In an address to consecrated women taking part in their General Chapters and a group of Carmelite nuns from the Holy Land, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV praises religious women who respond to God’s call, and highlights the witness of Discalced Carmelites in the Holy Land, with their constant Prayers for peace.

By Christopher Wells

On Monday, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV received a group of Discalced Carmelite Sisters from the Holy Land, as well as members of the Sisters of Saint Catherine, Virgin and Martyr; the Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate; and the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres, who are in Rome for their respective General Chapters.

Taking inspiration from the common trait of “courage” that marked their foundations, Pope Leo offered a reflection on a verse from the book of Proverbs: Who can find a valiant woman? Her price is far greater than pearls.”

On September 19, 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), arrived to Montreal for his second Apostolic visit to Canada.

His Holiness was received at the airport by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Athanasius Elia Bahi, Patriarchal Vicar of Canada, as well as the clergy and councils of the parishes in Canada.

His Holiness is accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

On September 19, 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. Mary and St. Jacob of Nisibin Cathedral in Montreal.

His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Athanasius Elia Bahi, Patriarchal Vicar of Canada, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

Following the Prayer, His Holiness delivered a spiritual lecture about genuine love in Christianity that is reflected in good deeds, charity, sacrifice and witness to the truth and justice.

St. Mary Monastery, Lebanon, upholds the annual tradition of grape harvesting and molasses-making, a celebration in which 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 the seminarians take part. This cherished custom was preserved for many years by the Late Archbishop Ardavazt Terterian, a native of Kessab—an indigenous Armenian town in Syria. Today, the tradition continues under the guidance of V. Rev. Fr. Shnorhk Ashekian, also a Kessab Armenian of the Cilician Brotherhood, who leads the preparation of the molasses.

On Sunday evening, September 14, 2025, a special Ecumenical ceremony commemorating Martyrs and Witnesses of the Faith in the Twenty-first Century was held at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul in the Vatican, presided over by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. 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 officially invited to participate, along with other spiritual leaders. His Eminence Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian, Pontifical vicar in Cyprus, represented the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I at the event and conveyed His Holiness Catholicos Aram I’s fraternal greetings to the Pope.

At the Commemoration of Martyrs and Witnesses of the Faith in the 21st Century, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV joins representatives of Christian denominations and communities in remembering the examples of the martyrs, whose hope was based on Christian values rather than violence.

By Kielce Gussie

The papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls became the setting of a special event on the evening of 14 September—the Commemoration of Martyrs and Witnesses of the Faith in the Twenty-first Century. His Holiness Pope Leo XIV presided over this commemoration together with representatives from various Christian denominations and communities.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV sends a message to the 8th Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Kazakhstan, and invites the faithful of all religions to help build a future of peace, fraternity, and solidarity.

By Devin Watkins

Religious leaders from around the globe have gathered in Astana, Kazakhstan, for the 8th Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, taking place on September 17-18, 2025.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV sent his greetings to participants with a message released on Wednesday that began with the greeting “peace” in several languages.

John 3:13-17

We heard in last Sunday's Gospel that those who want to follow the Lord are like the builder who, before building a tower, sits down to calculate carefully whether he has the means to complete the work (Lk 14:28-30). Or like the king who, wanting to go to war, first sits down to see if he has enough men to fight, otherwise he quits. (Lk 14:31-32). 

From here we begin our reflection on today’s Gospel (Jn 3:13–17), the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. 

While speaking with Nicodemus, Jesus uses an image taken from the Book of Numbers (Num 21:4b-9), where we see that the people in the desert are in difficulty. They have begun their way toward freedom, but at a certain point, they can no longer bear the journey and begin to think that everything they are experiencing is useless; that the Lord has deceived them, that he does not will their life, but their death…   

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV returns to the Barberini Palace at Castel Gandolfo on Monday evening for an overnight stay, according to the Holy See Press Office.

By Vatican News

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV returned to Castel Gandolfo on Monday evening for a very brief stay of less than a day.

A statement from the Holy See Press Office on Monday announced, “This evening, Pope Leo will travel to Palazzo Barberini in Castel Gandolfo and will continue his activities from there tomorrow, during which period no audiences are scheduled.”

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will join with representatives of other Churches and Ecclesial Communities on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross for an Ecumenical ceremony commemorating 21st century martyrs and witnesses of the faith.

By Christopher Wells

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV is set to preside at a Prayer Service to remember the many Christians of our time who have been killed on account of their faith in Christ.

The Holy Father will be joined by representatives of other Christian Churches and Ecclesial communities for an “Ecumenical Commemoration of Martyrs and Witnesses of the Faith of the Twenty-first Century,” which will take place on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Sunday, 14 September, in the Papal Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls.

Before leading the recitation of the Angelus Prayer with the faithful in Saint Peter's Square, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV asks everyone to pray constantly for peace in the Holy Land, Ukraine, and all lands plagued by war, emphasizing that "God wants peace!"

Vatican News

Following the Mass and canonization of Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis in Saint Peter’s Square, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV said to the intercession of the Saints and the Virigin Mary, may we all entrust our constant Prayers for peace in our world, as "God does not want war. God wants peace!"

Addressing over eighty thousand faithful filling Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday for the Mass with the canonization of Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV says the examples of these two young Saints invite all of us, especially young people, to direct our lives upwards to God and make them masterpieces of holiness, service, and joy.

Vatican News

Presiding over the Mass and canonization of Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis in Saint Peter’s Square, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to their extraordinary witnesses to faith, hope, and trust in God, and to the Lord’s great plan for eternal joy and happiness. The Pope declared the two young Italians Saints at the start of the celebration on a stunningly beautiful late summer day, Sunday 7 September.

On September 4, 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 St. Stephen Church in Keferbe.

Their Eminences: Mor Timotheos Samuel Aktas, Archbishop of Turabdin, Mor Philoxenus Yusuf Cetin, Patriarchal Vicar of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, Mor Dioscoros Benjamin Atas, Patriarchal Vicar of Sweden, Mor George Kourieh, Patriarchal Vicar of Belgium, France and Luxembourg, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, Mor Christophoros Markose Abraham, Patriarchal Secretary for the Affairs of the Church in India, Mor Youhanon Lahdo, Archbishop of Sweden and Scandinavia, were also present.

On September 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 (MECC), visited St. Dimet Church in Arbo.

Their Eminences: Mor Timotheos Samuel Aktas, Archbishop of Turabdin, Mor Philoxenus Yusuf Cetin, Patriarchal Vicar of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, Mor Philoxenus Saliba Ozmen, Archbishop of Mardin, Diyarbakir and Environs, Mor Gregorius Malke Urek, Patriarchal Vicar of Adiyaman and Environs, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazirah and Euphrates, Mor George Kourieh, Patriarchal Vicar of Belgium, France and Luxembourg, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, Mor Christophoros Markose Abraham, Patriarchal Secretary for the Affairs of the Church in India, Mor Youhanon Lahdo, Archbishop of Sweden and Scandinavia, were also present.

Balamand, September 4, 2025

His Beatitude John X, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family, received the Cypriot Ambassador to Lebanon, Maria Hadji Theodosiou, accompanied by a delegation, at the Patriarchal Residence in Balamand.

The meeting included a review of the historical ties between the Church of Antioch and Cyprus, in light of the ongoing developments and challenges facing the Christian presence in the East. Discussions also covered means of cooperation between the University of Balamand—represented by its president, Dr. Elias Warrak—and the Cypriot delegation, which is visiting the university to sign memoranda of understanding and cooperation.

A group of Armenian Evangelical pastors and family members visited the Armenian National Sanatorium of Azounieh on 30 August 2025. They led a time of worship with the elders gathered outside, and had an enjoyable time of conversation and refreshments. Afterwards the pastors and their wives visited those elders who remained in their rooms, offering prayers and encouragement.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, delivered his weekly Sermon in the Wednesday Meeting, at the Church of Virgin Mary and St. George in the Ghobrial district of Alexandria. The sermon was broadcast through Christian satellite channels and the online C.O.C. channel of the Church Media Center.

His Holiness prayed the Vespers Prayers, joined by Their Graces Bishop Pavly (General Bishop of the Montazah sector churches), and Bishop Hermina (General Bishop of the Eastern Alexandria sector churches), as well as Hegumen Abram Emil (General Deputy of the Patriarchate in Alexandria), the priests of the church, a number of Priests from Alexandria, the Deacons’ choir, and a great multitude of the congregation who filled the Church.

In his prayer intention for September 2025, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV invites us to pray that we might experience our interdependence with all creatures, who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.

By Christopher Wells

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for September 2025 is for “our relationship with all of creation.

In this month’s Pope Video, the Holy Father invites us to pray that “inspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.”

On August 31, 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 Mor Abrohom and Mor Hobil Monastery in Midyat.

Lk 14: 25-33

The central theme of today's Gospel passage (Lk 14:25–33) focuses on following the Lord, being his desciples, walking with Him. 

The passage begins by noting that a large crowd was traveling with Jesus (Lk 14:25), and then recounts His words to those who came to Him and wished to be His disciples (Lk 14:26–27).

As Jesus walks toward Jerusalem, seeing the great crowd following Him, He speaks with clarity and strength, for to follow Him is to share in His mission and to be led to His ultimate goal.