At least 50 people were killed and 2,700 injured. Catholic and other humanitarian agencies warn it could push the country into an even bigger catastrophe.
Middle East
Posted inFaith, News
Seven years later, still no trace of Jesuit priest kidnapped in Syria
“My appeal is not to forget about Syria,” said Immacolata Dall’Oglio, sister of the Rev. Paolo Dall’Oglio, who went missing in Syria on July 29, 2013.
Posted inFaith, News
Christians mark a ‘day of mourning’ as Hagia Sophia opens for Muslim prayers
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined hundreds of worshipers Friday for the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside Hagia Sophia.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Turkey’s President Erdogan officially reconverts Hagia Sophia into a mosque
The Unesco World Heritage site in Istanbul, founded as a Christian church in the 6th century, transformed into a mosque in the 15th century and then into a museum in 1934, will reopen as a mosque on July 24 with Friday prayers.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
‘Parish priest on loan to the missions’ ends nine years as CNEWA president
Msgr. John E. Kozar, having completed nine years of service as head of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, is retiring from his post and reflects on his time as CNEWA head and on what he plans to do next.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Christian leaders: Israeli occupation of Palestine is cause of conflict
“It is time to act in order to extinguish the destructive fires raging in the Holy Land…. Only a just peace will put end to hatred, to oppression and the suffering of so many.”
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Aid agencies warn of Yemen’s health care collapse, famine risk
“Yemen is desperate for peace,” Lise Grande, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in which 24 million people have no choice but to depend on international aid.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
‘Feel the pain,’ Lebanese cardinal urges government as poverty increases
With Lebanon celebrating its centenary this year, Cardinal Rai said perhaps it “is passing through the harshest stage” of its existence.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Religious freedom commission says U.S. cannot ignore northeast Syria
The independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission said it aims to defend the universal right to freedom of religion abroad and makes policy recommendations to the U.S. administration.
Posted inFaith, Podcasts
Podcast: Why the Holy See opposes Israel’s plan to annex parts of the West Bank
This week on “Inside the Vatican,” the hosts discuss the Holy See’s opposition to a U.S.-backed proposal for Israel to annex up to 30 percent of the West Bank.