By: Sanad Sahelia

Amid the deep sorrow that engulfed the world following the passing of an extraordinary figure like Pope Francis, it was not surprising to hear some voices attacking him harshly, calling for a boycott of his funeral. Some even went so far as to mock and gloat, refusing to pray for mercy upon him. What makes this scene even more painful is that some of these stances come from people who claim to be advocates of freedom, love, and mercy — not of defamation and exclusion.

Many Israelis slammed the pontiff for his vocal support for Palestinians and took to social media to celebrate his death
The Vatican's announcement of Pope Francis' death on Monday morning was met with a mix of celebration and criticism in Israel, where politicians, pundits and social media users focused on the pontiff's condemnation of Israel amid its war on the Gaza Strip.

Caritas Jerusalem remains at the forefront of the fight to protect children in Gaza from polio, as has proudly participated in the third phase of the critical polio vaccination campaign. This phase, which took place in February 2025, was a testament to the resilience and dedication of Caritas Jerusalem’s team, as well as our ongoing collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the Ministry of Health (MOH), and other vital partners.

Custodia terrae sanctae - The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land held its first Ordinary Plenary Meeting of 2025 in Amman, Jordan, at the headquarters of the Latin Vicariate. We have welcomed with joy the new Latin Vicar for Jordan, Msgr. Iyad Twal.

Custodia Terrae Sanctae - As custodians of the Christian faith and conscience in this sacred land, we raise our voices in sorrow and steadfast resolve in the face of the ongoing suffering in Gaza. The devastation that has unfolded before the eyes of the world is a profound moral and humanitarian tragedy. Thousands of innocent lives have been lost, and entire communities stand in ruin, with the most vulnerable— children, the elderly, and the sick—enduring unimaginable hardship.

As Israeli soldiers continue to occupy the Palestinian city of Jenin in the West Bank, Fr. Amer Jubran, parish priest of the city’s Latin-rite Catholic parish, shares local residents’ concerns for their situation and appeals for prayers.

Father Amer Jubran is the parish priest of the Latin Catholic Church in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank. Originally from Nazareth, he was a formator at the Latin Patriarchate Seminary of Jerusalem in Beit Jala before being transferred to Jenin.