Jn 10:27-30

Chapter 10 of John’s Gospel, records Jesus' discourse of the “good shepherd", which is divided into two parts. In the first (Jn. 10:1-18), Jesus uses the imagery of the gate, the shepherd, and speaks of himself as the one who passes through death to give freedom and life to his people.

There is then a narrative interlude (Jn 10:22-24), before Jesus resumes and concludes the discourse (Jn 10:25-30).

Christians in the Arab Levant and Ambitions for Unity and Enlightenment, held upon the invitation of Prince Hassan bin Talal, President of the Royal Institute for Religious Studies, in Amman, Jordan

On May 7, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, participated in the inaugural session of the Conference titled: Christians in the Arab Levant and Ambitions for Unity and Enlightenment, held upon the invitation of Prince Hassan bin Talal, President of the Royal Institute for Religious Studies, in Amman, Jordan.

with the Department for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities at the Serbian Presidential Palace on the Occasion of His Visit to Serbia …

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II during the Lecture: "Love Builds a Better Time, a Better Place, and a Better Human Being"

On Tuesday evening, the Presidential Palace in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, hosted His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark as part of an event organized by the Embassy of Egypt in Serbia, in cooperation with the Office for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities in Serbia, on the occasion of His Holiness’s visit to the country. During the event, His Holiness delivered a lecture entitled "Bridges of Love."

On the evening of Tuesday, May 6, 2025, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) traveled to Amman, Jordan, to take part in a two-day international Christian-Islamic conference. He will deliver the opening address at the conference, which will be attended by prominent Christian and Islamic religious leaders as well as experts in the field.

The 133 cardinal-electors have entered the Sistine Chapel in solemn procession, beginning the conclave that will elect the next and 267th pope.

By Francesca Merlo

On Wednesday afternoon, under the gaze of Michelangelo’s frescoes, the 133 cardinals taking part in the 2025 conclave entered the Sistine Chapel. The ancient ritual to elect the Pope has officially begun.

On Tuesday, 23rd April / 6th May 2025, the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the feast of Saint George the Great Martyr and Trophy-Bearer. This feast and this Saint are among the most popular in the Holy Land, due to his maternal origin from the city of Lydda, where his tomb is located, the many miracles he performed, and the reverence he inspires—not only among Christians but also among followers of other religions in the region.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark met this evening with His Eminence Sheikh Mustafa Yusuf Spahić, the Grand Mufti of Serbia, and his accompanying delegation at the Pope’s residence in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. The meeting was attended by Egyptian Ambassador to Serbia, Mr. Bassel Salah.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark met today with members of the Coptic Orthodox Church residing in Serbia at the Church of Saint Mark the Apostle in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. The group consisted of around 130 young people and the visit came as part of his ongoing pastoral visit of the Diocese of Central Europe, which began on April 25.

His Holiness Pope Francis requests that his popemobile be turned into a health clinic for the children of Gaza.

By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis' legacy of peace continues to shine in our conflict-ridden world. The closeness he showed to the most vulnerable during his earthly mission is radiating even after his death, and this most recent surprise is no exception: His popemobile, the very vehicle from which he waved and was close to millions of faithful all around the world, is being transformed into a mobile health unit for the children of Gaza.

On Sunday, the 21st of April / 4th of May 2025, the Patriarchate solemnly celebrated the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women. On this day, the Church commemorates Joseph of Arimathaea, the noble counsellor and burial-giver of our Lord, who came from Arimathaea—modern-day Ramla—a respected member of the council, who boldly went unto Pilate and asked for the Body of Jesus (cf. Mark 15:43–46), and who, together with Nicodemus and the Myrrh-bearing Women, buried the immaculate Body of our Lord Jesus.

Today, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark met with His Beatitude Patriarch Porfirije, Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, at the Patriarchate located in the Church of Saint Sava in the Vračar district of Belgrade.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark arrived today at “Nikola Tesla” Airport in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, coming from Romania, marking the third stop in his pastoral tour of the Diocese of Central Europe.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark consecrated the Church of Saint Mina the Martyr in the Romanian capital, Bucharest — the first Coptic Orthodox church in Romania. This event took place as part of His Holiness’s current pastoral visit to the country, which is part of a wider pastoral tour of the Diocese of Central Europe that began on April 25.

On May 3rd, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, received His Beatitude Joseph Absi, Greek-Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Alexandria, and Jerusalem, at the Patriarchate Headquarters in Bab Touma - Damascus.

Prot. N. (1) 832/2025

May 1, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On the fourth Sunday of Easter, known as Good Shepherd Sunday, the universal Church invites us to celebrate the Day of Prayer for Vocations. It is a day on which we lift our prayers together with confidence and hope to the Lord, that He may send “laborers into His harvest” (Lk 10:2), and awaken in the hearts of young men and women the desire to follow Him closely, on the path of priestly or religious consecration.

The Annual Meeting of His Holiness the Pope with the Bishops of Europe commenced this morning in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, with the attendance of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, as part of his pastoral visit to the Diocese of Central Europe.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark led the Vespers praying at the Church of the Martyr St. Mina in Bucharest, the capital of Romania. Participating in the service were His Grace Bishop Giovanni, Bishop of Central Europe, a number of bishops from various European dioceses, and members of His Holiness's accompanying delegation.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark visited His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, at the Patriarchal Palace in the Romanian capital, Bucharest.

The meeting was held in the "Europa Christiana" Hall inside the Patriarchal Palace, where the Patriarch of Romania delivered a welcoming speech expressing the depth of the good relations between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church. He highlighted the warm reception that Romanian church delegations receive when visiting Coptic monasteries and churches in Egypt.

During his recent visit to the Vatican for the funeral ceremony of His Holiness Pope Francis, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) engaged in two noteworthy interviews on April 28, 2025. The first interview was with Il Giornale, and the second was conducted with Nicola Porro from Mediaset Television.

In his homily for the 7th Novemdiales Mass, the Cardinal urges the faithful to welcome and help our brothers and sisters in the Eastern Churches persevere in their faith.

By Vatican News

Still at the beginning of the Easter season, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti reflected on faith in the resurrection, especially in light of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis on Easter Monday. During the 7th Novemdiales Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Cardinal underlined that the resurrection is not “not a phenomenon inherent to human nature” rather it comes from God “through His Spirit.”