On Thursday July 7, 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 construction site of the Patriarchal complex in Harit Al-Zaytoun in Bab Sharqi, Damascus.

During the visit, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II inspected the construction work in the different parts, namely the Women Dorms, Youth Center and the Patriarchal Departments’ Offices.

In a wide-ranging interview with American journalist Philip Pullella of Reuters, His Holiness Pope Francis covers topics such as the recent US Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the possibility of resigning, the decision to postpone his planned Apostolic Visit to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and his hopes for a trip to Moscow and Kyiv.

By Vatican News staff reporter

His Holiness Pope Francis has responded to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which returned power to regulate abortion to the individual states, saying he respected the decision, but had not studied it enough to comment on it from a juridic point of view.

at the opening of Symposium Syriacum XIII in Paris

I am grateful for the invitation to be part of this outstanding event where some of the greatest and most illustrious scholars of both Syriac and Arab Christian literature come together to present their latest works. Some sharing their latest discoveries of still unknown texts and other shedding a new light and giving new meanings to some well-known works.

In greetings intended for the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations, His Holiness Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of Christians and Jews encountering one another and working together to counter negative trends in western society.

By Christopher Wells

“Interreligious dialogue is a sign of the times,” His Holiness Pope Francis says, adding that he considers it “a providential sign, in the sense that God Himself, in His wise plan, has inspired, in religious leaders and in many others, the desire to encounter and come to know one another in a way respectful of religious differences.”

On July 4, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, inaugurated the XIII Symposium Syriacum and the XI Congress for the Arabic Christian Studies, at the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO), in Paris.

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia Emphasizes the Need to Unite Around One Nation And One Homeland

ANTELIAS, LEBANON (July 1, 2022)- Thousands gathered in front of St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral at the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias for the blessing of the Holy Muron - Muhronortnek - by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia. Despite the ongoing challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the dire economic situation in Lebanon, the faithful gathered and watched in awe, and with renewed hope and faith.

On July 1st, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, participated in the rite of consecration of the Holy Myron, upon the invitation of his brother in Christ His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Armenian Orthodox Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, at the Headquarters of the Catholicosate in Antelias, Lebanon.

His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences: Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Archbishop of Beirut, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

The 3rd of July is the feast of our Patron, Apostle Thomas. It gives me a great pleasure to send you on such an important ecclesiastical occasion heartfelt congratulations, encouraging you to be truthful in adhering to St. Thomas’ faith: “my Lord and my God” (John 20/ 28).

Iraqis have been through painful crises for the past 19 years, without finding “solutions” to their problems. Yet, there is still a hope for “change”, since injustice is “temporary” and does not last. In the meantime, Iraqi Chaldeans need to be patient while keeping in mind Jesus’ words: Courage! It’s me! Don’t be afraid (Matthew 14/ 27); and we all have to work diligently on spiritual renewal, fraternal solidarity, and national commitment to heal our wounds.

Meeting with a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, His Holiness Pope Francis thanks God for ecumenical progress over the years, and stresses the need to reconcile with separated Christians, especially as the world faces a "cruel and senseless war."

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Amid "a cruel and senseless war of aggression in which many, many Christians are fighting one another," His Holiness Pope Francis says "reconciliation among separated Christians as a means of contributing to peace between peoples in conflict" is very timely.

On June 29, 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 Sts. Peter and Paul at St. Severius Church in the Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh - Lebanon.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Shemoun, Patriarchal Vicar and Director of the Patriarchal Benevolent Institutions in Atchaneh, and Mor Severus Roger Akhrass, Patriarchal Vicar for Syriac Studies, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, attended the Holy Qurobo.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, delivers his weekly speech, on Wednesday 29 June 2022, in the presence of number of Bishops and General Bishops supervising the pastoral sectors in Alexandria, Fr. Abraam Emil, Patriarchal Vicar in Alexandria, in St. Marcos Cathedral in Alexandria.
Before His Holiness’ speech, he listened to Fr. Karas Ibrahim’s one, Secretary of the Sub-Clerical Council in Alexandria, it was about the work of the Council during the previous period since 2018, with a presentation of statistics on the most important reasons for opening files and the results of work in the Council.
Also, another speech by Fr. Luke Abdel Masih, the official of the St. Joseph the carpenter Institute for Counseling and Church Guidance, it was about the institute’s work, the importance of the role of counseling centers in solving many family problems, and ways of cooperation between counseling centers and the seminary.

With an Apostolic Letter to the people of God entitled "Desiderio desideravi”, His Holiness Pope Francis calls for Catholics to overcome forms of aestheticism that appreciate only outward formality or allow sloppiness in liturgy, noting that “a celebration that does not evangelize is not authentic."

By Vatican News

His Holiness Pope Francis has written an Apostolic Letter to the people of God on the liturgy, to recall the profound meaning of Eucharistic celebrations as it emerged from the Council and to encourage liturgical formation.

His Holiness Pope Francis published "Desiderio desideravi" on Wednesday, which includes 65 paragraphs elaborating on the results of the February 2019 plenary of the Dicastery of Divine Worship and follows the motu proprio "Traditionis custodes."

Following a long-standing tradition, a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is in Rome this week to help build unity between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

By Vatican News staff reporter

The Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity released a statement on Monday to announce the visit of an official delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople to Rome on 28-30 June.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and a number of church pontiffs beautified the Relics of St. Isidoros, the priest of Al-Qalali and the strong St. Mosis in St. Virgin Mary’s Monastery (Al-Bramous) in Wadi El-Natrun.
The church celebrates on Friday, Paoni 25th / July 1st, the memorial of the martyrdom of the strong St. Mosis, who was martyred in 407 AD, and it also celebrates on the same day.

The Vatican reveals the official Logo of the upcoming Jubilee Year due to be held in 2025 on the theme 'Pilgrims of Hope' and reflects on some of the Holy Year's early initiatives and plans.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

The official Logo of the upcoming Jubilee due to be held in 2025 has been unveiled.

In a press conference held on Tuesday in the Sala Regia of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, the Vatican revealed the official Logo for the upcoming Jubilee year.

At Mass to celebrate the feast of Sts Peter and Paul, Pope Francis blesses the pallia for new Metropolitan Archbishops, and reminds the faithful that the Church is called to “get up quickly” and “fight the good fight.”

By Christopher Wells

Pope Francis blessed the pallia for the new Metropolitan Archbishops on the feast of Sts Peter and Paul, and presided at the Mass for the Solemnity, which was celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.

To know Jesus is the deep desire not only of those here among us who have chosen religious life, but – in different forms and ways – also of every believer. It is the basis of every choice. Or at least it should be. And if you are here today to receive the priestly ordination, the underlying reason is Him alone, "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Mt 16:16), who is to be followed and served.

Today's Gospel passage questions us by suggesting an implicit but fundamental question, "What does it mean to know Jesus? How do we know Him?"

On Monday, 14/27 June 2022 the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalme celebrated the feast of the Holy Prophet Elisha.

On this feast, the Church commemorates the events written in the Book of Kings in the Old Testament, according to which the Prophet Elisha came from Jericho and left his profession when Prophet Elijah called him. He offered a feast to the people with the twelve pairs of oxen he used on his farm, followed Prophet Elijah and became a benefactor for the people of the Jordan district through the signs and miracles that God deemed him worthy to work.

The eighteenth meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches took place in Rome from June 20-24, 2022 and was hosted by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

‏It was chaired jointly by His Eminence Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and by His Grace Bishop Kyrillos, Coptic Orthodox Auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles, California, USA.

GAZA - Twice a year, His Beatitude Patriarch Mgr Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, visits Gaza to meet the Christian community. This time, he came accompanied by Fr. Davide Meli, Chancellor of the Patriarchate, Fr. Carlos Ferrero, IVE, and Abdallah Dababneh, who studies at the Patriarchal seminary.

Five days across the Gaza Strip. Between visits, meetings, inaugurations and convivial times, the program of the Patriarch and his delegation was full. Two afternoons and one morning were entirely dedicated to visits to Christian families: a dozen of them were able to receive Mgr Pizzaballa in their homes to meet him in person and to take a moment to discuss.