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). …
Category archives: Near-East
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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Lebanon – You can make the difference!
The situation in Lebanon has become dire. Hunger is looming, and many people no longer know where to go. They have been displaced by the increasingly relentless bombardments by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). (Photo of the banner: Our Lady of Lebanon). See the situation on the ground Among those affected, many Christians living in …
Taybeh: Do Not Let Palestinian Christians Become a Memory of the Past
The last entirely Christian village in the West Bank, Taybeh, east of Ramallah, has been enduring a wave of attacks and intimidation by Israeli settlers. Hostile acts include setting fire to agricultural lands, cars, and the walls of an ancient church, hateful and threatening graffiti, livestock released into the village, not to mention the numerous …
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“It is absolutely essential that the war stops”
The Cry of Gaza’s Parish Priest Although the media attention has died down since the ceasefire, the Gaza Strip continues to sink into an unprecedented humanitarian and health crisis. Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Gaza’s Catholic priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, described the “very serious” conditions marked by the daily suffering of …
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As life returns to normal in Aleppo, trauma lingers and fear remains
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is committed to helping rebuild homes and lives of the Christian community in Syria. Violence in Aleppo, Syria’s second most important city, has subsided following the withdrawal of forces from the Kurdish-led coalition which were occupying two neighbourhoods in defiance of government forces.* Although neither of the parties …
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Christians Call for Peace and Prayers as Violence Returns to Aleppo
Civilians are once again the main victims as the Kurdish-led SDF and forces loyal to the government in Damascus try to take control of the country’s second most important city. The Church has opened the doors of its buildings to displaced families. Christians in Aleppo, Syria, are calling for prayers from the international community as …
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Pope is travelling to Lebanon to “heal wounds” and “work for peace”
Lebanon is still recovering from years of conflict and economic turmoil. The Pope’s visit is a sign that the local Church is not forgotten and highlights the country’s unique role in the region. The Church in Lebanon hopes that Pope Leo’s presence will help secure justice for the victims of the 2020 Port explosion, which …
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