Agreement allows daily pastoral access at Illinois ICE facility, faith leaders say
A group of Catholic and Christian faith leaders said it has been granted daily access to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois, since May 15 under a milestone agreement with immigration officials.
The Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL), a Chicago-based Catholic and Christian advocacy group, said in a May 19 press release that it has struck a deal with ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that allows “daily pastoral visits.”
The temporary agreement follows a nearly 10-month-long campaign and lawsuit filed by CSPL and other faith leaders in November. CSPL faith leaders were permitted to provide pastoral care for Ash Wednesday and Holy Week but were denied entrance at Christmas.
The group noted that the agreement is not permanent and that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois requested a July status update.
“During the pendency of this federal litigation, as ordered by the court, plaintiffs may access the ICE Broadview Service Staging Area Facility,” the agreement states, according to CSPL, “to offer pastoral services on a daily basis to detainees who wish to receive pastoral care, including spiritual care, prayer, or facility-approved sacramental ministry, which may include rites tied to specific religious observances.”
Access to the facility will be allowed for up to five religious leaders per day between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. and between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., CSPL said. ICE personnel are required under the agreement to provide “sufficient space for religious services to be carried out within reasonable operational parameters,” CSPL said. The agreement also requires ICE to “make reasonable efforts” to facilitate privacy for detainees during the sacrament of confession, CSPL said.
Visits may only take place after detainees have completed intake and must be concluded with enough time for detainees to be transported out of the facility, CSPL said. ICE is permitted to limit visitation based on safety threats and operational concerns under the agreement, CSPL said.
‘Emergency room treatment’
The group provided religious services to 12 detainees at Broadview under the agreement on May 17, CSPL said.
“One detainee, facing deportation, expressed his gratitude for the visit and said, ‘Me siento como a volver a vivir,’ which loosely translates to a feeling of being brought back to life,” the organization said in the release.
“To my mind, it’s emergency room treatment,” said Father Paul Keller, CMF, the provincial for the Claretian Missionaries and a member of the CSPL Clergy Council. “Someone is there right when the trauma has happened to attend to the immediate emotional and spiritual wounds.”
“This agreement represents a recognition of the human dignity and basic human rights of our detained sisters and brothers,” CSPL Executive Director Michael N. Okińczyc-Cruz said.
Another civil suit (Moreno Gonzalez v. Noem) in federal court alleged detainees at the Broadview facility faced overcrowded, “inhumane” conditions, insufficient nutrition, inadequate medical care, lack of privacy, and a squalid living environment.
Although detainees are only meant to be held at Broadview for a few hours, with the maximum being 72 hours, some alleged last year that they were held there for several days and even up to one week during ICE’s Operation Midway Blitz, which detained about 3,000 immigrants illegally residing in the state.
A DHS spokesperson said “religious organizations are more than welcome to provide services to detainees in ICE detention facilities” and disputed detainees' claims that the Broadview facility functions as a detention center, not a temporary processing facility.
“Even before the attacks on the Broadview facility, it was not within standard operating procedure for religious services to be provided in a field office, as detainees are continuously brought in, processed, and transferred out," according to a DHS spokesperson.
U.S. Catholic bishops urge immigration reform to uphold ‘God-given dignity’ in budget bill
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging Congress to include immigration reform in the budget reconciliation package that is being negotiated by lawmakers.
The bishops seek protection of the pastoral needs of detainees and changes to enforcement practices.
“We encourage members of both parties to reject partisan appropriations funding and instead rededicate yourselves to a collaborative process that pursues the common good and promotes human dignity and flourishing,” they wrote in a letter to Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
The letter was signed by Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the USCCB, and Victoria, Texas, Bishop Brendan Cahill, chair of the USCCB Committee on Migration.
In the letter, the bishops acknowledge “the legitimate role of the state to regulate immigration, including by bringing to justice those among us who seek to inflict harm,” but raise concerns about enforcement practices.
“Enforcement of immigration laws cannot truly advance the common good without reasonable conditions that ensure respect for the God-given dignity of each person, inherent in which is the exercise of certain fundamental rights,” they wrote.
The bishops asked for enforcement to be better aligned with “the moral order,” such as avoiding enforcement near sensitive locations like churches when there are not extreme circumstances and “mandating consistent access to religious and pastoral services” for detainees.
“Rather than pursuing such measures through a bipartisan process, Congress now risks setting a concerning precedent — one in which furthering the common good is undermined for the sake of political expediency,” they wrote.
Under President Donald Trump’s administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rescinded a rule that put limits on immigration enforcement at “sensitive locations” like churches. DHS officials still urge officer discretion and contend such enforcement would be rare.
DHS also says it encourages clergy to reach out for accommodations to ensure spiritual needs are met for detainees, although officials denied faith leaders' requests to bring the sacraments to an immigration processing facility in Illinois until a federal lawsuit was filed in November 2025 following repeated denials.
DHS recently emerged from a prolonged fiscal 2026 funding impasse, the longest DHS shutdown on record. Congress passed a bill that funded most DHS components, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) funding was left unresolved, requiring separate legislative action. The ongoing complexity may influence the fiscal 2027 appropriations timeline, and Republicans have proposed giving ICE and CBP $70 billion in additional funding, on top of $170 billion Congress already allocated last year.
The bishops requested lawmakers “limit additional funding increases for immigration enforcement after the unprecedented amounts provided through last year’s reconciliation bill.” They expressed concern over “an enforcement-only approach to immigration,” which they said “can never meet the demands of the moral law.”
“Nor does such an approach truly support the welfare and prosperity of American communities,” the bishops said.
Fifty‑four people have died in ICE custody since the start of fiscal 2025, which is 125% more detainee deaths than occurred during all four previous fiscal years combined (24 deaths), according to ICE detainee death reporting data.
In their letter to Congress, the bishops quoted a speech by Pope Leo XIV on Jan. 9 in which the Holy Father said: “To be authentic, democratic processes must be accompanied by the political will to pursue the common good, to strengthen social cohesion, and to promote the integral development of every person.”
The bishops asked Congress to follow that guidance when putting together the budget bill.
“Through this reconciliation effort and the circumstances that gave rise to it, we see the unfortunate absence of that will and therefore the failure to achieve reasonable and necessary reforms to current immigration enforcement practices,” they said.
U.S. bishops plan Sacred Heart consecration, issue agenda for June meeting
Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City is set to deliver his first remarks as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) before bishops consecrate the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June.
The USCCB is set to gather for the 2026 Spring Plenary Assembly in Orlando, Florida, on June 10–12.
Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, nuncio to the United States, also is scheduled to deliver his first address to U.S. bishops since his appointment in March.
In preparation for consecrating the nation, bishops will hear reflections on the Sacred Heart from several of the bishops ahead of the Mass. The USCCB said in a statement that the bishops hope the event encourages parishes and individuals to also participate in America’s 250th anniversary by contributing to 250 hours of adoration and 250 works of mercy.
Lectionary changes
The full plenary agenda has not yet been finalized and is subject to change, but it is expected to include votes on a number of action items including the causes for canonization of Monsignor Joseph Francis Buh and John Rick Miller.
The Committee on Divine Worship also will present elements of a revised edition of the “Lectionary for Mass” and the “2025 Roman Missal-Liturgy of the Hours Supplement” for approval.
The bishops are expected to vote on a potential revision to the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” which was first addressed by bishops in 2022 meetings.
The bishops have determined the charter is in need of revisions to align with its original intention of safeguarding minors, the prevention of abuse, and ensuring structures continue to be in place to respond to abuse allegations, the USCCB said.
9-year novena, Catholic universities to be discussed
The U.S. bishops are also expected to talk about the USCCB’s engagement with the Intercontinental Guadalupan Novena, a nine-year novena called for by Pope Francis in 2022 that anticipates the fifth centennial of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2031.
For the 25th anniversary of the implementation of Ex Corde Ecclesiae in the U.S., there is an expected presentation and reflection on Pope John Paul II’s apostolic constitution to guide Catholic colleges and universities on theological and pastoral principles.
The group will also discuss upcoming events including World Youth Day 2027, which will be held in Seoul, South Korea.
Leo XIV laments that after receiving confirmation, many young people ‘disappear from the parish’
Pope Leo XIV lamented that after being confirmed, many young people no longer attend church. He asked those awaiting confirmation to “pay special attention” to one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, perseverance.
The pope met on Saturday, May 16, with those awaiting confirmation from the Archdiocese of Genoa, Italy. In an impromptu message, the Holy Father said that “one of the greatest joys of a bishop is celebrating confirmations, because it is truly a gift of the Holy Spirit.”
“It is truly beautiful to receive this sacrament, for the fullness of the Holy Spirit gives us this enthusiasm, this strength, this ability to follow Jesus Christ, to always say ‘yes’ to the Lord, to have no fear of following him with courage, and to live out our faith in a world that so often seeks to draw us away from Jesus,” he told them.
After recalling the significance of the solemnity of Pentecost — to be celebrated on Sunday, May 24 — the pope lamented a sad reality: “At times, when the bishop administers confirmation, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the children are never seen again! They disappear from the parish.”
“Don’t forget what you have experienced during this time, including the joy of coming to Rome to celebrate together, to pray together. And may this joy live on in your hearts as you continue to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ,” Pope Leo urged.
He also invited young people to “persevere in the faith, to return to the parish — there are so many activities, so many opportunities — but above all in the life of faith, because Jesus Christ wants to walk with you, with each one of you, and with all of you in community, which is so important.”
“We do not live out our faith alone; we live it together. And forming these relationships of friendship and community is a way of living with perseverance as disciples of Jesus,” he added.
Finally, he called upon those to be confirmed to make a promise to the Lord: “that you truly desire to continue being his friends, his disciples, and his missionaries, and that you desire to persevere in the faith. So, I leave you with these words,” he concluded.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Archdiocese of Baltimore proposes nearly $170 million settlement for abuse victims
The Archdiocese of Baltimore is proposing nearly $170 million in compensation for abuse victims amid its ongoing bankruptcy proceedings there.
A May 15 filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court revealed that the archdiocese would contribute just under $44 million to an abuse settlement for survivors, while “settling insurers” would pay a total of $125 million into the fund.
The insurance amount represents a 25% increase from an earlier proposed contribution of $100 million.
In a statement on the filing, the archdiocese said the overall plan “seeks to provide equitable compensation to survivors while sustaining the Church’s mission and ministries.”
The proposal “reflects a commitment to transparency and a realistic assessment of available resources,” it said.
The archdiocese noted that “no final agreement has yet been achieved.” The proposal would also establish a “Survivor Compensation Trust” to “evaluate claims and distribute compensation to survivors.”
The archdiocese “will continue to listen, to learn, and to seek a resolution that honors the dignity of survivors and strengthens the mission of the Church for generations to come,” the statement said.
In 2024 the Baltimore Archdiocese sued multiple insurers over what it claimed was a failure to pay abuse claims for which the insurers were contractually obligated.
U.S. dioceses in recent years have frequently turned to insurers to help cover major abuse settlements, though insurers have at times challenged claims from dioceses on the grounds that their insurance policies did not cover instances of sex abuse.
Marie Reilly, a professor of law at Penn State University and an expert in bankruptcy litigation, including Catholic diocesan bankruptcy proceedings, told EWTN News in 2025 that starting in the 1990s, insurance companies mostly changed how they cover sexual abuse.
“Up until about the mid-’90s, a general liability policy used to include coverages for employee liability,” she said. “It would cover sex abuse claims against the diocese stemming from an employee’s abuse.”
“After 1996, insurance policies issued under new revised standards just don’t provide that coverage anymore,” she said.
Priest forced from West Bank after Israel refuses visa renewal
A Catholic priest forced by Israel to leave the West Bank said farewell to his parishioners with a message of obedience, sorrow, and faith, saying he was returning to Jordan after serving the Christian community near Bethlehem.
“I have left Palestine, the land I loved, to return to my beloved homeland, Jordan, continuing the mission of the Gospel and justice,” Father Louis Salman wrote in a farewell message to the faithful.
Salman had served in Beit Sahour, at the Shepherds’ Field near Bethlehem, where he had become a much-loved figure among local Christians.
“In a spirit of priestly obedience, I accept all divine will and wisdom with hope and faith despite the deep pain,” the priest said in a message shared by the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice. “I knew that speaking the truth is costly, and here I am paying the price. Not with regret, but with great love, like my crucified Christ.”
The priest described Jesus as his “example and teacher” and concluded his farewell by recalling the words of the Gospel: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Young priest with great pastoral potential
In comments to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Bishop William Shomali, vicar general of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said Salman’s visa “was not renewed because he had made some political statements on Facebook that were considered by Israel to be incitement.”
“The Church did everything possible to resolve the situation, but Shabak [Israel’s internal security service] did not give a positive response,” Shomali said. “The Christian community in general — especially his parish and the young people he served as spiritual director — was deeply affected, especially during the farewell gathering they organized for him.”
Shomali clarified that Salman “was not physically expelled.”
“However, since his visa was not renewed, he was asked to leave discreetly to avoid any further tension,” the bishop said. “That is how the situation unfolded.”
Shomali said the priest’s future has already been arranged, adding that Salman will “soon receive a new assignment in one of our dioceses, since he is a good young priest with great pastoral potential.”
Interrogation and departure
According to sources familiar with the case cited by The Pillar in late April, the priest underwent an unusually lengthy interrogation.
Afterward, authorities of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem reportedly advised Salman to leave Palestine for his own safety. He later received official notification that his visa would not be renewed, with no formal justification provided. The deadline for him to leave was May 11.
According to The Pillar, Jerusalem sources who requested anonymity said the case may mark the first time Israel has intervened so directly in internal Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem personnel decisions.
The same sources said the patriarchate does not plan to make public statements for the time being as it prepares for a possible legal battle expected to be long and complex.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
San Diego bishop condemns ‘senseless’ deadly shooting at mosque
San Diego Bishop Michael Pham condemned the “senseless act of violence” at a local Islamic mosque on May 18, an attack that left five people dead — three victims and two teenage suspects who died by suicide.
The city government said police responded to the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego just before noon on May 18. Three adult victims, including a security guard, were found dead outside of the center, while the two suspects — aged 17 and 18 — were found dead several blocks away with self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
The FBI is helping with the investigation, the city said. The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime.
In a statement released on May 18, Pham said the local Catholic community “stand[s] united in solidarity and prayer with the Muslim community” in San Diego.
Decrying the “senseless act of violence” at the mosque, Pham said the Islamic Center of San Diego “has been a longtime partner in our collaborative work for justice, especially in accompanying immigrants.”
“Houses of worship must always be sanctuaries of peace, safety, and prayer,” the bishop said. “An attack on one faith community is an attack on the sacred dignity of all human life.”
The bishop offered his "deepest condolences, solidarity, and fervent prayers to the families of the victims and the entire Muslim community.”
Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, expressed sorrow and prayerful solidarity with the Muslim community.
“We stand with Chief Imam Taha Hassane, the entire Muslim community, and all who mourn in the wake of this senseless violence, affirming our shared commitment to the dignity of every human life and the rejection of hatred in all its forms,” Coakley said in a statement. “In moments such as these, we are reminded of the call to be instruments of peace; as Pope Leo XIV has said, ‘Where violence wounds the human family, compassion and unity must be our steadfast reply.’ May God console the grieving, strengthen the injured, and guide us all toward greater understanding, justice, and peace.”
In a statement on its Facebook page, the Islamic Center said it had lost “three pillars of our community,” including the security guard, who “gave his life protecting the children and community members” of the facility.
The three men who were killed “put themselves on the line for our [mosque] and our community,” the center said, describing them as “men of courage, sacrifice, and faith.”
In another post the mosque said it had established a victim support fund for those impacted by the tragedy.
On its website the center said it was “closed until further notice.” The facility opened in 1989 and is the largest mosque in San Diego County.
The mosque was the target of a bomb attack in 1991 when an explosive device was found in a bathroom there. The device did not explode and nobody was injured in the incident.
This story was updated at 5:45 p.m. ET on May 19, 2026 to include a statement from Archbishop Paul Coakley.
Salesians honor 3 members killed in India 25 years ago as ethnic tensions persist
DIMAPUR, India — The cemetery of the Salesian province of Dimapur in northeast India was the scene of a solemn remembrance May 15 marking the 25th anniversary of the killing of three Salesian members at a novitiate in neighboring Manipur state.
Father Raphael Paliakara, the 46-year-old novitiate rector; Father Andreas Kindo, the 32-year-old newly appointed administrator; and 23-year-old Brother Shinu Joseph were shot dead at the Salesian novitiate at Ngarian Hills in Manipur on the night of May 15, 2001.
“I remember the deep pain of May 15, 2001,” recalled Father Joseph Pamplackal, Salesian provincial of Dimapur, presiding over the memorial Mass held at the cemetery with dozens of Salesian priests, including 10 who had been novices at the time and were present at the novitiate during the attack.
“Today we remember the beauty of Salesian missionary spirit. When Father Raphael was shot, Father Andreas rushed forward to protect him, and Brother Shinu too was shot. They died for the faith and inspired many to witness to the faith,” Pamplackal said at the Mass.
Twenty-eight relatives of the three slain Salesians traveled from the southern state of Kerala and from Jharkhand in eastern India for the occasion.
‘Shepherds who did not flee’
A memorial card distributed at the event described the three as “shepherds who did not flee” and summarized the events of 2001: “They laid down their lives for us … when armed militants stormed the novitiate demanding money and the novices' lives.”
“Money was handed over, but [they] refused to surrender any novice. They died as true shepherds standing between the wolf and the flock,” the card said.
Father Josekutty Madathiparambil, one of the 27 novices sheltered during the attack, told EWTN News on May 19 that the events of that night shaped his vocation.
“What happened that night influenced my life a lot. Their sacrifice has given a new meaning to life,” said Madathiparambil, who is originally from Kerala and now serves in eastern Arunachal Pradesh state.
“The militants had asked the fathers to bring out the novices, separating them as ‘locals’ [from Manipur] and ‘outsiders.’ That would have been the end of our lives. But they fulfilled what Jesus has said: ‘There is no greater love than laying down oneʼs life for others,’” he said.
After the memorial service, the Salesians — including 10 of the novices who went on to become priests — joined the family members of the slain Salesians in a two-hour gathering that included the screening of the documentary “They Laid Down Their Lives for Us” produced for the occasion.
“Today we are celebrating the silver jubilee of their martyrdom, which has not gone in vain. We are the proof for that,” said Father Anthony Kangba Rang in his testimony.
“We were heartbroken when we came here for the funeral 25 years ago,” recalled John Paliakara, elder brother of Father Raphael, who brought eight members of the Paliakara family, including three siblings, from Kerala for the anniversary.
“But it is no more a tragic memory. They saved the lives of 27 novices. We are proud of it,” he told EWTN News.
Ethnic tensions persist
As the Salesians prepared for the anniversary, they received a grim reminder of the continuing ethnic tensions in Manipur when two Salesian brothers were kidnapped on May 13.
“I was very tense hearing about this, and that too round the jubilee time,” said Father Shyjan Chemmaparappallil, another 2001 novice who was in Manipur that day.
“Our prayers were heard, and they were released unharmed the next night,” he said during the jubilee commemoration.
Father Suresh Innocent, from whose care the two ethnic Naga Salesian brothers were taken at an impromptu road checkpoint by Kuki groups, described the ordeal.
“I was shattered. Because of their ethnic [Naga] identity, they were taken away. It is reported that it was a tit-for-tat kidnapping, as some ethnic Kukis had been kidnapped earlier in the day,” Innocent told EWTN News on May 16 after bringing the brothers to the Dimapur provincial house.
“Due to prayers and high-level interventions, they were released in 24 hours,” he said.
The kidnapping took place on the same day that three Kuki Baptist pastors were killed in an ambush in Kangpokpi district, an attack that has further deepened the ethnic crisis in the state.
Pope Leo expresses ‘deep concern’ for future of Lebanon, calls for strengthening unity
On Monday, May 18, Pope Leo XIV received at the Vatican His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the most prominent figures in Eastern Christianity.
The Armenian Apostolic Church, part of the Oriental Orthodox Church, is headquartered in Antelias, Lebanon.
During the audience held at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father underscored the profound bond uniting the two churches, marked in a special way by the figure of St. Paul, whom he described as the “apostle of communion.”
In addition to St. Paul, the pontiff cited other saints who worked for Christian unity, such as St. Nerses, considered a “pioneer of ecumenism.” In this context, Leo underscored “the tireless ecumenical zeal” of Aram I, 79 years old and one of the founders of the Middle East Council of Churches.
Pope Leo XIV also thanked him for his closeness to the Church of Rome and especially for his personal commitment to promoting theological dialogue.
“I sincerely hope that, despite recent difficulties, this dialogue will continue with renewed vigor, for there can be no restoration of communion between our churches without unity in faith,” he emphasized.
The pope recalled his visit last December to Lebanon, a land that continues to “face severe trials” and that, for so long, “has shown the whole world that it is possible for people of diverse cultures and religions to live together as one nation.”
“At a time when the unity and integrity of your country are once again under threat, our churches are called to strengthen the fraternal bonds that unite not only Christians amongst themselves but also with their brothers and sisters from other communities in their shared homeland,” he noted.
Pope Leo XIV assured Aram I of his prayers for the nation and conveyed his “deep concern” for the people of Lebanon and for the Churches of the Middle East.
The pontiff asked the Holy Spirit to grant them the gift of unity and lasting peace.
At the close of the audience with the Holy Father, a moment of ecumenical prayer took place in the Urban VIII Chapel of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.
This marks the first official meeting between Leo XIV and the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, who will also participate in the pope’s general audience on Wednesday, May 20.
During his visit to the Vatican, Aram I will also meet with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and visit the Dicasteries for Promoting Christian Unity, Interreligious Dialogue, and Eastern Churches, as well as the Pontifical Armenian College.
On May 19, he is scheduled to deliver a lecture titled “The Challenges of the Churches in the Middle East” at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Christian churches and symbols hit during war in southern Lebanon
Last week, Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 45-day extension of a ceasefire following two days of U.S.-hosted talks described by Washington as “very productive.” The negotiations carry major consequences for Lebanon, a country caught between Israeli pressure, Hezbollah’s weapons, and the risk of deeper internal instability.
But while diplomats discuss security arrangements, military withdrawals, and the future of the border, the damage left in southern Lebanon from the latest war triggered by Hezbollah also includes a religious wound: the desecration of Christian symbols and the destruction of places of worship.
Desecration of Christian symbols
In several southern villages, the war has not only left homes destroyed and families displaced but has also affected churches, crosses, and statues of the Virgin Mary — sacred signs that mark the Christian presence in villages where questions of return, protection, and dignity are supposed to be inseparable from the diplomatic discussions.
Recently, two incidents in southern Lebanon brought renewed attention to the desecration of Christian symbols during the war. In one case, an image circulated showing an Israeli soldier placing a cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary. Before that, another widely reported image showed a soldier damaging a statue of Christ on the cross in Debl.
These incidents were not isolated, however.
During an earlier phase of the war in 2024, a video reportedly showed Israeli soldiers inside a church in Deir Mimas, turning the sacred space into a scene of mockery. In the footage, soldiers appeared to stage a mock wedding between two servicemen, with others laughing, singing, filming, and moving through the church as though it were a place of entertainment rather than worship.
Israel has said the soldiers involved in the desecration incidents were punished and that such behavior is incompatible with the army’s values. After the image of the Virgin Mary statue circulated, the Israeli military said one soldier had been sentenced to 21 days in military prison and another to 14 days, adding that it viewed the incident with “great severity.”
In the earlier Debl case, two soldiers were reportedly removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days in military detention after an image showed a soldier damaging a statue of Christ on the cross.
The destruction of Christian places of worship
The incidents involving individual soldiers are only one part of a wider picture. Christian places of worship and religious institutions in southern Lebanon have also been targeted and destroyed during the war.
In Yaroun, a Catholic convent and former school belonging to the Salvatorian Sisters were destroyed by the Israeli army earlier this month. Israel denied that the monastery had been demolished, but Yaroun’s mayor, Adib Ajaka, rejected the Israeli account.
The same village had already seen its church affected earlier in the war, as early as 2024. The Israeli army had also destroyed a statue of St. George.
Around the same period, in October 2024, other Christian villages in southern Lebanon were likewise hit. In Derdghaya, a church of the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Tyre was struck by an Israeli missile. A priest’s house and three-story building housing parish offices were also destroyed by another missile.
The human toll in Christian villages
Beyond the desecration of symbols and the destruction of churches, Christian villages in southern Lebanon have also mourned civilian deaths during this latest war.
On March 8, Christian farmer Sami Youssef al-Ghafri, from Alma al-Shaab, was killed in shelling. The following day, Father Pierre al-Rahi was killed in an Israeli strike on Qlayaa, prompting an outpouring of tributes online, with many portraying him as a symbol of Christian steadfastness for refusing to leave his parishioners. That same day, Lebanese Red Cross paramedic Youssef Assaf died of wounds sustained during a rescue mission after an Israeli strike in the Tyre district.
On March 12, three young men from Ain Ebel — Chadi Ammar, Elie Attallah, and Georges Khreich — were killed in an Israeli drone strike while trying to repair an internet connection.
Later, on March 28, Georges Soueid and his son Elie were killed by Israeli gunfire while traveling in a pickup truck on the road between Debl and Rmeish.
Some Christian villages in southern Lebanon were heavily damaged or emptied during the war. A few, such as Rmeish near the Israeli border, are mostly untouched. In the few where residents managed to stay, daily life remains extremely difficult: Aid is limited, infrastructure is fragile, and even basic services have been disrupted.
Local accounts point to damaged solar panels, targeted roads, and municipal equipment, including vehicles used for waste collection, destroyed or rendered unusable, making it harder for remaining families to sustain life in their villages.
Aid convoys as a lifeline
Aid convoys have been crucial for the remaining residents of southern Lebanon’s Christian villages. Local Church sources have repeatedly pointed to the role of the apostolic nuncio, who became a key figure in coordinating and encouraging aid efforts to reach isolated communities.
Organizations such as Caritas Lebanon, the Lebanese Red Cross, and L’Œuvre d’Orient have also played an essential role in helping residents receive basic assistance and remain in their villages despite the hardship. This weekend, the local nongovernmental organization Nawraj also reached several of the affected communities, bringing additional support to families still living under difficult conditions.
As U.S.-hosted negotiations between Lebanon and Israel continue, the protection of Christian places of worship, sacred symbols, and livelihoods should be part of the equation, according to the local Christian community.
This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.