Newsfeed
Pope’s schedule in Iraq reveals two missions
Publication Date: 9/2/2021
Source: Al Monitor
The Vatican released the itinerary of Pope Francis’ March visit to Iraq on Monday. The schedule, packed with events and meetings with religious and political figures across the country, reveals a trip with two missions: to highlight the plight of the country’s dwindling Christian population and to promote interfaith dialogue.
Dozens of illegal expropriations denounced by Christian landowners to the ad hoc Committee wanted by Muqtada al Sadr
Publication Date: 1/2/2021
Source: Agenzia Fides
There are already dozens of complaints to be studied on the working tables of the special committee set up at the request of Iraqi Shiite leader Muqtada al Sadr to collect and verify news and complaints regarding cases of illegal expropriation of property suffered in recent years by Christian landowners in different parts of Iraq.
Christians and Muslims write open letter to Biden calling for an end of the sanctions against Syria
Publication Date: 25/1/2021
Source: Asia News
The letter is also addressed to Macron, Johnson and Merkel. The signatories include clerics, civil society leaders, and doctors. The Syrian people “demand quick answers” to an exceptional crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated difficulties. The country is at risk of “famine” and people go to sleep “hungry”.
Pope says he is intent on making Iraq trip despite difficulties
Publication Date: 1/2/2021
Source: Reuters
Pope Francis said on Monday he is intent on making a trip to Iraq next month even if it means many Iraqi Christians won’t be able to see him in person because of COVID-19 restrictions.
The Village Church of Tel Hormiz: A story of Syrian Christianity in adversity
Author: Sam Sweeney
Publication Date: 22/1/2021
Source: Catholic Herald
Tel Tamer, Syria – The village church of Tel Hormiz, Syria, was dedicated to Saint Pethyon, a third-century saint of the Assyrian tradition who was originally from Egypt. “Was” dedicated, or “is” dedicated, perhaps — which is appropriate for a church that has been destroyed and now lies in ruins?
St Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubai to reopen on Monday
Author: Angel Tesorero
Publication Date: 29/1/2021
Source: Gulf News
St Mary’s Catholic Church in Oud Metha, Dubai, will reopen on Monday (February 1), with two masses scheduled daily, parish priest Fr Lennie J.A. Connully OFM Cap announced on the church website. He said: “Glad to announce that we have received permission from CDA (Community Development Authority) to reopen our church for the Holy Mass with a few conditions and guidelines.”
Assyrians negatively affected by Turkish airstrikes in Iraq
Author: Karzan Sulaivany
Publication Date: 13/1/2021
Source: Kurdistan24
A new report by the Assyrian Policy Institute (API) released on Monday revealed how Turkish airstrikes against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) positions in the Kurdistan Region are negatively affecting the Assyrian population living in the border areas.
Pope to meet top Shia leader Sistani on Iraq visit: Cardinal
Publication Date: 28/1/2021
Source: Al Jazeera
Pope Francis will meet top Shia religious leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani during the first-ever papal visit to Iraq in March, a senior Catholic cleric told the AFP news agency on Thursday. Louis Sako, the patriarch of Iraq’s Chaldean Catholic Church, said it would be a “private visit” between the two religious figures “without formalities”.
Covid: UAE churchgoers get emotional attending mass after 10 months
Author: Saman Haziq
Publication Date: 1/2/2021
Source: Khaleej Times
Dubai resident Joseph James stepped into the church compound for the first time in ten months on Monday morning as St Mary’s Catholic Church in Oud Maitha reopened its doors for Holy Mass services on Monday. The church was temporarily closed last year in March as part of the precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus.
Iraqi Christians urged to undertake ‘Jonah’s fast’ against the pandemic
Publication Date: 20/1/2021
Source: Asia News
Like the people who prayed and fasted “at the time of Ezekiel” for the end of the epidemic of plague, so “we too are transforming this painful experience” of the COVID-19 pandemic into “opportunities for grace and good “through” spiritual and social solidarity,” writes Chaldean primate Card Louis Raphael Sako in a statement released today, presenting three days of fasting and prayer for “The revival of Nineveh”, beginning next Monday.
