Jerusalem, August 26, 2025

At the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, together with the leaders of the Armenian, Franciscan, Latin, and Anglican Churches, received United States Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley for a solemn deliberation on the grave tribulations confronting Christians in the land sanctified by the life, crucifixion, and glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jerusalem August 26th,2025

“In the path of righteousness there is life, in walking its path there is no death” (Proverbs 12,28). 

A few weeks ago, the [Israeli] government announced its decision to take control of Gaza City. In recent days, the media have repeatedly reported a massive military mobilization and preparations for an imminent offensive. The same reports indicate that the population of Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of civilians live — and where our Christian community is located — is to be evacuated and relocated to the south of the Strip. At the time of this statement, evacuation orders were already in place for several neighborhoods in Gaza City. Reports of heavy bombardment continue to be received. There is more destruction and death in a situation that was already dramatic before this operation. It seems that the [Israeli] government’s announcement that “the gates of hell will open” is indeed taking on tragic forms. The experience of past campaigns in Gaza, the declared intentions of the [Israeli] government with regard to the current operation, and the reports now reaching us from the ground, show that the operation is not just a threat, but a reality that is already in the process of being implemented. 

On August 23, 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) participated in the Special Ecumenical Service held in Stockholm in the presence of His Majesty the King of Sweden, other royalties and dignitaries.

‏It is with great spiritual joy that I stand among you as we commemorate two great events which became milestones in the history of global christianity. Namely, the council of Nicea in 325 and the 1925 Stockholm Conference.

‏ In Nicea, the bishops and teachers of the church arrived from different parts of the world carrying with them their physical wounds as a result of different persecutions by civil authorities and spiritual wounds resulting from heretical teachings and divisions challenging the faith and unity of the church. They were able to articulate in a profound way the faith of the church in the triune God and explain the mystery of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. In reality they were seeking to restore peace and unity in the church.

On August 23, 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) met His Excellency Rev. Jerry Pillay, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches and Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, the World Council of Churches moderator.

On Saturday, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark consecrated the Church of Saint Mina in the Fleming district of Alexandria.

Upon his arrival, the clergy of the church received His Holiness with reverence, while children presented to him bouquets of flowers in a gesture of welcome. Pope Tawadros proceeded directly to the commemorative plaque marking the consecration of the church, which he blessed by making upon it the sign of the Cross. Photographs were then taken of His Holiness surrounded by the bishops, priests, and members of the church council.

Ahead of the Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace on August 22, called by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem highlights the power of prayer to open people to trust and seek to do good, even in the Holy Land, where finding common ground is nearly impossible.

By Francesca Sabatinelli

His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has expressed gratitude for Pope Leo XIV’s constant attention and hope that people’s hearts may change.

In his message to participants in the 2025 Ecumenical Week in Stockholm, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV reaffirms that "in our world bearing deep scars of conflict, inequality, environmental degradation, and a growing sense of spiritual disconnection," it is crucial for Christians to continue working and praying together.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"May the Holy Spirit, who inspired the Council of Nicaea, and who continues to guide us all, deepen your fellowship this week, and awaken fresh hope for the unity which the Lord so ardently desires among His followers," Pope Leo XIV said Friday in a message sent to the participants in the 2025 Ecumenical Week, taking place this week in the Swedish capital of Stockholm.

On August 22, 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),participated in the Ecumenical Celebration organized by the Church of Sweden at the Philadelphia Church in Stockholm.

On Tuesday, the 6th/19th of August 2025, the Patriarchate celebrated the Despotic Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The centre of this feast was Mount Tabor, for upon it, according to the most ancient tradition of the Church, the event of the Lord’s Transfiguration took place.

According to the Gospel narratives, the Lord took with Him three of His disciples, those called the “foremost”, Peter, James, and John, and ascended a high mountain. In front of them, the face and garments of the Lord became white beyond the brightness of the sun, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and the Prophets Moses and Elias appeared with Him—the one, Moses, as representative of the departed, and the other, Elias, as representative of the living. They conversed with Him and spoke concerning His Passion upon the Cross, which was to be accomplished in Jerusalem. Then the Apostle Peter proposed that they should make three tabernacles and remain upon the mountain. And a voice was heard from heaven, saying: “This is My beloved Son; hear ye Him” (Luke 9:35, Mark 9:7, Matt. 17:5).

Lk 13:22-30

The central theme of today’s Gospel (Lk 13:22-30) is that of salvation.

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, passing through towns and villages. On the way, a man asks him: “Lord, are there few who will be saved?” (Luke 13:23). Once again, Jesus’ answer goes beyond the question: it is not important how many are saved, whether they are few or many. What is important is to be saved.

And, as always, there is something paradoxical about salvation that does not fit the mold of our human logic and that Jesus allows to shine through in his account, which he offers as an answer, full of paradoxes.

On the occasion of the Pilgrimage Day of St. Mary Monastery, the Christian Education Department of the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia, with the blessing 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) and under the directorship of V. Rev. Fr. Stepanos Pashayan, organized a Pilgrimage Week leading up to the celebration. During this period, Divine Liturgies, special services, prayers, and Bible studies were conducted in the monastery’s chapel. This year, from August 10 to 15, 2025, these spiritual gatherings were led by the young priests of the Cilician Brotherhood.

Before sharing a lunch with the poor supported by Caritas Albano in the Gardens of the Pontifical Villas, the Pope explained that each one of us is made in the image of God, and that “we can find God’s presence in everyone.”

By Alessandro Di Bussolo

Amid the beauty of nature and creation in the Gardens of the Pontifical Villas at Castel Gandolfo and beneath the large gazebo set up for the lunch with the poor, Pope Leo XIV, speaking off the cuff, invited everyone to reflect on the fact that “the most beautiful of all creation is that which was made in God’s image—that is, each one of us.”

On August 17, 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 at St. Aphrem Cathedral in Sodertalje - Sweden.

On August 16, 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), consecrated St. Mary Church in Eskilstuna - Sweden.

On August 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 on the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, at St. Mary Church in Tumba - Sweden.

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

Today we are celebrating two important moments: the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary and the anniversary of the foundation - precisely on August 15, 1425 - of the Olivetan Oblates of Mary (today “Oblates of St. Francesca Romana”), who were then granted the privilege of leading a regular religious life by Pope Eugene IV in July 1433. 

So allow me to re-read what we live in the light of the Word of God that we have heard. I would like to dwell first on the reading from Revelation. It is a passage that has accompanied us several times during these painful months and has given us food for thought. Indeed, it is precisely at this time that we feel a strong need for true and meaningful words for ourselves. It is precisely the pain of this time, that does not allow us to make speeches about peace that are embellished and abstract, and therefore not credible, nor to limit ourselves to the umpteenth analysis or denunciation. Rather, it is about standing as believers within this drama, that will not end any time soon. 

These are strong words spoken by Jesus in today’s Gospel passage (Luke 12:49-53). The passage is divided into two parts, which apparently do not have much in common.

In the first part (Luke 12:49-50), Jesus speaks about himself and his mission. In doing so, he uses two very strong images: that of the fire that he has lit and that of the baptism that he knows he needs to be baptized.

In the second part (Luke 12:51-53), however, Jesus speaks of the disciples and what happens to them when they allow themselves to be ignited by the same fire that Jesus ignited, when they allow themselves to be immersed in his own baptism.

"We convey to you the condolences of the President of the Republic for the martyrs of St. Elias Church in Dweilaa, and we affirm our solidarity and standing together hand in hand to build the future of Syria"

Damascus – August 13, 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, received Dr. Maher Al-Sharaa, Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic, who was sent as an envoy by President Ahmad Al-Sharaa of the Syrian Arab Republic, leading a presidential delegation at the Patriarchate in Damascus. Dr. Maher Al-Sharaa conveyed the President’s condolences for the Martyrs of St. Elias Church in Dweilaa, Damascus, affirming that this crime undermines the spirit of coexistence in Syria. He also expressed the President’s appreciation for His Beatitude Patriarch John X and for the authentic Christian community, which regards the Patriarchate in Damascus as a symbol of its identity and a testimony to its pioneering role in the history of the East.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV issues a rescript effectively placing the Pontifical Committee for the World Day of Children within the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

By Salvatore Cernuzio

From an organization directly under the Pope’s authority, the Pontifical Committee for the World Day of Children—established last year by His Holiness Pope Francis to organize and coordinate the so-called “WCDs”—has now been placed within the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

This decision was made by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV following an audience granted to the Substitute of the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, on August 6, and was made public in a Rescript.