets faced by Christians, as he believes such crimes align with the agenda of certain sectors of Israeli society that favor the displacement of the country’s non-Jewish population.

From the beginning to the end of the trip, members of the delegation pressed Israeli authorities to provide necessary assistance to and security for the country’s Christian population, contending that such actions will go a long way toward bolstering goodwill toward Israel among hundreds of millions of Catholics worldwide.

At a meeting of the group with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ director of the Department for Combating Antisemitism, Arezoo Hersel-Rohila, and the Anti-Defamation League’s Israel director, Carole Nuriel, EWTN News asked them to identify and address the principal antisemitic narrative that the country is currently facing at the international level.

Both women agreed in answering that it is equating Israel’s policy in Gaza to that of the Nazis, i.e., the charge that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. The officials vigorously contested this widespread allegation, citing that by definition genocide requires intent and that in contravention of such intent, Israel’s military has repeatedly sought to relocate Palestinian civilians within Gaza to get them out of harm’s way as it targets Hamas’ terrorist infrastructure. 

Other organizations that also address this question, such as the American Jewish Committee (AJC), assert that the IDF “still endeavors to warn Gazans prior to attacks and has allowed humanitarian aid for civilians to be delivered under arrangements intended to prevent Hamas from diverting aid or controlling its distribution to reinforce its authority.”

Israel’s government also answers the charge by pointing to evidence that Hamas has repeatedly called on Palestinian civilians to ignore Israel’s warnings about impending strikes, in effect using them as human shields. Defenders of Israel’s actions in Gaza, like the AJC, also contend that “international law does not prohibit Israel from undertaking legitimate actions that will likely result in civilian harm unless the expected civilian harm will clearly exceed the anticipated military advantage from the attack.”

As the ADL and much of the Jewish community worldwide see it, the propagation of antisemitic narratives around Israel’s operations in Gaza have particularly proliferated among social media influencers, including some Catholics.

This also explains in part why a wide range of U.S. Catholic influencers who personally stand in support of the CCAA’s statement of solidarity, including participants affiliated with EWTN News, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the Institute on Religion and Democracy, the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, the Family Research Council, Tepeyac Leadership, Benedictine College, and Franciscan University of Steubenville, among others, were invited to engage firsthand with these ongoing issues.

Ben-Haim, who accompanied the delegation on the Stations of the Cross route in Jerusalem’s Old City, told EWTN News that going forward, she would like to see more such visitors, especially “young up-and-coming Catholic leaders and influencers” have similar experiences.

“No amount of explaining or telling our story equals one visit to Israel,” Ben-Haim explained. Noting that terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah are right at the country’s borders, she insisted “all that I believe Israel and Israelis want is for people around the world to understand this; we want to live in a country and in a region that is peaceful and quiet. We cannot afford to have the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre happen again; we cannot allow our borders to be crossed and our children and families to be murdered for being Jews and Israelis.”

Until his election, Maroun was protosyncellus of the eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles of the Maronites in the United States since 2020 and served as pastor of St. Maron Maronite Parish in Minneapolis for more than 35 years — the third-oldest Maronite parish in the U.S.

In a statement released Friday, Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis said he was “thrilled” to learn of the pope’s assent and said Maroun is beloved in the archdiocese by priests and faithful alike.

“It is wonderfully providential that our Archdiocese has already been in a partnership with the Archeparchy of Damascus since 2017,” Hebda’s statement said. “It is my hope that the relationship will only grow stronger in the days ahead.”

Hebda called outgoing archbishop Nassar “a beacon of hope to the faithful of his flock as he guided them through the challenges of civil war.” 

Sharbel Ghattas Maroun was born in 1962 in Kfarselwan, Lebanon. Shortly after working for a bank, he left with his family in 1983 for the United States, fleeing the civil war raging in his home country.

The following year he entered the seminary of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles of the Maronites in Washington, D.C. After completing his studies in philosophy and theology, he was ordained a priest on his 27th birthday, Jan. 6, 1989, and appointed vicar of the Maronite Parish of St. Anthony in Danbury, Connecticut.

In 2015 he was invested as chorbishop.

As protosyncellus of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, Maroun has also held the following positions, according to the Holy See Press Office: parish vicar of St. Maron in Minneapolis, director of youth pastoral care, representative for ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, director of vocational pastoral care, protopresbyter of the deanery of Mid-America, administrator of the St. Sharbel Mission in Milwaukee, syncellus for the eparchal clergy, member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors, representative for new evangelization, and chair of the board of Télé Lumière International.

According to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Maroun prefers to be called “Abuna” — the Arabic word for “Father” — as a reflection of his Eastern identity and his desire to keep his heritage alive.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Rimini Meeting in northern Italy on Aug. 26, the cardinal said the West Bank “has become a no-man’s land — or rather, a lawless land — where everything that happens goes unchecked, with no safeguards in terms of security or the rule of law.”

Asked about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that he would continue to open settlements in the occupied land, Pizzaballa said: “This isn’t the first time he’s said that.”

“The government has stated very clearly that this is their intention, even though it makes a political solution in the near future increasingly difficult,” the cardinal continued. “I hope that all this drift — this political confrontation, including in language and positions — will moderate over time, because the Palestinian population is truly very tired and can no longer bear all of this.”

Pizzaballa explained that the situation in Gaza, from this point of view, is more stable than the West Bank, even while it continues to deteriorate.

“While there is a great deal of political debate, on the ground the human toll remains devastating,” he added.

The Rimini Meeting, officially named the Meeting for Friendship Among the Peoples, is an annual cultural festival organized by the Catholic lay movement Communion and Liberation. The 47th edition took place near the city of Rimini, Italy, from Aug. 21–26, and included a visit from Pope Leo XIV on Aug. 22.

Pizzaballa, a frequent speaker at recent editions of the gathering, participated in a dialogue with three young people on the final day of the 2026 meeting, touching on the topics of hope, suffering, and interreligious dialogue.

He also urged people to “listen to multiple voices,” including those with whom they do not agree, to understand and assess the events taking place in the Middle East.

“This is a task that must be undertaken continually in the Middle East,” he said, where “nothing is as it appears and everything is very complicated.”

In a conversation with the journalist Alessandro Banfi during the meeting, Pizzaballa underlined that “to assume that an agreement alone is enough to put an end” to what is happening in the Middle East “is presumptuous; it is an illusion.”

“Now, of course, we need agreements; we need to pursue political paths — but these must also be accompanied by educational, formative, human, and religious initiatives, which play a very important role in the Middle East in healing, in processing grief, and in addressing everything that has affected both the Israeli and Palestinian populations. And this doesn’t happen in the blink of an eye,” he said.

In an article titled “Hope Demands Action” released on Aug. 21, the patriarchate said restrictions on movement, the cancellation of work permits, and the paralysis of the tourism sector have exacerbated the conditions of Christian families in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and the villages scattered in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and affected their ability to work and secure their needs.

The Catholic diocese — whose territory includes Cyprus, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine and is supported by six vicariates — highlighted that the unemployment rate in Christian communities in the Holy Land is 54%, which is about double the national average.

The patriarchate also pointed out that artisans, hotel workers, shopkeepers, tour guides, drivers, and restaurant owners rely heavily on pilgrims and visitors, which have significantly declined over the years, threatening livelihoods.

The patriarchate said the repercussions of the crisis extend to the younger generations, as limited job opportunities after university or vocational training may push young people to migrate, raising concerns for a generation that believes its future may be outside the land of its ancestors.

Gaza at the heart of the crisis

According to the patriarchate, only 541 Christians remain in the Gaza Strip, while others have been forced to flee and still others were killed in the war or lost their lives amid the collapse of medical care and lack of basic supplies.

The patriarchate said the possibility that no more Christians will be left in the Holy Land does not represent just a demographic change but a “crisis in history, identity, and faith,” stressing that a living Christian presence should remain in a land where Christianity originated.

The article called for international Christian solidarity to go beyond responding to emergency needs, including education, vocational training, special projects, and support for community institutions, allowing families to build a decent and sustainable life in their homeland.

In this context, the article referred to a back-to-school initiative to cover basic educational expenses for children and families most in need, stressing that keeping schools open — and reopening them where possible — represents a message that destruction will not have the final say.

The patriarchate stressed that the Christians of the Holy Land do not want to be a part of the past but desire the opportunity to live, work, raise their children, and exercise their faith in dignity in the land where Christianity began.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Jerusalem Magistrate Court Judge Ophir Tischler acquitted Yona Schreiber citing an assessment from a district psychiatrist that found Schreiber was experiencing a psychotic episode during the attack and could not be found criminally responsible, according to The Jerusalem Post.

The Aug. 26 ruling ordered Schreiber to be committed to an inpatient treatment facility for a maximum six years, though he may be released early if a psychiatric council determines his mental condition to be improved.

The psychiatric assessment further diagnosed Schreiber with schizophrenia, media reports said. The assessment noted that a lack of conclusive evidence showing how Schreiber’s mental state led him to carry out the attack on the religious sister but said the illness influenced his actions nonetheless.

Schreiber was arrested and charged in April with assault and hostility toward a religious group for pushing a Catholic sister to the ground and kicking her in the head. The April 28 assault took place on Mount Zion near King David’s Tomb, steps from Dormition Abbey.

Videos of the attack circulated on social media, fueling a backlash and further outrage over persistent attacks against Christians in Israel and the West Bank.

At the time, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said it strongly condemned Schreiber’s actions, writing in an April 29 social media post: “Israel remains firmly committed to safeguarding freedom of religion and freedom of worship for all faiths, and to ensuring that Jerusalem remains a city where every community can live, pray, and practice its faith in safety and dignity.”

Speaking at the Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples in Rimini, Italy, Sideman said that “any act of violence against anyone is unacceptable” and that those responsible should be dealt with according to the law. However, he added that the situation in Taybeh had been “described in far more serious terms than it actually is.”

Sideman maintained that Israel is governed by the rule of law and guarantees religious freedom. He also assured pilgrims that visiting the holy sites is safe and encouraged them to return to the Holy Land.

The Observatory for the Christian Presence in the Holy Land said the ambassador’s characterization was inconsistent with the documented pattern of attacks and incursions affecting Taybeh — the last town in the West Bank with an entirely Christian population.

The incidents have been documented by the local Church and town institutions and followed by diplomatic missions, international media, and human rights organizations.

In July 2025, patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem visited Taybeh alongside diplomats and representatives from more than 20 countries following an escalation of attacks against the town and its religious sites.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, warned at the time that the violence was leading some Christians to consider leaving the West Bank.

The World Council of Churches reported in August 2026 that Taybeh had received more than 50 diplomatic visits over the previous year, in addition to continued media attention. The organization highlighted residents’ concerns about attacks, incursions, and the effects of the violence on their daily lives.

Father Bashar Fawadleh, the Latin Patriarchate’s parish priest in Taybeh and head of the Observatory for the Christian Presence in the Holy Land, said the issue was not a series of isolated incidents but an accumulating reality affecting residents’ security, access to their land and livelihoods, and ability to remain in the town. He stressed that condemnations of the attacks must be followed by protection, accountability, and concrete measures to prevent their recurrence.

On Aug. 9, Israeli military authorities declared Taybeh closed to Israeli nonresidents. The military said the measure followed what it described as “violent attacks by Israelis” in the area and was intended to protect residents and maintain public order.

For local Christians, the official measure underscored the gap between the level of danger recognized by authorities on the ground and the ambassador’s assessment of the situation.

Christians in Taybeh are therefore repeating their invitation: “Come and see.” They are calling on visitors to meet the town’s families, farmers, and young people, listen to their testimonies, and witness firsthand the conditions affecting the Christian community, its land, and its property.

St. Charbel Trail, known in the region as Darb Mar Charbel, is a 80.8-mile pilgrimage and hiking trail that crosses some of Lebanon’s most striking natural and spiritual landscapes, linking monasteries, villages, and historic sites associated with St. Charbel and the Maronite tradition.

The trail is currently divided into two main routes. The northern route stretches roughly 50 miles, beginning at the Monastery of St. Anthony of Qozhaya in the Qadisha Valley and continuing through sites including St. Charbel’s birthplace and the Monastery of St. Maroun in Annaya, where Pope Leo XIV prayed during his visit to Lebanon in 2025.

The southern route covers approximately 31 miles, beginning at the Maronite Patriarchal See in Bkerke and passing through Harissa, home to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, one of the country’s most important Marian pilgrimage sites, and ending at St. Charbel’s tomb in Annaya.

A landscape shaped by centuries of faith

Sliney, who has spent more than 27 years in priestly ministry serving young people and families in Washington, D.C., and New York City, said the trail “creates a peaceful, silent environment where you can actually hear God.”

That sense was especially strong, he said, in the Qadisha Valley, also known as the Valley of the Saints, a historic center of Maronite monastic life. “I felt this is where the heart of God is beating,” he said. “It’s beating in the Valley of the Saints. It’s beating in these monasteries.”

For Sliney, walking through the valley felt “almost like going back to a time capsule.” He said he was struck by the continuity of monastic life there, where Christians have prayed for centuries in monasteries and caves carved into the mountains.

At the Cave of St. Anthony, which dates back to the fourth century, that history became particularly tangible. “For 1,700 years people have been coming here to pray,” he said. “It’s hard to imagine… really since the time of Christ almost, people have been praying in that particular cave.”

The people along the trail

More than the monasteries, caves, and churches, what affected Sliney most during the pilgrimage, he said, were the people he encountered, especially the monks and nuns.

He described the nuns he met as “dynamic,” “happy,” and “joyful.” The monks left a similar impression. “I was very, very impressed by the fervor, the humility, the joy, and the dedication of these monks,” he said. “I really believe the Valley of the Saints is such a holy place because of these monks and these nuns.”

Sliney said he was also deeply marked by the resilience, hospitality, and spirit of service he encountered among Lebanese people more broadly.

He recalled being welcomed to celebrate Mass in the house of St. Charbel and being invited to wear Maronite vestments. He was also moved by small, personal gestures from people he had only just met.

At one monastery, a monk gave him a bag of medals of the saints that he had collected since childhood, asking him to distribute them among the pilgrims. The monk then offered him a rosary he had made for himself.

Family life also stood out to him. He recalled entering restaurants and seeing families of 15 or 20 people gathered around the same table.

A path back to faith and heritage

Sliney wants more people to experience the trail. He said he believes American Catholics would benefit from making the pilgrimage but says Lebanese Americans in particular should be among the first to rediscover it.

“I think they need to rediscover the beauty of their faith and the beauty of their heritage,” he said. “I think it would spark a faith in them that needs to be rekindled.”

While acknowledging the opportunities American life has offered many Lebanese families, Sliney said he worries that they can also become absorbed by “materialism” and “noise.”

“I think Lebanon — the peace, the serenity, the simplicity of this country and of the people — is something not just they need, but I think we need as Americans,” he said. “Our culture could use the silence so we can hear the whisper of God.”

For Lebanese living abroad, he sees the trail as more than a pilgrimage route. He believes it could become a way of reconnecting them with a faith and heritage that may have weakened across generations. “I think it would spark a faith in them that needs to be rekindled,” he said.

“I really believe St. Charbel is behind this trail. Our world today needs to learn from the simplicity and the humility and the joy of the monks and of the nuns and of the people of Lebanon. And I think the trail will allow them to experience that.”

Is Lebanon safe for pilgrims?

Sliney also pushed back against perceptions of Lebanon as uniformly unsafe. He said he felt safer in Lebanon than in Washington, D.C., while acknowledging the ongoing war in the south, which he did not visit.

“Lebanon being a very unsafe [place] to go to is a false narrative. And I feel it does an injustice to the country,” he noted.

He also described the hiking as “pretty intense,” with steep climbs and descents — despite being a marathon runner himself.

As parts of the trail are still being developed and funds are being raised, he said he plans to return to Lebanon to complete it once more sections are open.

He described this endurance as a sign of hope and resilience that strengthens him to continue in the footsteps of his forebears and live the faith according to their example.

In an exclusive interview with EWTN News, conducted in cooperation with its Middle East and North Africa sister news service ACI MENA, Minassian said the Armenian Catholic Church, like all Churches in communion with the universal Church, remains committed to its vocation of living out and bearing witness to the faith through good example and serving its people with love and an open heart.

Our Lady of Bzommar Monastery: A witness to resilience

Minassian pointed to the resilience of Our Lady of Bzommar Monastery, which has housed the historic seat of the Armenian Catholic patriarchal see in Lebanon for several centuries. Despite the many hardships endured by the monastery and its residents over the years, it remains standing today.

“There are no challenges or difficulties that we cannot overcome before returning to continue our mission and bear witness to the whole world,” he said.

Minassian expressed confidence that the difficulties currently taking place in the Middle East and around the world will eventually pass.

“After the storm, the sun always shines, and a brighter future comes,” he said.

He said his personal experience as a member of the first generation born after the Armenian genocide of 1915, and as the son of a father who was orphaned because of it, taught him that severe challenges and persecution can deepen hope and strengthen Christians to continue their vocation, safeguard their faith, and take pride in their Christian identity.

Absence of an effective international Christian presence

Minassian also addressed the responsibility carried by the patriarchs of the Eastern Churches as fathers and servants of their communities. He said they must work diligently to provide for the spiritual and social needs of their people.

“This is a great responsibility, and the Western world sometimes does not understand its magnitude,” he said.

At the same time, he expressed disappointment over the absence of an effective international Christian presence during recent events. Nevertheless, he affirmed his absolute trust in Jesus Christ, “who is present with us in the Eucharist,” and in God’s ability to provide everything his children need.

Amid growing pressures targeting Christians and Church properties in the region and around the world, Minassian said he believes that sincere work for genuine peace, rather than political peace, will restore rights to their rightful owners and allow every person to have a home, a church, and a land.

“This is my faith. It may be somewhat idealistic, but I believe deeply in God’s divine providence and place my trust in it,” he said.

Youth and the diaspora

Minassian drew attention to the difficulties facing the Armenian Catholic Church because it is not always able to establish parishes in different parts of Europe and the Americas.

As a result, many Armenian Catholic families in the diaspora do not have access to a church or priest who can serve them according to their own rite.

He also noted the lack of cooperation his Church sometimes encounters from Latin-rite churches, despite the Armenian Catholic Church’s willingness to cooperate with and welcome everyone without conditions.

“We do not always receive the same treatment from the Western mentality,” he said.

Minassian called on Armenian Catholics in their homelands and throughout the diaspora to continue their journey and remain committed to their mission of bearing witness to the Lord and his saving work, through which the world is redeemed and granted eternal life.

He also encouraged young people serving in the Church to carry out their ministry with joy and humility.

He expressed hope that the synodal journey within the universal Church would pave “a path that enables us to walk together,” allowing the Eastern and Western Churches to fulfill their mission of drawing closer to one another “and walking together toward our savior, Jesus Christ.”

One Church

Speaking about the relationship between the two branches of the Armenian Church, Minassian stressed that, in reality and at its deepest level, it is one Church. He explained that global politics, wars, and massacres imposed the division seen today but that the Lord Jesus remains one and continues to unite his people.

Minassian described the communion, cooperation, and mutual respect shared among the Eastern Churches as a practical expression of unity and a source of genuine hope. He pointed to their openness, love, and readiness to serve, make sacrifices, and support one another during difficult times.

Drawing on the words of Jesus — “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples” — the Armenian Catholic patriarch concluded with a message to Christians around the world: “May every Christian be ready to sacrifice himself for the good of others.”

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Just days later, another landmark measure known as the general amnesty law proved far more controversial. The legislation has sparked intense debate, particularly within Lebanese Christian circles, amid concerns over public security, accountability, and the rights of victims.

A regional first

Lebanon had not carried out an execution since 2004, but its courts continued to issue death sentences, including one as recently as Aug. 10. According to Amnesty International, at least 85 people remained on death row as of January.

Capital punishment in Lebanon has been generally reserved for serious crimes, including murder, terrorism, and espionage.

The new law sets Lebanon apart in a region where executions remain widespread. Amnesty International recorded more than 2,000 executions in Iran and over 350 in Saudi Arabia last year. In June, Jordan hanged six men convicted of killing members of the security forces, ending a nine-year moratorium. Earlier this year, Israel’s parliament also passed a law permitting the execution of Palestinians convicted of fatal attacks.

Lebanon had repeatedly supported calls for a moratorium on capital punishment at the U.N., including a 2024 resolution on the issue. Justice Minister Adel Nassar described its abolition as a “historic” step.

General amnesty provokes concern among Christians

While the decision to end capital punishment has attracted widespread praise, Parliament’s adoption of a general amnesty law provoked a markedly different response, generating intense controversy — particularly within Christian circles.

The law covers crimes committed before March 1, 2026, and excludes several serious offenses from a full pardon — notably terrorism, premeditated murder, treason, espionage, corruption, banking crimes, money laundering, and terrorist financing. Also excluded are rape, human trafficking, domestic violence, the sexual abuse of minors, torture, enforced disappearance, and certain drug, theft, and environmental crimes.

Those convicted of excluded offenses would nevertheless benefit from reduced sentences: Life imprisonment with hard labor would be commuted to 17 years — equivalent to approximately 12 years and nine months of actual imprisonment under Lebanon’s system — while other sentences would be reduced by a third.

The law has generated widespread controversy, particularly within Christian circles, where concerns focus on its potential security consequences. Critics warn that releasing large numbers of prisoners or reducing their sentences, in the absence of effective rehabilitation and reintegration programs, could leave some vulnerable to returning to crime or being recruited by armed political parties, extremist groups, and drug-trafficking networks. These fears are compounded by weak state institutions and an economy unable to provide sufficient employment opportunities.

Opponents argue that the legislation fails to address the underlying problems: overcrowded prisons, prolonged pretrial detention, slow trials, and a dysfunctional judicial system. The appropriate response, according to critics, would be to accelerate judicial proceedings so that the innocent are released and the guilty held accountable rather than collectively dismissing prosecutions and sentences.

The law has also raised a fundamental question about victims’ rights.

“Instead of accelerating trials and deciding cases in order to acquit the innocent and convict the guilty, the supposed experts resort to the easiest solution: a general amnesty,” Father Dany Dargham wrote on social media. “The concerns of Christian parties remain reduced to winning municipal, parliamentary, and local council votes, while the cause of a free and dignified existence remains absent from their agenda.”

Moreover, in a sectarian country such as Lebanon, political decisions are rarely viewed separately from the country’s delicate communal balance, with each religious community asking what it gained from a particular agreement. Some Christians regarded the provision allowing Lebanese citizens who fled to Israel after 2000 to return — provided they had not participated in military or security activities — as their community’s principal gain from the law.

However, Member of Parliament Ziad Hawat said those who hold Israeli citizenship would be required to renounce it. His statement led many to question how many would actually return, if any.

Lebanese political activist Maryam Younes, who lives in exile in Israel, responded in a video: “You cannot include us in a law that pardons criminals, rapists, and murderers, when our crime was defending our land. We do not believe this general amnesty concerns us. Nor can anyone guarantee that, if we return to Lebanon, Hezbollah will not harm us. We will certainly not return now.”

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

The case was announced by ADF International, an organization that advocates for religious freedom.

According to the organization, Iraq’s Court of Cassation issued a final ruling allowing the woman’s religious classification in the government database to be changed back to “Christian,” reflecting the faith she practices after experiencing the consequences of the law.

Several Iraqi laws concerning religious identity have raised questions in light of Article 2 of the Iraqi constitution, which guarantees religious rights and freedom of belief and religious practice for all individuals, including Christians, Yazidis, and Mandaeans.

Earlier laws, including the Population Registration Laws No. 59 of 1955 and No. 54 of 1927, allowed individuals to change their religion. Later legislation took a different approach. The Civil Status Laws No. 189 of 1964 and No. 65 of 1972 allowed only non-Muslims to change their religion, an approach that continued in later laws. The legislation also states that minor children are registered as Muslim if one of their parents converts to Islam.

To better understand the issue, its legal and social consequences, and possible ways to address it, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, spoke with Kaldo Ramzi Oghanna, a member of the Iraqi Parliament and head of the Christian Suyana Parliamentary Bloc.

Oghanna explained that the case recently reported in the media began with a lawsuit filed before the Personal Status Court in the Hamdaniya district. The ruling was later reviewed by higher courts before a final decision was reached.

The history of the ‘right to return’

Oghanna spoke about the difficulties faced by children who were registered as Muslim after one of their parents converted to Islam.

He explained that from the adoption of Civil Status Law No. 65 of 1972 until the 1990s, Iraqi courts allowed a child whose official religion had been changed because of a parent’s conversion to return to his or her original religion after reaching legal adulthood.

He cited Presidential Office Letter No. T/9/33963, dated Sept. 25, 1988, which explicitly recognized the right to return to one’s original religion within one year of reaching legal adulthood.

Oghanna said the situation changed during the 1990s, during what became known as the “Faith Campaign.”

“At that time, a judge sent a letter to former President Saddam Hussein arguing that the right to return amounted to ‘apostasy from Islam,’” Oghanna said. “A directive was subsequently issued prohibiting it.”

He added that the rights continued to be applied in similar cases in the Kurdistan Region from 1992 until 2003.

The legal situation after 2003

After 2003, when Iraq’s judicial system was reunified, people seeking to return to their original religion faced further difficulties because courts did not always take the same approach to such cases, Oghanna explained.

The situation remained complicated until 2020, when Judge Ahmed Jassab al Saadi called for these cases to be reconsidered without applying Islamic law provisions to them.

He based his position on Iraq’s commitments under international agreements, particularly the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protects freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

“This created a more positive approach in the courts, allowing a person who reaches the age of 18 to return to his or her original religion within one year,” Oghanna said.

What challenges remain?

Oghanna warned that the one-year deadline remains a major challenge for people who want to restore their original religious identity.

He said the period may be too short for someone to understand the legal process and file a case to correct his or her official records — therefore he called for a longer period and for the law to be applied consistently in such cases.

Oghanna said his parliamentary bloc is working with the government and the judiciary on several key issues. These include addressing the registration of children as Muslim when one parent converts to Islam and guaranteeing their right to return to their original religion after reaching adulthood without a specific time limit.

The bloc is also seeking to amend Article 26, Section 2, of Iraq’s National Identity Card Law, which states that minor children follow the religion of a parent who converts to Islam.

Establishing legal precedents

Oghanna stressed that changing the law should be accompanied by efforts within the judicial system to protect the right of individuals to return to their original religion and to safeguard freedom of religion and belief, in accordance with Iraq’s constitution and international commitments.

He also emphasized the importance of documenting previous court decisions that supported this right so they can be used as legal precedents in future cases.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated for and adapted by EWTN News English.

Lebanon

Despite the ongoing war and the country’s difficult economic situation, streets across Lebanon on Saturday were filled with processions honoring the Virgin Mary, with each village marking the feast through its own customs.

In the southern town of Jezzine in Lebanon, a long procession culminated with a rosary made of balloons being released into the sky. A statue of the Virgin Mary was then lifted above the crowd by a crane, symbolizing her assumption into heaven, as flower petals rained down on those gathered below.

In Bhamdoun, Mount Lebanon, villagers continued their tradition of preparing “hreeseh” together for the feast. Residents took turns stirring the traditional wheat-and-meat dish in large cauldrons as it cooked for hours.

Syria

Despite earlier announcements by some churches canceling public festivities amid a rise in the kidnapping of Christians, several celebrations and religious observances still took place in Syria.

One example was the Marmarita Carnival. First held in 1975, the event returned this year, filling the streets with music and joy. Participants dressed in colorful costumes and paraded through the town, reviving a tradition that has long brought residents and members of the Syrian diaspora together for the feast.

Tunisia

In Tunisia, celebrations centered on La Goulette, the port town near Tunis where the traditional procession of Our Lady of Trapani takes place each year. Following Mass at the Church of St. Augustine and St. Fidelis, the statue of the Virgin Mary was carried through the streets as worshippers gathered to mark the Assumption.

The tradition originated among Sicilian fishermen who settled in La Goulette during the 19th century. They would carry the statue toward the sea, asking the Virgin Mary to bless the waters, protect fishermen, and grant them an abundant catch. Over time, the procession became part of the town’s shared heritage, attracting Christians, Muslims, and people from different cultural backgrounds.

The celebration disappeared in the 1960s as much of La Goulette’s European Christian community left Tunisia, but it was revived in 2017.

These celebrations offer only a glimpse of the many ways Christians across the Middle East and North Africa marked the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Across the region, communities gathered in churches, streets, and homes, blending their shared devotion to the Virgin Mary with local traditions passed down through generations. Amid uncertainty and change, the feast remained a moment of faith, continuity, and collective joy.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated for and adapted by EWTN News.

Taybeh is the modern name of the biblical town of Ephraim, which the Lord Jesus visited shortly before his passion (see John 11:54). In addition to being the only remaining entirely Christian village in the region, it is also globally renowned for its beer.

“The situation in Taybeh has deteriorated drastically in recent months,” Fawadleh said in a statement sent to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. “We are facing settler attacks almost daily, repeated incursions onto private property, the destruction of agricultural land, restrictions on movement due to road closures, military barriers, checkpoints, and growing fear among the population,” the parish priest indicated.

Fawadleh explained that this week, settlers broke into a Christian family’s property, a situation he described as “very alarming.” The home, which had recently been prepared for the family to move into, has become a target of repeated attacks by settlers.

“Settlers have entered the property several times, cut the fence, and even brought their sheep inside the house and onto the surrounding grounds. This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a pattern of intimidation intended to make Palestinian families feel unsafe and to force them to abandon their homes and land,” he stated.

The parish priest reported that the affected family is out of danger, as they were not in the home at the time of the attacks. However, he lamented the immense psychological suffering they have endured.

“Imagine preparing your home for your future, only to find strangers repeatedly entering it without fear or accountability,” he said.

“In addition, several new settler outposts have been established around the village, increasing pressure on our community and putting the future of the Christian presence in this land at risk,” Fawadleh added.

A message to Christians around the world

“We ask you not to forget us,” the priest said. While highlighting the miraculous power of prayer, he noted that Taybeh needs more from Christians worldwide. “We ask you to raise your voices, speak the truth, visit us, and stand with the Christian community of the Holy Land,” he emphasized.

He pointed out that the solidarity of Christians across the globe “gives us hope” and “reminds us that we are all one body in Christ.”

“Together, we can help protect these Christians — living witnesses and ‘living stones’ in the land where our faith was born and where the first generation of Christianity was raised up. May God bless you all and keep you safe. Keep praying, and continue the work and the struggles you are engaged in. We are praying for you, too,” Fawadleh concluded.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Berardi said parish life across the vicariate, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudia Arabia, remains strong, noting that “our churches are filled with the faithful during Masses and Eucharistic adoration.”

At the same time, the bishop acknowledged that the uncertainties created by the ongoing war in Iran and the anxiety it has generated have led many Catholics to leave the Gulf after businesses closed and jobs were lost.

Holding fast to hope

Berardi said the lack of clarity surrounding ongoing negotiations and the possibility of further escalation have raised serious concerns among Christians in the region.

“Nevertheless, we remain hopeful and continue to witness to our hope,” he said. “Our faith is stronger than any challenge, and God alone is our help.”

Berardi added that the Church continues to pray for peace throughout the Gulf region and in the Holy Land.

“We never cease praying for peace in the Gulf and for the Holy Land, placing our trust in Christ. His resurrection is our hope as we face this difficult time,” he said.

Pastoral visits across the vicariate

In recent weeks, Berardi carried out a series of pastoral visits throughout the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, reaffirming the Churchʼs closeness to the faithful and encouraging them to remain steadfast in unity, hope, and prayer amid rising tensions in the Gulf and across the broader Middle East.

His visits included 10 parishes and two cathedrals serving Catholic communities in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. During his visits, he encouraged the faithful to deepen their relationship with Christ through the Eucharist, remain firm in the faith, and continue witnessing to the Gospel within their families, workplaces, and communities.

Living unity in faith

In addition to celebrating Masses, Berardi administered the sacrament of confirmation to 155 candidates and inaugurated a jubilee year marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. As part of the observance, one church was designated as a jubilee church where pilgrims may obtain jubilee indulgences.

The bishop also attended the screening of the documentary “Our Lady of Arabia: A Legacy of Faith,” which recounts the history and spiritual heritage of the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Arabia in Ahmadi, Kuwait, and highlights its continuing mission.

Throughout the visits, Berardi listened to the experiences, challenges, and hopes of the faithful, offering pastoral guidance to support their spiritual growth. He also called for greater collaboration, the promotion of missionary discipleship, and a spirit of service inspired by the Holy Spirit.

He concluded by reminding the faithful that the Church “cannot fully accomplish her mission unless her members live in unity of faith, hope, and charity.”

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

“The repeated explosions create confusion among medical staff and place additional psychological pressure on patients,” Mousa Ayad, manager at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, told CNEWA’s Diaa Ostaz.

Ayad told CNEWA he could not rule out another airstrike: “This is war, and no one knows where the next danger will be. But given the hospital’s humanitarian and medical role, we do not believe that the hospital is the intended target.”

According to CNEWA, Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defense, said emergency response crews were not able to immediately reach the struck building, which is beside the hospital and a shelter for displaced people, because responders feared a second strike.

“The fire burned for more than 15 minutes before our crews could move in,” he said. “We continue to work with severe shortages of firefighting vehicles, water tankers and fuel, making every emergency response more difficult.”

CNEWA reported that, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, nearly 1,200 Palestinians have been killed and another 3,900 injured since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025.

Ayad told CNEWA that despite the ceasefire, Gaza’s health sector is still in dire circumstances.

“The situation has not improved significantly. Hospitals continue to face shortages of medical supplies, equipment and essential consumables,” he said. “Thousands of patients remain on waiting lists for surgery, while many others still need to travel outside Gaza for specialized treatment.”

Last year, he told CNEWA that the hospital was operating at 350% capacity and a total evacuation would be “a major humanitarian challenge.”

This is not the first time the hospital has been struck.

On Oct. 17, 2023, an airstrike on the hospital killed 500 people and injured many others. More than 5,000 people were sheltering at the hospital at the time, reported Joseph Hazboun, regional director for CNEWA’s Jerusalem office.

According to statements by the U.S. National Security Council and President Joe Biden, investigations found no evidence that Israel was responsible for the airstrike on the hospital that day. According to an IDF investigation, the hospital was hit after an Islamic Jihad rocket misfired.

Three months later, CNEWA said one person was killed and several others were injured after the IDF launched a missile that landed in the hospital’s courtyard. However, no news outlet, humanitarian monitor, or U.N. investigation has documented an incident matching that description that day.

The Catholic aid group has long supported Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, and since January 2025, it has partnered with the hospital to provide urgent medical services.

Pope Pius XI founded CNEWA in 1926 as “an instrument of love and a sign of hope for those in need scattered throughout the historic but unstable lands of the ancient Eastern churches — the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe,” according to the group’s website.

This story was updated at 2:58 p.m. ET on Aug. 11, 2026, to indicate investigations found no evidence that Israel bombed the Al‑Ahli Hospital in Gaza on Oct. 17, 2023, and that there is no verified evidence that the Israel Defense Forces launched a missile that killed one person and injured several others in a hospital courtyard in 2025.

Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, the Maronite patriarch, presided over the official liturgical celebration. Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, attended as the representative of Pope Leo XIV alongside patriarchs, bishops, and Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

The ceremony began with a formal petition presented to the pope’s representative by Bishop Mounir Khairallah, Maronite bishop of Batroun and petitioner for the beatification cause, requesting that Hoyek be declared blessed.

Bishop Hanna Alwan, patriarchal vicar general and postulator of the cause before the Holy See, then read the official biography of the new blessed, recounting the principal stages of his life.

Semeraro subsequently read the apostolic letter issued by Pope Leo XIV formally enrolling Patriarch Elias Peter Hoyek among the blessed. The decree granted the petition of the Maronite Church, its bishops, and its faithful and designated June 5 as the date of his annual liturgical memorial.

The pope’s representative also presented the Maronite Church with five original copies of the decree as official documentation of the occasion.

A large official icon of the new blessed was then unveiled. His relics were brought forward in a solemn procession accompanied by 32 lit candles, symbolizing the 32 years Hoyek served as Maronite patriarch, from 1899 to 1931.

In his homily, Rai said: “Hoyek entrusted himself completely to divine providence until he became a radiant sign in the history of the Church and of Lebanon.”

“The Church today is not raising a man to earthly glory,” he continued, “but bearing witness to the glory God brought about in him. Holiness is not an honor bestowed by the earth but a divine gift granted to those who live the Gospel faithfully to the end.”

Addressing Semeraro, Rai said the cardinal’s presence embodied the depth of communion between the Maronite Church and the Church of Rome. He added that it carried a message of love and appreciation from Pope Leo XIV to a Church that has remained faithful to the faith and to its witness to Christ in the Middle East.

Rai emphasized that “the new blessed lived by his famous motto, ‘My God, may your will be done.’ He was a man of divine providence, combining in his person the vigilance of a shepherd, the wisdom of a leader, the heart of a father, and the faith of a saint.”

“He never sought personal glory,” Rai added, “but rather the glory of God and the good of the human person, believing that Lebanon is a message and that the human person is its greatest treasure.”

At the conclusion of the Mass, Aoun was presented with a cedar tree carved from Lebanese stone bearing the likeness of the new blessed and containing one of his relics.

Following the final blessing, Hoyek’s relics were carried in procession through the aisles among the faithful.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Celebrations will include the screening of the film “Patriarch Elias, God Provides,” a solemn beatification Mass on Saturday in Diman, the transfer of the new blessed’s relics to his tomb in Ibrine, a concert by the Lebanese National Philharmonic Orchestra, and a Mass of thanksgiving on Aug. 1, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported on Sunday.

The Maronite Patriarchate called on the faithful in Lebanon and the diaspora to prepare spiritually for what it described as “a historic moment for the Church” ahead of the beatification. The patriarchate invited Catholics to unite in prayer and light candles Friday evening as a sign of faith, hope, and ecclesial communion, and asked churches across Lebanon to ring their bells as the beatification Mass begins.

Egypt moves against alleged discrimination toward young Christian athlete

Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sports has intervened in what has been described as an unprecedented case involving alleged discrimination against a young Christian soccer player, ACI MENA reported Thursday.

The case began after the mother of 13-year-old Makary Younan said her son was excluded from the youth team at Alexandria’s Al Ittihad Club after a coach learned his name and allegedly said, “This name does not work here.” The club later said Makary had passed the tryouts and would be signed, but the ministry opened an investigation.

After hearing witnesses and reviewing the incident, officials said the violation had been established, ordered the club to investigate the coach within 48 hours, and referred the file to the public prosecutor. The ministry said it would not tolerate discrimination inside sports institutions and promised transparency in announcing the final penalty.

Finish parliamentarian appeals ‘hate speech’ conviction to European Court of Human Rights

Päivi Räsänen is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights to overturn the Finnish Supreme Court’s ruling in March that found her guilty of hate speech over a pamphlet she wrote more than 20 years ago.

“Appealing my conviction is about much more than a fine or a decades-old church booklet,” Räsänen said after filing an appeal this week, according to an Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International press release Friday. “My case stands to determine whether the fundamental rights of religious freedom and free speech are still protected in Finland and across Europe, and whether these societies are still willing to stand up for the rights of all — even those they disagree with.”

Irish priests press Dublin for stronger action on Gaza

Irish Catholic priests have called on their government to take a firmer position on Gaza, urging a permanent ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access, and stronger accountability under international law, ACI MENA recently reported.

Priests Against Genocide, a network of more than 2,400 priests — including 26 bishops and cardinals across 62 countries — called on members of Parliament in Ireland to advocate for accountability through the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice regarding Gaza.

The group also urged the government to advocate for humanitarian aid and increased diplomatic efforts to bring lasting peace to the region. The letter further underscored a growing moral concern within parts of the Irish Church over the humanitarian toll of the war and the need for political action that goes beyond statements of concern.

Improved security enables pastoral growth in South Sudan

Bishop Matthew Remijio Adam Gbitiku of the Diocese of Wau in South Sudan praised improved security in the country, which he said has allowed the Catholic Church to expand its pastoral ministry.

“I thank the government because you can move day and night freely. There is no insecurity. So in the diocese, there is security that allows the bishop to do his pastoral work freely,” Adam told ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, at the 21st plenary assembly of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. “There is a good understanding between the Church and the state, and we are collaborating very well.”

Lebanese woman claims healing through St. Rafqa’s intercession

Samar al-Maarrawi, a Lebanese widow, mother, grandmother, theology student, catechist, and longtime member of the Focolare Movement, shared with ACI MENA that she has been healed from cancer through the intercession of St. Rafqa, a Lebanese Maronite nun who was known for her mysticism, holiness, and devotion to the Eucharist.

First diagnosed in 2017, al-Maarrawi said the illness returned in 2022 in her glands and bones. Doctors said her time was limited.

Al-Maarrawi said she turned to St. Rafqa, took soil from the saint’s tomb, and later received medical results showing no trace of the disease. She also recounted a dream in which St. Rafqa told her she had been healed not from one cancer but from seven. According to al-Maarrawi, her doctor later confirmed that there had been seven affected areas, though she had only been told of three. She said she continues to live in gratitude, entrusting her life to God and asking the Virgin Mary to accompany her.

Japanese cardinal urges Church to stand up against violence

Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo called on the Catholic Church not to be passive while fighting against violent threats to human life.

“We must not merely stand by and watch helplessly in the face of a raging storm of violence but strive to continue sowing good wheat even more widely,” Kikuchi said in a reflection on July 19, according to Licas News.

“The dominance of violence and the tragic reality of life, a precious gift, being in peril, are so glaringly obvious that one cannot help but wonder if God condones the existence of evil,” he continued. “It is the Church’s duty to look at events in the realities of society that are hindering the realization of the world God desires, to read the signs revealed therein from an evangelical perspective rather than being swayed by what is happening, and to speak with the common good in mind.”

Catholic school group in Australia says it will participate in abuse payouts

The Catholic school group Edmund Rice Education Australia has agreed to allow the large property holdings it received from Christian Brothers to be liquidated for abuse payouts.

The Trustees of the Christian Brothers announced the news in a Friday press release, noting that funds from the sale of the properties will go to a scheme fund that will in turn be used to pay creditors and abuse survivors.

The Christian Brothers transferred millions of dollars’ worth of property to the school group over the course of a decade in a series of $1 exchanges. Abuse victims had argued that the properties should be subject to the overall settlement scheme.

The Christian Brothers announced in June that its organization would come to an end in Australia amid the pending abuse settlement.

Patriarch Rai urges Lebanon to fully implement framework agreement

Speaking from the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya on the feast of St. Charbel, Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai said holiness does not need noise to be known but rather fidelity in order to bear fruit.

Reflecting on St. Charbel’s hidden life and worldwide spiritual influence, Rai connected Lebanon’s survival to truth, peace, and the intercession of its saints, ACI MENA reported Sunday. He also renewed his call for the full and precise implementation of Lebanon’s framework agreement, saying it is essential for strengthening state sovereignty, extending legitimate authority across the country, preserving stability, and protecting Lebanon’s national rights.

As news of the sisters' departure has spread, questions have arisen about why they are leaving and who made the decision. Sister Pierrette Jabbour, the congregationʼs regional councilor for the Middle East, told ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, that the decision was not related to political or security concerns — instead, it was made during the congregationʼs regional chapter in 2018.

She explained that the reasons are entirely internal and reflect the declining number of sisters, their increasing average age, and the shortage of new religious vocations. Similar restructuring is also taking place in convents in Egypt and Lebanon.

According to the congregationʼs regulations, each religious community must have at least four sisters.

Last May, the Salesians announced that they would assume responsibility for the Franciscan convent. However, the news received little public attention until a Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated to mark the conclusion of the sisters' ministry.

In a recorded message, Bishop Hanna Jallouf, apostolic vicar of Latin-rite Catholics in Syria, explained that the congregation has been reorganizing its presence in the country for more than five years.

He said the sisters decided to strengthen their presence in the northeastern province of Hasakah, where they are the only Catholic womenʼs religious congregation serving the area. They also chose to reinforce their ministry in Damascus, while Aleppo is already home to several menʼs and womenʼs religious communities. For these reasons, and in coordination with the Holy See, the Salesian Fathers will continue the Franciscan Sisters' mission at the convent.

Jallouf also dismissed rumors linking the sisters' departure to French President Emmanuel Macronʼs recent visit to Syria.

The Rev. Ibrahim Nasir, president of the National Evangelical Synod in Syria and Lebanon, described the farewell as both a solemn and grateful moment. He said the departure of this historic mission represents a significant loss for Aleppo and for its Christian presence.“ Every institution that closes and every religious community that leaves creates a gap that is difficult to fill,” he said.

Nasir also stressed that the sisters' departure cannot be separated from the wider challenges facing Christians in Syria, especially in Aleppo, where declining numbers, continued emigration, and the closure of many educational and pastoral institutions remain serious concerns.

A legacy of service

The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary first arrived in Aleppo in 1914 at the invitation of the cityʼs Maronite bishop. They established the Our Lady of Lourdes Center near the Maronite cathedral.

Although they were forced to leave during the World War I, they returned in 1919 and resumed their mission despite widespread poverty and hardship.

They first opened a school in the Aziziyah district before establishing the Franciscan Convent and School in the Sabil neighborhood in 1929. Over the years, the school became one of Aleppoʼs leading educational institutions.

The sisters combined education with the care of orphans, assistance to the poor, and support for refugees, helping form generations of students from different religious and social backgrounds.

The convent also became a center for girls' scouting activities and a place that encouraged friendship and coexistence between Christians and Muslims.

Besides education, the sisters played an important humanitarian and medical role in the city.

They also managed the Sheibani Orphanage, which cared for children orphaned during the Ottoman massacres. They also administered Al Razi Hospital for many decades, helping improve medical services and reduce mortality rates.

After the school was nationalized in 1967, the sisters continued their pastoral and social ministry through catechism, childrenʼs programs, ministry to university students, and by hosting Church groups and associations. They also served in the Jabal al Sayyideh, also known as Sheikh Maqsoud, neighborhood, where they dedicated themselves to pastoral ministry, Christian formation, and helping combat unemployment by teaching practical vocational skills.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

In a moment filled with hope and meaning, Metropolitan Athanasius Fahd, Greek Orthodox archbishop of Latakia and its dependencies, celebrated the first Divine Liturgy for the parish since the outbreak of the war.

The liturgy was held in the hall of St. George Church because the church building itself suffered extensive damage in previous years.

During the celebration, worshippers lit candles before the icon of St. George, the village’s patron saint, symbolically marking the return of spiritual life to the community and the beginning of a new chapter. Residents hope this step will help them restore their natural presence in their homeland.

Speaking to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Fahd said the celebration was a first step toward encouraging the people of Ghassaniyeh to return to their land.

He expressed his joy at seeing the happiness on the faces of those who attended the liturgy. He also noted that cooperation between the Church and the villagers had made it possible to prepare the church hall as a center serving the needs of the community.

The metropolitan explained that the space will serve two main purposes.

Its first purpose is spiritual, providing a place for prayers and liturgies that remain at the heart of Christian life.

Its second purpose is social. The hall will remain open to villagers as a common home, especially for those who return to visit their farmland or stay temporarily in the village but do not yet have a home suitable for living or a place to rest.

One resident recalled the difficult years the village endured. He said Ghassaniyeh had been struck by explosive barrels and missiles launched by forces linked to the former government, causing widespread destruction and forcing most residents to leave.

He added that conditions are now more stable, freedom of movement has improved, and residents have begun returning to their homes and farmland.

A woman who recently returned to the village also spoke of her joy at being home again. She said she had come back after 14 years away and had begun rebuilding her house and obtaining the basic supplies needed to make it livable.

The road home, however, remains difficult, especially because of the need to rebuild houses and repair infrastructure.

The Church continues to support residents as they restore their homes and rebuild their lives. In recent months, it has also worked to address issues involving their properties and farmland, including land that had come under the control of foreign armed factions, such as Uyghur and Turkistan groups.

Fahd’s visit was his second to Ghassaniyeh, following an inspection visit in May.

The Latin Church also celebrated its first Mass in the village in November 2025, offering another sign of the Christian community’s determination to return.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

During a meeting with Chaldean Patriarch Paul III Nona, the prime minister said the return of Christians who were forced to leave Iraq has become a national priority for his government.

He said the government is ready to provide the support needed to encourage Christian families to return, including making them eligible for the countryʼs 1 million residential land plot initiative.

Al Zaidi said Iraqʼs strength lies in its ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity and in the unity of its people. He described Christians as “an active and essential component of Iraqi society and a key partner in building the state and shaping Iraqʼs history and future.”

An invitation to invest

The prime minister also encouraged Iraqi Christian business leaders and investors living abroad to return and take part in rebuilding the country by investing in the opportunities available across several sectors, particularly healthcare and education.

He said the government remains committed to strengthening stability and providing the support needed to help their projects succeed, contribute to economic development, and create new jobs.

Nona expressed appreciation for the prime ministerʼs initiatives and his commitment to supporting Iraqʼs Christian community.

He said the governmentʼs position sends an important message encouraging Iraqi Christians in the diaspora to return home, strengthens their confidence in the countryʼs future, and supports the willingness of Christian business leaders and investors to contribute to Iraqʼs reconstruction and development.

The Churchʼs response

Commenting on the initiative, Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Nicodemus Matti Sharaf of the Archdiocese of Mosul, Kirkuk, and Kurdistan welcomed the prime ministerʼs call for Christians to return.

He described it as “an official recognition of the Christian communityʼs rightful place in the land of its fathers and ancestors.”

At the same time, he stressed that addressing the reasons Christians left Iraq in the first place is even more important. Without doing so, he said, the invitation is unlikely to achieve its intended results.

Speaking to an Arabic television channel, Sharaf pointed to several challenges that have contributed to Christian emigration and continue to discourage many from returning.

Among them, he said, are ongoing marginalization and the lack of genuine political representation, noting that Christians still do not have a dedicated electoral register that would allow them to elect their own representatives to Parliament.

He also cited widespread corruption, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to quality healthcare and education, and a shortage of employment opportunities.

These conditions, he said, force many Iraqi Christians abroad to compare what they have found overseas with what remains unavailable at home.

Sharaf expressed hope that the governmentʼs campaign against corruption would continue with genuine determination and produce tangible results that restore citizens' confidence.

He described Iraq as “a country floating on a lake of corruption,” adding that this alone is “enough to drive any citizen, Christian or otherwise, to leave.”

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

López Romero asserted his innocence in a brief statement carried by the EFE news agency. “I have not committed any assault, violence, or sexual harassment,” he said.

The prelate himself announced the decision in a message to his archdiocesan community at the end of the pastoral year. In the text, López Romero explains that the Church has initiated a preliminary investigation into the allegations and that the case is currently in the hands of the competent authorities of the Holy See.

“I am accused of inappropriate behavior toward adult women,” the cardinal archbishop noted in the statement, in which he also affirms that he is fully cooperating with the ongoing ecclesiastical process.

While the investigation is underway, López Romero indicated he will not preside at public celebrations or participate in pastoral activities so as not to interfere with the inquiry.

“During this period of investigation, and so as not to hinder it, I am stepping back — refraining from presiding over any public celebration or participating in any pastoral activity, as you will undoubtedly understand,” he emphasized in the statement obtained by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

The prelate also acknowledged the impact the situation might have on the faithful and expressed his awareness of the difficulties and questions the case could raise within the local Catholic community. For this reason, he explained that he considered it important to inform the members of the archdiocese at this stage.

López Romero asked for prayers for all those affected by the situation, for the Church, and for himself, as the decisions to be adopted by ecclesiastical authorities upon the conclusion of the proceedings are awaited.

“While awaiting the decisions the Church will make, let us pray together for those suffering through this situation, let us pray for our Church, let us pray for one another, and please pray for me,” the statement indicated.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Rai warned in his Sunday homily that Lebanon “must not become the price of any international or regional understanding, nor an arena for settling scores, but rather a message of peace.” He expressed hope that the efforts involving the United States, Lebanon, and Israel would bear fruit and lead to an agreement that removes “the specter of war” from Lebanon.

His remarks come as Lebanon finds itself at the center of two parallel diplomatic tracks: a U.S.-Iran agreement and a direct trilateral framework involving Lebanon, Israel, and the United States. In both, Lebanon’s future is at stake and the country’s Christians remain a central part of the national conversation on peace and sovereignty.

For many Christians in Lebanon, the fear is that their country’s future could once again be treated as part of a broader regional bargain rather than as a sovereign national question.

This concern was reflected in a letter sent by Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to U.S. Vice President JD Vance, in which he urged Washington to separate the Lebanese issue from negotiations with Iran. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem described the agreement as “a great victory” and “a pivotal point for Lebanon.”

Speaking to EWTN News, Lebanese member of Parliament Pierre Bou Assi said that, as the Lebanese Forces leader stated in his letter to the U.S. vice president, their project remains the establishment of a real state in Lebanon. But he said such a state cannot fulfill its role as long as Hezbollah remains armed and continues to drag Lebanon into wars and suffering in service of Iran.

“We want to be freed from Hezbollah’s weapons in order to build a state that protects everyone, Christians and Muslims alike,” he said.

Bou Assi added that he does not believe the U.S.-Iran understanding will have a direct impact on Hezbollah’s behavior in Lebanon. According to U.S. sources, he said, the talks did not focus specifically on this point but rather on the Strait of Hormuz and a monitoring mechanism for Iran’s peaceful nuclear program. Many in Lebanon stress that including the Lebanese issue in these regional negotiations has allowed Iran to regain leverage over the Lebanese political sphere.

Moreover, President Donald Trump’s recent suggestion that Syria could play a role in addressing the issue of Hezbollah has touched a deep nerve among many Lebanese Christians. For them, any talk of Syrian involvement in Lebanon triggers the memory of nearly three decades of Syrian military and political occupation, which only ended in 2005.

Bou Assi said that, as a Lebanese and Christian member of Parliament belonging to the largest Lebanese and Christian parliamentary bloc, and despite respect for the United States as a friendly country, “we cannot accept the return of the Syrian army to Lebanon.”

“The Lebanese suffered greatly under the occupation of the Assad regime, which lasted for 30 years between 1975 and 2005,” he said. “For this reason, as a sovereignist component that resisted that occupation, we cannot accept the repetition of this bitter and destructive experience.”

At the same time, Bou Assi pointed to repeated statements by the Syrian president that Syria has no intention of entering Lebanon again, out of respect for Lebanese sovereignty.

He said such positions are in line with the Lebanese Forces’ desire for the best possible relations with Syria, relations based on respect for the sovereignty, stability, and interests of both countries and peoples.

Toni Nissi, president of the Committee for the U.N. Security Council Resolutions on Lebanon and secretary-general of the National Council for the Cedar Revolution, echoed similar concerns in a conversation with EWTN News.

“For many Lebanese, and certainly for many Lebanese Christians, such remarks inevitably awaken painful memories,” Nissi said.

He explained that his generation remembers a period in which Lebanon’s sovereign institutions were overshadowed by external tutelage. For that reason, he said, any suggestion that Syria might once again assume a political or security role inside Lebanon naturally provokes concern.

Nissi also stressed that diplomacy becomes problematic when nations become objects of negotiation instead of subjects of their own history.

“For far too long, Lebanon has been treated as a battlefield where others settle their disputes and as a diplomatic mailbox through which regional powers exchange messages,” he added.

There are growing concerns in Lebanon, especially among Christians, that the U.S.-Iran memorandum and the wider diplomacy surrounding it could overshadow the Lebanon-Israel talks promoted by President Joseph Aoun as an effort to return decisions of war, peace, and sovereignty to state institutions.

For many Lebanese Christians, those talks carry a deeper meaning. They are not only a diplomatic opening with Israel but also a possible step toward restoring the authority of the Lebanese state after years in which Hezbollah’s weapons and Iran’s influence have shaped the country’s security choices.

Lebanese officials have described the move toward direct negotiations with Israel as a historic step through which the state could reclaim responsibility for Lebanon’s foreign and security policy. Yet the government now faces the delicate reality of seeing Iran negotiate with Washington over issues that directly affect Lebanon’s future, raising fears that Beirut could once again be treated as a secondary actor in decisions concerning its own sovereignty.

Nonetheless, last week’s signing of the Trilateral Framework Agreement between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States, announced by U.S. Secretary of ‌State Marco Rubio, marked a major milestone, offering a possible path toward placing Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, and state authority back at the center of the diplomatic process.

Nissi explained that the framework “establishes a phased mechanism intended to strengthen security, extend the authority of the Lebanese state across its entire territory, and create a practical pathway for implementing long-standing international commitments while reducing the risk of renewed conflict.”

“It is neither a final peace treaty nor merely another ceasefire,” Nissi added. “It is a roadmap for restoring state authority through implementation.”

For Nissi, the framework also carries a deeper national significance. “Perhaps the greatest opportunity created by this framework is that Lebanon can finally stop being a battlefield for others,” he said. “For decades, Lebanon functioned less as an independent strategic actor than as an arena through which regional powers projected their rivalries.”

What these parallel diplomatic tracks will ultimately achieve for Lebanon remains uncertain. For now, the country’s sovereignty continues to be violated from both directions: by Hezbollah’s weapons and decision-making outside the authority of the state and by Israel’s continued occupation of Lebanese territory and military actions inside Lebanon.

“Christian villages in Lebanon, some of them have actually asked to be annexed to Israel, because we protect them against the Hezbollah, Hezbollah fanatics who want to kill them, and we do the same things with Christians everywhere,” Netanyahu said during an appearance on Fox News’ show “The Sunday Briefing” on July 5.

“It’s ridiculous that [Netanyahu] would say such a thing,” said Alberto Fernández, a former U.S. ambassador and contributor to EWTN News on Middle East topics. “It’s something that only makes sense within the context of him trying to look good to his own Israeli audience. Within the context of Lebanon, it’s ridiculous.”

Fernández noted Netanyahu’s claims have been repeatedly denied in the Arab and Lebanese press. Lebanese officials have rejected Netanyahu’s claims, including senior members of the Kataeb party, and Hanna al-Amil, the mayor of Rmeich, a Christian village in southern Lebanon, according to several Arab news outlets.

“We canʼt forget that itʼs Hezbollah that keeps plunging Lebanon into war with Israel,” he said. “And one thing that Christian villagers do not want is, they may not want to be part of Israel.”

They donʼt want to be at war with Israel either, Fernández said.

“They want peace. They want to be left alone. They want to be able to live their lives and their villages and farm their land and be left alone,” he said.

Speaking for the nearly 1,000‑year‑old humanitarian order, Josef Blotz, its grand hospitaller, told “EWTN News Nightly” about “the sobering degree of need” and the “requirements amidst destruction” in Gaza after the Israel‑Hamas conflict.

As grand hospitaller, Blotz supervises the order’s health and social affairs offices. He has served in the position since February 2025.

Blotz oversaw the opening of a health clinic in Gaza City on June 22 in partnership with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Calling it an “honor” to open the facility alongside Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Blotz said it was “a wonderful opportunity to live up to the order’s charism” by serving “the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable” in Gaza City.

“Itʼs very important for me to outline that we are not only looking after our Catholic people in this parish or of the Christians,” he said of the clinic located on the premises of Holy Family Church in Gaza City. “We are absolutely ready to help everyone irrespective of ethnicity or religion.”

Order provides aid in Ukraine

Blotz said of Ukraine’s humanitarian situation amid its war with Russia that “the crisis is ongoing.”

Active in about 74 locations in Ukraine, the order’s work in the country includes caring for orphans and children as well as wounded soldiers, Blotz said.

The order provides prosthetic limbs for soldiers injured during combat, producing the prosthetics “with the help of artificial intelligence,” according to Blotz.

“We are modern by tradition,” Blotz said. “And this is something you can witness in Ukraine where we really try — and actually achieved — making a difference in people’s lives.”

Venezuela mission assessed

Blotz said the order is preparing to send an assessment team to Venezuela “to find out where the need is.”

“We are very experienced in setting up activities like these not only in crisis areas but also in terms of disaster-relief operations,” he said, noting that he will know more in the coming days about how the order will lend its support.

“We have to understand the situation and also set up networks and partnerships,” he said. “Because together with others, the Church, Caritas, and many other governmental organizations, we would be even more successful.”

Until then, these sister churches continue to work together in serving the Gospel and caring for their faithful, despite the growing challenges facing Christians in the Middle East, where their shared history began.

As the region goes through another difficult moment, and following the election and installation of a new Chaldean patriarch, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, spoke with Mar Awa III, catholicos-patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, about the historic relationship between the Assyrian and Chaldean churches and the future of Christians in Iraq and across the Middle East.

A new beginning

Mar Awa III described the election of Mar Paul III Nona in Baghdad in late May as the beginning of a new chapter in the modern history of the Chaldean Church after years marked by internal challenges, especially those connected to political issues.

He reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening cooperation between the two sister churches.

“Our churches share the same history, traditions, liturgy, and spiritual heritage,” he said. “We are committed to working closely together for the good of our Assyrian and Chaldean faithful, both in our homelands and throughout the global communities.”

Guided by divine providence

The Assyrian patriarch reflected on what he sees as a meaningful sign of divine providence. The heads of the three churches that descend from the historic Church of the East all bear the title “III” in their patriarchal names.

He said this gives them a special opportunity to deepen cooperation and strengthen coordination among their churches in practical and effective ways.

“In addition to this shared connection that brings us together as brothers in faith and ministry, all three of us have served our churches in the abroad,” he said. “That experience has helped us understand both the needs and the challenges facing our faithful around the world.”

The gift of the Holy Spirit

Asked about practical steps toward the long-desired unity of the Church of the East, Mar Awa III said Christian unity is, above all, a gift from God.

“The unity of the sister churches is first and foremost a gift of the Holy Spirit,” he said. “It is also a living spiritual experience that requires constant prayer, deep reflection, and sincere fraternal cooperation.”

He expressed hope that the three patriarchs would meet soon to discuss pastoral and community cooperation and to develop a roadmap for closer collaboration on shared concerns, both in their homelands and in communities abroad.

“I am confident that our cooperation on the social and political challenges facing our people will help strengthen them in the land of their fathers and preserve our presence and identity,” he said.

Responsible media

Mar Awa III also reflected on the growing power of media and social media in today’s world and their influence on society and the life of the church.

“Freedom of expression is important,” he said, “but it does not mean using that freedom without respect for ethical and human values, whether in religious or secular media.”

He urged media organizations to adopt respectful language that pursues truth and benefits society instead of stirring up pointless disputes or harmful criticism.

He also warned against social media campaigns that target church leaders and clergy with insults, personal attacks, and language that can slide into hatred and defamation.

“Such behavior is not only lacking in accuracy and objectivity,” he said. “It is also far from Christian virtues and moral values.”

Returning to the roots

The patriarch said a new chapter began in the history of the Assyrian Church of the East when its patriarchal see returned to Iraq in 2015 after more than 80 years abroad.

“The return to Erbil brought our Church closer to its deep Eastern roots in Mesopotamia, as one of the oldest apostolic churches in the world,” he said.

Although this has created difficulties in managing communities abroad — where most of the church’s faithful now live — he said the return strengthened their sense of belonging to the church’s traditions and spiritual heritage. It also deepened their connection to their land and historical roots.

Strengthening cooperation

Mar Awa III said the reality facing churches in Iraq and the wider Middle East requires closer cooperation among them, regardless of church affiliation, for the good and future of their faithful.

He stressed that today’s challenges, especially migration, preserving the deposit of faith, and protecting Christian and community identity, require shared attention and cooperation.

He said churches must coordinate more closely to find effective solutions that help preserve the Christian presence in the East and protect its spiritual and historical heritage.

Deep concern over events in Iran

Mar Awa III expressed deep concern over the current war in the region, especially the fate of the church’s faithful in Iran, who are directly affected by it.

He said the outcome remains unclear at this stage.

All churches in the region, he added, are following the consequences of the war with great concern.

“Military conflicts always have serious consequences for small communities, including Middle Eastern Christians,” he said. “Our prayers continue without ceasing that the war end as soon as possible and that dialogue and understanding may silence the sound of weapons.”

Called to support one another

Alongside repeated wars, worsening economic hardships, social instability, and ongoing security challenges have caused painful waves of migration from all churches in the East, especially among young people.

With the renewal of war, Mar Awa III expressed hope that Christians around the world would recognize the suffering of their brothers and sisters in the East and understand the size of the challenges they face.

He encouraged them to support Christians in the region in ways that can help reduce continued migration, especially from Iraq.

He also called on the international community to play its part in addressing the economic and security causes of migration by supporting practical initiatives that help provide the conditions for a dignified life in a safe homeland.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

War, economic instability, and continued emigration are placing increasing pressure on the Christian presence in the region, driving a significant decline in communities across the Holy Land and neighboring countries, Twal said in an interview that aired June 25 with Veronica Dudo of EWTN News Nightly.

Reflecting on Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa’s June 22 visit to Gaza alongside Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, Twal said the trip was a powerful sign of Christian unity and solidarity with those suffering amid the ongoing conflict.

“It is very important because it shows that Catholics and Orthodox are working together for peace and justice,” Twal said. “It is very important for our people in Gaza to see that we are united together. We care for them, we follow them, and we are close to them.”

The cardinal’s presence, he said, reassured local Christians that Church leaders remain committed to accompanying them through the hardships of war. “It is our duty to be close always to our people in the parishes, in the church in Gaza,” he added.

The bishop emphasized that the Middle East cannot be viewed as a single reality. Conditions vary greatly among countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories, each facing its own unique challenges. Yet one concern unites them all: the steady decline of the Christian population.

“Generally speaking, Christianity in the Middle East is shrinking, and our numbers are decreasing,” Twal said. He attributed the decline to “the instability of the political situation, of wars, of conflicts.”

He noted that Christians in the Palestinian territories number about 4,000, while the Catholic parish in Gaza has dwindled to roughly 700 members. Conflict and political instability continue to drive many families to leave in search of safety and opportunity elsewhere, Twal said.

Despite these hardships, he stressed that the Catholic Church’s presence remains vital. Through its parishes, schools, hospitals, and charitable ministries, the Church provides stability and hope for vulnerable communities, serving both Christians and Muslims.

Asked whether peace is possible in the region, Twal responded emphatically: “Of course, peace is possible because we believe in it and we work for it.”

He added that peace requires daily commitment and practical action. “Peace is not only a principle that we just think about or believe in. Peace is a daily work. It is our responsibility, even with small gestures and activities,” he said.

The bishop pointed to the Church’s educational, medical, and humanitarian efforts as concrete ways it promotes peace and serves local communities. “Through our schools, our parishes, our hospitals, the services we offer to everyone, Christians and Muslims, we are building peace,” he said.

Twal also praised Pope Leo XIV for his continued calls for prayer and solidarity with those suffering throughout the region, noting that “the Holy Father is always asking to pray for us and encouraging people to be close to us.”

Calling on Christians worldwide to support the Church in the Holy Land, Bishop Twal encouraged pilgrims to visit.

“Come and visit us,” he said. “Coming to us, visiting us, it’s a sign of solidarity and support and knowing better. So stay close, either by knowing our situation or by coming and visiting us.”

Amid these challenges, the Catholic Church in the countries of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia continues to accompany the faithful spiritually and pastorally.

Bishop Aldo Berardi, apostolic vicar of Northern Arabia, told ACI MENA, the Arabic language service of EWTN News, that the Church is trying to remain close to its people during these times of fear and uncertainty.

The conflict that erupted in late February brought unexpected challenges to the vicariate and to the faithful living in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain.

“For a community that draws its strength from gathering together for Mass and communal prayer, the suspension of Church activities was a deep wound,” he said.

Berardi reflected on the fact that the conflict began during two important seasons of prayer: Lent for Christians and Ramadan for Muslims. He described this timing as a reminder of divine providence.

“It was not only painful, but it also reminded us that fasting and prayer are not merely religious practices; they are acts of solidarity with all who suffer,” he said. “They taught us as well that we are not alone in times of hardship.”

Even when public gatherings were restricted, churches remained open for private prayer. Later, parish activities and public Masses gradually resumed.

Hearts shaken by war

The apostolic vicar acknowledged the concerns of the faithful throughout the vicariate, which is home to about 2.2 million Catholics, in addition to members of other Christian communities. Most are expatriates and migrant workers from around the world. Each person carries a story of faith, migration, and hope.

“While their families in Lebanon, the Philippines, India, Kenya, and elsewhere closely follow developments and worry about the safety of their loved ones here, every phone call home becomes burdened with anxiety,” he said. “Conflict does not only damage infrastructure. The first thing it wounds is the human heart.”

As fears spread, many faithful came to the bishop asking whether they would lose their jobs, be evacuated, or still be able to send money home.

“For many of our faithful, the money they earn in the Gulf supports entire families back home,” he explained.

The bishop sought to remain close to his people, reassure them, and help ease their fears.

“I never claimed to have all the answers,” he said. “But my role as a father is to remind them of a deeper truth: They are not alone. Even far from home and living in uncertainty, God accompanies them, and the Church stands beside them.”

From the first days of the crisis, he encouraged the faithful to remain calm, stay united in prayer, and care for one another.

“Fear is not a sin,” he added. “It is a natural and necessary human response for survival. Jesus Himself experienced fear in the Garden of Gethsemane. Faith does not eliminate fear; it transforms it, gives it meaning, and enables us to cling to hope, ‘a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.’”

“I am truly filled with hope,” he said. “Christian hope is more than simple optimism. It is a gift from God that helps us persevere even in difficult times.”

Mission and service

At the beginning of this year, the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia began a fruitful spiritual journey. One important moment was the elevation of the Church of Our Lady of Arabia in Kuwait to the status of a minor basilica.

According to the bishop, this reflected the vitality and continued growth of the Catholic Church in the Gulf.

“Our journey has not stopped,” he said. “It has only been temporarily interrupted. As we await a lasting peace, we remain determined to continue with renewed energy, ready to resume pastoral programs, educational initiatives, and community activities.”

When people live amid fear, sorrow, and uncertainty, the bishop said, the Church’s first responsibility is to accompany them in their suffering.

“At the same time, peace creates the space necessary for service. Stability is not a luxury for the Church; it is an essential condition for mission.”

He stressed that peace is necessary for every part of the Church’s mission: proclaiming the Gospel, forming believers, serving the poor, and building dialogue between Christians and Muslims.

“Every sincere effort to build lasting peace helps the Church carry out its mission,” he said. “It helps create the conditions the Church needs to serve people and grow.”

Our Lady of Arabia

Millions of Catholics around the world turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary in times of need. The bishop often reminds the faithful of their patroness, Our Lady of Arabia.

“She is our mother, our protector, and the companion of millions of Catholics living far from their homelands,” he said.

“Mary herself experienced life as a refugee. She lived under occupation and remained standing at the foot of the Cross when everything seemed lost. She is not simply a figure from the past but a living presence in the lives of believers. I have no doubt that many of the faithful found strength in her maternal presence during these difficult months.”

‘A new Pentecost every day’

The bishop said the cultural diversity of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia is both its greatest gift and one of its greatest challenges.

Catholics in the vicariate worship according to a variety of liturgical traditions, including the Latin, Maronite, Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, and Coptic Catholic rites.

“People of different nationalities, languages, and cultures come together in prayer,” he said. “They are united by one baptism, one Eucharist, and one Lord. In our vicariate, we experience a new Pentecost every day.”

This unity is also seen in simple daily acts of charity and solidarity: a Filipino family helping an Indian family find housing, an African choir singing alongside a Lebanese choir at the same Mass, or a priest from one Church tradition visiting patients from another.

“This diversity is a living witness that we belong to one Church — holy, catholic, and universal,” the bishop said. “It is a witness the world needs to see today more than ever, especially here in the Middle East.”

Iran and the United States recently reached a preliminary agreement to extend a ceasefire that was welcomed by Gulf Cooperation Council states earlier this year. Although the situation remains fragile and many challenges continue, the bishop ended with a message of hope.

“We follow these developments closely, not from a political perspective but from a pastoral one,” he said. “We remain convinced that every step toward peace is a gift from God, and we receive it with gratitude.”

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

In an open letter addressed to Pope Leo on June 22, the group’s co-founders André Villeneuve and Father Antoine Lévy, OP, are asking the Holy Father to answer the question, “Should Catholics interpret the creation and enduring existence of the State of Israel as a sign of God’s providence — or should they not?”

While the pair note that “the Church’s reticence to pronounce on the theological meaning of the State of Israel has served a real purpose,” they proceed to express concerns over “a number of Catholic commentators” who they contend “have interpreted this silence as a formal dismissal of the very possibility of ascribing any theological resonance to the founding of the State of Israel and to its enduring existence.”

“The Church’s silence regarding Israel’s right to exist — the reluctance to go beyond mere political recognition, on a par with that extended to the still inchoate State of Palestine (2013) — gives ground to all those Catholic voices that wish to lend this campaign of denigration the authority of the Church’s own name,” the letter manifests.

Villeneuve and Lévy argue that “the ‘theological silence’ that has prevailed until now would risk doing more harm to the Church’s witness than the prudence it was meant to preserve.”

‘For Zion’s Sake’

Villeneuve and Lévy’s letter to Pope Leo comes as part of an effort by Catholic Voices for Israel to make “a biblically grounded, theologically informed case for Catholic solidarity with Israel.”

In its founding statement, “For Zion’s Sake: A Catholic Appeal in Support of Israel,” the recently formed Catholic Voices for Israel (CVFI) calls for Catholic Zionism to be understood as “supporting the Jewish people’s right to self‑determination in their ancient, biblical homeland; acknowledging God’s love for Zion and his promise of the land in Scripture; recognizing that these promises were never revoked in the New Testament; and remaining open to seeing the work of divine providence in Israel’s return to the land — a possibility the Church has not foreclosed.”

Since launching CVFI last month, “For Zion’s Sake” has garnered 165 signatories, including prominent names such as Gavin DʼCosta of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and Jennifer Bryson of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

Addressing the question of his motivation for helping to spearhead the initiative, Villeneuve, an associate professor of Old Testament and biblical languages at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, told EWTN News that Catholic antisemitism has “become much more prevalent” since Oct. 7, 2023 on two levels: the political level and the theological and biblical level.

“All the prophets consistently reaffirm Godʼs covenant with Israel and his promises that he will return them back to their land. So why arenʼt Catholics taking that seriously?” Villeneuve said. “As if this is just an evangelical, dispensationalist-type of idea, when Scripture is really quite clear about it? These promises and prophecies are never abolished in the New Testament.”

One of the four “Guiding Principles” in CVFI’s Charter asserts the importance of the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in the modern State of Israel, quoting Pope Benedict XVI who said in a 2018 letter to Rabbi Arie Folger that "it is not difficult, I believe, to see in the creation of the State of Israel the fidelity of God to Israel is revealed in a mysterious way.”

While Villeneuve and the Charter both make the case for a Catholic Zionism and recognition of biblical significance for the modern state of Israel, other Catholic public intellectuals argue that the lack of official teaching leaves room for Catholics to disagree or form alternate opinions.

Indeed, in the same 2018 letter to Rabbi Folger, Benedict XVI says “the state of Israel cannot be seen to theologically represent fulfillment of the Land promise, but rather as a secular state which of course has religious foundations.”

Outside perspectives on the effort

“The Charter is strongest when it grounds itself in truths the Church has clearly affirmed,” Simone Rizkallah, manager of Jewish-Christian Partnerships at the Tikvah Fund, told EWTN News.

“Where the Charter moves beyond settled doctrine is in its attempt to reflect on the theological significance of the modern State of Israel,” she said, explaining that the Catholic Church has never taught that the modern State of Israel was biblically prophesied, nor rejected the idea that “the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland might bear theological significance in light of Godʼs enduring fidelity to the Jewish people.”

“On these questions there remains room for legitimate theological exploration and debate among Catholics,” Rizkallah, who is not a signatory to the Charter, said.

In addition, Rizkallah pointed to the perspective of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in his framing of the issue: “[Pizzaballa] put his finger on an important aspect of the discussion when he observed: "While Europeans primarily view Israel as a state, for Jews it is much more than that.”

“Too often Catholics discuss Israel exclusively as a political entity without adequately appreciating the religious, historical, and covenantal significance that the Land of Israel holds within the Jewish self-understanding,” she said. “Recognizing that reality does not require agreement with every policy of the Israeli government, but it does require taking Jewish self-understanding seriously.”

Rizkallah, who is also a founding member of the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism, said she welcomed the charter’s rejection of dispensationalism, dual-covenant theology, political absolutism, and the notion that Israel should be exempt from moral scrutiny. She further praised the document’s acknowledgement of the dignity and concerns of Palestinians and local Christians.

“One reason I believe this conversation is so important is that, despite the tremendous progress in Catholic-Jewish relations since Nostra Aetate, there are signs that certain anti-Jewish attitudes are reappearing within parts of Catholic discourse,” she said. “I do not mean that large numbers of Catholics are racial antisemites, nor do I mean that the Churchʼs official teaching has changed. On the contrary, the Churchʼs teaching on the Jewish people remains one of the great achievements of the post-conciliar era.”

“The challenge facing Catholics today is not only to reject overt antisemitism, but also to ensure that our theological, political, and moral judgments are shaped by what the Church actually teaches about the Jewish people,” Rizkallah pointed out.

A ‘work of God’

For his part, David Moss, longtime president of the Association of Hebrew Catholics in the U.S., praised CVFI’s initiative.

“I am totally in agreement with this new Catholic initiative in support of Israel,” Moss told EWTN News. “It can only be a work of God that His chosen people, the people Israel (aka the Jews), would survive the holocaust in Christian Europe, and then three years after the end of World War II return to their ancient homeland.”

Moss emphasized that “it is way past time for Catholics to stand up for the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and the many Jewish traditions of Jesus and His people upon which the Catholic faith is based.”

The visit of the two heads of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches in the Holy Land expressed, according to the statement, the “pastoral responsibility” of their respective Churches toward the Christian communities of Gaza but also “toward the whole population” of this territory, “where families continue to endure grave humanitarian suffering, fear, loss and uncertainty.”

The patriarchs were accompanied on their visit by Josef D. Blotz, grand hospitaller of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, as well as by representatives of Malteser International, the orderʼs humanitarian agency.

Their presence “reflects the enduring commitment of faith-based humanitarian services to healthcare, relief work, and the protection of human dignity in Gaza,” the statement noted.

Furthermore, the statement said the presence of both religious leaders “carries the prayer of Jerusalem to Gaza’s wounded faithful and to all who suffer, in a ministry of consolation, mercy and steadfast Christian witness rooted in the Gospel and in the sacred vocation of the Holy City.”

During their time in Gaza, the leaders visited the cityʼs only Catholic church, the Latin rite parish dedicated to the Holy Family where, according to Vatican News, Theophilos III and Pizzaballa were welcomed with applause from the faithful and joyful cheers from the children.

After an initial greeting and a prayer led by the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, Pizzaballa expressed his joy at being able to look into the eyes not only of the parishioners and those living in the vicinity of the church, but also of all the inhabitants of that suffering city.

The situation, the cardinal said, is difficult but the presence of Church representatives demonstrates their concern for Gaza, which remains a priority.

In addition, they held meetings with the clergy, religious communities, and “local Christian families and people affected by the continuing humanitarian crisis,” according to the statement.

Through these encounters, they "seek to offer spiritual strength, comfort, and hope in the midst of deep suffering," they said. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem emphasized that the presence of Theophilos III and Pizzaballa "carries the prayer of Jerusalem to Gaza’s wounded faithful and to all who suffer.”

This is the third such visit in the past year; Pizzaballa previously visited the Strip in July and December 2025.

The humanitarian work of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza has recently been recognized. On June 12, in the presence of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, they were awarded the Antonio Feltrinelli International Prize by the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei — one of Italyʼs most prestigious scientific and humanitarian awards. Iyad Twal, patriarchal vicar for Jordan, accepted the prize on behalf of Pizzaballa.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

For many Syrian Christians, the terrorist attack became a defining moment that shook the community in a way not seen since the final years of the Ottoman Empire.

Speaking to ACI MENA, EWTN News’ Arabic-language news service, Father Yohanna Shahada, pastor of St. Elias Church, recalled not only a year marked by grief, tears, and fear, but also one shaped by hope born of prayer, faith, and the solidarity of the Church’s living stones, supporting one another through suffering.

One memory from the days immediately following the attack remains especially vivid in Shahada’s mind. Rather than waiting to receive consolation, grieving families found themselves comforting the priests. Many of the wounded, despite their own pain, sought to encourage those serving the parish.

Shahada recalled one parishioner who underwent surgery on his leg. When the priest asked how he was doing, the man replied: “Father, as long as you are standing, we are well.”

The bombing revived memories of war, destruction, and fear that many had spent years trying to overcome, Shahada said. Even today, concerns about the future and the possibility of another attack remain present among many families.

The families of victims of the church bombing faced not only the emotional pain of losing loved ones but also significant financial hardship, as many of those killed were the primary breadwinners for their households.

According to Shahada, approximately 150 people were injured in the attack. Their injuries ranged from minor to moderate, with some requiring surgery and others suffering life-altering wounds that resulted in the loss of a limb.

The priest emphasized that from the first moments after the bombing, Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X Yazigi closely followed developments and directed efforts to provide emergency assistance, hospital care, medication, and the medical treatment needed by the injured.

Shahada also praised the work of the Church’s Department of Ecumenical Relations, which organized individual and group psychological support sessions. He highlighted the contributions of Church institutions and charitable organizations, including Caritas and the St. Ephrem Organization, as well as numerous community initiatives that stood beside affected families during their time of need.

Continuing support

The months following the attack were marked by sustained efforts to address urgent needs and help families rebuild their lives, Shahada said. These initiatives included assisting people in finding employment, supporting small business projects, and helping cover educational expenses for children from affected households whenever possible.

“No assistance can replace the loss of a loved one,” he said. “But these efforts are a tangible expression of the Church’s commitment to its people and its determination not to leave them alone in their suffering.”

Reflecting on the spiritual dimension of the tragedy, Shahada said the experience, despite the evil and pain it brought, ultimately deepened many people’s relationship with the Church and strengthened their appreciation for prayer and hope.

“The miracles we need are not born from anger or hatred,” he said. “Those only deepen divisions. Prayer for those who harm us, however, opens the door to true transformation.”

He pointed to the conversion of St. Paul on the road to Damascus as an example of such transformation. Evil, he said, resembles thorns that grow and spread on their own, while a field of wheat requires patience, effort, and constant care to bear fruit.

Looking back, Shahada noted that although the bombing itself lasted only seconds, the restoration of the church has taken more than a year because every part of the building sustained damage.

He expressed hope that the faithful will be able to celebrate the rededication of St. Elias Church next autumn.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Chaldean Patriarch Paul III Nona (formerly Archbishop Amel Shamon Nona) was elected in April and formally installed at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Baghdad in late May.

Speaking during a welcoming ceremony for the Chaldean patriarch at St. Joseph Cathedral in Ankawa, Warda said that choosing Ankawa as the first stop in Nona’s visits outside his patriarchal eparchy carried a clear message to its people: “You are in my heart.”

A Christian identity despite challenges

Warda recalled the deep Christian roots of the historic region of Adiabene — today’s Erbil and its surrounding areas — and its Church, known for its leaders, martyrs, and perseverance amid persecution.

He particularly remembered the 1310 massacre at the Erbil Citadel, which forced Christians to flee to Mosul and to the towns and villages of the Nineveh Plain.

“Yet the faith was not extinguished,” he said.

Ankawa’s distinct place

The archbishop praised Ankawa for preserving its Christian identity across the centuries and remaining a living witness of perseverance despite persecution and hardship. By the 16th century, he said, Ankawa had become the only remaining village in the area with a large Christian population.

“In every trial our Church endured, Ankawa was a refuge whose doors were never closed,” Warda said, especially during the forced displacement of 2014.

What happened in 2014?

The occupation of Mosul and the towns and villages of the Nineveh Plain by the terrorist organization ISIS caused the forced displacement of Christians, many of whom fled to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Ankawa and the towns and villages of the Chaldean Archeparchy of Erbil became among their most important places of refuge.

In his latest pastoral letter, Warda noted that within weeks in the summer of 2014, Ankawa received more than 13,200 displaced families. They were housed in churches, schools, parish halls, and homes of charity. The Joint Episcopal Relief Committee and the Chaldean Mercy Association helped organize the first response, providing temporary shelter, food, water, mattresses, and other basic needs in more than 26 small, medium, and large camps.

The people of Ankawa opened their hearts to welcome their persecuted brothers and sisters, and the town became home to the largest gathering of Christians in Iraq and a safe haven for them.

For years, Ankawa has faced several challenges related to political representation and public services. Many residents believe that the use of agricultural land for residential investment projects is contributing to demographic change and reducing green and cultivated areas. These concerns have grown with the spread of nightlife and entertainment venues in residential neighborhoods.

A deliberate exclusion

The Church believes it is unfair for Ankawa’s young people to direct their frustration toward the Church over these issues. Warda stressed that since 2011 the Chaldean Church has been excluded from having the final word on matters concerning Ankawa and its future, despite being, as he put it, “the owner of the land, the history, and the people.”

He pointed to several issues that concern public opinion in Ankawa, including the failure to appoint a permanent district mayor for nearly a year and a half “for unknown reasons.”

Warda said the truth, which is hidden from those who blame the Church for Ankawa’s situation and falsely accuse it of indifference or complicity, is that “our exclusion as a Church was deliberate, serving the narrow interests of beneficiaries at the expense of the good of the city and the future of its people.”

“This is my testimony for history,” he added. “I place it before God and before you.”

He urged the Church’s young people, whom he called “its hope and its tomorrow,” to remain attached to their land, to work patiently, and to persevere in their demands, saying that their legitimate anger alone cannot build a future.

“Our father the patriarch is with us,” Warda said, adding that “the truth will reach the attention of the Kurdistan Regional Government, which sincerely desires the survival and flourishing of Christians.”

Warda also emphasized that the Church has not remained idle but has worked to serve its people in practical and effective ways through “achievements accomplished despite the circumstances, not because of them.”

“Let actions speak for us, not words,” he said.

He highlighted the archeparchy’s catechetical programs for all ages, its active youth pastoral initiatives that help young people remain rooted in their faith and land, the construction of four new churches, three of them in Ankawa, as well as four schools, a university, a hospital, and Radio Maryam. Together, he said, these institutions provide more than 800 job opportunities for qualified residents of Ankawa, in addition to relief services and assistance to the poor and needy.

Ankawa includes about 75,000 Christians from the apostolic churches — Catholic and Orthodox — as well as evangelical communities. Today, Ankawa faces the challenge of preserving its religious character and safeguarding its historic identity.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Speaking to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, the patriarch said ongoing instability is increasing the vulnerability of local communities and deepening people’s uncertainty about the future.

The patriarch’s remarks came after an official ceremony at the Élysée Palace attended by French political and Church leaders, during which Macron awarded Pizzaballa the rank of officer in the Legion of Honor in recognition of his service to the people of the Holy Land and his ongoing efforts to promote interreligious dialogue and defend the values of justice and peace.

The cardinal said his meetings with Macron were “important and direct” and that their discussion focused less on political details, which the president already knows, and more on social issues, people’s concerns, and their daily realities in both Palestine and Israel.

He added that Macron showed particular interest in understanding how the Church interprets current developments and in learning about the humanitarian situation of Christian communities in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.

Pizzaballa also noted that Palestinian Christians “do not differ in their suffering from other Palestinians.” Settlements continue to expand, lands are being confiscated, and landowners are often prevented from accessing or working their property, he said. At the same time, attacks by settlers continue amid what he described as a clear lack of security.

He also pointed to the economic crisis that is prompting many Christian families to consider emigration, especially after years of war, declining employment opportunities, and the suspension of development projects.

Pizzaballa called on the international community and churches in the West to “redouble their efforts to create real opportunities, build connections, and develop new pathways that enable families to remain in their homeland and preserve their roots.

Regarding the Church’s mission in the context of the conflict, Pizzaballa stressed that its role begins with speaking the truth and condemning injustice. It also includes promoting mutual respect, helping build dignified lives, and accompanying people as they seek to overcome despair.

The Church, he said, “tries to be a voice reminding everyone of the humanity of the other,” while combining spiritual care with advocacy for justice and peace.

The patriarch also reflected on the region’s broader tensions, noting that conflict has become part of the culture of the region after generations of violence. Overcoming this legacy, he said, “will not happen anytime soon,” particularly in the absence of leadership capable of looking beyond the barriers imposed by violence.

He added that the Church remains committed to serving as “a bridge of hope” at a time when trust is diminishing and fears are increasing.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

At this significant site of the Neocatechumenal Way on the shores of the Sea of ​​Galilee in the Holy Land, the cardinal conferred priestly ordination upon Francisco Hurtado Cárdenas (Colombia), José Pablo Morera Mesén (Costa Rica), Adolfo René De León Salguero (Guatemala), and David Sotgiu (Italy).

In his homily, Pizzaballa highlighted the providential nature of the date — the eve of Corpus Christi — and emphasized that “there is no Eucharist without a priest, nor a priest without the Eucharist.” The Italian cardinal also stressed that “love cannot be locked within itself; it must be communicated, it must become a gift,” according to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The cardinal also emphasized that the priesthood is not a personal possession but a received gift that must be safeguarded. “If you keep it for yourselves, it will be stifled; it must always become a gift,” he warned the new priests.

Pizzaballa also encouraged the new priests to remember “what the Lord has done for you,” so that they do not forget the journey they have traveled or the people who have supported and accompanied them.

He also emphasized that a priest must lead people to an encounter with Christ through his witness and by helping communities live out the faith as something vibrant within the Church.

At the end of the homily, the patriarch highlighted both the beauty and the demanding nature of serving the Church in Jerusalem — a small, complex reality wounded by many situations. “Here, it is necessary to go to the very depths, to live the life of God to the fullest, right where the Word became incarnate and became tangible and real,” he emphasized.

In June of last year, in the same church, Pizzaballa conferred priestly ordination upon John Oscar Nuñez (Philippines), Giacomo Pagliariccia (Italy), and Lucas Solbach (France), who were also trained at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Galilee.

In a statement, Qlayaa’s municipality said the road linking the southern villages to Lebanon’s capital and educational centers has become a place of danger for civilians. The killing has intensified anger among students and families who say safer arrangements are needed for exams in border areas.

On the same day, an Israeli warning concerning the Christian quarter of Tyre added to the anxiety, leaving civilians feeling caught between Hezbollah’s presence and Israeli military action.

French lawmakers remove bill provision requiring priests to break seal of confession

Lawmakers in France voted to removed a controversial provision in a bill that would have required clergy to report information learned while administering the sacrament of confession. According to Zenit, the proposal, which engendered heated debate in French Parliament, was drafted in the aftermath of a sexual abuse scandal involving hundreds of allegations linked to a Catholic school.

Canon law dictates that priests may never reveal the contents of a penitentʼs confession under pain of the Church’s most severe penalties.

9 Salesians to be beatified in Poland on June 6

Nine Salesians who were killed during World War II by the German Nazis will be beatified on June 6 at the Shrine of St. John Paul II in Kraków, Poland, according to Vatican News.

“Despite hunger, humiliation, and torture, they continued to support their fellow prisoners, pray, and bear witness to their faith,” the report said. 

Karol Wojtyła, before he became Pope John Paul II, witnessed the arrest of six of the nine men in Krakow. Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, archbishop of Kraków, said of the connection between the former saint-pope and the soon-to-be new blesseds: "I firmly believe that the priestly vocation of St. John Paul II was also born from their martyrdom.”

Kenyan bioethicist-priest issues warning about Ebola facility

A priest and bioethics scholar in Kenya has raised suspicions over a controversial proposal for a U.S.-linked Ebola quarantine and treatment facility in Kenya, arguing that “the initiative raises profound ethical questions that require broader scrutiny beyond political and diplomatic considerations.”

According to ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, Father Pascal Mwakio is concerned that the 50-bed Ebola quarantine and treatment center at the Laikipia Air Base in central Kenya may involve "ethical dumping," a term used when developed nations "unethically conduct research in low-setting resource countries or third-world countries.” 

Patriarch Hoyek remembered as ‘pastor who helped shape modern Lebanon’

The announcement of the beatification of Maronite Patriarch Elias Hoyek has renewed attention to one of the defining Church figures in Lebanon’s modern history, according to ACI MENA. Hoyek’s legacy is closely tied to the emergence of Greater Lebanon, especially through his advocacy at the Paris Peace Conference after World War I, where he defended the right of his people to a homeland rooted in dignity, freedom, and pluralism.

More than a political figure, Hoyek is remembered as a pastor who saw faith as a force for building both the human person and the nation. His life joined ecclesial service with national responsibility, leaving a witness that still speaks to Lebanon’s search for hope amid crisis.

First Chaldean synod under new patriarch looks to renewal

Patriarch Paul III Nona presided over the first synod of Chaldean bishops since his installation, gathering 14 bishops at the patriarchal residence in Baghdad while travel difficulties prevented the participation of bishops from the United States, ACI MENA reported.

Opening the meeting with a reflection on his patriarchal motto, “Do not be afraid; only believe,” Nona called the Chaldean Church to face present challenges with hope, unity, and confidence in God’s care. The bishops discussed pastoral, administrative, and institutional priorities for the coming stage, including clergy formation, the role of the patriarchal seminary, synodal structures, the selection of bishops, and the relationship between the Church in Iraq and its diaspora communities.

The synod also announced that Rome will host its next gathering following the Mass of ecclesial communion presided over by Pope Leo on Oct. 14.

5 bishops forced to leave dioceses in Myanmar due to violence

A civil war has been raging in Myanmar, previously called Burma, since 2021 and five bishops from the countryʼs 17 dioceses have now had to leave their dioceses to take up residences in safer areas away from the violence.

According to Fides news agency, the bishops are from the dioceses of
Pekhon, Loikaw, Banmaw, Mindat, and Lashio.

Bishop Felice Ba Htoo of Pekhon, in Shan state, told Fides that pastors there have endured hardship as clashes between the army and rebel groups continue to wreak havoc in the country.

“We bishops have not been immune to this reality either," Ba Htoo told Fides. "Many of our parishes have been closed because they have been damaged, attacked, or because they have lost their faithful."

Syrian Christian villages celebrate return after 14 years

The people of Hallouz and Qastal al-Burj in Syria’s Idlib countryside marked a long-awaited return after 14 years of war and displacement, gathering with Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Athanasius Fahd of Latakia for a recent celebration that carried deep symbolic weight.

Amid damaged homes and ruined churches, residents sang, danced, prayed, and raised crosses, icons, and the Syrian flag, expressing hope that permanent return will become possible once reconstruction support is available, according to ACI MENA.

In his remarks, Fahd said the villages are not merely places of residence but part of a centuries-old history rooted in the land, comparing the people’s attachment to their villages to the olive and oak trees planted by generations before them.

In comments to local media, Rmeish Municipality Head Hanna Al-Amil said a missile fell between inhabited homes on Sunday morning and “narrowly avoided causing a major disaster.”

Al-Amil stressed that the village contains no military forces, armed groups, or weapons, emphasizing that residents “simply want to live safely on their land, away from confrontation and escalation.”

The people of Rmeish remain attached to their land and continue their lives “despite difficult circumstances,” he said, calling for the protection of civilians and for the village and its residents not to be placed at risk. 

The incident is not an isolated one. It comes amid a series of missile launches affecting Christian villages in the south, increasing fears among local residents. On Friday, several Hezbollah rockets fired toward Israeli forces operating in the town of Dibbin landed in residential and civilian areas of Marjayoun, causing significant property damage.

According to local reports, one rocket struck the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, damaging parts of the church, while another landed within the grounds of the Sacred Hearts Secondary School, leaving extensive destruction to the building and its surroundings.

Speaking to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Rizkallah Alam, a resident of Rmeish whose daughter received her first Communion, said villagers have effectively been living in a state of war since Oct. 8, 2023.

“We have been living the reality of war since then,” he said, adding that the village has not experienced a genuine ceasefire at any point. “The children and their parents live in constant anxiety. We asked to postpone the first Communion to another time, but our parish priest refused and insisted that it take place.”

Alam described the daily reality facing children in the village, saying they live without a sense of security or psychological stability. “My children pray and sing hymns all the time, and they live according to the news cycle. Some days schools are open, and other days they are not. Today the situation has become even worse because of the siege.”

He said the restrictions affecting the village have impacted even the most basic aspects of daily life. “Everything has become unavailable. We wait for the aid convoy and hope it will be allowed to reach the village.”

In previous years, families would hold large celebrations for first Communion. This year, however, circumstances forced them to scale back their plans. “This year the celebration was limited to family homes, with no large festivities,” he said. “The number of children was also lower than in previous years because families are scattered. Some are in Beirut, while others have left the country.”

Alam described the immense uncertainty facing both parents and children. “The situation is extremely difficult. We cannot even plan for tomorrow,” he said. “As we speak, rockets have fallen in Rmeish again, one person has been injured, and a car has caught fire.”

Between missiles and first Communion, Rmeish embodies one of southern Lebanonʼs most painful paradoxes: a village that wants to live, families determined to remain, and children learning faith in a time of fear.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been translated for and adapted by EWTN News English.

In an exclusive interview with EWTN News, the new Chaldean patriarch described his return to serve as patriarch in his homeland more than a decade after leaving it as part of the Church’s mission of service.

“The Church sends us wherever there is a need,” he said. “We served in Mosul during difficult years, when the Church needed us there. We do the same whenever the Church sees a need for our service in another place. The purpose of our service is to fulfill our mission: to be wherever the Church sends us and to do the will of Our Lord in that place.”

Nona served as bishop of the Chaldean Eparchy of Mosul in extremely difficult circumstances for nearly four years, before the city fell to terrorist groups in 2014. He accompanied the displaced faithful of his eparchy and continued serving them in the villages and towns where they took refuge after their displacement. In 2015, the Chaldean Synod appointed him to serve the Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand, where he remained until his election as patriarch this past April.

Speaking about his experience in Mosul, Nona said the years before ISIS as well as the period marked by the terrorist group’s advance shaped him deeply.

“I think the experience of Mosul before ISIS, and also the experience with ISIS, enriched my personality and made me more mature as a person and as a Christian,” he said.

He recalled living with the faithful in Mosul during a very difficult period, saying their faith was “very strong.” He also described the displacement of Christians to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq as a painful but spiritually powerful experience.

“It was sad to see all these people in that situation,” he said. “But on the other hand, it was very good to see that their faith was the first and most important thing for them.”

Fear and faith

Asked about his patriarchal motto, “Do not be afraid, just believe,” Nona said fear is not limited to the Middle East but is present throughout the world.

“I believe that fear is the most common aspect in all the world, not just in the Middle East,” he said. “I lived in Australia, in what we can call the Western world, and the fear there is the same as here — of course, with different challenges. But there is always fear. So we have to face our fear with faith.”

Safeguarding rights and dignity

Asked about the expected relationship between the new patriarch and Iraq’s new government, whose formation coincided with his installation, Nona said the Church has historically defended the rights of its faithful and remains committed to participating in building the country on sound and legal foundations that respect the dignity of all people and freedom of religion.

He highlighted the Church’s essential role in society wherever it is present, through educational, healthcare, and other institutions, as well as through serving its people and working to secure their rights and protect their dignity.

Challenges of being rooted in faith

Regarding the challenges facing members of the Chaldean Church in diaspora countries — whether in terms of being rooted in the faith and preserving identity or in facing moral challenges — Nona drew on his experience of service in Australia. He stressed that confronting these challenges, and succeeding in doing so, is possible by deepening the meaning of faith in the lives of believers, especially among new generations born and raised in diaspora countries.

He said the challenges facing young people have pushed their families to return to the Church. When these young people come to know their faith properly and hear meaningful answers to their complex and important questions, he said, they give the Church strength and support and become the strongest defenders of its faith and identity.

On strengthening dialogue among the three Churches that share the heritage of the Church of the East today, and on efforts toward the desired unity, the Chaldean patriarch said that a true relationship of human fraternity is the foundation of unity and common action.

While stressing respect for the different traditions and distinct heritage of each Church, he said the shared heritage and tradition of the three Churches open doors to joint work in cultural and liturgical fields while respecting the particular identity of each.

Magnifica Humanitas

Nona also addressed the issue of artificial intelligence and its threat to human dignity, citing Pope Leo XIV’s recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. He stressed the need for technology to remain at the service of the human person and human dignity, and to be used properly to promote a sound humanity built on upright values and principles — not one that demeans human beings and their dignity or encourages violence.

He encouraged people to read and study the pope’s teaching, saying its timely importance led Leo to choose it as the subject of his first encyclical.

Peoples longing for peace

Nona assumes his responsibilities amid the current challenges facing the Middle East, which he described as complex and painful. Wishing peace and stability for the countries and peoples of the region, he said: “I believe and think that all the peoples of the Middle East want to live in peace and security. Years of wars, divisions, and violence have exhausted them.”

Asked where he sees the future of the region heading amid ongoing conflict, Nona said major changes appear to be underway in the Middle East.

“Something is happening now that will change the Middle East a lot,” he said. “We hope it will be for the good, not for the bad. So we pray that everything will be good.”

He said taking on any responsibility in such a complex situation is a serious matter that requires responsible discipline in words and actions, directing them toward achieving peace and stability and defending the rights and dignity of peoples.

On the possibility of Christians returning to the Middle East, Nona said their return and continued presence depend on peace, stability, and a genuine sense of citizenship.

“When there is peace in this region, when there is stability, when they feel that they are citizens of this land and of these countries, they will come back, and they will stay here,” he said. Asked whether he hoped Christians would one day return, he replied: “I hope that. Of course, we pray for that also.”

A message to Catholics in the West

Nona also addressed Catholics in the West, asking them first to pray for the Chaldean Church.

“We need them to pray, because we are all Christians and Catholics,” he said. He also asked them to learn more about the Chaldean Church and the reality of Christians in the Middle East, and to help support efforts that allow Christians to remain in the region.

He emphasized the role of Chaldean youth, and Christian youth in general, as the foundation of the Church and a firm pillar of its mission. He stressed the need to give young people the place they deserve in the Church.

Nona concluded with a message to Christian youth, based on his personal experience: “Our Christian faith is our foundation, our strength, and our life. In the Chaldean Church, we live it through our Chaldean identity, distinct in language, liturgy, and tradition. The closer young people come to knowing their identity of faith in its proper form, the more they will become a tremendous force of faith and humanity, capable of defending faith and humanity.”

In a final message to Catholic youth around the world, Nona said: “Prayer is the most important thing. And also try always to live your faith with joy.”

The patriarch made the remarks during a gathering hosted by King Abdullah II of Jordan with Church leaders at the baptism site of Jesus Christ, traditionally known as Bethany Beyond the Jordan on May 18.

Located on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho in the West Bank, the site is venerated by Christians around the world as the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. In recognition of its universal spiritual significance, UNESCO inscribed the baptism site on its World Heritage List in 2015.

King Abdullah announced that the Jordanian government will adopt and support an initiative to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s baptism in 2030. The plan includes upgrading infrastructure and services at the baptism site to welcome pilgrims from around the world while preserving its sacred character.The king also emphasized his personal commitment to overseeing preparations, underscoring Jordan’s role in protecting holy sites and supporting the Christian presence in the region.

“This initiative is a call to look forward with faith and responsibility,“ Pizzaballa said. ”The baptism site must remain a living place, where visitors do not simply come to see but encounter God and rediscover the depth of their baptism.”

Church leaders in Jordan welcomed the king’s support for the Baptism Jubilee 2030, describing it as a historic opportunity to strengthen Christian unity and renew the meaning of pilgrimage to the baptism site. They stressed that preparations should begin locally, through the development of facilities, the training of staff, and efforts to ensure that the site remains a place of living faith. They also called for engagement with churches and Christian institutions worldwide to encourage broad participation in the jubilee.

For Church leaders, the jubilee is not only a commemoration of a major moment in Christian history but also a global spiritual event inviting believers everywhere to rediscover the depth of their baptism and to see the baptism site as a symbol of reconciliation and hope.

Pizzaballa expressed deep appreciation for Jordan’s role in safeguarding the site and promoting peace.

“In this blessed land,” he said, “we see in your leadership a living example of how faith can become a bridge between peoples and a foundation for peace in the world.”

The baptism site carries profound spiritual and historical significance. Known in Scripture as “Bethany Beyond the Jordan,” it is the place where Jesus entered the waters to be baptized by John, sanctifying creation and inaugurating his public ministry.

Archaeological remains of ancient churches and monasteries bear witness to centuries of Christian devotion, while modern pilgrims continue to gather there for liturgies, prayer, and reflection.

Since its recognition by UNESCO, the site has become a major destination for Christian pilgrimage, drawing thousands of visitors each year to the banks of the Jordan River.

The 2030 jubilee initiative is envisioned not only as the commemoration of a milestone in Christian history but also as a global spiritual event. It seeks to renew the meaning of baptism for believers, strengthen Christian pilgrimage, and present the baptism site as a beacon of reconciliation and hope.

As preparations begin, Bethany Beyond the Jordan is preparing to welcome the world, offering a tangible connection to the beginning of Christ’s mission and a testimony to faith, peace, and coexistence in the Middle East.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

“I have left Palestine, the land I loved, to return to my beloved homeland, Jordan, continuing the mission of the Gospel and justice,” Father Louis Salman wrote in a farewell message to the faithful.

Salman had served in Beit Sahour, at the Shepherds’ Field near Bethlehem, where he had become a much-loved figure among local Christians.

“In a spirit of priestly obedience, I accept all divine will and wisdom with hope and faith despite the deep pain,” the priest said in a message shared by the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice. “I knew that speaking the truth is costly, and here I am paying the price. Not with regret, but with great love, like my crucified Christ.”

The priest described Jesus as his “example and teacher” and concluded his farewell by recalling the words of the Gospel: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Young priest with great pastoral potential

In comments to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Bishop William Shomali, vicar general of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said Salman’s visa “was not renewed because he had made some political statements on Facebook that were considered by Israel to be incitement.”

“The Church did everything possible to resolve the situation, but Shabak [Israel’s internal security service] did not give a positive response,” Shomali said. “The Christian community in general — especially his parish and the young people he served as spiritual director — was deeply affected, especially during the farewell gathering they organized for him.”

Shomali clarified that Salman “was not physically expelled.”

“However, since his visa was not renewed, he was asked to leave discreetly to avoid any further tension,” the bishop said. “That is how the situation unfolded.”

Shomali said the priest’s future has already been arranged, adding that Salman will “soon receive a new assignment in one of our dioceses, since he is a good young priest with great pastoral potential.”

Interrogation and departure

According to sources familiar with the case cited by The Pillar in late April, the priest underwent an unusually lengthy interrogation.

Afterward, authorities of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem reportedly advised Salman to leave Palestine for his own safety. He later received official notification that his visa would not be renewed, with no formal justification provided. The deadline for him to leave was May 11.

According to The Pillar, Jerusalem sources who requested anonymity said the case may mark the first time Israel has intervened so directly in internal Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem personnel decisions.

The same sources said the patriarchate does not plan to make public statements for the time being as it prepares for a possible legal battle expected to be long and complex.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

But while diplomats discuss security arrangements, military withdrawals, and the future of the border, the damage left in southern Lebanon from the latest war triggered by Hezbollah also includes a religious wound: the desecration of Christian symbols and the destruction of places of worship.

Desecration of Christian symbols

In several southern villages, the war has not only left homes destroyed and families displaced but has also affected churches, crosses, and statues of the Virgin Mary — sacred signs that mark the Christian presence in villages where questions of return, protection, and dignity are supposed to be inseparable from the diplomatic discussions.

Recently, two incidents in southern Lebanon brought renewed attention to the desecration of Christian symbols during the war. In one case, an image circulated showing an Israeli soldier placing a cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary. Before that, another widely reported image showed a soldier damaging a statue of Christ on the cross in Debl.

These incidents were not isolated, however.

During an earlier phase of the war in 2024, a video reportedly showed Israeli soldiers inside a church in Deir Mimas, turning the sacred space into a scene of mockery. In the footage, soldiers appeared to stage a mock wedding between two servicemen, with others laughing, singing, filming, and moving through the church as though it were a place of entertainment rather than worship.

Israel has said the soldiers involved in the desecration incidents were punished and that such behavior is incompatible with the army’s values. After the image of the Virgin Mary statue circulated, the Israeli military said one soldier had been sentenced to 21 days in military prison and another to 14 days, adding that it viewed the incident with “great severity.”

In the earlier Debl case, two soldiers were reportedly removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days in military detention after an image showed a soldier damaging a statue of Christ on the cross.

The destruction of Christian places of worship

The incidents involving individual soldiers are only one part of a wider picture. Christian places of worship and religious institutions in southern Lebanon have also been targeted and destroyed during the war.

In Yaroun, a Catholic convent and former school belonging to the Salvatorian Sisters were destroyed by the Israeli army earlier this month. Israel denied that the monastery had been demolished, but Yaroun’s mayor, Adib Ajaka, rejected the Israeli account.

The same village had already seen its church affected earlier in the war, as early as 2024. The Israeli army had also destroyed a statue of St. George.

Around the same period, in October 2024, other Christian villages in southern Lebanon were likewise hit. In Derdghaya, a church of the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Tyre was struck by an Israeli missile. A priest’s house and three-story building housing parish offices were also destroyed by another missile.

The human toll in Christian villages

Beyond the desecration of symbols and the destruction of churches, Christian villages in southern Lebanon have also mourned civilian deaths during this latest war.

On March 8, Christian farmer Sami Youssef al-Ghafri, from Alma al-Shaab, was killed in shelling. The following day, Father Pierre al-Rahi was killed in an Israeli strike on Qlayaa, prompting an outpouring of tributes online, with many portraying him as a symbol of Christian steadfastness for refusing to leave his parishioners. That same day, Lebanese Red Cross paramedic Youssef Assaf died of wounds sustained during a rescue mission after an Israeli strike in the Tyre district.

On March 12, three young men from Ain Ebel — Chadi Ammar, Elie Attallah, and Georges Khreich — were killed in an Israeli drone strike while trying to repair an internet connection.

Later, on March 28, Georges Soueid and his son Elie were killed by Israeli gunfire while traveling in a pickup truck on the road between Debl and Rmeish.

Some Christian villages in southern Lebanon were heavily damaged or emptied during the war. A few, such as Rmeish near the Israeli border, are mostly untouched. In the few where residents managed to stay, daily life remains extremely difficult: Aid is limited, infrastructure is fragile, and even basic services have been disrupted.

Local accounts point to damaged solar panels, targeted roads, and municipal equipment, including vehicles used for waste collection, destroyed or rendered unusable, making it harder for remaining families to sustain life in their villages.

Aid convoys as a lifeline

Aid convoys have been crucial for the remaining residents of southern Lebanon’s Christian villages. Local Church sources have repeatedly pointed to the role of the apostolic nuncio, who became a key figure in coordinating and encouraging aid efforts to reach isolated communities.

Organizations such as Caritas Lebanon, the Lebanese Red Cross, and L’Œuvre d’Orient have also played an essential role in helping residents receive basic assistance and remain in their villages despite the hardship. This weekend, the local nongovernmental organization Nawraj also reached several of the affected communities, bringing additional support to families still living under difficult conditions.

As U.S.-hosted negotiations between Lebanon and Israel continue, the protection of Christian places of worship, sacred symbols, and livelihoods should be part of the equation, according to the local Christian community.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

The head of the social and humanitarian association told EWTN News on the occasion of its 170th anniversary that the organization was founded in 1856 under the name “Œuvre des Écoles d’Orient,” or “Work of the Schools of the East.” From the beginning, he said, it was built on the conviction that “the formation of minds is the first act of solidarity.”

Since then, the organization has expanded its mission to include education, healthcare, social assistance, humanitarian relief, and the preservation of both tangible and intangible heritage, which he described as “the living memory of Christian communities in the East."

Building on this legacy, he explained that the organization has developed “an organized field presence through local offices and young volunteers.” This presence, he said, aims to “bring the voice of Eastern Christians to decision-makers in Europe and at the level of international institutions,” helping to strengthen their historic presence and safeguard their future in their homelands.

The challenge of migration

Speaking about the main challenges facing Eastern Christians today, de Woillemont said the current situation “is a cause for deep concern.” Political, economic, and military crises, he explained, “weaken entire societies,” while Christians often bear these consequences in a particularly heavy way.“

“The greatest challenge today is migration,” he said. “In several countries, ancient communities face the risk of disappearance because of the lack of economic and security prospects.”

Despite this, he emphasized that “Eastern Christians continue to play their role as makers of peace and dialogue in extremely difficult circumstances, even though they are facing wars they did not choose.”

Education, he added, remains “at the heart of our commitment because it helps build stable societies and limits migration.” He noted that “behind every school that opens or clinic that receives support, there is a family choosing to stay and remain rooted in its land.”

De Woillemont said the organization’s work has also expanded to include healthcare and social assistance, “especially amid the weakness of public systems,” as well as emergency humanitarian relief in times of war and disaster. He also underlined that preserving heritage is a central part of the organization’s mission, because “it is not only about buildings but about the living memory of entire civilizations.”

As part of his appeal for solidarity, de Woillemont addressed Christians in Europe and the United States, saying: “Eastern Christians are not only communities that suffer; they are a richness for the whole Church.”

“Prayer is essential,” he added, “but it must be accompanied by concrete solidarity,” including support for educational, healthcare, and social projects, as well as efforts to make their reality known to the wider public.

He also called for a better understanding of Eastern Christians within Western societies and for greater advocacy with decision-makers, noting that “action by the international community can make a real difference.”

De Woillemont highlighted the importance of building direct relationships through volunteering and twinning initiatives, saying that such experiences “leave a deep impact on the young people who take part in them.”

Looking ahead, he said three major challenges are emerging: the acceleration of migration, the preservation of education and heritage in conflict zones, and the difficulty of mobilizing resources amid multiple crises and declining international attention.“

It is becoming difficult to maintain sustained attention and mobilize the necessary resources,” he said, adding that this requires broadening the support base and strengthening awareness efforts.

At the conclusion of his remarks, de Woillemont expressed “deep appreciation and lasting closeness” to Eastern Christians, saying that “their fidelity, courage, and hope are a witness for the whole Church.”

He stressed that their presence “is essential in their countries,” adding: “They are not only heirs to history but also bearers of the future.”

In this context, he recalled Pope Leo XIV’s call for “a peace that is disarmed and disarming, humble and persevering,” emphasizing that such peace must be based on respect for the sovereignty of states and international law.“

Let them know that we are at their side for the long term, with determination and trust,” he concluded. “We do not forget them, and we remain beside them.”

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Yet despite the violence and destruction, they have refused to abandon their homes and villages. Much of this resilience has been sustained through the support of Catholic organizations and initiatives, which continue to help families, churches, and communities endure the crisis.

A French Catholic ally in Lebanon

L’Œuvre d’Orient is one of the Catholic organizations that has supported Christian communities in Lebanon long before the war. Its work includes supporting Christian schools, churches, pastoral initiatives, and agricultural projects, as many of these southern communities are largely rural and farming-based.

In a conversation with ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Vincent Gelot, director of L’Œuvre d’Orient in Lebanon, said the French organization has delivered in 2026 seven humanitarian aid convoys and carried out several visits to villages in southern Lebanon.

“We are extremely close to the local communities. We have known them for a long time, we love them, and we try to remain as present as possible by their side,” Gelot said.

Explaining his approach to humanitarian work, he added: “As far as L’Œuvre d’Orient is concerned, I make it a point to accompany every one of our trucks. I want to be certain the aid reaches its destination and the right people. It is important to be physically present, because when we come, we meet our partners and the villagers and remind them how courageous and important they are. We are trying to maintain this human bond. It is not only about sending trucks and aid but also about being there with them on the ground.”

Gelot described the difficult reality facing Christians in southern Lebanon as being “caught in a vice” between Hezbollah militants attempting to use their villages to launch attacks across the border and Israeli military operations that have left homes, schools, and convents destroyed or occupied. “It is their very existence that is at stake,” he said.

Gelot stressed that many of these villages date back to the time of Christ.

“This is a region visited by Christ, the apostles, and the Virgin Mary. The people are profoundly attached to their land and their villages. It is therefore essential to help them remain on their native land.”

He also praised what he described as the communities’ “peaceful courage and resistance,” saying it is vital to stand beside them and show them the affection, admiration, and support of L’Œuvre d’Orient, its donors, and the Church in France.

However, for him, the stakes go beyond the survival of one community. “It is the very existence of Lebanon that is at stake,” he said, describing the country as a rare model in the Middle East for religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and freedom of the press. He added that Christians in Lebanon continue to hold a unique political, cultural, and historical role that remains vital to preserve.

He also highlighted the close coordination between L’Œuvre d’Orient; the apostolic nuncio, Paolo Borgia; and other Catholic organizations, including Caritas Lebanon.

Caritas on the front lines

Peter Mahfouz, commander and head of the emergency response unit at Caritas Lebanon, has been on the ground assisting communities across southern Lebanon.

Speaking to ACI MENA, he said Caritas teams have been delivering emergency food parcels, hygiene and shelter kits, mattresses, and blankets while also operating mobile clinics that bring medical consultations and essential medication directly to villages cut off from hospitals.

According to Mahfouz, the most urgent needs today include shelter capacity, continuity of medical care for chronic patients, food assistance for families who have lost their income, and mental health support — particularly for children and the elderly. He also stressed the urgent need to maintain humanitarian corridors allowing aid to reach southern Lebanon.

Mahfouz said one of the organization’s biggest challenges is that “the needs are growing faster than the funding.” Access to some villages also remains difficult and at times dangerous, forcing teams to constantly adapt routes and delaying aid distributions.

Furthermore, he stressed that Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis has not paused during the war: “Fuel, electricity, and the cost of basic food continue to weigh on every family we serve and on our own operations.”

Explaining how Caritas coordinates its work, Mahfouz said local parishes are often the organization’s first point of contact within affected communities.

“They know the families, they know who is most vulnerable, and they open their halls and centers as shelters when needed,” he added.

Caritas works closely with dioceses, religious congregations operating schools and clinics, and other Catholic organizations. “It is a network built on trust that existed long before this war, and that is exactly why it works in an emergency,” he concluded.

Asked what keeps him going despite the exhaustion and risks, Mahfouz pointed to the people themselves.

“The way they welcome us, the way their faces change when they see us arrive, and the prayers they send with us when we leave. You arrive expecting to give something, and you leave realizing they have given you more. That is what carries us through the long days,” he said.

A Polish initiative

The Lebanese Christian diaspora has also played an active role in supporting communities affected by the war, with numerous initiatives mobilizing aid from abroad.

European partners have also stepped up. One example is “Lebanon in Need,” a volunteer crisis committee founded by the Maronite Missionary Foundation in Poland in partnership with 4fund.com as part of the international “Europe for Lebanon” fundraising campaign.

The initiative emphasizes transparency and accountability in humanitarian assistance. All donations are processed through 4fund.com, a payment institution licensed by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority and authorized to operate across the European Economic Area, meaning transactions are subject to anti-money-laundering controls, regulatory oversight, and full traceability.

Organizers also stress that 100% of donations reach the field thanks to the commission-free structure of the partnership. Aid is distributed through trusted local channels, including Caritas Lebanon, the Lebanese Red Cross, and local parishes.

The initiative further relies on continuous coordination between partners to avoid duplication of aid efforts, while regular financial and narrative reports are prepared to ensure transparency with donors.

The Vaticanʼs ongoing support

This week, a screenshot from a video call between parish priests in southern Lebanon went viral after Pope Leo XIV surprised them with a call to express his solidarity and prayers. The Vatican has repeatedly shown support for Lebanon’s Christians throughout the war, not only through words but also through concrete assistance.

The call was organized by the apostolic nuncio to Lebanon, Borgia, who has become a deeply respected and loved figure in these communities. Viewed by many locals as a hero, he has consistently visited front-line villages, even during periods of heightened danger. Beyond diplomacy, he has taken a direct role in relief efforts, helping distribute aid alongside volunteers, carrying boxes from trucks, speaking with residents, and listening to their concerns. He works closely with Catholic organizations and initiatives supporting affected Christian communities in the south.

The call took place May 6 during Pope Leo’s audience in Rome with the apostolic nuncio to Lebanon, Archbishop Paolo Borgia.

During the video call, which took place around 9:45 a.m. Rome time, the Holy Father, who visited Lebanon in December 2025 on his first international trip, reiterated his “encouragement” to the priests “for the work they are doing,” assured them of his prayers, and imparted his blessing, according to Vatican News.

The archbishop, well aware of the suffering endured by the priests there, has been working in the border region with Israel for several months delivering food, basic necessities, and the pope’s encouragement.

Father Toni Elias, parish priest in Rmeish, a village separated from Israel by a forest, said the video call “was beautiful. The pope encouraged us; he told us that he prays for us and supports us, and he gave us his blessing with the hope that peace would soon be achieved.”

“It was a breath of hope and trust that was much needed,” he emphasized.

Regarding Borgia, the priest remarked that “he brings charity; he walks through danger, through bombed-out streets and houses that have been destroyed and razed to the ground. I see in him the mission of his patron saint, St. Paul.”

A priest killed in March

On March 9, Pope Leo XIV expressed his sorrow over the death of Father Pierre al-Rahi, a victim of Israeli shelling that took place that day in southern Lebanon.

“Pope Leo XIV expresses his profound sorrow for all the victims of the bombings in the Middle East these past few days, for the many innocent people, including numerous children, and for those who were helping them, such as Father Pierre al-Rahi, a Maronite priest killed this afternoon in Qlayaa,” stated a communiqué that day from the Vatican Press Office.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

While this process is sometimes presented as part of “reorganization,” many see it as a sign of deeper changes affecting the identity of public space and the balance of its symbols.

The latest changes in Palmyra affected 16 school names. Among the most prominent was that of archaeologist Khaled al-Asaad, whose name became internationally associated with Palmyra after he spent more than four decades as director of its antiquities. He contributed to the discovery, restoration, and documentation of large parts of the ancient city before being killed by ISIS for refusing to reveal the locations of archaeological treasures. He later became an international symbol of the protection of heritage.

Also removed was the name of educator Jumaa al-Bayai, one of the pioneers of educational development in the Syrian Badia. His name was associated with social stability and educational work, and he helped graduate generations of professional cadres in the region.

The changes also included the name of writer and physician Abd al-Salam al-Ujayli, considered one of the pillars of modern Syrian culture. As a novelist and short-story writer, he helped consolidate Syria’s cultural standing, dedicating his life to documenting the identity of the Syrian Badia and serving his community as a doctor.

The name of Huda Shaarawi, an icon of the Arab women’s movement in the 20th century, was also removed. Shaarawi contributed to women’s empowerment and to helping to free women from rigid social constraints by advocating for their right to education and political participation. Her name was replaced at one of Palmyra’s schools with “Al-Shayma bint al-Harith.”

This step does not appear to be isolated. Days earlier, street names in the city of Homs were replaced with other names, removing figures such as Zaki al-Arsuzi, Saleh al-Ali, Sultan al-Atrash, and others.

Schools in several Syrian governorates have witnessed similar changes in recent months. In Aleppo, the names of about 128 schools were changed. The Sami al-Kayyali School, named after the writer and researcher, was renamed Imam al-Ghazali School. Other names were replaced with religious titles, such as Dawn of Islam and Aisha, Mother of the Believers.

The renaming has also affected two schools bearing the names of Christian figures, Mikhail Kashour and Antoine Aswad. The name of poet Nizar Qabbani was nearly replaced with that of one of the Prophet Muhammad’s companions before the decision was reversed. In Damascus, dozens of names were reconsidered, including an attempt to remove the name of playwright Saadallah Wannous, before officials backed down under public pressure.

The wave of school and street renaming, therefore, is not limited to the removal of symbols associated with Syria’s former authorities. It also extends to literary, scientific, and national figures with no connection to the previous government, raising serious questions about the criteria being used in the process.

At the same time, critics point to a clear increase in the adoption of religious names reflecting one particular identity, some of which are not connected to the Syrian context. They say this reflects the dominance of a single narrative at the expense of the country’s historical and cultural diversity.

While there is no objection to a balanced presence of religious figures in public life, critics stress that public space must continue to reflect the mosaic of society. For them, the debate has become a struggle over memory, identity, and Syria’s image.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

The patriarch described the digital attack on him as “a war of words, not freedom of opinion, but a worrying decline in the standards of language and values, and a violation of human dignity that no one has the right to infringe upon, regardless of its source or form.”

The digital attack involved the circulation of altered images portraying the patriarch in mocking and degrading ways.

Jowelle M. Howayeck, a Lebanese civic activist and 2022 parliamentary candidate, argued that the campaign is neither spontaneous nor ambiguous in its intent. “It is both intimidation and sectarian provocation, and it is deliberate,” she said.

For Howayeck, the timing is not accidental. She links the campaign to a broader political context in which Hezbollah is “losing political ground,” prompting what she describes as a predictable shift in strategy: “Divert attention from the core issue and construct a new confrontation that can be framed as a symbolic victory.”

In her view, “this is not political engagement. It is crisis management through fear, distraction, and division.”

The campaign, she added, also reflects a deepening rupture between Hezbollah and the Christian community.

Digital confrontations of this kind are not new in Lebanon’s political landscape, but they carry particular risks in a country built on a fragile and strained social contract.

The patriarch himself has been targeted before "because the patriarch represents a form of authority that cannot be coerced or absorbed: moral legitimacy anchored in national identity," Howayeck said. "Whenever his positions align with state sovereignty, they expose a structural contradiction within the opposing project.”

Yarounʼs mayor, Adib Ajaka, rejected claims by the Israeli army that it did not know the buildings were religious places, and the Council of Melkite Greek Catholic Bishops in Lebanon urged the Lebanese government and the United Nations “to protect the property of civilians and religious institutions, citing in particular the village of Yaroun,” according to the Associated Press.

Speaking to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Ajaka clarified that some media outlets have been recirculating images of a destroyed church as if they were from the latest incident, but the church itself had already been targeted multiple times since 2024. He stressed that the most recent incident concerns the demolition of the monastery and the school.

Responding to the Israeli army’s claim that “there were no indications that it was a religious building,” Ajaqa rejected the statement as unconvincing, noting that the site was clearly identifiable, bearing a cross and a statue of the Virgin Mary.

He also pointed out that the church had been targeted previously and that footage from 2024 showed the deliberate destruction of a statue of St. George.

Ajaka said images published by Israel showing the diocese and a nearby clinic were used to suggest that the monastery had not been destroyed, but in reality they referred to a separate building housing a clinic run by the Order of Malta. He suggested that the presence of the organization’s flag may have contributed to it being spared so far.

According to Ajaka, the bulldozing operations took place after the ceasefire came into effect. At first, residents did not grasp the scale of what was happening, as they remained in contact with nearby towns such as Rmeish and Ain Ebel, where no strikes or shelling had been reported from Yaroun. This created the impression that the village had not been directly targeted. It later became clear, however, that what had taken place was not bombardment but the widespread bulldozing of homes.

Yaroun is home to about 60 Melkite Catholic families — all of whom fled at the outbreak of the war in 2024. Seventeen families returned during the initial ceasefire period, but many others were unable to do so due to the destruction of their homes. Today, residents remain unable to return, scattered between rented accommodations, monasteries, and relatives’ homes, while some have relocated to nearby Christian villages in the south.

Ajaka noted that assistance to residents has so far been limited, emphasizing that the most urgent need is direct financial support to help cover rent. At the same time, he expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Vatican and for the continued efforts of the apostolic nuncio through regular visits and follow-up on the situation of displaced families.

He also recalled that during the pope’s visit to Lebanon in December 2025, a historic stone from the village church dating back to 1872, engraved with an image of St. George, was presented to him in the hope of drawing attention to Yaroun and its people.

Today, the fate of this stone remains unknown, as the church has been destroyed and residents are unable to return to see what remains. Ajaka stressed that the destroyed homes of the Catholic families there are over a century old and are purely civilian properties.

Church vandalism across Lebanon

The alleged demolitions in Yaroun come amid recent and varied incidents of church vandalism in Lebanon, with multiple places of worship targeted and their contents deliberately damaged.

Among them, the Church of Mar Shalita in Qobeiyat was stormed and vandalized. And in Ajaltoun, the Church of Our Lady was targeted, with intruders stealing items, destroying furniture, and leaving bullets scattered on the floor.

Taken together, these incidents reflect a broader climate in which Lebanese Christians increasingly feel under pressure, facing different forms of intimidation and attack from multiple actors.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been adapted by EWTN News English.

Iran is a country with a population of over 90 million inhabitants, where only “between 10% and 15% support the current regime or government” amid the current war, the specialist stated in an interview with “EWTN Noticias,” the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News.

“Perhaps half of them are true believers — religious fanatics or even extremists — while the other half are people who depend on the regime for their livelihoods, their children’s schools, hospitals, pensions, etc.; they depend on the government and the regime,” he observed.

In his view, another 30% “are politically neutral,” and their “primary interest is the safety of their children and families.” The remaining 50% or 60%, he estimated, “oppose the regime and would like to live under a free, liberal, secular, and Westernized government.”

Life for each of these groups is different, the expert explained.

“In the current war, those who support the regime are in the streets; they support the war, they support the fight against the United States, the continuation of nuclear programs, etc.,” while opponents of the government “mostly fear speaking out because in doing so they are brutally repressed and even killed by the regime,” much like the thousands of people who died in the January demonstrations.

Prisons in Iran

The Iranian political scientist said the country’s prisons fall “somewhere in between” those in Europe and those in some parts of Asia where everything “is very dangerous, there are no medical facilities, and there is no access to the rule of law.”

“The problem in Iran is that there are no civil rights; there’s no access to lawyers. I lived in a cell barely 6 feet across, perhaps 2 meters by 3 meters [about 6 inches by 10 inches] for over a year in solitary confinement,” he recounted.

Tajbakhsh pointed out that if one is in prison for “peaceful political activism” as happened to him, what happens is that “you don’t have access to a lawyer until very, very late in the process. They interrogate you for many, many hours for many months.” Consequently, “the biggest problem is that in Iran there is no fair judicial system for political prisoners.”

Hope for Iran

The expert commented that since 1979, “the majority of the Iranian people have attempted to reform the government by transforming it into a freer, more liberal, and democratic government that respects all religious values, religious freedom, as well as political and social freedom.”

“While it is deeply tragic that war and conflict are part of this process, I fear that it is the government of Iran that is waging a war not only against Americans and Israelis, but also against the majority of its own people, who long to live in a freer society,” he said.

“Islam,” he concluded, “is imposed as the state religion, and so my hope for the future of Iran is political, social, and religious freedom.”

Edy Rodríguez Morel de la Prada contributed to this story.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

The abbot said the Christian faithful in the region, particularly in the heart of Jerusalem, have been severely affected by war, economic crisis, and all manner of hardships.

“If you think this is an Eldorado [utopia] of Christianity, the reality is different,” he said. “All Christians together are less than 2%. For us, dreaming of reaching 5% or 6% would already be a lot,” Schnabel noted in an interview with the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

“If you think of the most secularized regions in Europe like the Czech Republic or the former East Germany, even there Christians are many times more numerous than here,” he remarked.

“My fear is that the Holy Land could become a kind of ‘Christian Disneyland,’” he warned. “The holy places will remain, with monks and priests. But there may be no Christian families, no young Christians, no ordinary Christian life,” Schnabel warned.

In 1948, the year the state of Israel was created, Christians constituted 20% of the local population of the Holy Land.

The reality of the Latin Church

The abbot addressed the reality of the Latin-rite Church, which is composed of Arabic-speaking Palestinian Catholics, Hebrew-speaking Catholics, and migrants and asylum-seekers.

The first group includes those Catholics “who live in Israel with citizenship” as well as those without political rights in addition to Christians in the West Bank and the small community of believers in Gaza. This group of Catholics lives under oppression, subjected to the violence of war and the Hamas regime, a situation that Schnabel characterizes as a “double occupation.”

The second group is “a small but growing community, composed of mixed (for example Catholic-Orthodox or Catholic-Jewish) families and integrated into Israeli society.” This reality — being both Israeli and Catholic — is “a new phenomenon,” the monk noted.

Schnabel explained that the migrant group is the largest, comprising “more than 100,000 Catholics” hailing from countries in Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Americas. “They are, in many ways, the most vulnerable,” he noted, due to the precarious working conditions to which they are subjected. “They often have the feeling that it doesn’t matter whether they are there or not."

The economic survival of Christians

He noted that improving housing and employment opportunities would be an important step toward helping these Christian families remain in the region.

“Around 60% of Arabic-speaking Christians depend on tourism. And the last good year was 2019. This is the biggest challenge,“ he explained. ”People leave because they don’t see a future.”

"Pray that there is a future for Christians here,” he urged.

The abbot emphasized that the Church is “neither pro-Israel nor pro-Palestine, but pro-human.” The Church is present “on all sides,” he said.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Within this time crowded with memory, the restoration of Syrian icons emerges as an act of safeguarding identity. It repairs the fractures of time and restores to sacred figures the radiance of a history that runs deep, declaring that protecting this heritage is not a cultural luxury but a struggle for survival carried out quietly by Syrian hands.

In this context, visual artist and restorer Lia Snayej shared with ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, the path that led her into this delicate field. She said that seeing icons burned, damaged by gunfire, or covered with layers of black residue while participating in an exhibition was a shocking experience. That moment pushed her to explore restoration more deeply, before she later specialized in the field academically through a master’s degree in Russia.

Snayej said restoration brings together history, chemistry, and art, adding that protecting an icon is, at its core, protecting history.

Regarding the restoration process, she emphasized that documentation is the most important step and accompanies every stage of the work. Every detail is recorded in a special file that remains with the icon, almost like its “personal identity card.”

She explained that the work begins with studying the history of the piece and its artistic background before preparing a precise restoration plan. Not every icon, she noted, needs restoration; some require only preservation and measures to stop further deterioration. Each icon has its own condition, making restoration similar to medical treatment, with each case requiring a different diagnosis.

Snayej said the main stages of restoration include stabilizing the paint layer using special materials such as “Japanese paper,” followed by cleaning and sterilization. She described this as a very delicate stage, since a mistake could lead to the loss of color. The process then continues with retouching and the addition of a new protective layer.

Assessing the current state of icons, Snayej said the greatest danger is the lack of attention they receive. Many historic icons, she said, are sold outside Syria for very low prices, while original icons are rarely found in homes, where printed reproductions are more common.

She also criticized the neglect of some churches when it comes to restoring their icons. She recalled an incident in Lebanon, where she found two historic icons stored in poor conditions inside a damp warehouse before she took on their restoration.

Snayej also warned against daily practices that damage icons, such as placing candles directly beneath them or cleaning them with materials not intended for that purpose.

Despite the challenges — including the difficulty of obtaining restoration materials and their high cost — Snayej said she remains committed to this path. Her passion, she explained, sometimes leads her to work free of charge in order to preserve a threatened work of art.

Last month, she participated in an exhibition organized by the Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, where she displayed two historic icons she had restored. One was a Russian icon of St. Nicholas, while the other consisted of four parts depicting the Virgin Mary, with the crucified Jesus at the center.

Snayej said what surprised her most at the event was not the exhibition itself but the level of interest shown by visitors and the number of questions they asked about the history of icons and restoration techniques. For her, this reflected a striking and genuine desire among people to rediscover this heritage.

She concluded by saying that the icon has taught her to respect artistic work and serious research, and that it has transformed her specialization into a personal commitment that goes beyond the limits of a profession.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.