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

May 07, 2026 12:19

he image, which circulated widely online on Wednesday, May 6, immediately provoked outrage among many Lebanese Christians Photo: Social Networks

Holy Land

After forty days of silence: Jerusalem’s holy sites reopen as fragile calm returns

Whether this moment marks the beginning of a more stable phase or merely a pause between crises remains uncertain

Apr 10, 2026 17:40

Elizabeth Owens

Holy Land•Justice and Peace

Ceasefire brings no peace to Lebanon as Israel continues its attacks

Despite President Joseph Aoun’s efforts to include his country in the Pakistan-brokered agreement, the Netanyahu government has intensified military action with 89 deaths in a single day. Hezbollah halted the attacks, declaring victory, but Trump said that Lebanon was not included in the deal. A convoy with Patriarch al-Rahi was prevented from reaching Debel, due to tensions between Israeli forces and the UNIFIL escort.

Apr 09, 2026 09:58

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Justice and Peace•Local Church•Persecuted Christians

A besieged Easter: Lebanon’s Christians between bombardment, blocked aid, and a fragile hope

In southern Lebanon, where Christian communities have chosen to remain despite evacuation orders and intensifying clashes between Hezbollah and Israel Defense Forces, Easter unfolded under the echo of artillery

Apr 08, 2026 19:05

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Religious Freedom

New Israeli Policy Puts Christian Education—and Presence—in Jerusalem Under Strain

In Jerusalem, where demography and identity are tightly intertwined, such changes rarely remain confined to administrative policy. They tend, instead, to redraw the contours of presence itself

Apr 04, 2026 20:46

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Pope Leo XIV•Vatican Diplomacy

Between Kyiv and Jerusalem: Vatican Diplomacy in Full Swing During Holy Week. Pope Leo XIV Speaks with the Ukrainian and Israeli Presidents

The Vatican confirmed that both calls included an exchange of greetings for Easter—Christian and Jewish alike—but quickly moved into substantive discussions on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East

Apr 04, 2026 20:20

ZENIT Staff

What Should Good AI Legislation Look Like? Leo XIV Offers Guidance to Catholic Legislators

Address to the Participants in the Meeting of the “International Catholic Legislators Network”

Lebanon Turns to the Pope: Lebanese President Visits Leo XIV Amid the Israeli Siege

On Thursday, August 20, Pope Leo XIV received Aoun at the Apostolic Palace for a private meeting lasting around half an hour. The Lebanese president then held talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations

L	M	X	J	V	S	D
					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31

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

What is God’s vision for Jerusalem amid the conflict? Cardinal Pizzaballa responds

Israeli police arrest Jewish man who pushed and kicked a French nun in Jerusalem: here are the videos

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

150 Jewish leaders condemn the desecration of a crucifix in Lebanon: here is what the letter says

Israeli soldier vandalizes a crucifix in Lebanon: Israel responds, and so do the polls

After forty days of silence: Jerusalem’s holy sites reopen as fragile calm returns

Ceasefire brings no peace to Lebanon as Israel continues its attacks

A besieged Easter: Lebanon’s Christians between bombardment, blocked aid, and a fragile hope

New Israeli Policy Puts Christian Education—and Presence—in Jerusalem Under Strain

Between Kyiv and Jerusalem: Vatican Diplomacy in Full Swing During Holy Week. Pope Leo XIV Speaks with the Ukrainian and Israeli Presidents