“Momentum”

28-11-2025

This issue includes reports, videos, news, articles, and a full coverage of the latest developments of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), as well as the Church, Ecumenical, and social events…

This is in addition to Letter to the Bishop of Rome His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, from the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs

You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/d4c8755ccd98/momentum-mecc-weekly-newsletter.

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His Holiness Pope Leo XIV

Professor Michel Abs

Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches

Holy Father,

I write to you, the custodian of the See of Peter, to tell you a story of faith and a homeland.

I write to you from the land of holiness, from Lebanon, from the land of Canaan, from the Antiochene Levant, where the Message was incarnated, and from where Paul and Peter set out to preach to the world; and from the Nile Valley, where the Family of the Incarnation took refuge, and where Mark sat preaching to an entire continent.

I write to you from Beirut, the city of interaction and light, which was shaken and partly destroyed by negligence and conspiracy, and whose people have not yet been given justice.

I write to you from the land of Jerusalem, the land of Melchizedek, the land of wine and leaven, the land of milk and honey, the land of fertility, fertility of the spirit before fertility of matter, where the Master whose Kingdom has no end was incarnated; the Sun of Justice, the source of Light, and the Redeemer of creation, this creation that insists on descending into the depths of hell at every historical turn.

I write to you from where the disciples were first called Christians, in Antioch, and where people witnessed massacres and displacement, so that it deserved to be called the land where every inch has a martyr.

Not far away, the first martyr in Christianity was stoned, and in every part of this region, the blood of martyrs was shed; therefore, my land is called the land of martyrs and saints.

In our country, Lebanon, which is dear to your heart, the pearl of the two Easts, which you visited upon your first departure from the Holy See, we have been living history, pain, and suffering for centuries. Our country is torn apart, begging for stability, security, and prosperity, but receiving only crumbs, while our people emigrate, voluntarily displacing themselves to all corners of the earth…

"29 Church figures and 30 journalists will accompany the Holy Father on the plane to Beirut"

As the historic visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon draws near, preparations continue on all Spiritual, logistical, youth, and media levels in order to receive the Supreme Pontiff in the best possible way.

In an exclusive discussion with the media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), His Eminence Bishop Mar Matthias Charles Mrad, the Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Beirut, and Coordinator of the Ecumenical and Interreligious meeting with His Holiness the Pope in Martyrs' Square, confirmed that 29 Church figures and 30 journalists will accompany the Holy Father on the plane to Beirut.

Until His Holiness Pope Leo arrives in Lebanon, the relevant authorities continue their work to ensure the smooth running of this historic visit. In this context, a Vatican delegation, accompanied by His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Archbishop Paolo Borgia, toured all the sites the Holy Father will visit to review the latest field and security preparations.

Noting that the Pope's visit to Lebanon is entitled "Blessed are the Peacemakers," and will take place from November 30 to December 2, 2025.

for the Occasion of the Visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon

Friday, November 28, at 6pm Beirut Time

An Episode Within the "Community Knowledge" Series

Details in This Report

What Message Will He Carry?

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

A long-awaited journey... his first as Pontiff... a journey marked by profound hope and great faith. Following in the footsteps of his Predecessors, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV embarks on a pilgrimage of reconciliation and faith, first to Turkey and then to Lebanon.

Under the motto "Blessed Are the Peacemakers," the Land of the Cedars prepares to welcome the Holy Father, who comes as a messenger of peace to a land truly in need of it. He comes to a nation yearning for tranquility, stability, and security.

This pilgrimage has a strong Ecumenical character, and puts in its center interreligious dialogue and openness to all segments of society. His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will have a significant opportunity to connect with Christian communities and local populations of various faiths and denominations.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV's visit to Lebanon is more than just a visit... it is a Prayer, a hope, a love, and a recognition of the dignity of every human on this earth.

Many questions are being asked by the Lebanese today. What initiatives will His Holiness the Pope launch in Lebanon? What will be the impact of the visit on a people exhausted by crises? And what comes next?

As part of the "Trauma Healing and Spiritual Counseling for Church Leaders" program, the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is conducting a training course for sisters and brothers in Iraq at the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Mosul in Baghdeda (Qaraqosh), from November 23 to 28, 2025.

Within this training, a spiritual meeting was organized for the Syriac Women's Forum – the Sisters of the Virgin Mary Forum for Syriac Catholics in Baghdeda – Qaraqosh – Hamdaniya, Nineveh Governorate, at the initiative of the Forum's Spiritual Guide Father Roni Momika. Father Anthony Kazzi, a Member of the program's team of specialists, delivered a spiritual talk about the Virgin Mary, who accepted the Annunciation with faith and obedience, reflecting on her role in the journey of Salvation and her profound connection to every believer.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) continues to implement its small business support program, believing in the importance of assisting the most vulnerable and empowering them to secure a dignified life for themselves and their families.

The program is carried out through the MECC Diakonia and Social Service Department – Diakonia, Syria Office.

MECC provided financial support to 27 small projects in Damascus and its Rural areas. The supported projects varied and included mini markets, Food processing, Dairy production workshop, carpentry, an Institute for providing courses in artificial intelligence and robotics, sweets shop, a heat press for transfer of images and designs onto t-shirts, handmade accessories using wood and resin, an electronic circuit manufacturing workshop, metal forming, beekeeping, painting work, and others.

Discussions Centered on Implementing Future Workshops

Mrs. Caroline Haddad, Senior Human Resources (HR) Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), met with Dr. Farah A. Atallah, Member of the Central Committee of the MECC's Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), as part of her participation in a training program organized by ACT Alliance in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

At the beginning, Mrs. Haddad conveyed to Dr. Atallah, the heartfelt greetings of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, his, and his praise for the work of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR).

Both sides also discussed the latest developments in the MECC work and explored ways to enhance human resources field, as well as how to implement various training courses and workshops that align with the MECC's vision and mission.

As part of its capacity-building and skills development initiatives, ACT Alliance in the Middle East and North Africa is conducting a training course for trainers about designing workshops and training sessions in a participatory and effective manner. The course, led by expert Ms. Inke Johannsen, is being held between November 23 and 27, 2025, in St. Ignatius Academy for Knowledge Innovation - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Jordan.

Participants in the training were members and partners of ACT Alliance in the region, including the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Represented by Mrs. Caroline Haddad, the MECC Senior Human Resources (HR) Officer.

The training includes various sessions that aims to solidify knowledge about designing and implementing training sessions in all their details, as well as managing workshops and addressing potential challenges.

An Episode Within the "Community Knowledge" Series

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