First interview with new Chaldean Patriarch Amel Shamon Nona In 2015, the then Archbishop of Mosul left for Australia after his entire flock was exiled following the rise of the Islamic State. One decade later, he returns to Iraq, now as the newly elected patriarch of the Chaldean Church. On May 29, His Beatitude Amel …
Category archives: Near-East
Holy Land increasingly emptied of Christians
“We dream of reaching even 5%, but we are far from that”. In an address to representatives of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Benedictine Abbot Nikodemus Schnabel offered a stark and personal account of the fragile and rapidly shrinking Christian presence in the Holy Land. The image of Jerusalem as a vibrant heart …
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People feel “dehumanized” as Lebanon buckles under bombardment
Among the priorities are reopening schools and paying teachers’ salaries, as these play a crucial role in passing on Christian values in the region. People are feeling “scared, angry and sad” after more than 100 bombs fell across Beirut in a single night, shattering any remaining sense of safety for those still living in their …
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Lebanon – You can support now!
This Triduum 2026, don’t turn away from the Christians of Lebanon who are struggling to remain in their homes. The Church is there, supporting them through this new wave of violence, and you can be part of that help. Watch Bishop Jules Boutros’ message and give today. Thank you.
Christian Villages in South Lebanon: Security Alert
Faced with the pending withdrawal of the Lebanese Army from the south of the country, Christians who are attached to their land have expressed their concern for the future. In a statement published on March 31, 2026, four Christian municipalities in southern Lebanon – Alma Sha’b, Rmeich, Debel, and Aïn Ebel – expressed their “deep …
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Middle East: Holy Week begins under the sign of the cross
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) expresses concern over Palm Sunday restrictions in Jerusalem, Syria, and Gaza, and conveys its support for Christians in the Holy Land. The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) expresses deep concern over events that took place during Palm Sunday celebrations on March 29, 2026 …
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Paschal hope among the ruins in Gaza
Holy Week has begun against a backdrop of persistent war and shortages in the Catholic compound in Gaza. Despite everything, the community intends to celebrate Easter to the full, sustained by a prayer for peace throughout the Middle East, as Father Gabriel Romanelli explained to the Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). …
Jerusalem: Christian schools under threat
On March 10, 2026, the Israeli Ministry of Education announced that no work permits will be issued for the 2026-2027 academic year to Palestinian teachers residing in the occupied West Bank who hold a “green card” – an administrative document allowing certain Palestinians to work or travel within Israeli-controlled areas. Consequently, over 200 Christian teachers …
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“We can’t say there is a safe place in Lebanon.”
Bishop Jules Boutros, from Lebanon, tells ACN that even though the Israeli attacks are supposedly against Hezbollah, they are affecting all Lebanese. As Israel continues to attack several sites in Lebanon, a young local bishop has told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the situation can only be described as catastrophic …
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Aid to the Church in Need increases emergency aid to Lebanon
Faced with the recent escalation of the conflict in Lebanon, Pontifical Charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has significantly increased its aid to the country. Currently the focus is on the development of healthcare infrastructure, support for IDPs, and concrete aid for the regions worst affected by the attacks. One of the goals …
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