His Holiness Pope Leo XIV releases his message for the 34th World Day of the Sick, and invites the faithful to consider the Samaritan's compassion and how we too can offer love by bearing the pain of others.

"The compassion of the Samaritan: loving by bearing another's pain” is the theme of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV's message for the 2026 commemoration of the World Day of the Sick to be held on 11 February.

In his message, signed 13 January and released on Tuesday, the Pope encouraged renewed reflection on the figure of the Good Samaritan ahead of the Day to be solemnly celebrated next month in Chiclayo, Peru.

He noted that this image "is always relevant and essential for rediscovering the beauty of charity and the social dimension of compassion" and helps further "direct our attention towards the needy and all those who suffer, especially the sick."

On January 19, 2026, 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), called His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.

His Holiness Patriarch Aphrem II wished His Holiness Pope Tawadros II a full recovery following the surgery he underwent recently.

On January 19, 2026, 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), received His Eminence Bishop Michel Kassarji, Head of the Chaldean Community in Lebanon, at the Patriarchate in Atchaneh - Lebanon.

The meeting was attended by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Beirut, and Delegate of the MECC Executive Committee to the Diakonia and Social Service Department, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant.

“And as many as touched it were made perfectly well” (Matthew 14:36).

As part of the medical follow-up being undertaken by H.H. Pope Tawadros II, and following several tests and investigations, His Holiness’ condition required surgical intervention on one of the kidneys. By the grace of God, the procedure was completed with full success.

Pope Tawadros is currently spending several days in a hospital in Austria for clinical monitoring. Thereafter, His Holiness is scheduled to spend a period of convalescence at Saint Anthony's Monastery in Austria.

We thank the Lord for the health of our father, H.H. Pope Tawadros II, and we pray together that the Lord may restore him safely and in good health to the homeland.

We also extend our greetings to you all on the occasion of the Glorious Feast of Epiphany.

Friday, 16 January 2026

8 Toba 1742 A.M.

As the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy celebrates its 325th anniversary, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV invites his diplomats to embrace their pastoral vocation to seek paths of reconciliation in light of the Gospel.

In 1701, His Holiness Pope Clement XI created the institution that today bears the name “Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.”

The Academy trains priests to serve in the Holy See’s diplomatic corps and the Secretariat of State, and its alumni include Popes Clement XIII, Leo XII, Leo XIII, Benedict XV, and Paul VI.

As the Pontficial Ecclesiastical Academy celebrates its 325th anniversary, Pope Leo XIV sent a letter to the institution’s community, thanking God for its long and fruitful history in service of the Pope.

Marking the start of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV recalls its origins and calls for renewed Prayer for visible unity among Christians.

Speaking after the Angelus on 18 January, Pope Leo XIV recalled the origins of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which begins and dates back two centuries. The initiative, he noted, was “strongly encouraged” by His Holiness Pope Leo XIII and, exactly one hundred years ago, was enriched for the first time by the Suggestions for the Octave of Prayer for the Unity of Christians.

On the occasion of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026", the Churches of Qamishli in Syria, held a Prayer Service entitled “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4: 4), organized by the Committee of Christian Youth Meetings - Qamishli, on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the St. Hagop Armenian Orthodox Church.

On January 15, 2026, 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), received His Beatitude Patriarch Joseph Absi, Greek-Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Alexandria, and Jerusalem, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), at the Patriarchate Headquarters in Bab Touma - Damascus.

His Beatitude congratulated His Holiness on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, Mor Andrawos Bahhi, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, were also present.

Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, Acting President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, along with Armenian Evangelical Pastors and wives, visited the Armenian Elders’ Home (CAHL), in Lebanon, on 14 January 2026 on the occasion of New Year’s and Christmas. A group of residents gathered with the visitors to celebrate the Lord Jesus’ birth through song, Bible readings and prayer. In his encouraging message, Rev. Haidostian exhorted the group to “Praise God at all times” (Psalm 34.1).

The Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), under the Presidency of Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, warmly congratulates His Eminence Bishop Dr. Imad Mousa Haddad on the occasion of his election as the Fifth Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.

A graduate of the Near East School of Theology, His Eminence Bishop Imad is well-known and loved by many in the UAECNE for his caring and genuine pastoral heart, as the Union stated.

Under the blessing and presidency 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 Church University Students Association (ACUSA) celebrated its 60th anniversary with a launch ceremony for a commemorative publication. The event took place on Saturday, January 10, 2026, in the atrium of the Cilicia Museum.

Organized by ACUSA’s 60th Anniversary Committee and Executive Committee, the celebration brought together both former and current members, as well as spiritual advisors, who participated in person and online.

During his weekly General Audience, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV continues his new catechesis series on the Second Vatican Council and its documents, looking more closely at "one of the most beautiful and important of the Council," namely the Dogmatic Constitution 'Dei Verbum,' on the Divine Revelation.

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends..."

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV recalled Jesus' words in the Gospel passage according to St. John, during his Wednesday General Audience, on January 14, in the Vatican, as he continued his new catechesis series, which is dedicated to Vatican Council II and a rereading of its Documents.

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, 
May the Lord give you peace! 

On January 25, 2026 we will celebrate the Sunday of the Word. 

This year again, we will focus on a single text from the New Testament: the letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians. From this letter, we take a verse that will be at the center of our prayer: “Christ is our Peace” (2:14). 

No one living in our Land is unaware of how delicate and serious the moment we are experiencing is. No one is unaware of how necessary it is for each of us to live this moment with intensity and full responsibility, and how necessary it is for everyone, but especially for us Christians, to fill the word PEACE with a new meaning, a word repeated too often without spiritual or human depth… 

On January 14, 2026, 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), received His Excellency Episcopal Vicar for the Chaldean Church in Damascus Rev. Fr. Farid Boutros, accompanied by a delegation from the Chaldean Parish in Damascus, at the Patriarchate Headquarters in Bab Touma - Damascus.

The delegation offered their greetings on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year.

The meeting was attended by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

On January 13, 2026, 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 the hospital and Al-Kalima School in Aleppo after the recent events in the city.

His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences: Mor Boutros Kassis, Archbishop of Aleppo and Environs, Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Evirons, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

On January 13, 2026, 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 the refugees at the refuge center at Mor Aphrem Cathedral in Aleppo.

His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences: Mor Boutros Kassis, Archbishop of Aleppo and Environs, Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Evirons, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

On January 13, 2026, 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 Aleppo to visit the children of the Church and the citizens of Aleppo after the recent events.

His Holiness was received by His Eminence Mor Boutros Kassis, Archbishop of Aleppo and Environs, and was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Evirons, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, Mr Louay Oussi, Mr. Maher Kourieh, and Dn. John Kourieh.

Upon his arrival at Mor Aphrem Cathedral in Suleymaniyya, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II offered a Prayer of Thanksgiving and asked the Lord to give peace to Aleppo and all Syria. He also prayed for the healing of the wounded and that all people return to their homes.

On Friday, 27 December 2025 / 9 January 2026, the Representatives of the Churches of Jerusalem visited the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem to congratulate His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine and Jordan, on the occasion of Christmas.

The first to visit was the Brotherhood of the Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land, followed by the visit of the Armenians, and thereafter all the other Churches, namely the the Copts, the Syrians, the Ethiopians, and the Western Churches: the Lutherans and the Anglicans, represented by His Eminence Archbishop Hosam Naoum, and His Eminence Former Archbishop Suheil Dawani, as well as Priests, Churchwardens, and Members of the Parish of Saint James the Brother of the Lord, together with the Greek Orthodox Cardiologist Dr. Hisham Nassar.

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), received the Women Auxiliary in Damascus, on Monday, January 12, 2026, at the Patriarchate Headquarters in Bab Touma - Damascus.

The meeting was attended by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

At the Sunday Angelus, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV encourages Christians to reflect on the gift of their Baptism, and to “bear witness to it with joy and consistency.”

Under a bright winter sun, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV greeted the thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square on Sunday to celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Observed on the Sunday following Epiphany, the feast marks the conclusion of the Christmas season and ushers the Church into Ordinary Time and the beginning of a new liturgical year.

This is a time, the Pope said in his address from the window of the Apostolic Palace, that “invites us to follow the Lord together, to listen to his word and to imitate his gestures of love toward our neighbor.”