Michael Haddad, paralysed from the chest down, is presented with a book blessed by His Holiness Pope Francis which he will carry with him across the globe to Norway’s seed bank, in hope of preserving it for future generations.

Saint Joseph Hospital is a Catholic non-profit facility in Beirut that the economic crisis has brought to the verge of collapse. Since its establishment over sixty years ago it has been taking care of the most abandoned people, but is now at risk of closure for lack of secure funding.

On December 18, 2021, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II inaugurated the “Christmas Market 2021” in the garden of the Syriac Martyrs in Damascus, Syria.

His Holiness Pope Francis establishes the Fratelli tutti Vatican Foundation within the Fabbrica di San Pietro. The new institution aims at investing “in cultural and spiritual formation through events, experiences, pathways and spiritual exercises,” in order to promote the principles of the Pope’s 2020 encyclical.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, gave his weekly Wednesday sermon on the evening of Wednesday December 16th from the Papal Headquarters in Cairo. The sermon was broadcast live on several Christian satellite television channels, as well as over the Internet on the Church’s Coptic Media Center channel, COC. The sermon was given in the absence of a live congregation.

His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and all East, met Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, Acting General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, at the Patriarchal Residence in Balamand. The meeting took place in the presence of the Right Reverend Archimandrite Jack Khalil, Dean of the St. John of Damascene Institute of Theology - University of Balamand.

December 18th marks the United Nations International Migrants Day focusing on “Harnessing the potential of human mobility.” The Catholic Church's International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) supports projects around the world with that goal in mind.

The Patriarchs and Heads of Local Churches of Jerusalem issued a statement on the current threat to the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the challenges that Christians are facing today. Please find below the full statement.

CHIHIUAHUA, Mexico – On the occasion of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the American Continent, a communal Syriac Divine Liturgy was held on Sunday, December 12, in praise of the Mother of God in the Syriac Maronite Parish of Saint Sharbel in Chihuahua, Mexico. The Maronite, Armenian, and Melkite communities residing in Chihuahua came together in prayer to invoke the protection of the Mother of God.

JERUSALEM - Please find the Christmas message for the year 2021 of His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The Rev. Dr. Rima Nasrallah (The Middle East Council of Churches) reflects on the 2022 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity theme, We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him (Mt 2:2). Beginning with a meditation on the challenges that the Christians in the Middle East face today, Rev. Dr. Nasrallah reflects on the main scripture text for the 2022 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Matthew 2:1-12), and on the key themes that inspired the international materials for this global ecumenical celebration.

A delegation from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, led by His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, and accompanied by the Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, held a small reception at the Imperial Hotel in Jaffa Gate to celebrate to wide reaching, positive impact of Christians in the Holy Land and to call for protection of the Christian Quarter in Old City Jerusalem.

“The Enthronement is a new book in my life and the life of this parish.”

"His Eminence Paul, with his many gifts, gave the spirit a meaning when he embodied it as a letter lining up in words, thus writing books that explained the faith and leading many to It... He is the link that connects me to the chain of metropolitans over this great archdiocese and who have imprinted an honorable history”.

During the talk with journalists on board the flight bringing him back to Rome from Greece, His Holiness Pope Francis spoke of the Apostolic Visit, of migrants, of fraternity with the Orthodox, and of the resignation of Archbishop Aupetit of Paris, a victim “of gossip.”

On Thursday, December 2nd, 2021, His Holiness Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I presided over the meeting of the Lay Council of the Central Committee co-chaired by Stepan Der Bedrossian and Krikor Mahseredjian.

His Holiness Aram I addressed the opening remarks and briefed on the administrative, financial, construction and other activities and projects undertaken in the previous months…

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark gave his weekly Wednesday sermon on Wednesday evening December 1st, from the Church of Transfiguration at Logos Center at the Papal Headquarters in St. Anba Bishoy Monastery in Wadi El-Natrun. The sermon was broadcast live on several Christian satellite television channels, as well as over the Internet on the Church’s Coptic Media Center channel, COC. The sermon was given in the absence of a live congregation.

Catholics in Greece are praising His Holiness Pope Francis’ visit as offering the opportunity for a new highwater mark for ecumenical relations with the Orthodox majority.

By Devin Watkins

It’s only Day Two of the Pope’s Apostolic Journey to Greece, but expats belonging to the Catholic minority are already expressing their hopes for a new season in day-to-day ecumenical relations with the Orthodox majority in Greece.

His Holiness Pope Francis meets young people from various parts of Greece on Monday morning in Athens, ahead of his departure for Rome, urging them to be truly social by engaging in real encounters with those around them as an experience of God's love.

His Holiness Pope Francis on Sunday December 6, 2021, visited the Reception and Identification Centre of Mytilene on the island of Lesbos, Greece. While there, he heard the testimonies of migrants, and told those present migration is a humanitarian crisis that concerns everyone.

His Holiness Pope Francis leaves Cyprus with a message of gratitude for hospitality received and prayers for peace for the nation, as Cypriots express their appreciation for the Pope's message of hope, peace, and unity.

By Vatican News staff reporter

His Holiness Pope Francis departed from the Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus and flew to the Athens International Airport in Greece on Saturday morning – the third day of his 35th Apostolic Journey abroad.