Israel expropriates the tomb of the prophet Samuel, but for the Palestinians the target is al-Aqsa

Jun 01, 2026 16:49

ZENIT Staff

Photo: Asia News

Holy Land•Justice and Peace•Persecuted Christians•Virgin Mary

A cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary: the controversial act of an Israeli soldier in Lebanon

For many Christians in the region, the cumulative effect of these incidents is generating growing anxiety about their already precarious future in the Middle East

May 07, 2026 12:19

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Justice and Peace•Persecuted Christians

The fragile ceasefire in Lebanon is falling apart: civilians trapped, holy sites damaged, and the Church’s response with emergency aid

A particularly sensitive episode has drawn international attention: the damage inflicted on a Catholic convent complex in the border village of Yaroun. The site, previously home to a small religious community and a school, had already been abandoned due to ongoing hostilities

May 04, 2026 17:27

ZENIT Staff

Dicasteries•Justice and Peace•Local Church

Lawsuit filed against U.S. bishops’ liturgical and financial measures at the Vatican: they’ve already secured their first victory

Vatican Intervenes on Two Fronts: Liturgical Authority Challenged in the U.S. as Parish Rights Upheld in Abuse Settlement Dispute

May 02, 2026 12:02

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Justice and Peace•Persecuted Christians

Holy Land: Catholic Church denounces Jewish settlers’ encroachment on church-owned properties. Israeli government seeks to mend relations

The Patriarchate condemns «encroachments» in Tayasir, stressing that protecting Church properties is a «red line.» Following a formal report to Israeli civil and military authorities, action has been taken against those responsible. As violence escalates Pizzaballa appeals for support for the local population. Meanwhile, Israel appointed a special envoy for the Christian world to mend relations.

Apr 25, 2026 21:13

ZENIT Staff

Justice and Peace

In the Spanish capital, the courts have authorized the designation of Jehovah’s Witnesses as a “destructive cult”

The court’s reasoning is notable not so much for endorsing a doctrinal judgment about a religious group, but for clarifying the legal scope of expression in matters of public interest

Apr 24, 2026 20:31

ZENIT Staff

Under the agreement with China, Leo XIV appoints a new bishop

Chang Yanfeng, 42, was ordained bishop today under the Sino-Holy See agreement to a diocese that has been without its own pastor for 20 years. Just three weeks ago, the new prelate had to publicly commit the local Church to a controversial law designed to eliminate minorities.

Leo XIV encourages religious to view community life as a source of inspiration and sanctification

Message from Leo XIV to the Conference of Major Superiors of Men’s Religious Orders in the United States

Israel expropriates the tomb of the prophet Samuel, but for the Palestinians the target is al-Aqsa

Rightward Shift in Latin America Could Bolster Pro-Life at UN

Southern Lebanon: Stories of Occupation

The Israeli invasion of Palestine: governments, churches, and humanitarian groups are sounding the alarm

Arms Spending Reaches World Record: Holy See Is Only Country To Point It Out

Trump announces the killing of the second-in-command of the Islamic State in Nigeria

Prison sentence for two Israeli soldiers who desecrated an image of the Virgin Mary in Lebanon

A cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary: the controversial act of an Israeli soldier in Lebanon

The fragile ceasefire in Lebanon is falling apart: civilians trapped, holy sites damaged, and the Church’s response with emergency aid

Lawsuit filed against U.S. bishops’ liturgical and financial measures at the Vatican: they’ve already secured their first victory

Holy Land: Catholic Church denounces Jewish settlers’ encroachment on church-owned properties. Israeli government seeks to mend relations

In the Spanish capital, the courts have authorized the designation of Jehovah’s Witnesses as a “destructive cult”