The Church in the Middle East

Catechetical coordinators from the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia met at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi for a two-day meeting of the Christian Formation Committee.

The Catholic Center for Studies released the final statement of the conference "Christians of the East as Co-Builders of the Future" following the event held in Amman on October 29–30, 2026.

Jbeil MP Simon Abi Ramia told L'Orient that Priest Samir Mikhael Daou was found murdered after going missing on Wednesday afternoon. Daou served the parishes of Hsoun and Ferhet in the Jbeil district.

The celebration of the Lord of Miracles in Peru involves processions and festive gatherings centered around the sacred image. Participants are encouraged to open their lives to the Lord for spiritual transformation.

On October 25, a vigil of solidarity was held at the Basilica of the Nativity forecourt in Bethlehem to support Jordan. The vigil followed an attack on the Church of Saint George in Hamud, Karak, which resulted in nine deaths and dozens of injuries.

The "Togetherness" conference, titled "Christians in the East as Co-Builders of the Future," began in Jordan on October 29. The two-day event is held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Jaafar Hassan and includes the presence of Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Dr. Imad Hijazin.

The Latin Vicariate in Jordan has appointed Omar Abawi as the executive director of Caritas Jordan. Abawi will serve a five-year term.

The Gulf Churches Fellowship issued a statement condemning an attack in the Karak Governorate. The ecumenical body represents Christian churches across the Gulf region.

The Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad stated that dialogue is the only option available to Christians facing persecution and discrimination. The World Watch List 2026 reports that more than 388 million Christians face high levels of religious persecution globally.

The Slovak Republic is contributing to the humanitarian activities of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Lebanon, according to the Grand Chancellor of the Order of Malta, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, and Slovak State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Rastislav Chovanec.

The NGO Pro Terra Santa, an organization of the Custody of the Holy Land, organized an olive harvest in Jerusalem with volunteers and monastery sisters.

The harvest takes place between October and November and is one of the most important agricultural seasons in the region. Farmers in the West Bank have faced difficulties this year due to closures and various pressures.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over a Mass at the shrine of Deir Rafat for the feast of Our Lady Queen of Palestine. The celebration took place amid regional security tensions.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, delivered a homily on October 25, 2026, for the Solemnity of Our Lady Queen of Palestine.

Approximately 2.3 million people participated in the 234th Círio de Nazaré procession in Belém, Pará state, Brazil, to honor Our Lady of Nazareth.

Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein, and Princess Salma Bint Abdullah II offered condolences to the families of those killed in the Karak attack on Sunday, October 25.

An armed attack occurred last Friday in the village of Hmoud, located in the Karak governorate of Jordan.

Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, has asked the faithful to pray for victims of a terrorist attack on the Greek Orthodox church in Hmoud, Karak, Jordan.