ABU DHABI - The plenary meeting of the Conference of Latin Bishops in the Arab Regions (CELRA) took place at the parish center of Musaffah in Abu Dhabi on October 18-22, 2021. For most of the bishops who live alone and far from one another, the meeting was a significant time of simple and joyful fraternal collaboration.

On Saturday, October 30, the Catholic Church in the Holy Land officially opened the General Synod of the Universal Catholic Church: “A Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission Vademecum for the Synod on Synodality (2021-2023) with three main simultaneous Holy Masses celebrated in Jerusalem, Amman and Nicosia.

His Holiness Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I focused on the imperative of strengthening tolerance in the ecumenical dialogue in his article for the special volume dedicated to Christian-Muslim dialogue. The special edition volume is the initiative of the Argentinian State and brought to fruition by His Holiness Pope Francis.

His Beatitude Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East John X, received the Dean of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in the Vatican Cardinal Leonardo Sandri at the Patriarchal Headquarters in Damascus, Syria, accompanied by the Pope’s representative to Syria, Cardinal Mario Zenari and Monsignor Flavio Bacchi.

Meeting with Syrian Bishops in Damascus, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri announced that the Holy Father will give a contribution to their charitable work for the most needy in the country. On the first day of his visit to Syria, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches also presided at a Divine Liturgy with Patriarch Youssef Absi, and met 100 youths.

On October 31, 2021, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo at St. Behnam and Sarah Church in Tours, France.

His holiness Pope Francis invites listeners during the BBC "Thought for the Day" radio column on Friday to join efforts for the protection of our common home through a renewed sense of shared responsibility and solidarity based on justice.

Sisters and Brothers, we gather today at this Shrine of Deir Rafat, on the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Palestine, to officially open the synodal journey in our Catholic dioceses of the Holy Land, in the broader context of the General Synod of the Catholic Church, inaugurated by the Holy Father Francis last October 9.

On Saturday 10/23 October 2021, by the blessing and guidance of His Holy Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, the first synaxis of the members of the Russian-speaking flock of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Ashdod, Holy Land, was officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Aristovoulos of Madaba.

Chaldean Patriarchate Media

In light of the current “tense” situation in Iraq, created by the elections, the Chaldean Bishops in Iraq, assembled under the Chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch of Babylon for the Chaldeans Cardinal Mar Louis Raphael Sako at the Summer Patriarchal Residence in Ankawa / Erbil, Iraq on Saturday morning, October 23, 2021 addressed an appeal.

On October 26, 2021, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II visited His Eminence Anba Athanasius, Archbishop of the Coptic Orthodox Faithful of French origin, at his headquarters in Sarcelles, France.

On December 12, Caritas Internationalis will celebrate its 70th anniversary. Its General Secretary Aloysius John talks to the Vatican media about the importance of this anniversary and the most urgent challenges for the Caritas Confederation at the time of the pandemic.

On Saturday, October 23rd, 2021, a meeting took place between His Holiness Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I and Dr. Joanna Wronecka, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon.

On October 24, 2021, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo at St. Mary Church in Montfermeil, France.

In a letter to G20 leaders, global religious leaders representing half a billion Christians in over 100 countries warned that rising global temperatures will have increasingly disastrous consequences on impoverished and vulnerable communities that contribute least to the climate crisis.

On 25 October, students, faculty and friends of the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Institute at Bossey marked the 75th anniversary of the “living laboratory of ecumenism,” as Bossey is affectionately called.

After a temporary shut-down in 2020 due to COVID-19, Bossey was able emerge with resilience, creativity and fortitude. From offering online classes, then a hybrid format and now back to in-person instruction while observing COVID-19 safety protocols, Bossey has kept moving forward.

His Holiness Pope Francis sends a congratulatory letter to His Beatitude Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I as he marks the 30th anniversary of his election as the Archbishop of Constantinople.

By Devin Watkins

As His Beatitude Patriarch Bartholomew celebrates 30 years since his election, His Holiness Pope Francis sent him a congratulatory letter, expressing his best wishes.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Once we experience the power of God’s love, and recognize his fatherly presence in our personal and community life, we cannot help but proclaim and share what we have seen and heard. Jesus’ relationship with his disciples and his humanity, as revealed to us in the mystery of his Incarnation, Gospel and Paschal Mystery, shows us the extent to which God loves our humanity and makes his own our joys and sufferings, our hopes and our concerns (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 22).

On Tuesday morning, 6/19 October 2021, the day of the commemoration of the Holy Glorious Apostle Thomas, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Holy Church of the Transfiguration of our Lord in Ramallah.

Co-celebrants and participants in prayer in this Liturgy were by the invitation and preparation of the Hegoumen of Ramallah Archimandrite Galaktion the Priests of the Ramallah District in the West Bank…

To all the priests, consecrated men and women, and faithful

of the Diocese of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Dear brothers and sisters,

May the Lord grant you peace!

The General Synod of the Church has been reorganized, in its mode of operation, by the Holy Father, Pope Francis. By starting from local realities, this reorganization aims to create opportunities for meeting, listening, sharing, and planning so as to avoid that the Synod, and the documents it produces, be predominantly a top-down product.