Increasingly brutal attacks on Christian villages have been explained as the result of conflict over diminishing resources.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo has appealed to Christians and all people of faith “to pray for Hong Kong” following the imposition by China of a new national security law.

John F. Kennedy wrote for America on the brewing crisis between France and Algeria in 1957. Algeria gained independence from France in July 1962.

The late-evening statement signaled the Vatican’s wish to let the whole world know that it fundamentally disagrees with any annexation.

Both prayers and economic assistance, Pope Francis stressed, are needed to ameliorate the ongoing humanitarian catastrophes in Syria, Yemen and Lebanon.

"It is time to act in order to extinguish the destructive fires raging in the Holy Land.... Only a just peace will put end to hatred, to oppression and the suffering of so many."