His Holiness Pope Francis thanks promoters of the “Open Hospitals in Syria” project for their work in the suffering nation, and says domestic and international disputes and the robbing of opportunities are leaving great numbers of marginalized people and nations stranded by the roadside.

By Linda Bordoni

His Holiness Pope Francis reflected on the ongoing suffering of the Syrian people after 12 years of violent conflict, and upheld the commitment and the healthcare offered to all Syrians in need by a Catholic-run initiative called “Open Hospitals in Syria.”

Greeting members of the AVSI Foundation that promotes and runs the initiative, which is supported by various Holy See institutions, as well as the apostolic nuncio to Syria, Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Pope decried the wounds inflicted on the nation.

Opening to the sounds of nature reverberating through the speaker system, World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly delegates took part in the first thematic plenary, “The purpose of God’s love in Christ for the whole of creation – reconciliation and unity," on 1 September, the first day of Season of Creation.

Throughout the session, the image of a cedar tree from the Middle East, embraced and hugged by children from different parts of the world, was present on the main screen. Plenary moderator, Dr Agnes Abuom, moderator of the WCC central committee, explained how cedar trees are known for their strength and resilience. “They remind us of the bonds of our life over generations,” she said.

His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, leader of the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, also offered a keynote presentations. “Together as communities, churches, cities, and nations, we must change route and discover new ways of working together to break down the traditional barriers between peoples to stop competing for resources and start collaborating,” he said.

His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, delegate of the Coptic Orthodox Church, offered a keynote on reconciliation and unity in the Middle East.

His Holiness Pope Francis, sent greetings to the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly as it opened.

His Holiness Pope Francis wished the representatives of the churches at the 31 August to 8 September assembly "a meaningful and fruitful meeting that deepens and strengthens the bonds of communion between the Churches and the ecumenical organizations present."

The pontiff said in advance greetings that he has a "pastoral interest in the work of the Assembly."

Pope Francis also noted that the Catholic Church has sent "delegated observers" to WCC assemblies since the WCC 3rd Assembly took place in New Delhi in 1961.

"I am glad that a delegation is also present this year, a sign of the strong relationship between the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches that has consolidated over time," the Pope said.

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew offered greetings and a pointed message to the delegates and participants at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany.

He began his remarks with the teaching and the belief that “the light of Christ shines more brightly than any darkness in our hearts and in our world,” offering this idea as the underlying premise to the theme of the assembly, that “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.”

Yet, we have fallen short of this ideal, he suggested. Asking each of us the question, “how can we reconcile our magnificent faith with our manifest failure?”

The Ecumenical Patriarch was referring to our “sin of ignoring the divine presence in all things and in all people,” and our failure to look larger than ourselves to “discern and detect the purpose for which God has created everyone and everything.”

His words were delivered on 1 September, which he notes as a “consecrated day of prayer and protection for God’s sacred creation,” and a day that “Orthodox Christians since 1989 have dedicated to praying for the protection of God’s gift of creation.”

On the evening of Tuesday, August 17/30, 2022, there was an inspection of the conservation works of the floor of the Rotunda and the Seven Arches of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, completed by the Sapientia University of Rome.

This inspection took place with the participation of the representatives of the three Major Communities, namely the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Franciscan Brotherhood and the Patriarchate of the Armenians in Jerusalem.

On behalf of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III with the Patriarchal Commissioner and Chairman of the Finance Committee, His Eminence Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Geronda Chief Secretary His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the Elder Sacristan His Eminence Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, the Elder Dragoman Archimandrite Mattheos, the Master of the Ceremonies of the Patriarchate, Archimandrite Bartholomew, the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod Hierodeacon Simeon and other Fathers.

Dear brothers and sisters,
Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Peace and love to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I come to you carrying greetings and peace from the Phoenician shores that heard the proclamation of the Gospel by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and afterward by the Apostles. I come to you from Damascus, the city in which Saint Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, received illumination and the place of his repentance. I come from the Apostolic City of Antioch, which preached to all nations the Gospel of reconciliation and salvation, and where the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). Since the Apostolic period, Antioch has persisted in defending the freedom of the children of God to worship Him in spirit and truth and supporting the Church in the Gentile cities against discrimination and exclusion. This led to the fact that the love of God, which He demonstrated to us through the death and resurrection of the Savior, is now proclaimed in all parts of the world. Thus, there is no doubt that Christ’s prophets and teachers in Antioch: Barnabas, Simeon, who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul (Acts 13:1), have contributed to make this gathering here today a reality for all of us, coming from all the tribes of the earth; from various countries, nationalities, and races, to praise Christ our God, Who granted us reconciliation with the Father and the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18).

His Holiness Pope Francis calls for concrete commitment to care for our common home. His words come ahead of the World Day of Prayer for Creation celebrated on 1 September which kicks off the Season of Creation which lasts till 4 October.

By Benedict Mayaki SJ

During the weekly General Audience on Wednesday, His Holiness Pope Francis recalled the World Day of Prayer for Creation and the beginning of the Season of Creation.

His Holiness Pope Francis had established 1 September as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, encouraging the faithful around the world to pray for our common home.

His Holiness Pope Francis presided over the Ordinary Public Consistory during which he created 21 Cardinals, on Saturday 27 August 2022, at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Louis Raphaël Sako, Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World, participated in this ceremony, which you can watch it through the video.

On August 28, 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 Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch at the Syriac Catholic Procura in Rome.

His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos and Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac, Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, and Head of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, His Beatitude Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Perfect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches in the Vatican, His Eminence Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, Archbishop of Vienna, were also present.

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, presided over the Sunday August 28th, 2022, Liturgy at the Church of Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery, Lebanon, on the occasion of the opening of the academic year at the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology. Their Eminences, Metropolitan Silouan Moussi (Mount Lebanon), Metropolitan Ghattas Hazim (Baghdad and Kuwait), and His Grace Bishop Moses al-Khosi assisted His Beatitude in the service, with the participation of the Dean of the Institute of Theology, Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Jack Khalil, and many priests, deacons, and students from the institute, and the institute's choir served the liturgy.

Her excellency, the Greek Ambassador, Katerina Fountoulaki, attended, in addition to Deputy Adib Abdel Masih, President of the University of Balamand, Dr. Elias al-Warrak, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, Dr. Michel Abs, the university's vice presidents, deans, university and institute professors, and numerous believers.

On Saturday 14/27 August 2022, on the Forefeast of the Dormition, the service of the Lamentations of the Theotokos – a unique service of the Church of Jerusalem – was held at the Church of the Dormition in Gethsemane, where the Tomb of the Theotokos lies, after an all-night vigil which was officiated by the Master of Ceremonies of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Archimandrite Bartholomew.

For this service, the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood marched down Via Dolorosa from the Patriarchate Headquarters, and after a short rest at the Hegoumeneion of Gethsemane, the welcoming reception began at the courtyard of the shrine with lit candles and incense offering under the chanting of the Apolytikion of the Dormition. The service was held at the centre of the Church, before the Epitaph of the Mother of God, presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, along with Hagiotaphite Hierarchs and Hieromonks, following the Typikon order with the three stasis of the Lamentations, with the incense offering inside the Tomb and around the Church and the chapels in it.

Led by the Sami people in a special processional, 97 Indigenous delegates to the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly were present in Karlsruhe for the pre-assembly. They symbolically ushered in four elements—Earth, Water, Fire and Wind—through biblical texts and prayer.

The theme of their gathering was “Reconciliation: Restoring Wholeness in Creation.”

They began their pre-assembly work on topics ranging from engagement with the Indigenous peoples in Europe, to reflecting and testifying on the learnings from Pilgrim Team Visits.

Lighting candles to remember where they came from, they also received an orientation to the German context of the assembly, as well as interaction with assembly committee members and pre-assembly delegates.

At the opening of the annual Synod of the Chaldean Church in Baghdad, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World, once again raises the alarm on the risk of Christians disappearing from Iraq as they continue to face hardships and discrimination.

By Lisa Zengarini

The Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, has warned that Christians in Iraq and in the entire region are heading towards disappearance unless there is a "change" in the way of thinking in governmental, social and economic policies.

He made these remarks at the opening of the Synod of the Chaldean Church taking place in the Iraqi capital from 21-27 August.

“Iraqi Christians, and perhaps also Christians of other nations, will soon disappear if there is no change in thinking and of the state system.”

During the recent Cilician Brotherhood gathering, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, announced the following new appointments:

- Rev. Fr. Sdepanos Pashayan, formerly pastor St. Mary Church in Thessaloniki, joins the Information and Communication Department in Antelias and is replaced by V. Rev. Fr. Yeghia Malkhassian.

-Rev. Fr. Avedik Der Garabedian and V. Rev. Fr. Azad Filigian join the supervisory staff of the Armenian Theological Seminary

-Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aprahamian joins the Middle Eastern and Christian-Muslim Dialogue section of the Ecumenical Department.

-Rev. Fr. Yezegiel Selloumian is appointed as pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Zahle…

On Friday, August 6 / 19, 2022, the Despotic feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord was celebrated at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. During this holiday, the Church remembers that our Lord Jesus Christ before His passion took three of the pre-qualified disciples, Peter and James and John, and they went up to Tabor, where He was transfigured before them.

There, He hid His human nature for a little while and revealed to the disciples His divine nature in its brilliance, shining more than the sun and His clothes were now white as snow and was seen with the prophets Moses and Elias, conversing with them about His passion, which would happen in Jerusalem in the near future.

On Sunday, August 21st, 2022, a requiem service was held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, Lebanon, and St. Mary Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon, as well as in all Prelacy Churches of the Holy See of Cilicia, under the auspices of The Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, for the repose of the souls of the victims of the Surmalu shopping center explosion, in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, on August 14th.

Damascus, August 16th, 2022

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, sent a letter of condolence to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, following the fire that ripped through the Giza Church.
His Beatitude Patriarch John X wrote: My letter coincides with the season of dormition of the Most Holy Virgin Mary. Hence, we ask for her omnipresent divine tenderness.

On August 15, 2022, on the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, 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 the Lady of the Girdle (Zunoro) Cathedral in Homs.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeera and Euphrates and Armenian Orthodox Archbishop of Damascus Armash Nalbandian.

On August 14, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, arrived to the Lady of the Girdle (Zunoro) Cathedral – Homs, for inauguration Shrine of belt (Zunoro) of the Virgin Mary.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was received by His Eminence the Archbishop Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, the clergy of the archdiocese as well as the Syriac Scouts of the Archdiocese.

His Holiness Pope Francis concludes his catechesis on the value and meaning of old age at the weekly General Audience, and recalls that serene faith and trust in Christ’s promise at that time of life can offer fruitful witness to the Gospel.

By Devin Watkins

At the Wednesday General Audience, held in the Paul VI Hall due to the heat, His Holiness Pope Francis picked up the theme of the value of old age for the last time.
He reflected on Jesus’ words of farewell to His disciples at the Last Supper, as recounted in the Gospel of John (14:1-3).