On June 2nd, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), visited the Archeological Site of the City of Al-Hadr in Niniveh, Iraq. This city used to be inhabited by Arameans and Arabic tribes.

He was accompanied by Their Eminences: Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeerah and Euphrates, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

On June 2nd, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), visited the Archeological Site of Mor Ahodemeh Church in Takrit, Iraq.

He was accompanied by their Eminences: Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeerah and Euphrates, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development announces the theme chosen by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for the 2026 celebration of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, held on September 1, as "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Is 2:4).

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has chosen “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Is 2:4) as the theme for the 2026 edition of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, traditionally celebrated on September 1.

In the statement from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development making the announcement, the Dicastery states that the Holy Father’s Message for the Day highlights the connection between armed conflict and environmental degradation. 

Baghdad - June 1, 2026

The Fathers of the Synod of the Chaldean Church, under the presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Polis III Nona, held the first synodal session of his patriarchate on June 1, 2026, at the Chaldean Patriarchal Headquarters in Al-Mansour, Baghdad. Fourteen bishops participated in the session. Travel difficulties and related circumstances prevented the participation of the bishops from the United States of America.

His Beatitude opened the synod with a paternal address inspired by the words of the Lord Jesus: “Do not be afraid; only believe!” (Mark 5:36). He emphasized that the Chaldean Church is called to face the challenges of the present with hope and confidence in God’s providence, and to continue her mission in a spirit of unity, communion, and shared responsibility. He stressed the importance of strengthening and deepening the synodal spirit as an essential part of the tradition of our Church, as well as the need for teamwork, cooperation, and overcoming everything that weakens or hinders the mission of the Gospel. He also affirmed the necessity of continuing to develop ecclesiastical institutions and enhancing the effectiveness of the Patriarchal Curia and the Permanent Synod in a manner consistent with the needs of the current era and the Church’s requirements both in the East and throughout the diaspora…

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV encourages Catholic scouts and guides to deepen their commitment to faith, service, and Christian witness as he receives members of the Italian Catholic Guides and Scouts of Europe Association (AGESCI Europa) in the Vatican.

Addressing participants gathered for the 50th anniversary of the Italian Catholic Guides and Scouts of Europe Association on Monday, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV linked the jubilee celebration to the recent Solemnity of Pentecost, noting that the word Pentecost itself means “fiftieth.”

“May this happy anniversary be for you like a new Pentecost,” he said, praying that the Holy Spirit would descend upon every member as it did upon the Apostles gathered in the Upper Room.

The Pope recalled that the gift of the Holy Spirit enlivens the Christian life, opens hearts to mission, and enables believers to find ever-new ways of bearing witness to the beauty of the faith. The proclamation of salvation, he said, is filled with hope and inspires Christians to act rightly in every decision and undertaking.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV renews his appeal for peace, praying that God guide world leaders towards a just and lasting peace, while also encouraging a culture of care for the ill and greeting pilgrims gathered at Poland’s Marian shrine of Piekary.

On Saturday evening, at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV led the Rosary and invoked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking her to obtain “the gift of peace” that only the Lord can give. Joining him were around 2,000 people in the Vatican, while a further 100,000 faithful took part remotely from 200 Marian shrines around the world.

During his address to representatives of the Pontifical Mission Societies, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV invites the entire Church to participate in World Mission Sunday. Pope Leo also recalls longtime National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, Venerable Fulton Sheen, who will be beatified in September, as a "light of faith, hope, and love," noting, "I myself am a witness of his evangelization when I was growing up."

"On World Mission Sunday, every Catholic community is invited to pray and offer spiritual and material sacrifices for the missionary efforts in areas of first evangelization and the support of young Churches."

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV expressed this when welcoming those participating in the General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the Vatican on Monday.

On the evening of Saturday, May 30, 2026, the Latin Parish of Jerusalem concluded the Marian Month with a solemn celebration, gathering Clergy, Religious, and Faithful in Prayer and Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The celebration was attended by His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; Msgr. Bolous-Marcuzzo; Msgr. Ilario Antoniazzi; Fr. Francesco Ielpo, Custos of the Holy Land; and Archbishop Giorgio Lingua, Apostolic Nuncio. They were joined by the friars of St. Saviour’s Monastery, numerous religious men and women from various congregations in Jerusalem, and hundreds of faithful from across the city.

The celebration began at the courtyard of St. Saviour’s Monastery, with the recitation of the Rosary, followed by Mass presided over by Fr. Rami Asakrieh. During the liturgy, girls from the parish recited the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, while the Patriarch imparted the blessing upon the Miraculous Medals, which were then conferred by the Custos upon them. The faithful, gathered in Prayer, offered thanksgiving for the gift of Mary’s maternal presence in the life of the Church and invoked her intercession for peace, and true witness to her Son in the land of the Gospel.

On June 1st, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), visited Mor Matta Monastery in Iraq.

His Holiness was received by His Eminence Mor Timotheos Moussa Al-Shamani, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Mor Matta Monastery, and Monks of the Monastery.

He was accompanied by their Eminences: Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeerah and Euphrates, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

On June 1st, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), presided over the Ramsho Prayer at St Thomas Church in Mosul, Iraq.

Their Eminences: Mor Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul, Kirkuk, Kurdistan and Environs, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeerah and Euphrates, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, were also present.

Under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the first Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia was solemnly celebrated on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia. The commemoration comprised three key elements: a Thanksgiving Prayer for the Republic, the blessing of the Armenian flag, and the celebration of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I’s name day. Among the attendees were members of the faithful, the Lebanese Minister of Youth and Sport, Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian, the Central Council of the Catholicosate, and Representatives of the Lebanese-Armenian Community.

Armenian Theological Seminary Participates in Middle East Christians Conference in Thessaloniki

With the blessing and directive of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Very Reverend Father Barouyr Shernezian, Dean of the Armenian Theological Seminary, participated in the International Conference “Christians in the Middle East: Challenges and Prospects,” held at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki’s Faculty of Theology on May 15 and 16, 2026.

During the conference, Fr. Barouyr participated in a roundtable session, presenting the situation of Christians in Lebanon and highlighting the pivotal role of the Great House of Cilicia in the Ecumenical and Interreligious spheres. On this occasion, he conveyed the heartfelt salutations and blessings of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I to the attendees.

Acts 2:1-11; 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13; Jn 20:19-23 

Dear brothers and sisters,  
Dear Father Nikodemus,  

The Lord give you peace! 

The Gospel for this Pentecost takes us back to the evening of Easter. This is not a minor detail: to understand what takes place today, we must return there, to that Upper Room, not far from here. John the Evangelist is the only evangelist to put the outpouring of the Spirit on the same day of the Resurrection — not to create confusion, but to reveal something essential: Easter and Pentecost are not two separate feasts. Each is the breath of the other. Easter contains the seed of Pentecost, because the Risen Christ cannot keep His new life for Himself; and Pentecost is Easter becoming living flesh in the Church. 

For this reason, if we want to understand who the Spirit is, we must not look towards the extraordinary phenomena, but at what really takes place in the Upper Room. The Church does not begin as a strong community, or heroes of faith. They are a group of people who are afraid, marked by failure and flight, unable even to hope. The doors are locked not only because of fear, but also behind those doors are hearts that are closed off and disappointed. They had seen their Master, Jesus, die, and they felt lost. They had heard that He has risen, yet fear was stronger than the news... 

Before leaving the Vatican, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), made the following statement:

As I come to conclude my visitation program to the Vatican, I would like to express my warm thanks and profound gratitude to His Holiness for granting me a private audience, which gave us the opportunity to exchange perspectives and concerns pertaining to issues of a common nature. My special thanks are also due to His Eminences Cardinal Parolin, Cardinal Koch, Cardinal Gugerotti, and Cardinal Koovakad for the interesting and fruitful discussions that we had regarding ecumenical and inter-religious matters as well as issues related to Lebanon, Artsakh, and the Middle East…

Marking the 135th anniversary of Rerum novarum, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV releases his first Encyclical, entitled ‘Magnifica humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence.’ He appeals for the safeguarding of humanity, promotion of truth, dignity of work, social justice, and peace.

“Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together.”

The opening words of Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence, summarize its underlying reasons and purpose.

At the Regina Caeli, the Pope urged everyone to invoke the Holy Spirit, who opens the doors to faith and encourages the Church to be “welcoming and hospitable to all.” And may the Holy Spirit help us overcome “resistance, selfishness, mistrust, and prejudice,” allowing fraternity to flourish.

By Benedetta Capelli

“What doors does the Spirit open?” is the question posed by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in the Catechesis for the Regina Caeli on May 24, in his final Regina Caeli of 2026. In a warm and bright Saint Peter's Square, the Pope invited the faithful to contemplate “the gift of the Holy Spirit, which was poured out in abundance upon the early Church and is bestowed anew upon its members today, granting us light and strength throughout our everyday circumstances.” He urged everyone to invoke the Holy Spirit and “ask him to open all the doors that are still closed.”

“We need to rediscover God as the Father who loves us, so that we can form a Church where everyone feels at home, and build a fraternal world where peace reigns among all peoples.”

During his Mass for the Solemnity of Pentecost, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV reflected on how the Holy Spirit continues to work wonders in our lives, saying that by enlightening minds and instilling new vitality in our hearts, the Paraclete “transfigures history, opening it to salvation, which is the gift that the Lord offers to everyone.”

“Through the power of the Spirit, our proclamation is filled with joy and hope, for we — yes, we ourselves — are the newness of the world, the light and the salt of the earth...”

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV offered this comforting reminder during his Mass for the Solemnity of Pentecost on Sunday morning in St. Peter’s Basilica, noting that the Easter Season reaches its fulfillment in this solemnity.

Following the Regina Caeli Prayer, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV entrusts Chinese Christians to the Virgin Mary, praying that they might be witnesses of “hope and peace.” The Pope’s thoughts also turn to those suffering from the conflict in the Holy Land.

Following the Regina Caeli Prayer on Sunday, the Pope marked the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China. The day of Prayer, the Pope noted, coincides with the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians, who is venerated "with profound devotion" at the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV encourages leaders of Ecclesial movements and lay associations to guide those under their care with discernment and transparency, so that they may remain open to the world and grounded in communion.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV met on Thursday with participants in a meeting of Moderators of associations of the faithful, Ecclesial movements, and new communities, which was promoted by the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life.

In his address, the Pope reflected on governance in the Church, noting that leadership of any organization is critical to the group’s success and longevity.