Under the auspices of 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), the 107th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia was observed on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral with a solemn Divine Liturgy celebrated by V. Rev. Fr. Avedik Der Garabedian. During the ceremony, His Holiness presided over thanksgiving prayers for the Republic of Armenia, blessing for the Armenian flag, and requiem service in honor of those who fought bravely for independence.

In the Basilica of St. Mary Major, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV venerates the icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani, prays in front of the tomb of Pope Francis, and urges Christians to grow in our devotion to Mary.

By Wojciech Rogacin and Kielce Gussie

After celebrating Mass at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, Pope Leo XIV visited the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. There, he prayed in the Pauline Chapel before the icon of Salus Populi Romani (Salvation of the Roman People), a sacred image before which many Pontiffs, including Pope Francis, have entrusted the Church’s most important intentions.

From May 22 to May 25, 2025, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, resumed his pastoral ministry in the Diocese of Jerusalem following his return from the Vatican with a deeply meaningful visit to the town of Beit Sahour. Over four days, the Cardinal engaged in a rich tapestry of pastoral encounters, community visits, and ecumenical gatherings. He listened attentively to the hopes and struggles of the faithful, reaffirming the Church’s steadfast commitment to walking with its people—especially in times of hardship. Below are the main highlights of the visit:

Day One: A Welcome Rooted in Communion

The visit began with a vibrant and heartfelt reception at the entrance of Beit Sahour, where the Latin Parish Scouts formed a joyful line of welcome. The event was graced by the presence of Msgr. William Shomali, General Vicar; Fr. Issa Hijazin, parish priest of Beit Sahour; Fr. Emmanuel, vicar priest; clergy from local churches; and civic figures, including Minister of Tourism Mr. Hani Hayek, Mayor Mr. Elias Issa Eid, and representatives from official institutions.

On 24 May 2025 the Near East School of Theology (NEST) held this year's commencement ceremony for five graduates, four of whom are Armenian, three of whom are Armenian Evangelical church members, and two of whom are in-care students* of the UAECNE. The speaker was Mr. John Sagherian, who in his message called the graduates to consider their primary task to make Jesus' presence felt through their service.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark prayed the Saturday Liturgy of the fifth week of the Holy Fifties at the Church of Virgin Mary in Ard El Golf, Heliopolis, Cairo. This was in celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the laying of its foundation stone by the Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III on May 29, 1975.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV renews his appeal for "dignified humanitarian aid" to enter Gaza, calling for a cessation of hostilities "whose price is paid by children, the elderly, and the sick."

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sr. Tiziana Merletti as the Secretary of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life, which is responsible for orders and religious congregations, as well as secular institutes.

By Joseph Tulloch

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sister Tiziana Merletti, former Superior General of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, as Secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Under the esteemed patronage of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine and Jordan, and in the distinguished presence of Mr. Oliver Owcza, Head of the German Representative Office in Ramallah, Ms. Chitose Noguchi, Special Representative of the Administrator a.i. of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP/PAPP); and Mr. Petros Anagnostaras, Deputy Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem, the official inauguration ceremony of the main hall at St. Demetrios School in the Old City of Jerusalem took place.

Jerusalem, May 22, 2025 — In joyful thanksgiving for the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, the Diocese of Jerusalem gathered at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre for a solemn Mass celebrated in front of the Aedicule — the site of Christ’s Resurrection. His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over the liturgy, joined by bishops, priests, religious, and a large assembly of local faithful and pilgrims.

Jn 14:23-29

The call to remember runs through the entire Old Testament.

In some books, such as Deuteronomy, the call becomes urgent, because for the people preparing to enter the Promised Land, there is no other way of life than remembering what God has accomplished for them, the deliverance that God has wrought.

The call to remember comes again and again and is urgent, precisely because man tends to forget.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV holds his first Wednesday General Audience and reflects on Jesus' parable of the sower, stressing that God “does not wait for us to become the best soil.”

By Kielce Gussie

In his first General Audience as Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV continued with Pope Francis' Jubilee series on the theme of “Jesus Christ, Our Hope.”

The new Pope carried on with his predecessor's reflection on the parables of Jesus, which Pope Leo said “help us to rediscover hope, because they show us how God acts in history.”

Today (Tuesday), His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark visited the archaeological site of "Abu Mena" in Alexandria. The site includes the Monastery of the Martyr Saint Mina the Wonderworker in Mariout. He was accompanied by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Mr. Sherif Fathy, Alexandria Governor Lieutenant General Ahmed Khaled Hassan, Ms. Nuria Sanz, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo, Dr. Mohamed Ismail, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and Dr. Gamal Mostafa, Head of the Islamic and Coptic Antiquities Sector.

Dear brothers and sisters, 
may the Lord give you peace! 

(opening greetings) 

Today, churches around the world are commemorating and celebrating the anniversary of perhaps the most important event in church history since the birth of the church itself. Nicaea, the council that brought together the bishops of the church at that time, an expression of the different souls and world views of the time, has shaped the Christian faith for all the generations that followed. Since then, everyone who believes in Christ, has spoken the same words in all churches and nourished his faith with the same expressions. 

The person of Jesus has never ceased to fascinate the world. His coming into the world has changed history, raised questions, and also provoked rejection and resistance. At all times, in short, Jesus has in some way forced us to take a stand about him. 

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17.20–23).

May 18, 2025


The venerable Church of Christ surpasses in glory the upper firmament, not that it surpasses the radiance of visible light, but because it carries the Divine Sun of Justice that does not set.
Its rays shine with the words of the Spirit day and night in a befitting manner.
By these God enlightens the eyes of the soul, saying, “Let there be light.”
He is the Life and Resurrection of all.

Your Eminences,

Dear friends,

I have found no words more eloquent than these, spoken 1,500 years ago at the dedication of the Church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) in Constantinople, to describe this holy church that is being planted today in the heart of Zahle by the right hand of God Most High. It is meant to radiate in splendor over Zahle, Lebanon, the East, and around the globe, saying to the world: We are the children of this East, with all our denominations, planted like olive trees. We are the makers of its history and the farmers who planted its cedars and olives. We are those who planted its cedars and olive trees. We are in this land as sprouts of the Creator of the cedars and the Maker of the olive trees.
We come from the lights of the One who said: “Let there be light.” This is the message of this church, which reflects in the golden domes, the golden hearts of its faithful, and the pure heart of its founder, Bishop Niphon Saikaly. We come from the radiance of its light because it bears the radiance of the Sun of Justice. We come from its joy, which reflects the joy of the myrrh-bearers at the sight of the empty tomb. We come from the Church of Antioch, steeped in history, rooted in the moment, and looking ahead with eyes that put their hopes solely in the Lord of Glory.

Under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, and His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea was celebrated on May 17 and 18, 2025, at the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Cairo and at the Great St. Mark’s Cathedral.

On May 18, 2025, their Holinesses Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Pope Tawadros II, and Catholicos Aram I, met with the Heads of the Churches in Egypt, at the Papal Residence in Cairo.

Concelebrated the Holy Qurobo at St. Mark Cathedral in Cairo on the occasion of the 1700 Jubilee of the Council of Nicea

On May 18, 2025, their Holinesses Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Pope Tawadros II, and Catholicos Aram I, concelebrated the Holy Qurobo at St. Mark Cathedral in Cairo on the occasion of the 1700 Jubilee of the Council of Nicea.

Sunday, 5th/18th May 2025, was celebrated as the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, the fourth Sunday after Pascha. On this day, we commemorate the spiritual encounter of our Lord Jesus Christ with the Samaritan woman at the Well of the Patriarch Jacob. During their conversation, He revealed Himself to her as the awaited Messiah, the Christ. He spoke of the spiritual nature of God the Father and the Holy Spirit-filled essence of the faith of those who truly worship Him in spirit and in truth.