Among our Lord’s followers during his healthy life and ministry, Saint Mary Magdalene displayed a unique commitment. Her faith was firm and unshakable, even in the face of terrible threat. She was with our Lord throughout his ministry, and remained with him in the darkest hours of his passion and death on the cross. And it was she who was the first to come to the tomb after the Sabbath, and so she became the first witness to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But she did not keep this revelation to herself. She proclaimed it first to the disciples, and then to the world, and so she became a “radiant star” a herald of the Gospel. Even in our own day, in a world of confusion and crisis, conflict and chaos, inhumanity and indifference, Saint Mary Magdalene remains for us a powerful witness  that the darkness of the world cannot master us, because, like her, we contain within ourselves the spark of light that is the reflection of the true Light that has come into the world. Saint Mary Magdalene is an example to imitate.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, attended yesterday evening the closing ceremony of the Fifth LOGOS Coptic Youth Forum for Coptic Orthodox youth from around the world. The week-long event was held at the Logos Center within the Papal Residence at the Monastery of Saint Bishoy in Wadi El-Natroun, with the participation of 250 young people from dioceses of the Coptic Orthodox Church in 44 countries across the six continents, along with the forum’s service team.

A vigil was held on Sunday 4 August in Beirut in an area adjacent to the site of the port explosion tragedy exactly five years ago on 4 August 2020. A message from His Holiness Pope Leo XIV read during the vigil expressed his closeness with the people. Apostolic Nunzio, Archbishop Borgia says, “the families of the victims need justice and truth about what happened. These are deaths that still have no explanation, and this weighs heavily on the whole country.”

By Salvatore Cernuzio

Testimonies, memories, a silent march, and the planting of 75 trees bearing the names of the victims marked the prayer vigil for the fifth anniversary of the explosion at the port of Beirut on 4 August 2020. Tears and prayers accompanied the solemn commemoration as the Lebanonese, five years on, remembered again the 245 dead and 6,000 injured, an open wound, yet another trial for the Land of the Cedars, along with war, economic and political crises, and social instability.

On Saturday, the 20th of July / 2nd of August 2025, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate celebrated the commemoration of the holy, glorious Prophet Elijah the Thesvite at his Holy Monastery, situated near the ancient Monastery of the “Kathisma” (Seat) of the Theotokos, between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

In this feast, the Church remembers the marvellous works of God through the Prophet Elijah upon Mount Carmel, when the Prophet Elijah brought down fire from heaven and consumed the stones of the altar, and afterwards slew the prophets of shame (1 Kings 18:20–40).

This evening, the Fifth LOGOS Coptic Youth Forum for the youth of the Coptic Orthodox Church organized an open discussion with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. The session featured questions from the youth on a wide variety of topics, to which His Holiness responded.

The participants asked their questions spontaneously, and His Holiness answered them with a fatherly spirit, offering them much encouragement. The questions covered various spiritual, ecclesiastical, and life-related topics.

Lk 12:13-21

There are elements in today’s Gospel (Lk 12:13-21) that remind us of the episode of Martha and Mary that we heard two Sundays ago.

There was a pair of sisters, here a pair of brothers. There was a quarrel between the sisters, here it is about the inheritance. In both passages, one of the two goes to Jesus to ask him to say something to the other in order to resolve the matter. And in both cases, Jesus gets out of the contingent problem, goes beyond it and brings the interlocutor back to the essentials, to what is really missing.

Jerusalem, 29 July 2025

We, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, express our profound concern and unwavering condemnation following yet another violent assault that targeted the West Bank Christian town of Taybeh. Several vehicles were set ablaze, and hateful graffiti was sprayed—an unambiguous act of intimidation directed at a peaceful and faithful community rooted in the land of Christ.

This grievous incident is not an isolated occurrence. It forms part of an alarming pattern of settler violence against West Bank communities, including their homes, sacred spaces, and ways of life. Only days ago, settlers forcibly entered Taybeh, herding livestock into the heart of the town. Masked individuals—some armed, others on horseback—roamed the streets, spreading terror and threatening the sanctity of daily life. Fire reached the very walls of the ancient church, a living testament to the Christian faith’s enduring presence in the Holy Land…

During his Wednesday General Audience, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV encourages the faithful to learn to speak properly, using words that heal and not hurt.

By Vatcian News

Wednesday saw the conclusion of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV's catechetical series on the public life of Jesus, which he described as being marked by encounters, parables, and healings.

Addressing the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square for his weekly General Audience, the Pope brought everyone's attention to the present, noting that “this time we are living through also needs healing".

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV releases his Prayer intention for August, 2025, inviting us to pray “that societies avoid internal conflicts due to ethnic, political, religious or ideological reasons” and encouraging us to “seek paths of dialogue” and “respond to conflict with gestures of fraternity.”

By Christopher Wells

“Let us pray that societies where coexistence seems more difficult might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious, or ideological reasons,” Pope Leo says in his Prayer intention for August, 2025.

In the Prayer that follows, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV recalls that we stand in Jesus’ presence, in need of His peace.

At the opening of the Jubilee of Youth, the Holy Father welcomes young people to St. Peter’s Square, inviting them to pray for peace: “Let us walk together with our faith in Jesus Christ.”

By Fr. Johan Pacheco

On Tuesday evening, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV welcomed young people in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth. After the welcoming Mass in St. Peter’s Square, which was celebrated by Monsignor Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, the Pontiff made a few trips round St Peter’s Square in the popemobile to greet those present.

The Holy Father reminded the young pilgrims that they are “the salt of the earth, the light of the world.”

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV sent a personal letter to 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), expressing sincere gratitude for the participation of a delegation from the Holy See of Cilicia at his papal enthronement ceremony. The two Archbishops, attending with the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, conveyed warm congratulations, which the Pope described as a meaningful expression of Christian brotherhood and unity of faith. His Holiness Pope Leo XIV also emphasized his commitment to working together with His Holiness Aram I and other spiritual leaders to strengthen church unity and promote cooperation and peaceful coexistence among nations, especially in today’s divided world.

from Around the World at Saint Mark's Cathedral in Abbassia and Attends the Forum’s Official Luncheon

Today (Monday), the Fifth LOGOS Coptic Youth Forum for the Coptic Orthodox Youth from all over the world visited Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassia as part of the forum’s scheduled activities.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, personally welcomed the youth upon their arrival on the steps of the cathedral, where they took a commemorative photograph with him. The youth then toured the cathedral and listened to a detailed explanation of its history.

I am very happy to be here with you.

The theme we heard today in the first reading, and in the Gospel, is prayer.

It is not easy to speak about prayer: the disciples see Jesus praying, throughout the Gospel of Luke we see Jesus often immersed in prayer, and the disciples wanted to do the same (at that time there were many schools: the school of John the Baptist, the schools of the Pharisees…), and they wanted to learn from Jesus, his model of prayer—one that was distinct from all the others.

And they see something special in Jesus at that moment. Their question is an important one: “Jesus, teach us how to pray”…

On July 27, 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), inaugurated the “Syriac Cultural Center” in Homs.

On July 27, 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), inaugurated “the Healing Wisdom Point” Dispensary at the Archdiocesan Center in Homs.

On July 27, 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), inaugurated “the House of the Scattered Pearls: the Library of Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum” in Homs.

Jenin and Rafidia— Amid escalating instability and deepening hardship across the region, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, continues to demonstrate unwavering pastoral commitment by being physically present among his people. On Friday, July 25, 2025, the Patriarch carried out a special check-up visit to the Latin parishes of Jenin and Rafidia, accompanied by Msgr. Jamal Daibes, and Fr. Davide Meli, offering both spiritual support and a message of solidarity to communities facing significant trials.

In Jenin, His Beatitude was warmly received at the Holy Redeemer Church by Fr. Amer Jubran, the parish priest, along with other priests serving the parish and neighboring churches, as well as by the parishioners. Despite the ongoing challenges and destruction that have affected the area in recent months, the atmosphere was one of hope and unwavering faith as the Patriarch presided over a Mass concelebrated by several priests. Following the liturgy, Cardinal Pizzaballa met with parishioners to listen firsthand to their experiences. Fr. Amer spoke openly about the deep suffering endured by the local Christian community.

In his Message for the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV emphasizes the important witness that migrants and refugees offer in a world affected by conflict and inequality in hoping and searching for a better and more peaceful future.

By Isabella H. de Carvalho

Pope Leo XIV highlights how migrants and refugees are witnesses of hope and tenacity amidst adversity and calls for a future of peace and respect for human dignity, in his Message for the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, released on Friday, July 25.

Luke 11:1-13

When the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray (“Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples” - Lk 11:1), Jesus does not simply respond by handing them the Lord’s Prayer. His answer is an articulated response, like a journey that unfolds in three moments. 

And that is the first element we can appreciate in this passage from today’s Gospel (Lk 11:1-13). For prayer is not simply a formula, but a path, a journey. 

And it is also a challenging and complex path: the parable of the importunate friend (Lk 11:5-8) as well as the words that follow (Lk 11:9-13) are words that are not easy to understand, to say precisely that prayer is not something automatic, but a path that must be patiently traveled…

At a press conference in the Vatican, His Eminence Archbishop Rino Fisichella explains how the Jubilee of Youth will offer “an embrace from all young people worldwide” to those living in war zones.

By Kielce Gussie

The Jubilee of Influencers and the Jubilee of Youth are next on the agenda for the events in the Jubilee Year of Hope. Ahead of the events taking place from 28 July – 3 August, His Eminence Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, highlighted the multicultural and diverse events that will make up this Jubilee.

Young people from all over the world are scheduled to arrive in the Eternal City to participate in what the Archbishop described as "probably the most anticipated moment" of the year.