All articles tagged with #holy land
Originally Published 2 days ago — by Vatican News
Catholics from Jordan gathered at Bethany Beyond the Jordan to celebrate the Baptism of the Lord with a mass attended by over 5,000 people, including diplomats and church representatives, praying for peace in Palestine and encouraging pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
Originally Published 23 days ago — by AP News
Christmas in Bethlehem has been revived this year with renewed festivities and hope following a ceasefire in Gaza, bringing joy and economic relief to the city after years of conflict and hardship, despite ongoing tensions in the region.
Originally Published 4 months ago — by Vatican News
Patriarch Pizzaballa emphasizes the power of prayer and fasting to foster peace and change hearts in the Holy Land amidst ongoing conflicts, highlighting the importance of trust, unity, and spiritual strength in difficult times, especially during the upcoming Day of Prayer and Fasting called by Pope Leo XIV.
Originally Published 6 months ago — by Vatican News
Fr. Ibrahim Faltas appeals for peace in Taybeh, the last entirely Christian village in Palestine, which has faced violent settler attacks, injuries, and displacement, emphasizing the need for international action and unity to protect innocent lives and promote coexistence in the Holy Land.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Daily Beast
Comedian Tiffany Haddish announced on Instagram Live that she was traveling to Israel, expressing her intention to "meet her future man" and potentially visit Gaza as well. Israel's official Twitter account reposted her video, and the State of Israel even suggested throwing her a Bat Mitzvah at the Western Wall. Haddish also mentioned her interest in learning about the politics and history of the region, while some criticized the timing of her trip given the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Vatican News - English
Pope Francis renews calls for a global ceasefire and emphasizes the need for a two-state solution in the Holy Land, warning that true peace remains distant without it. He expresses hope for truces in the Holy Land and Ukraine, and discusses the Vatican's efforts to mediate in these conflicts. The Pope also defends the recent declaration 'Fiducia supplicans,' which seeks to include, not divide, and addresses criticisms of the document, stating that it aims to welcome and trust in God.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Honestreporting.com
News agencies such as AP, Reuters, and AFP have recycled a narrative claiming that Israel has ruined Christmas in the Holy Land. They suggest that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and restrictions imposed by Israel have scared away tourists and pilgrims, leading to subdued celebrations in Bethlehem. However, this narrative is not new and has been repeated in previous years. The articles often imply that Israel is to blame for wrecking the holiday, while downplaying the role of Palestinian terrorism. This biased reporting distorts the facts and perpetuates a skewed narrative.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Vatican News - English
Pope Francis has called for prayers for the immense suffering of people in the Holy Land, particularly in Palestine and Israel, describing the ongoing conflict as terrorism rather than war. The Pope met with delegations of Israelis and Palestinians who have relatives affected by the conflict, expressing his anguish and calling for dialogue and peace. He urged everyone to pray for peace and to solve problems without being driven by destructive passions. The meetings were of a humanitarian nature, demonstrating the Pope's spiritual closeness to those suffering.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Catholic News Agency
Pope Francis has called for a day of prayer and fasting on October 27 in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Holy Land. Various ways to participate include attending Mass, making a Holy Hour, praying the rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet, fasting (not limited to food), reading the Bible, and giving alms to organizations providing relief in the Middle East. The pope has invited people of all Christian denominations, other religions, and those concerned about peace to join in as they see fit.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Vatican News - English
The International Union of Superiors General (UISG) has called on religious sisters and their collaborators worldwide to participate in a day of fasting and prayer for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land on October 17, 2023. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has also invited parishes and religious communities to join in fasting and prayer. Pope Francis has added his voice to the call, emphasizing the power of prayer to counter hatred, terrorism, and war.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by TMJ4 News
33 people from two Kenosha Catholic parishes are currently in the Middle East on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, as the deadly war between Israel and Hamas unfolds. The group, which includes two pastors, is currently in Jordan, just east of Israel. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is asking for prayers for an end to the violence and for the safe return of those on the pilgrimage. Israel has ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, halting deliveries of food and supplies, as it retaliates against Hamas.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Fox News
Holy Gems, a family-owned company in Israel, has become the first to discover and sell precious gems in the Holy Land, fulfilling a biblical prophecy. The company, launched in 2022, mines various gems near Haifa and has found natural moissanite, sapphire, ruby, garnet, hibonite, spinel, ilmenite, zircon, rutile, and even diamonds. The crown jewel of Holy Gems is the Carmel Sapphire, a unique gem that includes a mineral previously thought to only exist in space. The Taub family, who owns the company, has a long history in the gem business, and their discovery has been recognized by the Israeli government. Holy Gems offers luxury jewelry inspired by biblical stories and aims to connect the holiness of the land with its geological uniqueness.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Livescience.com
A Crusader sword discovered off the coast of Israel, believed to be from the 12th to 13th century, was found bent and covered in concretions. X-ray analysis revealed the sword's original outline and confirmed that it remained bent, suggesting it was damaged during the Crusades. The sword, known as the Newe-Yam sword, was likely used by a Crusader warrior who settled in the Holy Land after the First Crusade. Swords from this period are rare finds, and losing one during a naval battle would have been detrimental. The discovery provides insight into the battles fought between Crusaders and Muslims in the region.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Times of Israel
The Latin patriarch of the Roman Catholic Church in the Holy Land, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, has warned that the rise of Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government has made life worse for Christians in the region. The Christian community has come under increasing attack, with extremists harassing clergy and vandalizing religious property at a quickening pace. The uptick in anti-Christian incidents also comes as right-wing groups, galvanized by their allies in government, appear to have seized the moment to expand efforts to establish Jewish enclaves in the Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Associated Press
The head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Holy Land has warned that the rise of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government has made life worse for Christians in the birthplace of Christianity. The region’s 2,000-year-old Christian community has come under increasing attack, with the most right-wing government in Israel’s history emboldening extremists who have harassed clergy and vandalized religious property at a quickening pace. The uptick in anti-Christian incidents comes as the Israeli settler movement, galvanized by its allies in government, appears to have seized the moment to expand its enterprise in the contested capital.