Bethlehem Catholics pray Pope Leo XIV will keep Palestine a priority of the Vatican

Bethlehem Catholics pray Pope Leo XIV will keep Palestine a priority of the Vatican

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (RNS) — 'We are in the place where Jesus was born, and it is imperative that every person in the world who loves Jesus to help the Christian community survive,' business owner Rony Tabash said. 'We are the living stones of the church.'

Isle Catholics surprised, heartened by Pope Leo XIV

A photo of Pope Leo stands next to the Jubilee cross. (Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald) By Celia K. Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald It was still early in the morning for Hawaii’s faithful when news broke of white smoke pouring from a chimney atop Vatican City’s Sistine Chapel — indicating that the 133 cardinals gathered inside had elected a new pope to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. After an hour of tense waiting, the new pope’s …