Gaza: A first step towards peace after 733 days of war

As indirect talks continue in Egypt between Israeli envoys and Hamas, a cautious hope for the beginning of peace is taking root in the Diocese of the Holy Land. The parish priest of Gaza’s only Catholic parish shared with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) the heavy toll of two years of war. “Two …

Christian clergy in Gaza defies evacuation orders to remain with their flocks

In a joint statement, the Latin Catholic and Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Jerusalem call on both parties to end hostilities and allow families on both sides to begin to heal the wounds of war. (Photo of the banner: Already in 2024, people in Holy Family Parish were praying for peace.) Both the Catholic and the …

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) echoes urgent plea by Father Gabriel and Cardinal Pizzaballa following attack on Gaza Catholic Church

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has received a new and moving testimony from Gaza, following the July 17 attack on the Catholic church of the Holy Family, which left three people dead and more than ten wounded. Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the local Catholic community, sent a message directly to …

Parish priest after attack on Gaza’s only Catholic church: “Everything happened very quickly”

The Church of the Holy Family, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, was hit last Thursday, July 17, in an attack that left its community mired in pain and uncertainty. A shell, according to initial reports, fired from an Israeli tank killed three people and wounded 15 more, including the parish priest, Father …

Holy Land – ACN helping to build up the faith of Christians

Christians in the Holy Land are very proud of their heritage but often have only a shaky understanding of the basic tenets of the faith. The current Catholic leadership wants to improve the situation and to bridge the gaps in their Christian knowledge by engaging in a robust spiritual formation program thanks to Aid to …

West Bank: “Honestly? The ceasefire has made the situation even worse”

Gaza is currently experiencing a fragile peace, but a visiting delegation from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) found that the situation in the West Bank has not improved for Christians, who must struggle to find reasons to hope in the future. It takes around 20 minutes to drive from Ein ‘Arik to Ben …

Nativity Mass in Gaza Strip

To the great joy of Latin Catholics in Jerusalem gathered at the Holy Family Church in Gaza, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Eminence Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, presided—exceptionally on December 22—the Mass of the Nativity of Our Lord. ✝️ “Today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born to you” ✝️ In communion …

The Church wants to offer a joyful Christmas in Gaza and elsewhere in the Holy Land

More than one year after the war began, Pope Francis continues to phone the Catholic parish in Gaza every day and has become a grandfather figure to the children, says Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The Latin patriarchate of Jerusalem continues to give as much support as it can to the small Christian community in Gaza, as …

A ray of hope for Christians in the Holy Land this Christmas

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa says that even though he does not believe there is a short-term solution to the crisis in the Holy Land, he does have hope for the future of Christians in the region. The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem believes that the end of the war in Gaza is in sight but warns that …

Jerusalem: “When the wounds are still bleeding it is not the time to speak of politics,” says Latin Patriarch

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, met on Wednesday, 17 July, with a delegation from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Jerusalem and expressed his gratitude for the help received. (Cover photo: Cardinal Pizzaballa blessing the Holy City of Jerusalem on April 2nd, 2023, part of the Palms Sunday liturgies). The …