9 and 10 July 2025

Highlighting the MECC Activities

Prepared and Presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary

Castel Gandolfo and the Pontifical Villas: A Historical Church Heritage and an Oasis of Rest and Tranquility

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

From the Vatican City to Castel Gandolfo, from the meetings, files, and urgent Church and social issues to a space of rest, reflection, and tranquility, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV moved from his residence at the Holy See to the Pontifical Villas in Castel Gandolfo.

There, he is spending a summer period from Sunday, July 6, until July 20, according to a statement issued by the Prefecture of the Papal Household. He will return to this Papal summer residence for a short period in mid-August.

Since this announcement, the name of Castel Gandolfo has become under the spotlight of social media, which follows the Pope's activities and Prayers at the Italian summer residence, moment by moment.

Remarkably, by visiting this town, Pope Leo XIV is reviving the tradition of Popes leaving the Vatican for a summer vacation. The late Pope Francis has canceled this tradition, preferring to spend the holidays at his residence in Casa Santa Marta.

Second Episode - Federalism

Prepared and Presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary

Produced by MECC

And An Interview Within the "Ecumenical Horizons" Program

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs received the Journalist and Social Activist Rafi Sayegh on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the MECC General Secretariat offices in Beirut.

During the meeting, Professor Abs welcomed his guest, commending his Church and media activities. He also listened from his guest to the updates of the situation in Syria, particularly in the city of Qamishli, emphasizing the MECC ongoing support for the people of Syria and the region.

In his turn, Rafi congratulated the Secretary General Professor Abs on the significant media developments made by the Middle East Council of Churches, thanking the MECC media team for their efforts in shedding light on the Church and social issues, especially in highlighting the voice and image of the people of Syria, in terms of activities and programs.

Produced by the Middle East Council of Churches

“Ecumenical Horizons” is a weekly program that features spiritual, cultural, intellectual, educational, youth and environmental topics.

What Are the Details?

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through its Service and Relief Department – Diakonia, continues its efforts to support the livestock sector and enhance livelihoods and food security in rural areas, as part of its ongoing mission to assist the most vulnerable families and alleviate increasing living burdens.

In this context, 134 livestock breeders in the villages of Deir al-Bukht, Khirbet Ghazaleh, and Al-Kutaybeh in rural Dara’a were supported through the distribution of 220 rations to cover 220 heads of cattle. Each ration consisted of 900 kilograms of mineral-fortified pelleted fodder and 720 kilograms of hay. In addition, veterinary services, medications, and vaccines were provided, along with one food basket for each of the 134 breeders’ families.

The beneficiaries also attended training sessions on proper cattle care, ways to manage common livestock diseases, and optimal nutrition practices to improve the quality and quantity of milk production.

at the Meeting of the

Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches

July 9 and 10, 2025

Beirut – Crowne Plaza Hotel

Your Beatitudes, Eminences, Graces, Reverends, Fathers, Church Representatives, and esteemed colleagues,

After much effort, we have managed to find a suitable time for the leaders of the Middle East Council of Churches to gather, in order to review the work and achievements of the Council’s team over the past year and a half, discuss matters related to the Council’s operations, and make appropriate decisions.

The Executive Committee meeting was originally scheduled for early December 2024, but the political and security situation did not allow for it. We also had to wait for the end of the two-month ceasefire trial period, which made a meeting in January or February 2025 impossible, with high levels of uncertainty and concern. Therefore, we did not start exploring possible dates until March 2025.

Since then, we have maintained contact with respected Committee members to set a date. Attempts to fix the date in April and May were canceled, but we finally agreed on a date that ensures a quorum beyond the minimum—more than four members from each family. Here we are today, gathered with the Lord’s guidance and blessing, to serve humanity in His holy name…

"The blood shed in St. Elias Church is the blood of us all. Our heartfelt condolences to you, and mercy to the martyrs."

Balamand, July 10, 2025

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and President of the Orthodox Family in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), received a delegation from the MECC Executive Committee, composed of Representatives from different Churches and countries of the Middle East, at the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand. The delegation included His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and MECC President for the Catholic Family, Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and MECC President for the Evangelical Family, the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, and other Members of the Executive Committee representing Churches from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, and Cyprus.

Episode 1

Prepared and Presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary

Produced by MECC

Produced by the Middle East Council of Churches

“Ecumenical Horizons” is a weekly program that features spiritual, cultural, intellectual, educational, youth and environmental topics.

An Episode Within the "Community Knowledge" Series

Headquarters of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council - Beirut

On MECC TV

Watch the Weekly Word of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, entitled this week "Toward the Meeting of the Executive Committee." It will be broadcasted on the MECC Satellite Channel on Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6, 2025, at 4:10 pm Beirut time.

MECC TV Frequencies:

Nilesat: 11096

S.R: 27500

Pol: Horizontal

On MECC FM and MECC TV

Watch the “Ecumenical Horizons” program, every Tuesday live at 10 am Beirut Time on MECC FM 106.9, and at 4:10 pm Beirut Time on MECC TV, via the following frequency:

Nilesat: 11096

S.R: 27500

Pol: Horizontal

Rerun on MECC TV every Friday at 4:10 pm Beirut Time.

“Ecumenical Horizons” is a weekly program that features spiritual, cultural, intellectual, educational, youth and environmental topics, produced by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).