As much as 75 percent of Lebanon’s population is in need of emergency assistance.
Middle East
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
The Vatican objects to Israeli plan to annex Palestinian territory
“The Holy See is following the situation closely and expresses concern about any future actions that could further compromise dialogue.”
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Church leaders oppose Israeli plans to annex unilaterally West Bank land
Catholic leaders in the Holy Land believe that continued Israeli annexation of West Bank land could end any hope of Palestinian-Israeli rapprochement.
Posted inFaith, News
Maronites plan help as Lebanese families slide into poverty
Nearly 50% of Lebanese are living below the poverty line, and unemployment has reached 35% of the working population, according to the government.
Posted inFaith, News
During Easter homilies, Middle East patriarchs speak of faith and hope
From Damascus, Syria, Melkite Catholic Patriarch Joseph Absi stressed how faith and hope are needed “in these difficult days that we live in pain, in anxiety and fear.”
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Aid group says Mideast lockdowns hinder humanitarian efforts
In Syria, an open-ended nightly curfew took effect Wednesday at 6 p.m. local time (1600 GMT). State TV showed police patrolling the empty streets of Damascus and other main cities.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Lebanon grapples with the novel coronavirus
Most of the coronavirus cases in Lebanon are being treated at the Rafik Hariri University Hospital in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Bethlehem holy sites to be closed after coronavirus reported at hotel
The affected areas were in the West Bank: Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour and Jericho for 14 days following seven reported cases of the coronavirus in the Bethlehem and Beit Jala area.
Posted inFaith, News
Bethlehem’s storied Nativity Church closes amid coronavirus fears
Built on the grotto where Christians believe Jesus was born, the church joins a list of prominent tourist and holy sites to shutter their doors in the wake of rising fears over the spread of coronavirus.
Posted inFaith, Features
This Syrian Catholic priest was kidnapped and tortured by ISIS. He still has hope in humanity.
I had traveled to Iraq to hear more about how this man had survived, a Catholic priest rescued by his Muslim friend. He would tell me that story, too.