“Let us pray that we may give a Christian response to bioethical challenges.”

His Holiness Pope Francis offered that invitation to Catholics in his prayer intention for the month of March.

He noted that science in the field of bioethics has made great advances in recent years, presenting a host of problems.

Christians, said the Pope, must respond to these challenges and not bury “our heads like an ostrich.”

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, gave his weekly on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 7pm from the Church of St. Virgin Mary and St. Anba Bishoy at the St. Mark Cathedral in Abbassia, Egypt, in the presence of a limited number of people, including both congregants and clergy. This was the first time for the Wednesday evening meeting to be held in the presence of a live audience since the onset of the Corona pandemic, since almost two years ago.

His Holiness Pope Francis has sent a video message in Spanish to young people involved in preparations for World Youth Day 2023, which will take place from 1-6 August in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Pope said he looks forward to meeting young people for the celebrations just as they do in gathering together from around the globe for the international celebrations.

JERUSALEM - On Sunday, March 6th, twenty Franciscans led by Fr. Stephane Milovitch, OFM, accompanied the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, to the Holy Sepulchre, with three Canons of the Holy Sepulchre as well as priests of the Patriarchate. The procession left the Latin Patriarchate at the Jaffa Gate, under the banner of the silver cross with two crossbars, and went into the streets of the Old City to the beat of the iron rods of the Kawas.

On March 6, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, presided over the evening prayer at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma – Damascus.

‎‏At the end of the prayer, His Holiness conducted the special service of Shubqono (Forgiveness) during which the clergy and faithful ask forgiveness from one another, on the occasion of the beginning of the Great Lent.

On March 6, 2022, 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 at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma – Damascus.

During the Holy Qurobo, His Holiness was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Cyril Babi, Patriarchal Vicar in the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, and Mor Anthimos Jack Yacoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education.

His Eminence Archbishop Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, also attended the Qurobo.

His Holiness Pope Francis has begun a new cycle of catechesis on old age, focusing his second reflection in the series on long life as a “symbol and opportunity.”

By Christopher Wells

The tremendous longevity of the Old Testament patriarchs – who in the ritual narrative of the Scripture are said to have lived for centuries after fathering their children – has a “profound symbolic meaning,” His Holiness Pope Francis said at Wednesday’s General Audience.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin presides over the customary Mass on Ash Wednesday in Rome's Basilica of Santa Sabina in place of His Holiness Pope Francis, who is resting due to acute knee pain doctors are treating. The Cardinal read the Pope's homily, which recalled this day of prayer and fasting for Ukraine.

JERUSALEM – On March 2nd, 2022, His Beatitude Mgr Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, celebrated Ash Wednesday during a Eucharistic Mass held at the Co-Cathedral of the Patriarchate.

This celebration, which is traditionally held six weeks and a half before Easter, marks the beginning of Lent. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday, during which many Christians eat sweets, burn their previous year’s Holy Week palms to collect the ashes for the next day’s celebration et receive the sacrament of reconciliation.

Pope Francis’ historic visit was a blessing to all Iraqis. it has charged Iraqis with enough support and hope to achieve their desire in having a life of solidarity, compassion and dignity.

During our 1st visit to Rome this year as the heads and representatives of Iraqi Churches, we intended to thank His Holiness for taking the time to visit our beloved country. Generously, he invited us to his headquarters in the Vatican on Monday, the 28th of February 2022. In the meeting, we expressed our appreciation for his precious visit to Iraq as a dove of peace, a messenger of fraternity and love. He said emotionally “I won’t forget my visit to Iraq… I am holding your country in my heart”.

The Holy Synod of Antioch, presided by His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, held its thirteenth extraordinary session in Balamand, Lebanon.

You can find the program of the celebration held by the Chaldean Patriarchate in Baghdad under the auspices of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World , on the occasion of the first anniversary of the historic visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Iraq (5-8 March 2021).

Meeting a delegation of Iraqi Church religious leaders on Monday 28 February 2022, His Holiness Pope Francis encourages the local Christian communities to continue promoting dialogue so as to build fraternity and counteract extremism and fundamentalism.

By Lisa Zengarini

His Holiness Pope Francis on Monday 28 February 2022 received in audience Representatives of the Christian Churches in Iraq visiting Rome on the occasion of the first anniversary of his Apostolic Journey to the country in March 2021.

With the Mercy of God

JOHN X

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East

To all our Beloved in the Lord

The Children of the Holy Antiochian See

Beloved,

At the dawn of this Holy and Great Lent, the Church prays in unison and cries from the depth: “Let us not pray, brethren, Pharisee-like.” By these words, the Church begins her liturgical hymns of Great Lent, imploring the Lord of the Resurrection.

The soul’s garment in this blessed season is humility. A humble prayer penetrates the heart of God.

In his message for Lent 2022, His Holiness Pope Francis invites the faithful to sow seeds of goodness, so that we might reap a harvest of salvation for ourselves and others.

By Christopher Wells

His Holiness Pope Francis based his Message for Lent 2022 on a passage from St Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.

JORDAN – On February 17 and 18, 2022, the General Secretariat of JEC Jordan organized a series of meetings focusing on the spiritual journey of Saint Paul the Apostle and the spiritual aspect of His Holiness Pope Francis’ message during World Youth Day.

“Stand up. I appoint you as a witness of what you have seen.” Such were the words of Pope Francis during World Youth Day 2021, which inspired the slogan of the General Secretariat of JEC Jordan for the current year: “Arise and bear witness.” But how can we do that?

On Friday afternoon, 13/26 February 2022 at the Monastic and Patriarchal Church of Saints Constantine and Helen there was the memorial service for the repose of the souls of the departed Hagiotaphite Fathers, memorable Patriarchs, High Priests, Hieromonks, Deacons and Monks. The service was led by His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III with the co-prayer of Hagiotaphite High Priests, Hieromonks and Deacons…

JORDAN – On February 17 and 18, 2022, the General Secretariat of JEC Jordan organized a series of meetings focusing on the spiritual journey of Saint Paul the Apostle and the spiritual aspect of His Holiness Pope Francis’ message during World Youth Day.

“Stand up. I appoint you as a witness of what you have seen.” Such were the words of Pope Francis during World Youth Day 2021, which inspired the slogan of the General Secretariat of JEC Jordan for the current year: “Arise and bear witness.” But how can we do that?

Wadi al-Nasara, February 20, 2022

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, presided over the Liturgy of the Prodigal Son in the Patriarchal Monastery of St. George Al-Humeyra in Wadi al-Nasara, Syria. His Eminence Bishop Moussa El-Khoury and His Eminence Bishop Arsanios Dahdal, the Abbot of the monastery, as well as many priests and deacons assisted His Beatitude in the service.

Meeting with members of the Plenary of the Congregation for Eastern Churches on Friday, His Holiness Pope Francis said “humanity still seems to be groping in the dark,” highlighting the massacres from conflicts in the Middle East, in Syria and Iraq, and the “threatening winds across the steppes of Eastern Europe.”