Middle East Christian communities grapple with anguish and uncertainty

As the war between Iran, Israel, and the United States continues, the shockwaves are spreading throughout the region. While US President Donald Trump promised four weeks of offensive action, Iran has responded with hundreds of retaliatory strikes. 

This newly opened front has heightened fears of an uncontrollable escalation. On Sunday, March 1, at the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV urged leaders to stop “the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss.” This concern is shared by many Christians in the Middle East, even though their living conditions differ.

“As these past hours have profoundly shaken the Middle East—in Iran, the Holy Land, Lebanon, Iraq, and throughout the region—L’Œuvre d’Orient expresses its deep concern over a new escalation of violence,” the association said in a statement on Monday.

“This morning, the Lebanese woke up in a climate of shock and dismay, but also fatigue and anger,” said Vincent Gelot, L’Œuvre d’Orient’s coordinator for Lebanon and Syria.

“People here know what a war with Israel is, and they feel like they are reliving what happened a year and a half ago, after the pager attacks and the death of Nasrallah,” he continued, referring to the October 17, 2024 attack carried out by Israel against Hezbollah members’ pagers and walkie-talkies.

“The war that followed displaced 1.2 million people in Lebanon and caused major destruction,” Mr. Gelot recalled.

On Monday morning, schools remained closed in Beirut after Israeli strikes targeted the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital. Thousands of people have also fled villages in southern Lebanon following evacuation calls issued by the Israeli army.

Tension is palpable everywhere. “One of our partners, a school run by the Daughters of Charity, already damaged last year, is living in fear,” Mr. Gelot highlighted.

Beyond Lebanon’s borders, fear has also intensified. “No one knows what will happen; there is great concern,” said Pascale Casati-Ollier, director of L’Œuvre d’Orient’s Iraq office in Erbil, along with her husband Jean.

“Our contacts are cautious and are staying at home, as the bombardments continue. It is total uncertainty," he said.

The capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, which hosts American troops, has in recent days been targeted by several Iranian missiles.

Although the situation remains highly volatile, it is still too early to draw conclusions about the future of Christians in the region. The strikes are not targeting civilians but rather strategic military objectives.

“This new war will undoubtedly not facilitate the reintegration of Christians in the region,” Mr. Casati-Ollier explained. “It is not impossible that this will encourage them to emigrate. For now, time stands still.”