At the end of a World Day of prayer and reflection for Lebanon, in which Lebanon's Christian leaders joined His Holiness Pope Francis in the Vatican, the Pope prays for peace in the strife-ridden nation and asks that the people of Lebanon turn to their roots, as it is from there that flowers bloom.

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East met His Holiness Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City.

The private meeting between His Holiness and His Beatitude touched upon the day of prayer for Lebanon to be held tomorrow in the Vatican, at the invitation of His Holiness to all the heads of Christian communities in Lebanon. The meeting also touched on the Christian situation in the Middle East in all its aspects.

We ask the Vatican to work on lifting the sanctions of the Syrian People

On June 30, 2021, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, met His Holiness Pope Francis at his residence in the Vatican.

His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Justinos Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary.

On Sunday, June 27, 2021, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa presided at the Holy Mass marking the day of prayer dedicated for "Peace in the Middle East and the Holy Family" at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, the Holy Land.

The Holy Mass was attended by Bishop Yousef Matta, archdiocese of Acre, Haifa, Nazareth and the rest of Galilee for the Melkite Greeks; Bishop Musa Al-Haj, patriarchal vicar of the Maronite Church in Jordan and in the Holy Land, Bishop Afram Antoine Semaan, patriarchal vicar for the Syriac Catholics in the Holy Land, as well as a group of bishops, priests, and nuns from various Catholic churches and congregations.

In a world abounding with bleak news addressing wars, violence, missing people, poverty and unemployment, a glimmer of hope emerged from the Holy See with the descendent of St. Peter, His Holiness Pope Francis, inviting the Christian heads of churches in Lebanon for a meeting on July 1 to discuss the country’s crisis and to help extricate the country from the imbroglio in which it is currently embroiled.

HOLY LAND - Below you find 10 processions that the Catholic Church in the Holy Land organizes in honor of Christ and His mother the Virgin Mary.

1. Conclusion of the Marian Month procession

On the last day of May, the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, several processions are held in the different parts of the Jerusalem Diocese to mark the end of the Marian month.

The day of prayer, sharing and ecumenical encounter aims to rekindle the light of hope in a land that is plagued by severe political and economic crises.

By Vatican News staff writer

The Day of Prayer and Reflection for Lebanon on July 1, called by His Holiness Pope Francs is to help revive hope and peace in a country oppressed by years of political, economic and social crises, which came to a head in the violent explosion of August 2020 at Beirut port, which shattered the city.

His Holiness Pope Francis writes a letter to the Catholic Patriarchs of the Middle East, as they join spiritually in celebrating the Divine Liturgy for peace in the region.

By Devin Watkins

As Catholics across the Middle East took part in Divine Liturgies on Sunday to pray for peace, Pope Francis sent a letter to their Pastors, thanking them for the initiative.

Beirut, June 26, 2021

His Beatitude John X, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, visited the Muslim religious leaders in Lebanon. He met, consecutively the Grand Mufti of the Lebanon, Sheikh Abdul Latif Darian at Dar al-Fatwa, Sheikh Akl of the Druze Naim Hassan at the Druze Dar Al-Taifa in Beirut, and Sheikh Ali al-Khatib, first deputy-head of the Supreme Islamic Shia Council, the representative of Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan, the head of the council, at the council's headquarters.

Very Rev. Raban Roger-Youssef Akhrass as Archbishop, Patriarchal Vicar for Syriac Studies, Very Rev. Raban Cyril Babi as Archbishop, Patriarchal Vicar for the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, and Very Rev. Raban Joseph Bali, as Archbishop Patriarchal Secretary

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II: It is a historic day in the history of our Church in general, and especially in Lebanon

On June 25, 2021, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo at the altar of the Virgin Mary Church in the Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh, Lebanon.

On June 22, 2021, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo for the occasion of the Holy Synod of our Syriac Orthodox Church, at Mor Severus Church in the Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh - Lebanon, in the presence of their Eminences Archbishops members of the Holy Synod.

Pope Francis reassures the elderly that God is always with them in his message for the first-ever World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. He also reminds them of their vocation to preserve our roots and to pass on the faith to the younger ones.

"We must become a 'we' that is ever wider and more co-responsible." Quoting Pope Francis’ Message for the 107th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Chargé D’affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Jordan Monsignor Mauro Lalli visited the Palestinian Refugee Camp of Jerash on Tuesday, June 22. Upon arrival, Monsignor Lalli was welcomed by Marta Lorenzo, director of UNRWA Affairs, Jordan.

The Holy See’s humanitarian arm for the Oriental Churches kicks off its plenary meeting on Monday, with ROACO’s attention going to the Holy Land, Ethiopia, Armenia, and Georgia in particular.

By Devin Watkins

The Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches (ROACO) begins its 94th plenary assembly on Monday afternoon at the Casa Bonus Pastor in Rome.

The annual meeting runs until Thursday.

The Jesuit Church of St Joseph in the Lebanese capital Beirut is due to open its doors again next month following the August 2020 dockside blast.

Vatican News staff reporter

Nearly a year on from a devastating blast that rocked the Lebanese city of Beirut, there is a cause for celebration.

The historic Jesuit-run Church of St Joseph, which was badly damaged in the August 2020 explosion, is due to reopen next month.

Considering that the July 1st meeting of the Christian leaders of Lebanon in the Vatican is the initiative of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, various political, religious and academic figures, as well as Lebanon’s Ambassador to the Holy See and representatives of the Lebanese civil society and media, held correspondences with the Catholicos to learn more about his perspectives concerning the meeting.

His Beatitude Patriarch John X received at the Patriarchal Headquarters in Damascus, His Eminence, Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary along with an accompanying delegation, appointed by His Beatitude Onufriy, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine.

His Eminence's visit precedes His visit to Beirut, where he will meet His Eminence Elias Odeh, Metropolitan of Beirut and His Eminence Silouan Moussi …

On June 15, 2021, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II presided over the evening prayer at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma – Damascus.

Their Eminences Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, Mor Boutros Kassis, Patriarchal Assistant and Patriarchal Delegate of the Archdiocese of Aleppo and Environs, and Armenian Orthodox Archbishop of Damascus Armash Nalbandian, were present at the evening prayer.

Your Excellencies, dear brothers in the Episcopate,

Reverend Fathers,

Dear religious and consecrated persons,

Dear faithful Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

May the Lord give you His Peace!

On the occasion of celebrating the 130th jubilee of “Rerum Novarum” the encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII on May 15, 1891, concerning “Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor”; the Episcopal Committee “Justice and Peace” which emanates from the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in the Middle East, has launched the annual Mass initiative which will be celebrated during the “Peace Day for the East”…

Pope Francis releases his message for the fifth World Day of the poor. He highlights the need for conversion and for an approach that counters new forms of poverty in the world and promotes the freedom needed to live a life of fulfilment according to the abilities of each person.