Terror attacks before Christmas cannot stop peace work   In many places, people looked forward to Christmas with trepidation. Attacks against Christians mounted just before Christmas in three countries: in Nigeria, India and, on the 3rd Sunday in Advent, in southwest Pakistan. In Pakistan, two suicide bombers of the terrorist [...]

INDIA Bishops condemn violence and urge authorities to restore order The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) issued a statement at the end of December 2017 condemning violent attacks against Christians and urging political leaders to bring back the rule of law and order and to deal severely with miscreants. [...]

Holy See supports Jerusalem’s historical status quo   The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations called for dialogue toward a peaceful resolution that respects the nature of Jerusalem in accordance with the relevant UN Resolutions. It asked that the status quo of Jerusalem, the “spiritual [...]

Pope Francis’ 2017 Christmas message highlights plight of children in war zones In his Christmas message the Pope invites us to focus on the sign of the Child Jesus and to recognise Him in the faces of little children who are suffering in war zones. Below is the text of [...]

HOLY LAND “The peace the shepherds announced in this holy place has always been difficult”   The guardian of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem was speaking to the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). “We have to see the Child Jesus in each individual [...]

PAKISTAN Bishop hails rapid response of police and army   A Pakistan bishop in Quetta has praised the country’s “truly heroic” security services saying that had they not been so quick and decisive the death toll in Sunday’s attack at a packed Methodist church could have run into hundreds. Describing [...]

PAKISTAN Nine killed in IS suicide bomb attack on church   Militants stormed a Methodist church in Pakistan last Sunday in the city of Quetta, some 65km (40 miles) from the Afghan border. The church was packed with worshippers at the time and the suicide bomb and gun attack killed [...]

Scientists may finally resolve controversy over the location of Santa Claus’ remains   Churches in various countries believe that they hold the true remains of St Nicholas - the saint who inspired Santa Claus. For centuries, the remains of St. Nicholas were thought to have been stolen from Turkey and [...]

EQUADOR  Advent prayer booklets teach children the true meaning of Christmas   Christmas is not, first and foremost, about giving presents of course, but rather, for Christians at least, about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. God came into this world as a little child to lead us [...]

IRAQ  Ankawa warehouse turned into “Santa’s Workshop” for Nineveh children   Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is committed to ensuring that the Iraqi children from the Nineveh plains will not be without Christmas presents this year. It is a large warehouse with white and grey walls. Dozens of [...]