Following is the text of the article written by His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Louis Raphaël Sako, Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World, in which he analyzes the problems facing Christian Iraqis and the future opportunities awaiting them:

In light of the current situation, prevailing chronic political “blockage” as well as retreat on several levels and facing the rise of patriotic and honest voices from all around; the last of which was the cry of the Iraqi activist, Ms. Hana Adwar, in her meeting with the UN representative in Iraq, I would like to present here a reading of the political map of Iraq Today, and the “actual life” of Christians in it, while pursuing the future opportunities for Iraq and its citizens.

On Saturday 25 June 2022, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, inaugurated the Saint Mark Conference House in the Orabi area, across from the Diocese of Shubra El-Khaymah. Along with H.E. Metropolitan Marcos, Metropolitan of Shubra El-Khaymah, and a number of Church’s pontiffs, Major General Abdul Hamid Al-Hagan, Governor of Qalyubia, the governorate’s leaders, the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces, and the National Center for Planning State Lands also attended the inauguration.

At the conclusion of the X World Day of Families, Pope Francis invites families to “announce the beauty of being family with joy!”

By Christopher Wells

Pope Francis has a mission for Catholic families: “Proclaim the beaty of being family with joy! Proclaim the grace of Christian marriage to children and young people.”

The Holy Father addressed his “missionary mandate” especially to participants in the tenth World Meeting of Families, which concluded Saturday night with a joyful Eucharistic liturgy celebrated by Cardinal Kevin Farrell in St Peter’s Square.

His Holiness Pope Francis addresses representatives of ROACO, a church organization providing aid and assistance to Christians across the Middle East, and invites them to not stop praying, fasting, helping, and working so that the paths of peace may find space in the jungle of conflicts.

By Linda Bordoni

His Holiness Pope Francis did not neglect to issue yet another appeal for war-stricken Ukraine on Thursday 23 June 2022, calling for prayers, fasting, and work “so that the paths of peace may find space in the jungle of conflicts.”

Pope Francis on Thursday received in audience the members of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

In his address, the Pope thanked the Commission for its precious work which has allowed substantial progress in the dialogue process towards a full communion.

He greeted, in particular, its latest achievements in the discussion on the Sacraments which, he said, "could mark a new step forward" towards this goal.

On Thursday evening, June 16, 2022, a delegation from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, led by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, met with Father Francesco Patton, head of the Franciscans Custody of the Holy Land, and Archbishop Sevan Gharibian, on behalf of the Armenian Patriarchate, to pay closer inspection of the undergoing archaeological works for the floors of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, that are being carried out by the Sapienza University of Rome.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, delivered his weekly sermon in the meeting of Wednesday 22 June 2022, from St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria, in Egypt; in the presents of a number of church’s pontiffs, the sermon was also broadcast on Christian satellite channels, The Official Website of the Coptic Orthodox Church and C.O.C channel of the Church’s media center on the Internet.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II continued the new educational series, “The Concept of the Marriage Union” as a basis for building a holy Christian family, where he dealt with the fifth chapter of the Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians, which is read in the wreath prayers (the Sacred Sacrament of Marriage), and referred to the second concept of the marital union, which is emotional union.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II began by explaining the journey of emotion in man from childhood to adolescence to youth, with the importance of the hidden and preserved emotion of “Keep yourself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22), through the five human needs:

The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the highest decision-making body of the WCC, convened in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 15th to the 18th. This is the first time the Central Committee has met in person since the beginning of the pandemic.

The plenary focused primarily on preparing for the 11th WCC Assembly, which will take place in September of this year, in Karlsruhe, Germany, under the theme “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.”

His Holiness Pope Francis reminds the faithful that The Tenth World Meeting of Families is scheduled to take place in Rome this week.

By Linda Bordoni

His Holiness Pope Francis on Sunday reminded Catholics that the Tenth World Meeting of Families (#WMOF22) will kick off in Rome on Wednesday, 22 June.

WMOF is the acronym for World Meeting of Families, created by His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 1994.

Organized by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, the theme for this year’s edition is “Family Love: A Vocation and Path to Holiness”.

On June 17, 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 the camp of the elementary students of the Patriarchal Center for Religious Education, at St. Vincent Center in Saydnaya. The camp’s theme is inspired by the verse from I Corinthians 10: 23: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient”.

Sunday 6/19 June 2022, the last Sunday of the Pentecostarion period was celebrated by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem as the Sunday of All Saints, namely of all the Holy Patriarchs of the Old Testament, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Preachers, Evangelists, Ascetics of the fruit of the Grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, which was sent down on the day of the Holy Pentecost.

This feast was celebrated at the chapel dedicated to All Saints in the Holy Monastery of Sayda Naya.

On Saturday afternoon, 5/18 June 2022, His Beatitude Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Patriarch Theophilos III, was invited to bless a concert at the Notre-Dame hotel, which consisted of most of the great spiritual compositions of the great composer Sergei Rachmaninov.

The musical concert was held for the centenary anniversary of the founding of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) and the one-hundred and fiftieth anniversary since the birth of the great composer Sergei Rachmaninov.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Excellencies and priests,

May the Lord give you peace!

The celebration of this Solemnity, which takes place every year here at the Holy Sepulcher, brings us back to the heart of the Church's mission and the priestly life of each of us.

This year, the Gospel passage, rich in many insights for reflection and prayer, helps us again to understand the meaning of the Eucharist, this Mystery of Faith, and its relation to our lives.

ERUSALEM/BETHLEHEM – To mark the feast day of St Anthony of Padua, special patron and protector of the Custody of the Holy Land as well as patron saint of the Antonian Charitable Society, a home for the elderly located in Bethlehem, the faithful of the Holy Land attended several Masses and celebrations in Jerusalem, Jaffa and Bethlehem.

St Anthony of Padua was born in 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal, in a noble family whose wealth allowed him to study at a time when illiteracy was common. At the age of fifteen, he joined the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross of Coimbra, a Catholic religious order that followed the Rule St Augustine. Soon attracted by the lifestyle of Franciscan friars, whom he met while in Coimbra, he decided to join them after learning of the death of five friars beheaded in Morocco for attempting to promote Christianity in the country. Inspired by their martyrdom, he joined a hermitage in Olivais and changed his name from Fernando to Anthony (a dedication to St Anthony the Great, an Egyptian monk).

The Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem was convened, on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, during a session led by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Theophilos III, with attendance from the members of the Holy Synod.

Several issues related to ecclesiastical and pastoral administrative affairs of the holy places were among the matters discussed.

On June 15, 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 the Melqart Pharmaceutical Factory accompanied by His Excellency Mr. Andrey Nikolaevich, Russian Deputy Minister of Health.

Continuing his catechesis on the value of old age at the General Audience, His Holiness Pope Francis invites the elderly to overcome the temptation to stand aside, because the Lord never discards them, but rather restores their strength to serve.

By Benedict Mayaki, SJ

During the Wednesday General Audience, His Holiness Pope Francis continues his catechesis series on the elderly, reflecting on the account of the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law in the Gospel of Mark

With the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and on behalf of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, three young priests participated in the Oriental Orthodox Churches’ study visit to the Vatican organized by the Pontifical Council for the Christian Unity, from May 30th to June 6th, 2022.

The program was launched in 2020 but was shortly interrupted due to the pandemic.

On June 15, 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.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Cyril Babi, Patriarchal Vicar for the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, Mor Yacoub Babawi, Patriarchal Vicar for Monks Affairs and the Administration of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary in Maarat Saydnaya, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, and Armenian Orthodox Archbishop of Damascus Armash Nalbandian, were present at the evening prayer.

On June 15, 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 for the feast of the Syriac Martyrs of Sayfo, on the altar of the Martyrs of Sayfo, at Mor Aphrem Monastery in Maarat Saydnaya.