Today, 22nd April 2021, marks the 8th anniversary of the tragic kidnapping and disappearance of Metropolitan Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Aleppo, and Metropolitan Paul Yazigi of the Greek Orthodox Church of Aleppo on the outskirts of the Syrian city of Aleppo.…

Sydney April 14, 2021 We write to inform Assyrians in Australia and the world about the name change of our former organisation (AUA INC) and our proceedings in the Supreme Court of NSW.   As you are aware, we have been active members in the Assyrian Community for…

Iraq (International Christian Concern) –  Following the papal visit to Iraq in early March, the Iraqi government has reportedly appointed an inter-ministerial committee tasked with addressing suggestions and concerns of the Pope. Primarily, these recommendations include fixing issues of security, economic development and…

Pope Francis is greeted by people on the podium at the square near the ruins of the al-Tahira-l-Kubra church, in Mosul on March 7, 2021. (AFP)Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako accompanied Francis throughout‘He has delivered a message of comfort and peace that was so powerful’…

Iraqi Christians of Qaraqosh attend the first Palm Sunday service at the heavily damaged Church of the Immaculate Conception on April 9, 2017, since Iraqi forces recaptured it from Daesh. (AFP/File Photo)Mahamad Ameen Abdul Al-Jawad…

Pope Francis blesses a young boy in the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Bakhdida, Iraq, on March 7, 2021. Photo credits: Vatican Media.By Hannah Brockhaus (CNA).- During his recent visit to Iraq, Pope Francis gave a donation of $350,000 to the…

Syria (International Christian Concern) –  Following the papal visit to Iraq, Syrian Christians and church leaders expressed their desire and hope for a visit from Pope Francis as well. The historic trip to Iraq, marking the first time a pope has visited the country, sent a message of hope to the whole region.…

The wall is reportedly being knocked down to allow for road building in the city.The ancient Nineveh wall is facing destruction. (TAW)BAGHDAD–While Assyrians around the world are currently preparing to celebrate their Assyrian ancestors’ tradition of Akitu or the Assyrian New Year, an ancient Assyrian…

The fifth Brussels Conference of Syria’s donors opened. At least US$ 10 billion are needed in 2021 to meet needs. At least 24 million people are in serious need, four more than last year. For Bishop Audio, “a shared and global effort is needed”.…

by Raad al-Jammas Pulling golden thread with her frail fingers, elderly Christian Karjiya Baqtar has embroidered a precious prayer shawl to gift the most cherished visitor to her Iraqi hometown — Pope Francis.…

Manuela Tulli, Vatican correspondent for ANSA, Italy’s main news agency, with Pope Francis. (Supplied)Visit ‘could change the history of interreligious dialogue,’ Manuela Tulli tells Arab NewsThis will be her sixth trip embedded with Pope Francis…

Matt Riedl| Catholic Herald Multimedia ProducerFr. David Dufresne visits a historic site in Iraq as part of his trip to the country earlier this month. Fr. Dufresne was able to attend a papal Mass in Irbil, Iraq, March 7. BASILICA OF SAINT MARY | COURTESY…

The Apostolic Journey constitutes a legacy of exchanges and experiences that can bring the country back “to the international arena”. Card Sako suggests ways to revive tourism, dialogue, unity and interfaith dialogue. Tourism can play a role in the economic recovery while highlighting the country’s Christian, Muslim, Yazidi, Sabaean and Jewish heritage.…

Vincenzo PINTO | AFP Maria Lozano – ACN –Qaraqosh has been largely rebuilt with the help of Aid to the Church in Need and its benefactors.Since 2003 all Iraqis have suffered the burdens of war: kidnapping, displacement, and death.…

By Katey Hearth Iraq (MNN) — Pope Francis made history earlier this month when he visited Iraq. Today, Catholic leaders praise the trip as a “milestone” for relations between the Catholic Church and Shia Islam.…

Above: Pope Francis is greeted by Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, one of Shiite Islam’s most authoritative figures, during a courtesy visit in Najaf, Iraq, on March 6. Below: Children are seen near an image of Pope Francis during the pope’s visit with the community at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Qaraqosh, Iraq, on March…

by Jules Gomes  •  ChurchMilitant.com  •ISIS mocks ‘Abrahamic religions,’ threatening fresh attacks on ChristiansYou are not signed in as a Premium user; we rely on Premium users to support our news reporting. Sign in or Sign up today!…

Political leaders had “very nice words” during Pope Francis’ early March trip to Iraq, but now Christians pray “that those words, those declarations, will be applied on the daily level, on the ground,” said Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan.…

by Xavier Bisits Photo 1 – Pope visit to QaraqoshPope Francis blesses a child amid a crowd of local Syriacs March 7 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Qaraqosh, the largest Catholic Church in Iraq. (Xavier Bisits)At a glance, Qaraqosh and Bartella are similar: ancient, Aramaic-speaking towns first…

Doreen Abi Raad catholic news service Pope Francis signs a book with a message for Syriac Catholics at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Deliverance in Baghdad March 5, 2021. Also pictured, from left: Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan, Syriac Catholic Archbishop Ephrem Yousif…