“The people of Syria live without dignity or trust”

Despite the very difficult conditions in Syria at the moment, and fear about the future, Archbishop Jacques Mourad believes that the lifting of sanctions will bring new hope. (Banner: December 2024, people in the streets of Aleppo after the downfall of El-Assad’s regime.) The situation in Syria continues to be one of severe poverty and …

Lebanon – Religious sisters support the population

In Lebanon, religious sisters are helping impoverished families recover from the latest devastating war More than six months since the ceasefire came into effect, after yet another devastating war in Lebanon, the Church is still suffering the aftermath of the intense bombardment and resulting mass displacement. Religious sisters are doing everything they can to provide …

Meeting with Pope Leo XIV: A new hope for the Eastern Churches

In a historic meeting, Pope Leo XIV received representatives from the Eastern Catholic Churches in an audience, during the pilgrimage of sui iuris Churches, as part of the Jubilee of Hope. The pope made a strong and deeply spiritual speech to the gathered Church leaders, which was received as a spark of hope amid different …

“One more day of war won’t solve the situation”

Parish priest of Holy Family in Gaza to Aid to the Church in Need Fr. Gabriel Romanelli says that living with 500 people in a closed compound is not easy, but that the Christians in Gaza consider themselves fortunate to have survived thus far and to be able to help thousands of other families in …

“Thank you for keeping the Christian presence alive in Jerusalem”

Life in Jerusalem’s Old City is difficult for the Christians who continue to live there, many of whom are poor. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has been providing help to struggling families through projects carried out by the Latin Patriarchate. The Old City of Jerusalem is a magical place to visit, with its …

ACN Project of the Week – Egypt

Renovation of the Coptic Catholic seminary in Maadi In Maadi, a suburb of Cairo, 28 young men are currently training for the priesthood at Egypt’s one and only Coptic Catholic seminary. They come from different parts of the country. Abba Romany Fawzy, the rector of the seminary explains: “The mission of the seminary is to …

Churches cry foul as tax war flares up again in Israel

Last February, the heads of Christian Churches in the Holy Land have officially protested against a renewed attempt to force them to pay certain taxes in the State of Israel. The most pressing case at the moment is related to the Armenian Church, but there are many cases involving Catholic institutions. The patriarchs and heads …

Christians eager to help rebuild a Syria based on equal rights

The situation for Christians in Syria varies from city to city, according to local sources, and Christians have greeted with cautious optimism the transitional government’s guarantees to respect religious freedom. Christian leaders in Syria have expressed their willingness to work with the provisional government, following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, to build a new …

Lebanon: between hope and uncertainty

Due to the massive destruction in the Bekaa Valley and in southern Lebanon, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)’s emergency relief projects remain very significant for the country. “With the appointment of a new president, hope returned to Lebanon,” reports Marielle Boutros, project coordinator of the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in …

Gaza ceasefire: reaction of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (ACOHL)

The Catholic Ordinaries of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (LPJ) have reacted to the ceasefire in Gaza. Please click on the link below to read an unofficial French translation, on the Patriarchate’s website. The official version is available in English and Italian. https://www.lpj.org/en/news/declaration-of-the-catholic-ordinaries-on-the-ceasefire-ingaza2025 Thank you for continuing to pray for lasting peace in the Holy Land.