The Voice of the suffering in Middle East
Here you’ll find the latest updates on the struggles and resilience of persecuted communities around the world. These stories highlight both the challenges they endure and the faith that sustains them. Stay connected to learn how hope continues to shine through suffering.
Lebanon: People feel “dehumanized” as country endures bombings
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People are feeling “scared, angry and sad” after more than 100 bombs fell across Beirut in a single night shattering any remaining sense of safety for those who remain living in their homes, an aid worker has said. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a massive wave of strikes on Beirut on April 8, killing at least 254 people and injuring more than 2,000. Following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire with Iran on April 7, Israel’s prime minister, ...
Christian Villages in South Lebanon: Security Alert
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Faced with the pending withdrawal of the Lebanese Army from the south of the country, Christians who are attached to their land have expressed their concern about the future. Four Christian municipalities in southern Lebanon – Alma Sha’b, Rmeich, Debel, and Aïn Ebel – expressed their “deep concern” regarding the beginning of the Lebanese Army’s withdrawal from a number of border localities, which could have “serious security repercussions.” The signatories of a March 31 statement are determined to remain on ...
Middle East: Holy Week begins under the sign of the cross
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ACN expresses concern over Palm Sunday restrictions in Jerusalem, Syria, and Gaza, and conveys its support for Christians in the Holy Land. The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) expresses deep concern over events that took place during Palm Sunday celebrations on March 29, 2026 in Jerusalem, Gaza, and Syria, where Christian communities marked the day amid tension, restrictions, and insecurity. In Jerusalem, Israeli police prevented His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, as ...
Paschal hope among the ruins in Gaza
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Holy Week has begun against a backdrop of persistent war and shortages in the Catholic compound in Gaza. Despite everything, the community intends to celebrate Easter to the full, sustained by a prayer for peace throughout the Middle East, as Fr. Gabriel Romanelli explained to the Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). As the Feast of the Resurrection approaches, nothing is entirely certain regarding the form of the various celebrations that will take place within the Holy Family ...
Lebanese bishop on ACN podcast discusses background to country’s current troubles
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A Lebanese bishop has appealed to Christians in the West to put pressure on government leaders to work for peace and find solutions to the ongoing war in the Middle East. Archbishop Georges Bacouni of the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut and Byblos, spoke with Dr. Robert Royal, special advisor to ACN-USA on Christian persecution, for the second installment of his podcast “Faith Under Siege.” Lebanon has been drawn into the war in the Middle East, resulting in over ...
Jerusalem: Christian schools under threat
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On March 10, the Israeli Ministry of Education announced that no work permits will be issued for the 2026-2027 academic year to Palestinian teachers residing in the occupied West Bank who hold a “green card,” an administrative document allowing certain Palestinians to work or travel within Israeli-controlled areas. Consequently, over 200 Christian teachers could find themselves unemployed and unable to teach in Jerusalem’s Christian schools. This decision threatens the operation of these historic institutions and the future of Christian education ...





