The director of the Holy See Press Office presents His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s first Apostolic journey that takes him to Türkiye and Lebanon, emphasizing Ecumenical commemoration, Interreligious dialogue, and support for local Christian communities. The visit includes historic and symbolic encounters, meetings with civil and religious leaders, and gestures of solidarity amid regional challenges.

By Salvatore Cernuzio

The Holy See Press Office Director, Matteo Bruni, has presented His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s first Apostolic journey, which will take him to Ankara, Istanbul, and Beirut, with a significant stop in İznik—ancient Nicaea—for the 1700th anniversary of the Council. The pilgrimage carries a strong Ecumenical character and places Interreligious dialogue at its centre. It will also be a moment of closeness to Christian communities and local populations across the region. Bruni confirmed that “all necessary security measures have been taken.”

The six-day visit will take place from Thursday, 27 November to Tuesday, 2 December 2025.

At Castel Gandolfo, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV answers journalists’ questions outside Villa Barberini. He describes his upcoming Apostolic journey to Türkiye and Lebanon as a trip marked by hope and peace. On Ukraine and the Middle East, he urges always seeking dialogue to end war. Regarding efforts to stop violence against women on the day dedicated to the issue, he says that mentalities must change beginning with the education of young people.

Vatican News

In response to the first question asked by journalists, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV said “I am very happy to be able to visit Lebanon.” Forty-eight hours before he is to embark on his first Apostolic journey, to Türkiye and Lebanon, the Pope was in Castel Gandolfo for his weekly day of rest but also work. And as he did last Tuesday, he answered questions from reporters gathered along the road together with various faithful who greet him.

On Saturday, November 22, 2025 morning, at eleven o’clock, His Beatitude Patriarch John X, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, arrived at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut, where he was received by His Eminence Metropolitan Elias Audi, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut and Dependencies, along with the Orthodox Bishops of Lebanon. After a Prayer, His Beatitude presided over a meeting, following which he declared:

“On this day so dear to all our hearts, the Day of Lebanon’s Independence—Lebanon the Mission, the Lebanon of civilization and refinement—we gather in our Archdiocese of Beirut with our beloved brother, His Eminence Elias, Metropolitan of Beirut and Dependencies and the Orthodox Bishops of Lebanon.

First, we extend our best wishes to His Excellency the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, and to all Lebanese people, on this noble occasion.

Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), received His Excellency, the Most Reverend Archbishop Paolo Borgia, Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, on Monday, November 24, 2025, at the Catholicosate of the Holy See Cilicia, in Antelias, Lebanon.

The main topic of discussion was the forthcoming apostolic visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon. Archbishop Borgia presented the detailed program of the visit and officially extended an invitation to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I to participate in several key events.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV approves the publication of new Regulations of the Roman Curia, which implement the reform put in place by the Apostolic Constitution "Praedicate Evangelium."

By Vatican News

The Regulation of the Roman Curia and the Regulation of Personnel of the same institution were published on Monday, 24 November.

They were signed on Sunday, 23 November, by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, commonly known as the Feast of Christ the King.

Following a month-and-a-half-long pontifical visit to the Armenian dioceses of North America, 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), returned to the Catholicosate in Antelias, Lebanon, on the evening of Saturday, November 22.

During his journey, which included the Dioceses of Canada as well as the Eastern and Western United States, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I engaged with the faithful, community organizations, and Armenian institutions. A central focus of the visit was the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of his Enthronement as Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia…

Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) presided over the Divine Liturgy and delivered a Pontifical message at St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Douglaston, New York, on Sunday, November 16, 2025.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Papken Tcharian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Canada. The Service was attended by clergy, representatives of diocesan bodies, and the faithful.

Ahead of his upcoming Apostolic Journey to Türkiye, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV issues the Apostolic Letter 'In unitate fidei' on the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, broken down into 12 points, with the hope of "encouraging the whole Church to renew her enthusiasm for the profession of faith."

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Ahead of his upcoming Apostolic Journey to Türkiye, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV issued on Sunday, 23 November, the Solemnity of Christ the King, the Apostolic Letter 'In unitate fidei' on the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

The full Letter, which has the hope of "encouraging the whole Church to renew her enthusiasm for the profession of faith," is broken down into twelve points, and can be read in its entirety HERE.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV arrives in Assisi and pays a visit to the tomb of St Francis, saying his witness is especially important "at a time when the world is searching for signs of hope.”

By Benedetta Capelli - Assisi

“It is a blessing to be able to come here today to this sacred place. As we approach the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’s death, we have the opportunity to prepare to celebrate this great, humble, and poor Saint at a time when the world is searching for signs of hope.”

These were the first public words spoken by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV during his visit to Assisi, standing before the tomb of St. Francis.

It was the first stop on the Pope’s visit to the central Italian town, where he is meeting, on 20 November, with the Bishops of the Italian Episcopal Conference at the close of their 81st General Assembly.

On November 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 an online meeting of the General Secretariat of the Holy Synod.

Their Eminences, members of the General Secretariat: Mor Justinus Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis, Patriarchal Vicar in Germany, Mor Dionysius John Kawak, Patriarchal Vicar in the Archdiocese of Eastern USA, Mor Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul, Kirkuk, Kurdistan and Environs, Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, participated in the meeting.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II opened the meeting with a Prayer and then he discussed with their Eminences different topics related to our Churches throughout the world.

Damascus, November 18, 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, paid an inspection visit to St. Elias Church – Dweilaa to observe the reconstruction works completed after the terrorist.

The Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, invites us to read a passage from the Passion of Jesus according to the Gospel of Luke (Lk 23:35-43).

This passage can be divided into two parts.

In the first (Lk 23:35-38), we see the attitude of the different characters toward Jesus at the foot of the Cross, that of the people, the leaders, and the soldiers.
In the second part (Lk 23:39-43), our gaze lifts to see what takes place between Jesus and the two criminals crucified with him.

In both parts, there is a recurring refrain: the leaders of the people, the soldiers, and one of the two criminals ask Jesus to save himself, to come down from the Cross, to show his power.

The Gospel of Luke opens with the proclamation of salvation. This announcement first resounded in Mary's song, exulting in God her saviour (Lk 1:47).Then on the lips of Zechariah, who regained his voice upon seeing the wonders God had done in his life, after believing that God truly could free and save (Lk 2:71, 77). The proclamation of salvation also was also heard in Bethlehem, where the shepherds heard the angels announce the birth of a Savior (Lk 2:11).

It is an announcement that runs through the entire Gospel, entering the homes of the poor, and working wonders in the lives of so many people…

“It is imperative to give ample space to the youth in Armenian life"

During a youth gathering organized by the Eastern Prelacy, Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) emphasized that “It is imperative to give ample space to the youth in Armenian life.”

“I make this same suggestion with special emphasis whenever I have meetings with the responsible leaders of our community and with the youth during my Pontifical visits.

The Vatican Publishing House (LEV) releases His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s new book, entitled “The Power of the Gospel: Christian Faith in 10 Words.” Edited by Lorenzo Fazzini, the book is a collection of the Pope’s interventions and speeches, along with an unpublished introduction, which we publish in full below.

By His Holiness Pope Leo XIV

Ten words. Ten words are not many, but they can start a conversation on the richness of Christian life. Hence, in order to start it, I would like to choose three of these 10 words, as the beginning of an imaginary dialogue with those who will read these pages: Christ, communion, peace. At first glance, it may seem these terms are unrelated, and do not follow from one another. But this is not the case. They can be woven into a relationship that I would like to further deepen with you, dear readers, so that we can grasp its newness and significance together.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV announces the second edition of World Children’s Day, which will take place in Rome on September 25-27, 2026.

By Devin Watkins

At the Wednesday General Audience, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV blessed and signed a flag bearing the official logo of the 2026 World Children’s Day.

“My thoughts go to children, whom I will have the joy of encountering on the Day dedicated to them, which is scheduled for September 25-27, 2026,” he said as he greeted Italian-speaking pilgrims.

Afterwards, a 7-year-old boy from Gaza, Majd Bernard, presented the flag to the Pope, together with Fr. Enzo Fortunato, OFM Conv., President of the Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day (WCD).

During his weekly General Audience, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV reminds the faithful that God calls on us, as people of faith, to offer our voices to help those in need and to protect the environment.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

We are called "to reverse course," as Jesus asks us, and to "change history," His Holiness Pope Leo XIV insisted during his Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter's Square, as he continued his catechesis series on "Jesus Christ, Our Hope."

The Holy Father began his remarks considering Christ’s Resurrection and its impact on the challenges of today’s world, pointing out that if we allow it, Christ’s salvific act can transform all our relationships, especially those with God, other people, and creation.  

The Gospel passage of today (Lk 21:5–19) is taken from chapter 21 of Luke, which recounts the so-called “eschatological discourse” of Jesus.

It all begins with a gaze — that of “some people” who speak admiringly of the beauty of the Temple and its ornaments (Lk 21:5).

And yet, of all this that they look upon with admiration, nothing will remain (Lk 21:6).

Jesus announces this, fully aware of the symbolic importance of that building: it was the heart of the people’s faith, the symbol of a nation and a religion.

The Temple will collapse, and with it a whole world will collapse — a religiosity, an era.

But Jesus continues his reflection and announces that there is something which, unlike the Temple, despite the great trials it will have to endure, will not pass away.

The trials are indeed countless and of every kind…

Dear Brothers,

I am pleased to greet you all here at the opening of 2025 annual Synod and would like to highlight the following important points related to the progress of our Chaldean Church and Iraqi Christians in general.

1. Leadership in the Church, is defined as spiritual stances, clear principles and values, as well as harmonic actions. Keeping in mind, that priesthood credibility should flow from our conscience; our ecclesial and moral responsibility; anticipations that Church has placed on us; and the public pledge we made on the day of our ordination. Therefore, I renew my call upon all fathers of the Synod to respect Synod’s decisions and find effective means to implement them in their dioceses as a sign of unity and episcopal collegiality.

2. The Synod is an Opportunity for Self-Examination, renewal, and strengthening of our affiliation with Christ and his Church, so that we may grow together. Hence, we dedicated the first morning of the Synod to prayer, reflection, and discernment…

The Eastern Prelacy hosted a celebratory event at St. Vartanants Church in New Jersey, marking the 30th anniversary of the election and consecration of 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 event gathered clergy, diocesan representatives, and faithful from the New York and New Jersey area. Speakers, including V. Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian and V. Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian, reflected on His Holiness’s decades of Ecumenical leadership and historic contributions to Armenian life.

Damascus, November 16, 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 Church of Antioch being proud in its charitable arm, the Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development, on the occasion of its annual feast. His Beatitude spoke during the Divine Liturgy celebrated for this occasion at the Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus, with the participation of the clergy and the presence of the department’s staff.

In his remarks, His Beatitude Patriarch John X highlighted the Department’s role and its activities across Syrian territory, even in the most difficult circumstances and without Religious discrimination. He called for standing together during these times where cooperation and solidarity are needed in in serving humankind and embodying the role and mission of the Church of Antioch.