Christians Mark Good Friday Amid Lingering Virus Woes
Christians in the Holy Land are marking Good Friday this year amid signs the coronavirus crisis is winding down, with religious sites open to limited numbers of faithful but none of the mass pilgrimages usually seen in the Holy Week leading up to Easter.
Suicide Bomb Hits Palm Sunday Mass in Indonesia, 20 Wounded
Two attackers blew themselves up outside a packed Roman Catholic cathedral during a Palm Sunday Mass on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, wounding at least 20 people, police said.
Pope Decries Lack of Access to Drinking Water for Many
Pope Francis on Sunday urged more efforts to ensure all people have access to drinking water. He made his remarks ahead of World Water Day on Monday, which the United Nations uses to highlight the need for access to fresh water.
International Evangelical Pastor Luis Palau Dies at 86
Luis Palau, an evangelical pastor who was born in Argentina and went on to work with Billy Graham before establishing his own powerhouse international ministry, died Thursday. He was 86.
Where IS Ruled, Pope Calls on Christians to Forgive, Rebuild
Pope Francis urged Iraq’s Christians on Sunday to forgive the injustices against them by Muslim extremists and to rebuild as he visited the wrecked shells of churches and met ecstatic crowds in the community’s historic heartland, which was nearly erased by the Islamic State group’s horrific reign.
On First Day in Iraq, Pope Francis Pays Tribute to Christian Martyrs
Standing in the Assyrian Catholic cathedral in Baghdad where 50 worshippers, clergy, and policemen were killed in a 2010 terrorist attack, Pope Francis on Friday made an appeal for “forgiveness, reconciliation, and rebirth” in the struggling Middle Eastern nation.
Pope’s Visit Brings Attention to the Dwindling Population of Christians in Iraq
Pope Francis arrived in Iraq on Friday in a first-ever papal visit to the country that is expected to raise awareness about the challenges facing Iraqi Christians, who are a dwindling minority in the nation.
Catholic Nun’s Kneeling Protest in Myanmar Praised as ‘Model for Church Leaders’
A Catholic nun, kneeling before armed forces in Myanmar and begging them not to open fire on protesters, has become a symbol for the protests against the military coup that destabilized the country in February.
Myanmar’s Christian Refugees Hold Anti-Coup Protest in India
About 300 refugees from a Christian minority community from Myanmar held a demonstration in India’s capital on Wednesday against last month’s military takeover in their country and demanded the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other Myanmar leaders.
First Jehovah’s Witness Woman Sentenced in Russia After Faith Declared ‘Extremist’
A female Jehovah’s Witness has been sentenced to two years in a Russian prison for practicing her faith, marking the first time the country has imprisoned a woman since a 2017 ruling that declared the faith group “extremist.” Valentina Baranovskaya, 69, was sentenced Wednesday along with her son.