“There is no alternative: We either build the future together or there will not be a future,” Pope Francis said frankly in an important keynote address to participants at the high-level inter-religious meeting in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 4. “Religions, in particular, cannot renounce the urgent task of building bridges between peoples and cultures,” he […]
Middle East
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Why Pope Francis is traveling to ‘the heartland of the Muslim world’
Today the only Christians in the Arabian Peninsula are migrants, and the pope’s visit is a cause of great joy for them.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Before arriving in U.A.E., pope challenges his hosts to help end Yemen crisis
A Saudi Arabia-led coalition, of which the U.A.E. is a member, has so far not respected international accords to help end a crisis in which 10 million people risk starvation.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
A diverse and international flock awaits Pope Francis’ UAE trip
“The whole world meets here in a way,” said the Rev. Lennie Connully, the parish priest of St. Mary’s. “We have people from all over.”
Posted inFaith, News
Bethlehem boasts largest Christmas in years
At a midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa addressed a packed house of worshippers and dignitaries.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Christians working with Syrians: U.S. withdrawal puts minorities at risk
Several Mideast-based Christians working on the Syria crisis have joined a growing chorus about U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to pull some 2,000 American troops from Syria.
Posted inArts & Culture, Film
Child poverty takes the lead role in ‘Capernaum’
Nadine Labaki’s new film is set amid the supreme chaos of current-day Beirut.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Trump signs bill to provide relief to genocide victims in Iraq and Syria
The bill will provide humanitarian relief to genocide victims in Iraq and Syria and hold accountable Islamic State perpetrators of genocide.
Posted inFaith, News
Historic renovation of Church of the Nativity lifts Christmas spirit in Bethlehem
“Christians are leaving the Holy Land due to the lack of peace and economic hardships and we are struggling to keep them in their homeland.”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis will visit Abu Dhabi in February to promote peace
Francis is the first pope to visit the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, a majority-Muslim country of 10 million people.