La croix international

Pope Francis opening a Holy Door at Rebibbia Penitentiary on Saint Stephen day in Rome as part of t

Jubilee 2025: Pope Francis’ moving visit to a Roman prison

After opening the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Pope Francis December 26 inaugurated the second Holy Door of the 2025 Jubilee at the church of Rebibbia Prison in Rome.

Pope Francis during the 'Urbi et Orbi' message and blessing to the city and the world, at St. Peter

Urbi et Orbi: ‘May the sound of arms be silenced!’

In his Christmas Urbi et Orbi blessing, Pope Francis called for global peace, urging nations to unite in the Jubilee of Hope and address forgotten conflicts, including Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and Cyprus.

Maronite Catholic Bishop Hanna Rahmé of Baalbek-Deir El-Ahmar celebrates Christmas Mass at the Chu

In the Bekaa Valley, Christians, Muslims reconnect for Christmas

During two months of war that severely impacted the Middle East, Christians in Lebanon celebrate Christmas under extreme circumstances. The influx of displaced Shias gives communities a chance to see each other in a new light.

Father Fadi Al Bargil during Christmas Mass at the Saint Sergius and Bacchus Monastery in Maaloula,

‘Great fear’ haunts Christmas celebrations in Syria's Christian town

Christmas in Maaloula was marked by fear, as the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's rise to power rekindled memories of Islamist violence that terrorized the Christian town from 2013 to 2014.

Because of the January 27 deadline for the ceasefire with Israel, more than half the inhabitants of

'We've come a long way': Fragile hope for Christians returning to their land in southern Lebanon

Three weeks after the ceasefire that went into effect November 27 in Lebanon to halt the war between Israel and Hezbollah, Christians in the south of the country are beginning to return home. While leaving their lands was always meant to be temporary, their return does not necessarily promise better days ahead.

Opinions

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, May 1, 2024. (Photo by IPA Agency/Maxppp)

Holy Land: 'Overcoming the feeling that words, even faith-based ones, are useless' [DOCUMENT]

“The child is no longer the confirmation of his place in the world, but the joy of offering the w

The child, a symbol of our own birth

Arnaud Alibert is the editor-in-chief at La Croix (Photo: Ferville)

Jubilation

Incarnation and vulnerability

Marie Grand, columnist for La Croix, philosophy professor and director of the Collège Supérieur i

Elon Musk at Notre Dame of Paris: Two worlds collide

Mikael Corre (Photo: Franck Ferville/La Croix)

Is the pope too old?

Corpus Christi procession in Łowicz, Poland, 2007. (Photo by Magdalena Bryll / CC BY-SA 2.5)

‘The Christian left accused popular devotions of infantilizing the people’

The counter-Jubilee of Trump II

Compassionate debate needed as assisted dying bill moves forward

Pope Francis prays at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, May 26, 2014. (Photo by IMAGO/Maxppp)

Christian-Jewish dialogue: Can we still talk?

When the ability to fill a stadium changes the religious landscape

Jubilee 2025: How to prepare your pilgrimage

The Jubilee will officially begin tonight, with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica. An estimated 32 million pilgrims from around the world are expected to visit Rome during this Holy Year.

Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica to mark the start of the Catholic Jubilee Y

'Renewal and transformation of the world': Pope Francis opens the Jubilee

During Christmas Eve Mass, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, inaugurating the Jubilee of 2025. This year-long period of spiritual purification has been observed every 25 years in Rome since the early 14th century.

Christmas: 200 Christians, 50 bishops call for peace in the Holy Land [EXCLUSIVE]

Nearly 200 European Christians of all denominations, including around fifty bishops and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, issue a Christmas appeal for a ceasefire and peace in the Holy Land. They urge Christians to be "instruments of peace."

IDF forces in the Gaza Strip in October 2024. (Photo: IDF/Wikimedia Commons)

Christmas 2024: 'We are Christians living in the Holy Land, witnessing our Lord Jesus Christ' [4/4]'

During Advent 2024, La Croix International and Living with Christ Africa invite readers to meet those working with the most vulnerable. Today, we feature Anton Asper, Secretary General of Caritas Jerusalem.

United States: Biden commutes sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates

U.S President Joe Biden announced the commutation of sentences for 37 individuals on federal death row. The decision, advocated for by American bishops and Pope Francis, comes amid concerns over President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House.

File photo of Vice President Sara Duterte. Courtesy of Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook

A group of Filipino priests wants Vice President Duterte impeached

A group ofseven Filipino priests joined six other complainants in filing an impeachment case against Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte.“We believe VP Sara committed something illegal and something immoral against the Filipino people", explained one of them.

Daoud Riffi is an associate professor and historian. Publisher (Tasnîm Editions), consultant, and

What is Syria's place in the sacred geography of Islam?

Among the sacred places mentioned in Islamic sources are Mecca, Sinai, and Jerusalem, but also Syria (the Shām) and particularly Damascus, as explained by Daoud Riffi.

Pope Francis and the Wishes of the Roman Curia Photograph by Vatican Media / Catholic Press Photo/M

At Papal Christmas greetings with the Curia, Francis condemns 'cruelty' in Gaza

During his traditional Christmas greetings to the Roman Curia December 21, 2024, Pope Francis criticized what he sees as Israel’s failure to respect the rules of war in the Palestinian enclave.

File photo of a member of Myanmar's Border Guard Police inspecting a house burnt down in an arson a

Catholics in Myanmar set to celebrate Christmas amid fear, displacement

Despite ongoing conflict and a beleaguered people experiencing airstrikes, armed clashes, and the destruction of civilian property, priests, and faithful prepare for a somber Christmas in a war-torn Myanmar.

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High.” (Luke 1: 76)

Reflection: Welcoming the Light of Christmas (December 24)

December 24, 2024: TUESDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT (Mass in the Morning) Readings: 2 Samuel 7: 1-5. 8b-12. 14a. 16 / Psalm 89: 2-3. 4-5. 27 and 29 / Luke 1: 67-79.

Auxiliary Bishop Leonard Ndjadi Ndjate of Kisangani

DR Congo: A quarter century after a blitz war, a diocese finally compensated

“We hope that with these compensations, communities will finally be able to wipe away their long-standing tears,” says Auxiliary Bishop Leonard Ndjadi Ndjate of Kisangani. The archdiocese received $2.5 million for damages suffered during a conflict in 2000.

The Adoration of the Shepherds, Giorgione, circa 1505

Bible: The Shepherds, figures of authority and compassion

At the birth of Christ, according to the Gospel of Luke, the first to visit the manger were simple shepherds. This figure is woven throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Why does this presence hold such significance in Scripture?

Manger Square and the Mosque of Omar in Bethlehem, West Bank (CC BY-SA 4.0/adriatikus)

In Bethlehem, a Christmas marked by exhaustion and anxiety

As Christmas approaches, the churches of Jerusalem have called on their faithful to show signs of Christian hope. But in Bethlehem, economically suffocating and clouded by uncertainty, anxiety about the future weighs heavily on people's hearts.

Separated in different hospitals after the bombing of their building on October 13, 2023, Mohammed

The nameless children of Gaza, the story of a father's miraculous reunion with his daughter

Since the start of the war in Gaza, 17,000 young children have been separated from their families. Among them are some too young to even state their names. On the ground, doctors and humanitarian workers are racing to reunite these “babies of the ruins” with their families.

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (© Xavier Le Normand)

Mexicans encouraged to surrender weapons in churches

The Mexican government launched a gun buyback program at churches, offering cash for firearms as part of a security strategy, while also seeking the extradition of the mastermind behind journalist Javier Valdez’s assassination.

The tablet sold for more than $5 million after ten minutes of bidding (© Sotheby's)

Sold at $5million, the oldest known tablet of the Ten Commandments sparks debate

Sotheby’s auction house put for sale what it claims to be the oldest known tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments. Sold at more than $5 millions, the artifact has drawn skepticism from experts questioning its authenticity.

One or more families of African American slaves posed in front of a wooden house on Dr. William F.

How slavery shaped the modern West

Book Review: In Born in Blackness, Howard W. French explores Africa’s critical role in shaping the modern world through the transatlantic slave trade and the enslavement of 12 million Africans.

Religion

Jubilee 2025: Pope Francis’ moving visit to a Roman prison

After opening the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Pope Francis December 26 inaugurated the second Holy Door of the 2025 Jubilee at the church of Rebibbia Prison in Rome.

Urbi et Orbi: ‘May the sound of arms be silenced!’

In the Bekaa Valley, Christians, Muslims reconnect for Christmas

‘Great fear’ haunts Christmas celebrations in Syria's Christian town

Christmas in Maaloula was marked by fear, as the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's rise to power rekindled memories of Islamist violence that terrorized the Christian town from 2013 to 2014.

'Renewal and transformation of the world': Pope Francis opens the Jubilee

Christmas 2024: 'We are Christians living in the Holy Land, witnessing our Lord Jesus Christ' [4/4]'

At Papal Christmas greetings with the Curia, Francis condemns 'cruelty' in Gaza

During his traditional Christmas greetings to the Roman Curia December 21, 2024, Pope Francis criticized what he sees as Israel’s failure to respect the rules of war in the Palestinian enclave.

World news

'We've come a long way': Fragile hope for Christians returning to their land in southern Lebanon

United States: Biden commutes sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates

What is Syria's place in the sacred geography of Islam?

Among the sacred places mentioned in Islamic sources are Mecca, Sinai, and Jerusalem, but also Syria (the Shām) and particularly Damascus, as explained by Daoud Riffi.

A group of Filipino priests wants Vice President Duterte impeached

Catholics in Myanmar set to celebrate Christmas amid fear, displacement

On December 8, a week after the fall of Bashar Al Assad, children at an elementary school in Deraa

Syria: Freedom restored in schools after fear

In Deraa, schools reopened their doors just one week after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Teachers and students are discovering life free from the brutal propaganda of the deposed regime.

DR Congo: A quarter century after a blitz war, a diocese finally compensated

Opinions

Holy Land: 'Overcoming the feeling that words, even faith-based ones, are useless' [DOCUMENT]

In the Basilica of the Nativity,Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, reflects on a year of suffering and hopelessness, urging trust and hope in God in his Christmas homily December 24.

The child, a symbol of our own birth

The child, a symbol of the Kingdom, invites humility, innocence, and selflessness. Martin Steffens, our columnist, and a philosopher, urges us to embrace humility, relinquish control, and be open to love’s transformative power in our spiritual lives.

Jubilation

Pope Francis has opened the door to the Jubilee. Is this simply good news in the midst of so much bad news? Father Arnaud Alibert explores its various meanings.

Christmas: 200 Christians, 50 bishops call for peace in the Holy Land [EXCLUSIVE]

Incarnation and vulnerability

The Incarnation is a radical event with profound meaning for all creation and all time. Without it, there would be no life lived in love and service, death, and Resurrection.

Elon Musk at Notre Dame of Paris: Two worlds collide

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and the X network (formerly Twitter), was among the guests at the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, on December 7. In her column, Marie Grand interpreted this encounter as a meeting of two contrasting worlds that could benefit from working in harmony.

Compassionate debate needed as assisted dying bill moves forward

The assisted dying bill, addressing end-of-life choices for terminally ill adults, passed its first reading in the UK Parliament. The ensuing national debate demands respectful engagement, consideration of palliative care insights, and a compassionate focus on the dignity of human life.

Laudato si'

Lake Victoria — Tanzania. (Photo by Marc Veraart / CC BY-ND 2.0)

In Tanzania, Lake Victoria residents suffer from rising waters

New satellite data shows an alarming rise in the water levels of East Africa's great lakes. In Tanzania, residents of Ukerewe, the largest island in Lake Victoria, are already feeling the effects.

Tourism: Demographics alone are not to blame for rising carbon footprint

Global tourism continues to grow and simultaneously increase its carbon footprint. Population growth partially explains this trend, but according to a study, purchasing power and modes of transportation are the main contributors to tourism’s environmental impact.

Why the Arctic now emits more greenhouse gases than it absorbs

The Arctic region is no longer a carbon sink. It stores less greenhouse gas than it emits, largely due to increased wildfires. However, emissions from human activities remain the primary driver of climate change.

A plastic waste collector in a street in Johannesburg, South Africa, November 26. (Photo by Joséph

In South Africa, waste collectors fight for their rights

In South Africa, 90,000 informal waste collectors recycle 80% of recyclable packaging and paper. Despite their essential role in fighting plastic pollution, they are underpaid. While the government has introduced measures to reward them, progress remains slow.

Global warming: Why the critical threshold was set at 1.5°C

It's official: 2024 will be the first year to surpass the symbolic threshold of 1.5°C of warming compared to the pre-industrial period established by the Paris Agreement. According to analyses by the European Copernicus Observatory, the increase is expected to reach 1.52°C.

The Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, the seat of the International Court of Justice (Photo b

Climate: What can we expect from the International Court of Justice proceedings?

The International Court of Justice is reviewing nations’ obligations to fight climate change, with 98 states participating. While its ruling is advisory, it could shape global climate policies, empower lawsuits, and amplify calls for accountability and reparations from major emitters.

An estimated 109 million tons of plastic are now in lakes and rivers, with another 30 million tons

How plastic pollution affects our health

Tiny fragments of plastic have been detected in our lungs, liver, kidneys, and even our brain. While studies confirm plastic in our bodies, researchers struggle to measure its health effects. An international treaty to reduce plastic pollution is underway in Busan, South Korea.

Culture

How slavery shaped the modern West

Book Review: In Born in Blackness, Howard W. French explores Africa’s critical role in shaping the modern world through the transatlantic slave trade and the enslavement of 12 million Africans.

Sold at $5million, the oldest known tablet of the Ten Commandments sparks debate

Cinema and Heritage Panel, during the Dakar Court Festival on December 10, 2024. (Photo by Charles

Religious-inspired film wins top prize at an international festival

The Grand Prize was awarded to Katope, a film by a Tanzanian director. Like this short film, which explores traditions and rituals, many other selections at the festival address themes of religion and spirituality.

The astounding resistance of Afghan women

In the documentary Bread and Roses, filmed on mobile phones, exiled filmmaker Sahra Mani portrays three Afghan women risking their lives to oppose Taliban oppression—a poignant testament to their courage, three years after the fundamentalists regained power in Kabul.

'The Advent calendar market reflects a need for new customs'

Nadine Cretin, an expert on Christmas and Western traditions, historian, and anthropologist, discusses the Christian roots and modern developments of Advent calendars.

Four Haikus for Advent, a journey of anticipation

Advent through poetry: Reflecting on the journey of anticipation and preparation leading to Christ’s birth, these short verses capture the season of waiting, the hardship of travel, the warmth of light in darkness, and the sacred moment of Christ’s arrival on earth.

2015 photo of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. (Photo: Uoaei1/Wikimedia Commons)

Reopening Notre Dame: A project driven by national unity

On December 7, theNotre Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen to the public. Despite the inherent tensions of such a historic undertaking, the country has rallied around the cathedral's reconstruction. Political, religious, and cultural authorities collaborated effectively, facilitated by creating a dedicated public institution.