Christian world

Serbian Patriarch and Patriarchs of Antioch Call for Pan-Orthodox Unity

His Holiness Irinej – Patriarch of Serbia met His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church and His Beatitude John X – Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch at the St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral on 2nd June 2019.

Pope Francis to visit Patriarchate’s Palace and National Cathedral

Pope Francis will pay a visit to Romania on May 31 – June 2, 2019 at the invitation of the President of Romania, the state authorities and the Catholic Church in Romania.

The schedule of the visit to the Romanian Patriarchate includes a meeting with Patriarch Daniel and the members of the Permanent Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church at the Palace of the Patriarchate on Friday, May 31, 2019.

Bulgarian, North Macedonian delegations meet Pope Francis

Pope Francis on Friday received delegations from Bulgaria and North Macedonia, less than 3 weeks after the Holy Father visited the two East Balkan nations, May 5-7. 

In a statement to reporters, the "interim" Director of the Vatican Press Office, Alessandro Gisotti, said that Pope first thanked the Bulgarian delegation for the great welcome received during his recent visit to the country.

Catholic priest slain by criminal gang in El Salvador

38-year-old father Cecilio Perez was reportedly shot dead by a presumed gang member while he slept on Saturday night in his parish in El Salvador.Father Perez was the parish priest of San José la Majada, in Sosonate Diocese near the Guatemala border.

Spanish Don Bosco Missionary Priest Stabbed to Death in Burkina Faso

A Spanish priest, Father Fernando Fernández, was stabbed to death, and another injured on Friday evening, 17 May in Don Bosco center of Bobo-Dioulasso in the Southwest of Burkina Faso.

During lunch, a former cook who worked in the facility for seven years, hurled the Spanish religious with a knife and killed him. A second priest of Togolese origin was injured in the accident. Fr. Germain Plakoo-Mlapa, director of studies, was immediately transported to the hospital and is out of danger. The killer was immediately arrested by the police.

Three Prelates Consecrated for the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church

Three new prelates were consecrated for the Armenian Orthodox Church by His Holiness Karekin II -Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians on 12th May 2019 at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Rev. Fr. Serovbe Isakhanyan was consecrated as the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Germany; Rev. Fr. Daniel Fntgyan was consecrated as the Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and Rev. Fr. Tiran Petrosyan was consecrated as the Pontifical Delegate of Central Europe and Sweden.

Attack on Catholic church kills 6 people in Burkina Faso

An attack on a Catholic church in Burkina Faso, potentially linked to extreme Islamist violence in the country, has killed six people.

Al Jazeera reports that a group of between 20 and 30 armed attackers killed a priest and five worshippers on Sunday, in the northeastern town of Dablo. The assailants also burned down the church itself as well as several local buildings, including a medical facility. According to a government spokesperson, they also destroyed businesses that served alcohol.