In a telegram sent through Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, His Holiness Pope Francis expresses his spiritual closeness to all affected by a fire at a Covid isolation ward of al-Hussein hospital in Nasiriyah, Iraq.

Pope Francis has expressed his sadness over the fire at a Covid isolation ward at the Iraqi hospital al-Hussein hospital in Nasiriyah and offered prayers for the victims and their families and friends mourning their loss.

On Monday, 29 June/12 July 2021, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Holy glorious and chiefs of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

On this feast, the Church commemorates these two Apostles and their missionary work for Christ. The Church commemorates that Apostle Peter preached Christ Crucified and Resurrected, to the circumcision, namely to the Jews, while Apostle Paul preached to the nations and both of them became pillars of the Church, with the cooperation of the other Apostles.

An interview with Reverend Najla Kassab from the Evangelical Church in Lebanon, prepared by the The Association of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany (EMW).

Wenn sich Gerechtigkeit, Toleranz und Rechtsstaatlichkeit im Mittleren Osten durchsetzen, haben Christinnen und Christen auch für sich und ihre Kinder die Hoffnung auf ein gutes Leben in der Region. Deshalb müssen sie gesellschaftliche Verantwortung übernehmen. Und die Kirchen müssen zum rechtschaffenen Vorbild für die Gesellschaft werden, stellt Najla Kassab fest. Die 57-jährige Pfarrerin ist Präsidentin der Weltgemeinschaft Reformierter Kirchen und lebt im Libanon.

On Sunday, July 11th, 2021, the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ was marked at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. His Holiness Aram I presided over the Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian.

Maintenance workshops in the ancient town of Maaloula in the countryside of Damascus are busy rehabilitating Mar Takla “Faj”, the most prominent Christian pilgrimage site there, in the hope of attracting visitors and tourists again, after it was damaged and neglected during the years of war.

Maaloula, known for its ancient churches and monuments, and its caves dug in the rock, is located in the mountainous Qalamoun region on a strategic road linking Lebanon with Damascus. Narrow between the two ends of a tall mountain.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. One God. Amen. May His grace and mercy rest upon us, from now and forevermore. Amen.
Sermon Highlights:
~ Phil 2:1 – The 4-part pattern for comprehensive service ministry:
“1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy.” One teaching - the Bible.

Balamand, Lebanon: July 9, 2021
Following the visit to the Vatican, His Beatitude Patriarch John X, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, contacted the Muslim Religious Leaders in Lebanon: the Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Darian, Sheikh Ali al-Khatib, First Deputy-head of the Supreme Shia Council, and Sheikh Akl of the Druze Naim Hassan. His Beatitude conveyed the love of His Holiness, Pope Francis to the Muftis and put them in the ambience of the meeting of prayer and meditation for Lebanon, which was held in the Vatican on the first of July.

His Holiness Pope Francis sends his first tweet since last Sunday thanking well-wishers for their prayers and concern over his health and recovery.

Vatican News staff writer

His Holiness Pope Francis sent a tweet at 1:30 pm Rome time on Wednesday thanking people around the world for their kind messages and care regarding his health, as he continues his recovery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital following his surgery.

On Wednesday, July 7th, His Holiness Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I paid a brotherly visit to His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church.

The two spiritual heads of the churches surrounded by their archbishops, bishops and archimandrites had an exchange of views related to the long-standing collaboration between their churches and nations.

On Monday morning, 22 June/5 July 2021, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Antioch of the Syriac-Catholic Church, Mar Ignatius Youssef III Younan and his entourage visited the Patriarchate.

This visit was a continuation of his visit in Israel from Lebanon to settle His Eminence Mar Yacoub Ephraim Semaan as the Representative-Exarch of the Syriac-Catholic Church in Jerusalem. In this enthronement ceremony, the Rum Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem was represented by His Eminence Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias.

On Sunday, 21 June/ 4 July 2021, according to the order of the Church of Jerusalem over the last few decades, and according to the Church Service written by the memorable hymnographer Archimandrite Gerasimos Mikrayannitis, the commemoration of all the Saints of Palestine was celebrated by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. They are the Saints who lived in Palestine, of both the Old and the New Testament, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Righteous, Confessors, who pleased God.

Addressing participants in an International Meeting of “Science for Peace” Pope Francis invites scientists to share scientific knowledge in the name of peace.

By Linda Bordoni

His Holiness Pope Francis has reiterated his appeal to build together a better post pandemic world always seeking new forms of collaboration.

His call was conveyed in a video-message to participants at a two-day International Meeting dedicated to “Science for Peace” that provides scientists of different disciplines, researchers and Catholic academicians with a platform where to share knowledge and promote a culture of peace.

In an interview with Vatican News, the Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenians, Aram I, reflects on the dire situation in Lebanon and the importance of the Day of Prayer and Reflection held on 1 July on the path of recovery for the country.

By Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis and Lebanon’s Christian leaders held a Day of Prayer and Reflection in the Vatican on Thursday, for the current situation in the trouble-ridden country, and to implore for the grace of peace and stability.

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.