Su Santidad el Papa Francisco, la voz profética en el mundo; «Preparen el camino al Señor…» (Isaías 40, 3) y sean hermanos en humanidad (…) —lleva de nuevo, en su maleta, proyectos de amor, de perdón y de diálogo mientras se dirige a Irak con la certeza de un buen pastor que dice a los que dudan: «Quiero estar cerca de los atormentados (…)».

La visita del Papa a Mesopotamia y a la tierra de Abrahán, del 5 al 8 de marzo, es una gran esperanza para un Oriente cargado de dolor, lleno de conflictos y guerras; y promete que la visita hará un cambio en Irak.

Fundamentalism is an ideology that submits individuals and groups to the whole system of belief and rituals of a thought without any flexibility or any acceptance of difference with the other.

The fundamentalists deal with their beliefs with a rigid logic that does not accept dialogue. It is the hardening of the letter against the soul and the mind. The fundamentalists consider their cause as a universal and eternal dimension, as they consider themselves responsible for the fate of humanity through their faith.

I, as an Iraqi citizen, should feel at home in Iraq

His Holiness Pope Francis the Prophetic voice in the world; “Prepare the way for the Lord…” (Isaiah 40:3) and be brothers in humanity… - carries projects of love, forgiveness and dialogue in his suitcase once again as he makes his way to Iraq with the certainty of a good shepherd telling the doubtful: “I want to be near the tormented…”

The Pope’s visit to Mesopotamia and the land of Abraham from March 5 to 8 bears great hope for an East burdened with grief, filled with conflicts and wars, and promises that the visit will make a change in Iraq.

El Papa Francisco realizará en marzo la primera visita papal a Irak para animar a los cada vez más escasos fieles. La guerra y el terrorismo han mermado a los cristianos de la nación, pero él espera que puedan volver.

Mientras tanto, en el Líbano, Michel Abs, recientemente elegido como nuevo dirigente del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio (MECC), está de acuerdo con el pontífice.

Oriente Medio puede alegrarse con la noticia de la llegada de la vacuna a Palestina.

“Hoy nos han vuelto a matar…”

En un reciente giro de los acontecimientos, el juez Fadi Sawan fue apartado de la investigación de la explosión de Beirut por razones absurdas.

Alguien o alguna entidad quería apartarlo de la investigación y, en consecuencia, fue sustituido por el juez Tarek El Bitar.

The Middle East can rejoice with news of the arrival of the vaccine to Palestine.

“Today you have killed us all over again!...”

In a recent turn of events, Judge Fadi Sawan was removed from the investigation of Beirut Blast due to absurd reasons. Someone or some entity wanted him off the investigation and as a result, he was replaced by Judge Tarek El Bitar. Families of the victims were devastated by this news as this showed that the state would never hold the powerful to account.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 15 to 22 February 2021

Pope Francis will make the first papal visit ever to Iraq in March to encourage the dwindling faithful. War and terrorism have hemorrhaged the nation’s Christians, but he hopes they might return.

Meanwhile in Lebanon, Michel Abs, recently selected as the new leader of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), agrees with the pontiff.

Online Meeting and Evaluation of the Implementation Phase

Following up on the work of the “The Restoration Fund for rehabilitation of faith-based social services & religious infrastructure damaged during the crisis in Syria” program, members of the Committee in charge of following up on the program held an electronic meeting which the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs attended for the first time after his election.

Te confesamos, Señor, que hemos perseverado en nuestra pecaminosidad,

te confesamos, oh Creador del universo, que hemos corrompido tu creación,

te confesamos, Señor del universo, que hemos olvidado tus mandamientos,

te confesamos, Padre amoroso, que hemos ofendido tu amor,

te confesamos, oh Misericordioso, que no hemos mostrado misericordia entre nosotros

We confess to You, O Lord, that we have persevered in our sinfulness,

We admit to You, O creator of the universe, that we have corrupted Your creation,

We confess to You, Lord of the universe, that we have forgotten Your commandments,

We confess to You, Loving Father, that we have offended Your love,

We confess to You, O Most Merciful, that we did not show mercy to each other

Report: 1 to 15 February 2021

While coronavirus numbers seem to be stabilizing across the region with the exception of Lebanon, the World Health Organization warned that at least 13 ME countries have been infiltrated by three new COVID strains. As reported by the WHO, all three of the new variants are more contagious, requiring all people to exercise precautionary measures.

Report: 1 to 15 February 2021

With the vaccination drive beginning in many ME countries, the economy might finally start to untangle itself. Yet, discrepancies were observed in some countries as socioeconomic standards of the population or government inability to provide the vaccine, might stop them from getting vaccinated.

When churches closed their doors to the believers while they were in dire need of assuaging their spiritual thirst facing the threat of the Coronavirus and the imposed quarantine, a religious issue was brought up: Is our relationship with God threated?

While the world experiences emergency measures for more than a year, trying to curb the deadly virus, the answer came through modern media, which sought to present the essence of Christian beliefs, especially during holidays and their rituals, accompanying believers during these difficult times.

FAQs about Coronavirus Vaccine

COVID-19 Vaccine Pre-Registration Form

More than a year has passed and the virus still threatens humanity, especially those struggling to survive in the sad East. In light of dangerous economic and social collapses topped by serious political conflicts putting the region on the edge of a cliff, the Coronavirus was the icing on the cake, adding to the misery, deepening wounds and increasing the pain with thousands of victims and infected daily.

As a storm draws near, to usher in low temperatures and ice of formations, many are still without a home after the Beirut explosion. To make things worse, a protracted economic crisis is causing a rise in poverty, high unemployment and massive inflation, diminishing their ability to find a solution.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 8 to 15 February 2021