Gaza is a man-made disaster, a shocking scandal, an injustice that cries out to the human community for a resolution. We call upon political leaders to improve the humanitarian situation of the people in Gaza, assuring access to the basic necessities for a dignified human life, the possibilities for economic development, and freedom of movement.

Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN), the social action arm of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has launched a survey in three Catholic dioceses to help document all work that is being undertaken by parishes, schools and Catholic communities in the service of others.

In a homily to mark the World Day for Migrants and Refugees which coincides with the Feast of Santo Niño, 19 January, the Bishop for Migrants, Bishop Patrick Lynch will call on the UK Government, in conjunction with other European Governments to "find a way in which countries within the E.U. can receive at least some of the refugees" from the civil war in Syria. 

Pope Francis will make a papal visit to the Holy Land in May of this year. The Holy Father made the announcement after the recitation of the Sunday Angelus overlooking a rainy St Peter’s Square. Speaking to pilgrims who braved the elements to hear his words, the Pope said, “in the climate of joy, typical of this Christmas season , I wish to announce that from 24 to 26 May next, God willing, I will make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

A working document for the upcoming Synod of the Family. This will take place at the Vatican between 5-19 October 2014.

On Friday 6 June, Cardinal Vincent Nichols welcomed the Israeli and Palestinian Ambassadors in London, Daniel Taub and Manuel Hassassian, to Archbishop's House, Westminster. Together they spent time together in prayer for peace. They did so in response to the invitation issued by Pope Francis to President Mahmoud Abbas and Shimon Peres to come to the Vatican to pray with him for peace in the Holy Land.

The latest opinion piece from our consultant on the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, Dr Harry Hagopian, on the crisis in Iraq. "The ISIS factor is not something that was created in Tal Afar, Mosul or even at Fallujah and Ramadi. The ISIS factor had been growing ever since 2011 when US forces drew down almost entirely from Iraq."

Following the Queen’s Speech, 4 June, Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN), the social action arm of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, has welcomed the Government’s commitment to tackle Modern Slavery. CSAN hope the Bill will strengthen the support given to victims of trafficking as recommended in CSAN’s submission to the Joint-Select Committee.

Bishop Patrick Lynch, the Catholic bishop with pastoral responsibility for migrants, has celebrated the "tremendous contribution that migrants make to our Church and our society" at a special Mass in Westminster Cathedral on the Feast of St Joseph the Worker. 

A large majority of the citizens who participated in the European elections voted for pro-European candidates. In the years to come this will allow the European Parliament to continue its work for the common good of all Europeans with dedicated and competent women and men.