Religions Around The World

In the early morning hours, monks can be seen walking on their alms round in Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Showing humility and detachment from worldly goods, the monk walks slowly and only stops if he is called. Standing quietly, with his bowl open, the local Buddhists give him rice, or flowers, or an envelope containing money.  In return, the monks bless the local Buddhists and wish them a long and fruitful life.
Christians Celebrate Good Friday
Enacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in St. Mary's Church in Secunderabad, India. Only 2.3% of India's population is Christian. 
Ancient interior mosaic in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora
The Church of the Holy Saviour in Istanbul, Turkey is a medieval Byzantine Greek Orthodox church.
Dome of the Rock located in the Old City of Jerusalem
The site's great significance for Muslims derives from traditions connecting it to the creation of the world and to the belief that the Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey to heaven started from the rock at the center of the structure.
Holi Festival in Mathura, India
Holi is a Hindu festival that marks the end of winter. Also known as the “festival of colors”,  Holi is primarily observed in South Asia but has spread across the world in celebration of love and the changing of the seasons.
Jewish father and daughter pray at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Israel.
Known in Hebrew as the Western Wall, it is one of the holiest sites in the world. The description, "place of weeping", originated from the Jewish practice of mourning the destruction of the Temple and praying for its rebuilding at the site of the Western Wall.
People praying in Mengjia Longshan Temple in Taipei, Taiwan
The temple is dedicated to both Taoism and Buddhism.
People praying in the Grand Mosque in Ulu Cami
This is the most important mosque in Bursa, Turkey and a landmark of early Ottoman architecture built in 1399.
Savior Transfiguration Cathedral of the Savior Monastery of St. Euthymius
Located in Suzdal, Russia, this is a church rite of sanctification of apples and grapes in honor of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
Fushimi Inari Shrine is located in Kyoto, Japan
It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. Fushimi Inari is the most important Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice.
Ladles at the purification fountain in the Hakone Shrine
Located in Hakone, Japan, this shrine is a Japanese Shinto shrine.  At the purification fountain, ritual washings are performed by individuals when they visit a shrine. This ritual symbolizes the inner purity necessary for a truly human and spiritual life.
Hanging Gardens of Haifa are garden terraces around the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel
They are one of the most visited tourist attractions in Israel. The Shrine of the Báb is where the remains of the Báb, founder of the Bábí Faith and forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh in the Bahá'í Faith, have been buried; it is considered to be the second holiest place on Earth for Bahá'ís.
Pilgrims praying at the Pool of the Nectar of Immortality and Golden Temple
Located in Amritsar, India, the Golden Temple is one of the most revered spiritual sites of Sikhism. It is a place of worship for men and women from all walks of life and all religions to worship God equally. Over 100,000 people visit the shrine daily.
Entrance gateway of Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple Kowloon
Located in Hong Kong, China, the temple is dedicated to Wong Tai Sin, or the Great Immortal Wong. The Taoist temple is famed for the many prayers answered: "What you request is what you get" via a practice called kau cim.
Christian women worship at a church in Bois Neus, Haiti.
Haiti's population is 94.8 percent Christian, primarily Catholic. This makes them one of the most heavily Christian countries in the world.

World Religions News

At Vatican meeting, Pope Leo and Israeli President Herzog urge hostage release, ceasefire

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Leo XIV and Israeli President Isaac Herzog met for a private audience on Thursday (Sept. 4) at the Vatican, where they discussed the war in the Holy Land and the importance of achieving peace.

“The talks focused on the political and social situation in the Middle East, where numerous conflicts persist, with particular attention to the tragic situation in Gaza,” read a statement from the Vatican released shortly after the meeting.

The statement said both parties agreed on the need to restart negotiations “to secure the release of all hostages, urgently reach a permanent ceasefire, ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid to the hardest-hit areas, and guarantee full respect for humanitarian law as well as the legitimate aspirations of both peoples.”

The conversation, described as “cordial” by the Vatican, also addressed the hope that peace talks take place with “openness, courageous decisions, and the support of the international community.”

This was the second meeting between Leo and Herzog, who also attended the inaugural Mass for the pontiff on May 18. 

Leo reiterated the importance of implementing a two-state solution, which the Holy See has supported since the 1970s and which would guarantee the existence of a sovereign Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel. “The talks also touched on how to secure a future for the Palestinian people and on the peace and stability of the region,” the Vatican statement read.

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The city of Jerusalem was raised in the conversation, the statement added, as well as developments in the West Bank. The Vatican considers Jerusalem a spiritual capital for all of humanity, while Israel claims complete sovereignty of the city, including East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel in 1980. Israeli military raids in the West Bank in August wounded dozens of Palestinians, according to reports, and some were detained or displaced. 

Leo and Herzog also discussed the “historical value” of relations between Israel and the Holy See, and a “particular emphasis was placed on the importance of Christian communities and their contribution both locally and throughout the Middle East in promoting human and social development, especially in the fields of education, social cohesion, and regional stability,” the statement continued. The only Catholic church in Gaza, the Holy Family Parish, was struck by Israeli operations on July 17, resulting in the death of three people. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, has appealed to Christians to remain in the Holy Land despite the war.

In a post on X, Herzog thanked the pope for the “warm welcome” he received at the Vatican and reiterated his country’s efforts to bring home the remaining hostages taken from Israel in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack and restore peace to “the peoples of the Middle East.”

“The State of Israel is committed to freedom of religion for all faiths, and determined to continue working for peace, tranquility, and stability throughout the region,” he wrote. “Israel is proud of its Christian community and dedicated to ensuring the security and wellbeing of Christian communities in the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East.”

Herzog praised Leo’s leadership in promoting peace in the world and voiced his support for strengthening the cooperation between Israel and the Holy See in the future.

 

After the meeting at the Apostolic Palace, Herzog met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, secretary for relations with states and international organizations.

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Original Source:

https://religionnews.com/2025/09/04/at-vatican-meeting-pope-leo-and-israeli-president-herzog-urge-hostage-release-ceasefire/