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), has recently released a new publication titled “In Search of Self-Understanding: A Christian Anthropological Perspective.”

In the presence 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 Christian Education Department of the Catholicosate held the closing ceremony of its weekly Bible study sessions on June 17, 2025, at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator. These weekly gatherings have served as a space for spiritual reflection, prayer, hymn recitation, and community fellowship through various social activities.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV sends a message on the occasion of a Peruvian theatre performance honouring investigative journalist Paola Ugaz, and calls for a culture that does not tolerate any kind of abuse in the Church and for the defence of press freedom. He praises journalists who expose abuse, stating that silencing them threatens democracy and undermines the Gospel's call for justice and truth.

By Salvatore Cernuzio

In a message against all forms of abuse, Pope Leo XIV has called for a cultural transformation within the Catholic Church.

“[It is necessary to] radicate throughout the Church a culture of prevention that does not tolerate any form of abuse: abuse of power or authority, of conscience or spirituality, of sexual abuse”, he writes.

Jerusalem, June 22, 2025

With hearts heavy with sorrow and eyes lifted in prayer, we received the grievous news of the heinous attack that desecrated the sacred grounds of the Church of Saint Elias in the Dweila neighborhood of Damascus. The deliberate targeting of the faithful in the house of the Lord, during a moment of reverence and peace, is an affront not only to our Christian brethren in Syria, but to the dignity of all humanity.

Jerusalem 23 June 2025

It is with profound shock and deep revulsion that we received the tragic news of the suicide bombing at St. Elias Church in the suburbs of Damascus, during Sunday prayer, that caused numerous fatalities and injuries among the faithful.

There is no justification—religious, moral, or rational—for the slaughter of innocents, least of all in a sacred space. Such violence under the guise of faith is a grave perversion of all that is holy. This is an act of unspeakable evil—a crime against humanity and a sin before God.

The ongoing military operations between Iran and [Israel] have naturally caused serious concern among the Armenian communities residing in both countries.

On Monday, June 16, 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), was able—with difficulty—to establish contact with His Eminence Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy in Tehran, as well as with representatives of the Armenian community. He was informed that the community had not suffered any damage and is closely monitoring the concerning developments on the ground through its religious and community structures and leaders.

As for the Armenian community of Jerusalem and its surrounding areas, His Holiness is likewise closely following their security situation.

“We take pride in our Antiochian Archdiocese in North America and throughout the diaspora”

Balamand, June 17, 2025

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family, expressed the Antiochian Church’s pride in its faithful in North America and throughout the diaspora. The Patriarch’s words came during his reception of His Eminence, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Saba (Esber), Metropolitan of New York and All North America, at the Patriarchal Residency in Balamand.

For his part, His Eminence emphasized the importance of embodying the belonging to the Antiochian Church, despite geographical distance and challenging circumstances.

On the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, the Pope closes the Jubilee of Sport with a Mass, reminding everyone that sports can be a “means of reconciliation and encounter.”

By Kielce Gussie

In St. Peter’s Basilica in front of thousands of athletes of all levels, backgrounds and sports, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV presided over Mass to close the Jubilee of Sport and celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

In his homily, the Pope reflected on how “unusual” the connection between the Trinity and sport might seem. However, he pointed out that since every good human activity reflects God’s infinite beauty in some way, “sport is certainly one of these.”

14-6-2025

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV decries the military escalation between Iran and [Israel] and renews his appeal for dialogue and the pursuit of a world free from the nuclear threat.

By Linda Bordoni

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on Saturday appealed to Iranian and [Israeli] leaders to step back from war and engage in dialogue for the common good.

Speaking during an Audience for the Jubilee of Sport in St. Peter’s Basilica, he said “No one should ever threaten another’s existence.”

"In these days, news continues to arrive that causes great concern. The situation in Iran and [Israel] has seriously deteriorated, and at such a delicate moment, I wish to strongly renew an appeal to responsibility and reason,” he said.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay strongly condemned the [Israeli] military attack on Iranian territory as “an unlawful act that violates international law and the sovereignty of a nation-state”.

“Such aggression endangers the entire Middle East region, reignites cycles of violence, and risks triggering a catastrophic war with global implications,” he said. “It challenges all efforts made through diplomacy and dialogue, and gravely undermines the pursuit of peace, justice, and human dignity.”

In a telegram for the Day of Life observed by the Church in England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV calls on Catholics to continue to bear witness to the God-given dignity of every person without exception.

By Christopher Wells

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has expressed his “spiritual closeness” to all those taking part in the 2025 “Day for Life,” promoted by the bishops’ conferences of England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV addresses young people gathered in his hometown – Chicago – and urges them to build community, embrace God’s love, and become “beacons of hope” in today’s world.

By Linda Bordoni 

Thousands of young people gathered at Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox Major League Baseball team, on Saturday, June 14, for a joyful celebration organised by the Archdiocese of Chicago to honour the recent election of their native son, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

In a video message, the newly elected Pope, formerly Archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru, expressed gratitude and encouragement to the young people of his hometown and the world.

On June 15, 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 (MECC), celebrated the Holy Qurobo for the feast of the Syriac Martyrs of Sayfo, and on the occasion of the end of the academic year at Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary, on the altar of the Martyrs of Sayfo at Mor Aphrem Monastery in Maarat Saydnaya.

His Holiness was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Yacoub Babawi, Patriarchal Vicar for Monks Affairs and the Administration of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary in Maarat Saydnaya, Mor Christophoros Markose, Patriarchal Secretary for the Affairs of the Church in India, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

Jn 16:12-15

In today’s Gospel passage (Jn 16:12-15), we hear that when Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit. He repeats a somewhat strange expression twice. For he says that the Spirit “will take what is mine and declare it to you” (Jn 16:14,15).

To understand what Jesus is trying to tell us with this expression, let’s take a step back and come to an Old Testament passage where we see an opposite situation to what Jesus is talking about.

The passage in question is Genesis 3:1-12. God had just created man and entered into a dialog with him. The passage is well known: God hands over to man all the wonderful creation he has just made and, with the commandment about the tree of knowledge of good and evil, asks him to remain in a meek attitude, the attitude of a person who owns nothing but accepts everything as a gift. The filial attitude of a person who knows that he is not the master of everything…

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV holds his weekly General Audience and reflects on the Gospel account of the healing of the blind man who cried out to Jesus and began to follow Him after his sight was restored.

By Christopher Wells

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV used his catechesis at Wednesday’s General Audience to highlight “another essential aspect of the life of Jesus, namely, His healings.”

The Holy Father reflected on the Gospel account of the healing of a blind man, Bartimaeus, who cried out to Jesus as He passed through the city of Jericho on the way to Jerusalem.

On June 10, 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 (MECC), visited the construction site of St. Shemoun d-Zayte in Boros and inspected the ongoing work of construction of the new building for the Church.

His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Youhanon Lahdo, Archbishop of Sweden and Scandinavia, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

On June 9, 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 (MECC), presided over the Ramsho Prayer at St. Gabriel Church in Gotenberg.

His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Youhanon Lahdo, Archbishop of Sweden and Scandinavia, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

At the conclusion of the 2024-2025 academic year of the Armenian Theological Seminary, a gathering was held to celebrate the successful culmination of the academic year as well as the ordination of one of its graduates. This event took place on June 8, 2025, at the fratery, presided over by 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), with the Cilician Brotherhood and the seminary community in attendance.

On June 8, 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 (MECC), presided over the Ramsho Prayer at St. Gabriel Church in Norrkoping.

His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Youhanon Lahdo, Archbishop of Sweden and Scandinavia, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV meets with his Pontifical Representatives across the globe, and urges them to bear witness to the Church’s love for the world and her desire to do anything possible to stand on the side of those in need.

By Devin Watkins

Apostolic Nuncios and other papal representatives deployed throughout the world met with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican on Tuesday.

As other Popes have done at their first meeting with their diplomatic representatives, His Holiness Pope Leo gifted each with a ring symbolizing their bond to the Successor of Peter, which bears the inscription “sub umbra Petri”.