The Church in Jordan

Bethlehem University faculty members from various disciplines gathered at Cremisan Monastery in Beit Jala on Thursday, October 1, for the first Service-Learning Faculty Retreat of 2026.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi serves as a central figure in the Vatican's efforts to maintain contact between Russia and Ukraine as political channels close due to the war.

St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome houses the relic of the Christ Child's cradle, rather than the item being located in Bethlehem.

Undersecretary Gabriella Gambino stated that the Church must renew pastoral ministry to help families become active participants in the life and mission of the Church.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in La Plata, Argentina, won the Cathedral World Cup, a virtual competition held on Instagram that featured various renowned churches.

The Custody of the Holy Land is celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Transitus in Jerusalem to honor the spiritual legacy and teachings of Saint Francis.

The Vicariate celebrated 800 years since the transitus of St. Francis at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi.

Radio Maria Panama held its National Volunteers’ Meeting to mark the station's 28th anniversary. The meeting, which occurs every two years, coincided with the anniversary celebrations.

French academic Alexandra Maclennan reports that the number of adult baptisms has tripled since 2022. Maclennan is a practicing Catholic in the Diocese of Bayeux-Lisieux.

A leading Catholic source reports that families in Lebanon are choosing to buy food instead of paying school fees because they cannot guarantee they will be able to feed their children.

Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, shared a message with the faithful of the Vicariate to mark the Transitus and the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

The Community of Sant’Egidio is supporting people affected by the conflict in Lebanon, which has resulted in 3,500 deaths and double that number in injuries since March 2026, according to Lebanese reports.

Bishop Martinelli said that large numbers of migrants have turned the Arabian Peninsula into a laboratory for an intercultural church where global migration flows intersect with apostolic ministry.

Bishop Paolo Martinelli visited St. Michael’s Church in Shariqah on September 27, 2026, to celebrate the parish feast of its patron, St. Michael the Archangel, and spend the day with the parish community.