Pope asks Protestants and Catholics to forgive each other for past persecution   At a prayer service concluding the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis asked for God’s mercy upon divided Christians “We ask most of all for forgiveness for the sin of our divisions, which are an open wound on the body...

UPDATE – voting decision MEPs call for urgent action to protect religious minorities against ISIS   MEPs urge the international community to take urgent action to counter the systematic mass murder of religious minorities by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or Daesh, in a resolution voted on Thursday. The text wraps...

“A symbol of our presence”   Christians in Iraq are distressed at the destruction of Iraq’s oldest monastery by IS   On Wednesday the American news agency AP announced that Islamic State had razed St. Elijah’s monastery to the ground. An analysis of satellite pictures of the site conducted on behalf of the agency had...

Pakistani Christians fleeing Muslim persecution are dying in Thai migrant camps     Pakistani Christians are dying in Thailand’s immigration center due to the deplorable conditions inside. Detainees are even denied treatment and medication for serious medical conditions such as heart or kidney problems and high blood pressure, which has led to several deaths. The Thai...

“We are praying for those who hate us”   The Abbey of the Dormition in Jerusalem has once again been targeted by vandals. Jewish extremists are most likely behind the attack. On Saturday night, unknown persons defaced the walls and doors of the German-speaking Benedictine monastery on the outer edges of the Old City of...

INDONESIA Jakarta bombings –need to recognise danger of terrorism   Bomb attacks in Jakarta – Indonesia  needs to recognise the danger of terrorism  “This attack should serve as an alarm bell for all Indonesians, and above all for Muslims. They need to recognize the danger of terrorism.” So says Father Franz Magnis-Suseno, a Jesuit and...

Combating Islamic State by bringing the Gospel to deaf communities in the Middle East   To combat Islamic State‘s effort to recruit marginalised deaf people in the Middle East with false promises, the Deaf Bible Society has launched a new initiative. The aim is to bring the story of Jesus in sign language to the...

“Religion is for God and the dispensary is for everyone”  – Catholic-run clinic helps refugees in Beirut   “Religion is for God and the dispensary is for everyone” – that is the motto displayed at the entrance to St. Anthony’s medical dispensary in Beirut , run by the Good Shepherd Sisters. Dr. Hadi Jaklh, a...

CAMEROON Support for the life and ministry of religious Sisters   The Sisters of Divine Providence have been working in Cameroon since 1999. In 2002 they also established a house in the diocese of Mbalmayo, in the centre of the country. They are now living and working here, in the mission station of Ayos. They...

ERITREA –  Strict Government control makes it difficult for Church to train priests   A United Nations report shows that the government in Asmara, the Eritrean capital, is responsible for grave violations of human rights. Many people are currently detained and subject to forced labour, while countless others are subject to strict supervision and control....