His Holiness Pope Leo XIV sends a video message to the Bishops and Cardinals of the Global South participating in COP30 in Brazil, urging cooperation and stressing that it is not too late if we choose deeds over words.

By Francesca Merlo - Belém, Brazil 

COP30 has dedicated much of its discussion time to the global south, and the Catholic Church has been no exception, with meetings and symposiums in which Asia, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean were all represented through their respective Cardinals.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, too, has demonstrated his closeness to the people of the Global South, sending a video message to all the Bishops participating in COP. 

On the morning of Friday, November 14, 2025, an Assembly of both celibate and married Priests serving in the Eastern Diocese was held with the participation 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). His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, representing the clergy, warmly welcomed His Holiness and expressed gratitude for his gracious presence on the occasion of his 30th enthronement anniversary. The archbishop thanked His Holiness for his continual support, especially in providing young members of the Cilician Brotherhood to address the needs of the Prelacy.

The series of events celebrating the 30th anniversary of the enthronement 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), included a prestigious concert at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall, organized by the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. The event featured internationally acclaimed soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian, who performed a program of Armenian spiritual, ancient folk, and classical songs. The concert was received with great enthusiasm by the audience.

The concert was graced by the distinguished presence of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

As a central part of his Pontifical visit to the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, 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), conducted a series of visits to Armenian schools throughout California. During these visits, His Holiness presided over the foundation-laying ceremony for a new kindergarten and nursery school, in addition to new halls and various departments within the existing educational complexes.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIX encourages consecrated religious to build communities that respect the dignity of every person, in a message sent to a conference promoted by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

By Devin Watkins

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV sent a message on Monday to participants in a conference entitled “Building Communities that Safeguard Dignity,” promoted by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

In his message, the Pope encouraged consecrated men and women attending the event to reflect on ways to build communities that respect the dignity of all people, especially the most vulnerable.

Meeting with the Catholic Biblical Federation, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV encourages Biblical Scholars and Pastoral Ministers to make the Word of God easily accessible to all people, especially in digital spaces so that younger generations can encounter Christ.

By Devin Watkins

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV met on Monday with the members of the Catholic Biblical Federation, expressing his gratitude for their service to the Word of God.

He reflected on the 60th anniversary of Dei Verbum, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, and the Second Vatican Council’s call for Sacred Scripture to be easily accessible and glorified everywhere.

The Armenian community of San Francisco hosted an official banquet on Saturday evening, November 8, 2025, in honor 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), celebrating his Pontifical visit and the 30th anniversary of his enthronement.

The event gathered a distinguished assembly of spiritual and lay leaders, including the Prelate of the Western Diocese, His Eminence Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian; His Eminence Archbishop Torkom Donoyan; His Grace Bishop Dajad Ashekian; the Spiritual Pastor of the Church; Clergy of the Cilician Brotherhood; as well as Representatives from the ARF Bureau, the ARF Central Committee of the Region, the Diocesan Executive Council, and local community boards.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, received at the Papal Residence in Cairo, on Monday 10 November 2025, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews lll, Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India, together with the accompanying delegation.

During the reception, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II welcomed His Holiness the Catholicos and his companions, then accompanied him on a tour of the Papal Residence. The visit included the Church of Archangel Michael and the Gift Museum, before a joint session was held, presided over by both His Holiness Pope Tawadros and His Holiness the Catholicos, and attended by the delegations of both Churches.

In a historic moment for the Armenian community of the West Coast, 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), celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in San Francisco. This Service marked the first-ever pontifical Liturgy celebrated in the church, a milestone embraced with deep reverence by the local faithful and community leaders.

Assisting His Holiness Catholicos Aram I on the Altar were His Eminence Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian and His Eminence Archbishop Torkom Donoyan. Serving at the altar were V. Rev. Fr. Levon Yeghiayan and V. Rev. Fr. Sarkis Abrahamian, while V. Rev. Fr. Ashod Khatchadourian led the Liturgical hymns.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at the Church of Sant'Anselmo on the Aventine Hill in Rome to commemorate the 125th anniversary of its dedication and encourages the Benedictines in their mission.

By Isabella H. de Carvalho

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV invited the Benedictines to respond to the challenges our times face by placing Christ at the center of their lives during a Mass on Tuesday, November 11, to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Dedication of the Church of Sant’Anselmo on the Aventine Hill in Rome.

His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and a delegation from the World Council of Churches, headed by the Reverend Dr. Jerry Pillay, Secretary-General of the World Council of Churches, accompanied by a group of Council leaders. The meeting was attended by Dr. Badr Abdelatty; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs.

The President welcomed the visiting delegation, expressing his congratulations on the success of the Sixth Assembly of the World Council of Churches, hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Church at the LOGOS Center in Wadi El-Natroun. He affirmed that the convening of the assembly in Egypt, and for the first time in Africa and Asia since 1927, carries deep significance regarding Egypt’s spiritual and historical stature.

His Excellency stressed his profound appreciation for His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and for the national and spiritual role of the Egyptian Church, emphasizing that Egypt, which embraced the Holy Family and many apostles and prophets, will always remain a land of peace and tolerance. He affirmed that the Egyptian state remains committed to safeguarding freedom of worship and belief, while promoting dialogue between religious institutions to reinforce values of mutual understanding and tolerance.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, met, on Monday 27 November 2025, with delegations of the Churches of the Byzantine Orthodox Family and the Oriental Orthodox Family, who are participating in the sixth conference of the World Council of Churches, currently being held at the LOGOS Center in Saint Bishoy's Monastery, Wadi El-Natroun, hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Church.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros welcomed the Church delegations, expressing his happiness for their visit to Egypt and their participation in the World Council of Churches’ conference. He then spoke to them about Egypt and its historical, geographical, and civilizational uniqueness, noting that Egyptians live together around the Nile River in a natural national unity, formed by what they have gained from the calm river.

He also spoke about the Coptic Orthodox Church, its deep-rooted history, the number of its congregation, the number of dioceses and monasteries within Egypt and abroad, as well as the social and educational services it offers to the community through hospitals, schools, and kindergartens established for this purpose.

The Church needs to move beyond words about ecumenism and unity to concrete acts that combine contemplation and action, work and prayer, the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order gathered in in Egypt has been told.

“These days, the world suffers from the five poisonous P’s of polarization, populism, protectionism, post-truth and patriarchy,” said Archbishop Emerita Dr Antje Jackelén, the former Archbishop of Sweden in an address to the five-day event running from 24 to 28 October.

“This contextuality of faith and Church requires interpretation of the signs of the times,” she said, and the signs of the times point to the connection between faith and justice. 

About 400 participants have gathered for the conference, organized by the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches and taking place at the Logos Papal Center of the Coptic Orthodox Church at Wadi El Natrun, southwest of Alexandria, Egypt. 

The Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has opened in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt, where His Holiness Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church appealed to Churches to engage in dialogue that will unite them on the path to true unity. 

Theological dialogue, His Holiness Pope Tawadros said in his address at the opening session of the conference, is a journey toward a shared understanding of faith. 

“It is not an attempt to eliminate or dissolve differences, but rather to discover the profound faith uniting the church,” said His Holiness Pope Tawadros, the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.

Organized by the WCC’s Commission on Faith and Order, the conference is meeting from 24 to 28 October 2025 at the Logos Papal Center of the Coptic Orthodox Church at Wadi El Natrun, southwest of Alexandria, Egypt, around the theme “Where now for visible unity?”

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the election and consecration 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 Armenian Prelacy of Canada organized an artistic program attended by clergy, community leaders, and a large number of faithful.

The event opened with remarks by Diocesan Representative Hampig Karayan, who highlighted the unwavering leadership and dedicated pontifical service of His Holiness over three decades, emphasizing his commitment to justice, national identity, and the Armenian Cause.

The keynote address was delivered by Vahakn Karakashian, editor-in-chief of Horizon Weekly. He reflected on the historic mission of the Catholicosate and the far-reaching impact of His Holiness’s 30-year spiritual leadership, underscoring Aram I’s tireless defense of Armenian rights, his advocacy for Artsakh, and his steadfast commitment to truth and justice.

On Friday, October 17, 2025, the second day of the Pontifical Visit 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), to Montreal, an official luncheon was held in his honor at the Avedis Aharonian Hall of the Armenian Center.

The event was attended by His Eminence Archbishop Papken Tcharian, Prelate of Canada; His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy; clergy members; and representatives of the prelacy’s national bodies.

Opening remarks were delivered by Very Rev. Fr. Karekin Shekerdemian, Spiritual Dean of St. Mary Church in Toronto. He called the gathering a moment of gratitude and reflection on thirty fruitful years of the Catholicos’s spiritual leadership and service to the Church and nation.

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), began his Pontifical Visit to Montreal with a solemn service at Surp Hagop Church, where he was warmly welcomed by clergy, community members, and representatives of various Armenian organizations, led by the Prelate of Canada, His Eminence Archbishop Papken Tcharian.

In his address, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I expressed joy at being reunited with his flock and thanked God for the opportunity. Introducing the theme of his visit, “Let Us Revive Our Community Bodies Together,” he called for renewed energy, cooperation, and responsibility across Armenian institutions.

On October 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), which were prepared by the organizations Oeuvre d’Orient and ALIPH, the main sponsors of the reconstruction of the Cathedral.

On October 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), participated in the inauguration of St. Mary (Tahra) Chaldean Church in Mosul, in the presence of His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Louis Raphael Sako, Chaldean Patriarch of Iraq and the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

— Wadi El Natrun, October 15, 2025

In the heart of the Egyptian desert, within the ancient walls of the Monastery of Saint Bishoy—where prayer and history intertwine—participants of the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI), affiliated with the World Council of Churches (WCC), gathered on October 15 for a plenary session entitled “Memory and Mission: Churches Responding to Persecution and Genocide.”

The session formed part of the in-person phase of GETI, held concurrently with the World Conference on Faith and Order.

The session opened with a clear call for churches to reflect on their role in remembering the suffering of peoples, bearing a message of hope, and confronting persecution with faith and steadfastness.