His Holiness Pope Francis dedicates his first prayer message of 2022 to combatting religious discrimination and persecution, reminding us that religious freedom is not limited to freedom of worship, but is tied to fraternity.

By Vatican News staff reporter

“How can we allow that in this society, which is so civilized, there are people who are persecuted simply because they publicly profess their faith?” asks His Holiness Pope Francis in the video for his monthly prayer intention for January 2022.

Rev. Dr Odair Pedroso Mateus, World Council of Churches (WCC) interim deputy general secretary and director of Faith and Order, shares his insights on the upcoming Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, to be held 18-25 January. Churches across the globe will reflect on the hope and joy in Matthew 2:2, “We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him.” The Middle East Council of Churches, based in Beirut, Lebanon, was the convener for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2022 drafting group.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2022

Jerusalem, January 22 - 30, 2022

Theme: “We saw the star in the east, and we came to worship him” (Mathew 2:2)
The appearance of the star in the sky leads the Magi, and indeed all peoples of the earth, to the place where the King and Saviour is revealed.

CCSM Director Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader said that preparatory committees are working in full swing in order to ensure that the pilgrimage ceremony will be conducted smoothly and with extreme perfection.

The Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan has announced that the 22nd pilgrimage ceremony of Catholic Churches to the Baptism Site will take place on Friday, January 14, during which Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa will celebrate Holy Mass at the Church of the Baptism of Christ, whose construction is almost complete, in the presence of the Apostolic Nunciature personnel and heads of Catholic Churches in Jordan.

ZABABDEH - On January 6, 2022, for the Epiphany, His Beatitude Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, went to Zababdeh, Palestinian town, to celebrate Mass and meet with the local parish priest.

It actually used to be a tradition... now a little forgotten. Perhaps some parishioners remember: in the past, the Latin Patriarch regularly celebrated the Epiphany in Zababdeh.

In his letter of January 1, 2002, published on the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s website, His Beatitude Mgr Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, proposed to the parishes, different communities and individual faithful of the Diocese of Jerusalem the integral reading of the New Testament for January 23, the Sunday dedicated by Pope Francis to the "Word of God" (Motu proprio Aperuit illis).

As His Beatitude Mgr Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa wrote, we are all invited to participate according to our community and personal possibilities.

The Feast of Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ was marked at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, Lebanon, on Thursday, January 6th, 2022. His Holiness Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the pontifical sermon. Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian and Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian served at the altar alongside His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, while Shnorhali choir, led by V. Rev. Fr. Zaven Nadjarian, sang the Liturgy.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

May the Lord give you peace!

Pope Francis, by the Motu Proprio Aperuit Illis of September 30, 2019, established that "the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time be dedicated to the celebration, reflection and dissemination of the Word of God" in order "to make the people of God grow in religious and assiduous familiarity with the Sacred Scriptures, just as the sacred author taught already in ancient times: 'This word is very close to you, it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may put it into practice' (Deut. 30:14)." (n. 15).

On Friday, 25 December/ 7 January 2022, the Patriarchate celebrated the Feast of Christmas according to the established Status Quo.

On Wednesday 23 December 2021/ 5 January 2022 His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III presided at the reading of the Royal Hours of Christmas to lighten the program of Christmas Eve in Bethlehem.

On Christmas Eve the Patriarchal Entourage headed for Jaffa Gate accompanied by the Police Force and the Scouts to get on the vehicles to go to the Monastery of Prophet Elias by the ancient Monastery of the Seat.

“Christmas: God’s love revealed in Christ”

“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9)

Christmas is the time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is also known as the Feast of Peace. And it is truly so, for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is also the Prince of Peace. He was born in a Palestinian stable and laid in a simple manger. It is no wonder that the angels of God filled the skies of Bethlehem, singing, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors.” (Luke 2:14)

Presiding over Mass on the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, His Holiness Pope Francis encourages us to place ourselves under her maternal protection. May she give us courage and joyful certainty that the Lord is faithful and can transform every cross into a resurrection.

Co-Cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate

Num 6,22-27; Gal 4, 4-7; Lc 2,16-21

Most Reverend Excellencies,
Dearest brothers and sisters,

Today we have reached the beginning of a new year. Yet, different feelings and thoughts, which have accumulated throughout the past year, now move restlessly within our souls.

The first day of every year is dedicated to peace, “the hope” of all people who have been exhausted by conflict, tension, disease (the Corona pandemic), hunger and thirst, due to which people are facing a slow death.

As Pope Francis stated in his message, on this occasion, people need “urgently” a new birth and a better future, since their “hope” is to enjoy justice and peace.

On January 1, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, visited his brother in Christ His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark for the Coptic Orthodox Church, at the Patriarchal Headquarters in Alexandria, Egypt.

The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem met in Jerusalem, on Thursday, Dec. 30th, 2021 presided by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem. Following are the decisions:

After raising the prayer and calling for the Holy Spirit, His Beatitude and the members of the Holy Synod expressed their thanks and gratitude to His Hashemite Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein for bestowing the Order of the State Centennial on December 21st, 2021 to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, represented by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III…

As His Holiness Pope Francis announced at the Angelus on the Feast of the Holy Family, he published today an open letter to married couples as part of the Amoris Laetitia Family Year. He encourages families to turn to Jesus who is always near in all the ups and downs of daily family life.

JERUSALEM - On December 28 and 29, 2021, the various Christian leaders of the thrice-holy city came to the Latin Patriarchate to exchange Christmas greetings with His Beatitude Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

This is a long-standing tradition, which takes place not once but twice a year, during Easter and Christmas. During Christmas, greetings are exchanged three times: first on December 25th, then on January 7th (Orthodox Christmas Day, which corresponds to December 25th in the Julian calendar) and finally on January 19th (Christmas of the Armenian-Apostolic Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which corresponds to January 6 in our calendar).

and the Remembrance of Mor Baselius, Mor Gregorius and the New Year at St. Mary Church in Cairo

On December 31, 2021, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, celebrated the Holy Qurobo for the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord, and the Remembrance of Mor Baselius, Mor Gregorius and the New Year at St. Mary Church in Cairo, Egypt.

In a message to the Christian Media Center, His Holiness Pope Francis speaks to the young people of Bethlehem and the Holy Land, urging them to remain faithful to their roots in the land where Jesus was born and to always look to the horizon.

By Christopher Wells

In the face of sufferings, made worse in these days by the coronavirus pandemic, His Holiness Pope Francis has invited the young people of the Holy Land to “Look ahead! Look to the horizon.”

BETHLEHEM – Despite the absence of pilgrims during the end of the year due to health restrictions, a spirit of celebration and joy have illuminated this Christmas of 2021, marked by the presence of many local Christians who came to attend the celebrations.

It all started with the scouts' parade. Dressed in their best uniforms, they made the streets of Bethlehem vibrate with their musical instruments: trumpets, drums, clarinets...