Below we present a summary of news from the Catholic world last week that may not have seen.
Israel denies the entrance to an Italian priest for his criticism of the war in Gaza
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An Italian Catholic priest who accused Israel of genocide and criticized his current war in Gaza recently denied entry into the country and was sent on a flight back to Greece, According to reports.
Fr. Nandino Capovilla, founder of the campaign “Bridges, no walls” by Pax Christi Italy Palestineplanned to participate in a “pilgrimage of justice” organized by the group, but was arrested at Ben Gurion airport on August 11 and told him that he would not be allowed to enter the country.
Capovilla, which is published periodically on Facebook over Gaza, wrote A publication After their release instructing journalists to cover their situation to demand sanctions to Israel.
Iran admits to having arrested more than 50 Christians since the end of the “12 days war”
The Iranian Intelligence Ministry (MOIS) revealed the arrest of more than 50 Christians since the end of its brief “12 -day war” with Israel, according to the articles articles18. This admission was made in a broader statement which details the repression of the intelligence agency against groups that, as stated, participated in demonstrations against the regime in the middle of the conflict.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in the statement to have neutralized 53 mercenaries of MOSAD who, he said, had been trained abroad by Churches in the United States and Israel to rebel against the Iranian regime. At least 11 of the detainees have been released on bail.
“Before the conflict, more than 60 Christians were detained or in the process of being tried for charges related to their faith in Iran, and this figure has almost doubled,” said Article18.
The Patriarch Maronita del Lebanon calls peace during her visit to Christian peoples
Patriarch Maronita, Cardinal Bechara Botros Al-Rahi, toured Border Christian villages in the south of Lebanon, transmitting a clear message: “No to war, yes to peace,” said Sunday Aci menaEwtn News Arabic agency. His visit occurs after the last round of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which caused important displacements and damage to the Christian communities of the region.
Accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Paolo Borgia, and local bishops, the patriarch visited locations such as Dibl, Al-Qouzah, Ain Ebel and Rmeish. In Al-Qouzah, where only 72 residents remain, he promised support for reconstruction work, stating that “war is temporary, peace lasts.”
At each stop, it was received with rice and flowers rains, highlighting the resilience of those who decided to stay despite the difficulties. Al-Rahi reiterated that the identity of Lebanon is based on peace and urged both leaders and citizens to reject the cycle of violence.
Mozambique priest condemns the increase in kidnapping of children while the war continues
A Catholic priest from the province of Cabo Delgado, in Mozambique, condemns the increase in cases of kidnapping of children, while Human Rights Watch estimates that at least 120 children were kidnapped by jihadist insurgents linked to the Islamic State in recent months, Aci Africa reported.
“This meaningless war only brings death and ends with the little hope that people have, and especially children,” said Father Kwiriwi Fonsesca in a report of August 8 of help to the International needy church.
“These children must be returned to their parents, they must be sought wherever they are, so that they can be returned to their parents, because they deserve a better future,” he added.
Sri Lanka Catholics continue to protest against sand extraction and wind mills
The Mannar district, as a Catholic majority, in northern Sri Lanka, has continued its protests against sand extraction and wind farms, SEGÚN UCA NEWSarguing that these practices “threaten their survival and sustenance.”
The protesters claim that the projects threaten the ecology and cultural heritage of the island and have been protesting in the streets since August 11, when they began to block the entry of vehicles that transported equipment, including turbine blades for the wind farm, to the island.
Father S. Marcus Adigala, president of the Mannar Citizen Committee, declared the UCA: “After the implementation of a windmill project carried out by the Electricity Board of Ceylon (CEB) in the past, we are already witnessing its environmental impact.”
The priest also said that there has been an increase in bird mortality and a negative impact on the fishing community due to noise and vibrations caused by the wind farm. “This cannot be allowed,” he added.
African religious orders face the challenge of meeting local needs before sending priests abroad
The secretary of the Vatican for the Dicastery for Evangelization has called for African religious orders to ensure that the needs of their local communities are met before sending priests abroad.
During a speech in the Third Pan -African Catholic Congress on Theology, Society and Pastoral LifeArchbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu told attendees: “A church that does not take care of theirs cannot affirm with credibility that takes care of others,” according to a August 13 report by Aci Africa, Ewtn News agency.
He also stressed the importance of safeguarding the missionary presence of Africans abroad so that it can be seen “not as a request for help, but as a testimony of the oblative love of Christ and the fertility of the gospel sown on African soil.”
The Secretary of State of the Vatican travels to Burundi for a pastoral visit
The Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, arrived on Tuesday to Burundi for a pastoral visit of a week. According to a report from ACO Africaexpressed his joy upon his arrival in the nation of East Africa, telling those who received it in the Apostolic Nunciature: “I am very happy to be among you.”
Parolin’s visit included meetings with various communities, ecclesiastical leaders and government authorities, including President Évariste Undayishimye. It also plans to preside over the inauguration of a monument and place the first stone of a new health center dedicated to the memory of Archbishop Michael Aiden Courtney, former Apostolic Nunciation in Burundi, killed in 2003.
Priest of Mozambique condemns the increase in kidnapping of children while the war continues in the north province
A Catholic priest from the province of Cabo Delgado, in Mozambique, condemns the increase in cases of kidnapping of children, while Human Rights Watch estimates that at least 120 children were kidnapped by jihadist insurgents linked to the Islamic State in recent months, Aci Africa reported.
“This meaningless war only brings death and ends with the little hope that people have, and especially children,” said Father Kwiriwi Fonsesca in a August 8 report of help to the International needy.
“These children must be returned to their parents, they must be sought wherever they are, so that they can be returned to their parents, because they deserve a better future,” he added.
The Church in Germany invested almost 600 million euros in international projects in 2024
The Catholic Church in Germany invested almost 600 million euros (about 700 million dollars) in international projects in 2024, according to the German Episcopal Conference.
The approximately 595 million euros distributed worldwide include 200 million to Africa, almost 144 million to Latin America, more than 137 million to Asia and around 76 million to various regions of Europe. Forty -nine million euros were allocated to international projects, according to CNA GermanEwtn News German agency.
Bishop Bertram Meier de Augsburg wrote in the preface to the financial report of the Episcopal Conference: «595 million euros for project financing: an impressive figure». However, he pointed out that the real scope of the Church in the field of foreign aid is “much greater”, given the number of additional independent ecclesiastical associations.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA
Low Elhabbal
Madalaine Elhabbal is a CNA journalist based in the Washington DC office in EWTN. He has published articles in Catholicvote and has also worked as a foreign language assistant in France. She is a graduate of Benedictine College.