NEWS
Gaza's Holy Family Parish sends well-wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis
Gaza's Holy Family parish sends a video to His Holiness Pope Francis, wishing him a speedy recovery as he is being treated for pneumonia in hospital.
By Francesca Merlo
For over a year, a relationship of mutual support has united Pope Francis and the Holy Family parish in Gaza. Since the outbreak of war, the Pope has called the parish and its community every evening at 7pm, checking in on their well-being amidst the [Israeli] offensive. Now, as he battles double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the parishioners are returning that same closeness, sending him a short albeit heartfelt video message of prayer and encouragement.
His Holiness Pope Francis’s condition remains critical but stable
The Holy See Press Office’s Tuesday evening update on the His Holiness Pope Francis’s health says he has not suffered acute respiratory episodes, and his hemodynamic parameters remain stable. The prognosis remains guarded.
Vatican News
“The Holy Father's clinical condition remains critical but stable. There have been no acute respiratory episodes, and hemodynamic parameters continue to be stable.
In the evening, he underwent a scheduled CT scan to radiologically monitor the bilateral pneumonia. The prognosis remains cautious.
In the morning, after receiving the Eucharist, he resumed work activities.”
His Holiness Pope Francis: Lent calls us to journey together in hope
In his Message for Lent 2025, His Holiness Pope Francis invites the faithful to “journey together in hope," and to take the opportunity of the upcoming Lenten Season to ask ourselves whether we are truly willing to heed God's call to change our lives.
By Lisa Zengarini
The central theme of His Holiness Pope Francis’ Lenten Message is encapsulated in the phrase "Let us journey together in hope," which ties into the broader theme of the Jubilee Year -"Pilgrims of Hope."
The Pope's reflection focuses on conversion and unfolds in three key dimensions: the importance of journeying, journeying together, and journeying with hope.
The Holy Lent Message 2025 of His Beatitude Patriarch John X
By the mercy of God Almighty
John X
the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
To
My brethren, the pastors of the Holy Church of Antioch
And my sons and daughters wherever they are across this Apostolic See
Dear spiritual brethren and children,
During Great Lent, each of us invokes the Lord of Salvation, the Master of Life and Death, and cries to Him from the depths of our soul: Lord, have mercy!
During Great and Holy Lent, the soul goes to the Bridegroom, to the heavenly Bridegroom, with whom it rises from the dead and seeks the dawn of resurrection. In Great Lent, the soul accompanies its Bridegroom, Christ our God. It accompanies Him and calls upon Him as it treads the path of repentance, a path crowned with suffering but adorned with the resurrection from an empty tomb.
'Slight improvement' in His Holiness Pope Francis's condition
The Holy See Press Office provides an update on His Holiness Pope Francis’s health: no new episodes of asthma-like respiratory distress; a slight reduction in oxygen flow and levels; and improved test results. His mild kidney insufficiency is not a cause for concern. Pope Francis has resumed work and, in the evening, called the parish in Gaza.
By Vatican News
On Sunday evening, the Holy See Press Office provided the following update on Pope Francis' health:
The Holy Father's clinical condition, despite its severity, has shown a slight improvement.
Al-Azhar Grand Imam Wishes Pope Francis a Speedy Recovery
February 23, 2025
In a humanitarian gesture that reflects love, appreciation, and the strong relationship between the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and His Holiness Pope Francis—as well as the cooperation and dialogue between the two largest religious institutions in the Christian and Islamic worlds—
Today, His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, expressed his wishes for Pope Francis' speedy recovery through his official Facebook account, as the Pope faces a critical health condition.
He stated:
"I pray to God to grant my dear brother, Pope Francis, a swift recovery and to bless him with health and well-being so that he may continue his mission of serving humanity."
The relationship between Al-Azhar, the leading Sunni Islamic institution in the Muslim world, and the Vatican, the spiritual center of the Catholic Church, is among the most significant interfaith relations globally. Over the years, this relationship has experienced phases of cooperation, tension, and reconciliation, reflecting the nature of interfaith dynamics in the modern world.
His Eminence Bishop Hosam Naoum worshiped at Christ Church (Anglican) at Jabal Ali- Dubai on the Second Sunday Before Lent
This morning Bishop Sean Semple and His Eminence Bishop Hosam Elias Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, and the Primate of the Episcopal Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, worshipped at Christ Church (Anglican) at Jabal Ali- Dubai where Fr Jim Young presided and preached at the service.
Later in the day, Archbishop Naoum and Bishop Semple joined the Church of Pakistan worship at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Dubai, hosted by Fr prem Mitra. Bishop Azad Marshall also officiated in the bilingual (English and Urdu) Service of Holy Communion. Archbishop Naoum Presided and preached at the Service.
His Holiness Pope Francis in hospital, condition remains critical but no new respiratory crisis
His Holiness Pope Francis is alert and oxygen is still being administered. His blood values are improving thanks to transfusions. There is an initial slight renal insufficiency. He attended Mass today.
Vatican News
The Holy See Press Office provided the following medical update on Pope Francis on Sunday evening:
The condition of the Holy Father remains critical, but since yesterday evening, he has not experienced any further respiratory crises.
He received two units of concentrated red blood cells with beneficial effects, and his hemoglobin levels have risen.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II Ordains 12 New Priests in Alexandria
The Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of St. Mark in Alexandria witnessed the ordination of 12 new priests today (Saturday), by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark to serve in the churches of Alexandria.
His Holiness prayed the Divine Liturgy of Preparation Saturday 21 February 2025 for Great Lent morning, accompanied by the General Bishops overseeing the pastoral sectors of Alexandria, Hegumen Abraam Emil (the General Deputy of the Patriarchate in Alexandria), and several priests from Alexandria.
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III express the feared news about the ancient Christian community in Gaza “has now dwindled to under 600 people”
His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, was speaking at a showing of the film “Via Dolorosa,” which narrates the path of sorrows from the place where Christianity was born and where its presence is now severely threatened.
The film, shown at the United Nations in Geneva on 18 February, details the Christian presence in Palestine, narrated through the eyes of its Christians and capturing important moments that have shaped their history, identity, and resilience.
Patriarch Theophilos said, “We proudly commend this blessed work” of Amira Hanania, the film’s director, “as well as the granted auspices of the World Council of Churches and the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine, as well as all the other international organizations that lent their name and support.”
Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches Meet Online
On January 27 and 28, 2025, the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches held an online meeting to evaluate the past 20 years of the commission’s work.
His Eminence Cardinal Czerny meets with Syrian refugees in Kfardlakos, northern Lebanon
His Eminence Cardinal Czerny spends time during his mission in Lebanon to visit a refugee camp in Kfardlakos, Tripoli. The strip of land has tents and small structures giving minimal shelter to Syrian refugees Caritas serves with humanitarian aid as well as with a mobile health clinic.
Doctors: His Holiness Pope responding to treatment but not yet out of danger
At a press conference in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, members of His Holiness Pope Francis’s medical team say that he is not yet out of danger, and will be in hospital at least another week - but they note that he is joking as much as usual, and has even begun working again.
By Vatican News
Pope Francis is not “in danger of death”, but he’s also not fully “out of danger”, members of his medical team have said.
His Holiness Pope Francis at Gemelli hospital: Respiratory crisis on Saturday morning
Although more fatigued, His Holiness Pope Francis spends Saturday sitting in an armchair, as blood transfusions were necessary and the prognosis remains guarded.
By Vatican News
The Holy See Press Office issued the following medical update on Pope Francis on Saturday evening:
The condition of the Holy Father continues to be critical. Therefore, as explained yesterday, the Pope is not out of danger. This morning, Pope Francis experienced an asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity, which required the administration of high-flow oxygen.
His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II receives His Beatitude Patriarch John X at the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate Headquarters in Bab Touma
On February 21, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, received His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), at the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate Headquarters in Bab Touma.
The Saturday of souls at the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem
From the General Secretariat of the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem
In the afternoon of Friday, 8th / 21st February 2025, in the Central Monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, and as part of the Souls’ Saturday of the Triodion, after the Vespers Service, the Penitential Funeral Canon was chanted for the repose of the souls of the ever-memorable Patriarchs, blessed Archbishops, Priests, Deacons, and Monks, members of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre. The service was presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, with the participation of the Holy Sepulchre Archbishops and Priests, during which the boiled wheat prayer of the first annual Soul Saturday was read.
Their Beatitudes Patriarchs and Their Eminences Heads of Churches in Jerusalem Condemn Unjust Foreclosure Against Armenian Patriarchate In Jerusalem, Urge Immediate Intervention
Jerusalem – February 19, 2025
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
With great concern, we, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, stand in steadfast solidarity with the Orthodox Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem in its pursuit of justice against an unjust foreclosure order issued by the Municipality of Jerusalem. The actions taken against the Arminian Patriarchate, based on an unverified and exorbitant Arnona Tax debt, are legally dubious and morally unacceptable.
It is inconceivable that Christian institutions, whose mission for centuries has been to safeguard faith, serve communities, and preserve the sacred heritage of the Holy Land, should now face the threat of property seizure under [Israeli] administrative measures that disregard due process. Particularly alarming is the municipality’s attempt to enforce a debt determination without judicial scrutiny, and in defiance of the governmental committee established to negotiate such matters in good faith. This reckless move jeopardizes the Orthodox Armenian Patriarchate and sets a perilous precedent that could imperil Christian institutions throughout the Holy Land.
Meditation Of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa : VII Sunday of Ordinary Time C
Lk 6:27-38
If we wanted to summarize today’s passage from the Gospel (Lk 6:27-38) in a single sentence, we could say the following: Blessed are those who end their lives with an accounting in the red.
We are still, as we were last Sunday, in the sixth chapter of Luke’s Gospel, in which the evangelist reports the “plain speech” that begins with the section on the Beatitudes. Today’s passage immediately follows Jesus’ words about the “beatitudes” and “woes,” and is a direct continuation of them, like an extension that deepens the message.
The term that recurs most frequently is the one that has to do with love and appreciation: “Love your enemies” (v. 27.35), “if you love those who love you” (v. 32). And next to it a whole series of words that express a declension of love: bless, offer, do not reject, give, do good, lend, be merciful, do not judge, forgive. To love means all these things.
His Beatitude Patriarch John X Receives the Head of the Austrian Mission in Syria
"We emphasize the role of Austria and the European Union in supporting Syria's stability and work with everyone toward this goal"
Damascus, February 20, 2025
His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, emphasized the role of Austria and the European Union in supporting Syria's stability. The Patriarch's remarks came during his meeting with the Head of the Austrian diplomatic Mission in Syria, Chargé d'Affaires, Her Excellency Mrs. Isabel Rauscher, and the Commercial Counselor at the Austrian Embassy, Mr. Herwig Nuiper, at the Patriarchal Headquarters in Damascus. The meeting provided an opportunity for the Head of the Mission to express the importance of the historical role of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East in conveying the sentiments and the actual reality of the Syrian people.
SANA: A Civil Initiative to Support 100 Small Projects in Aleppo
An initiative has been launched by the Armenian Protestant Church in Aleppo, supported by the Dutch organization "Kerk in Actie," to provide training and support for 100 small projects. This is the fifth edition of the vocational training program in partnership with the Middle East Council of Churches.
The program aims to attract 100 young men and women affected by the earthquake and those with limited income, equipping them with skills needed to enter the job market across nine professional fields that meet local market demands. These fields include solar energy system installation and maintenance, electrical panel design, and computer and smartphone repair.