His Beatitude Patriarch Youssef Al-Absi, Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), visited 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). His Beatitude offered his greetings to His Holiness on the occasion of the Feast of the Resurrection.

On April 9, 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), celebrated the Holy Qurobo on Maundy Thursday at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma - Damascus.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, Mor Timotheos Matthew, Abbot of Mor Gabriel Monastery in Kerala, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, attended the Holy Qurobo…

On April 5, 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), celebrated the Service of Nahire (the Feast of Lights), at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma, Damascus.

‏This Service was attended by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, and Mor Augeen Al-akhoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV urges Christians to bear witness to the Gospel in a world disfigured by fake news, conflict and "confused consciences".

At the Regina Caeli on Easter Monday in Saint Peter’s Square, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV called on Christians to bear witness to the Gospel in a context marked by misinformation, conflict, and social deprivation.

Reflecting on the Gospel account of the empty tomb, the Pope noted that two different accounts emerge from the same event: the testimony of the women, who encountered the risen Jesus and announced His Resurrection, and the report of the guards, who claimed that the body had been taken. He said that from this single fact arise two opposing interpretations, one that proclaims life and another that denies it.

At the Easter Sunday Mass, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV reminds us that the Easter proclamation that Christ is risen from the dead "opens us up to a hope that never fails, to a light that never fades, to a fullness of joy that nothing can take away: death has been conquered forever; death no longer has power over us!"

Presiding over the Easter Sunday Mass in Saint Peter's Square with over fifty thousand faithful gathered, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV explained how all creation today is "resplendent with new light" and we rejoice as "a song of praise rises from the earth ... Christ is risen from the dead, and with him, we too rise to new life!"

On Easter Sunday, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV appeals to world leaders to choose “not to dominate others, but to encounter them”. He also announces that he will lead a prayer vigil for peace next Saturday, April 11th, in Saint Peter’s Basilica.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has called on world leaders to lay down their weapons and choose “encounter” over domination.

“Let those who have weapons lay them down!”, the Pope urged on Easter Sunday in his traditional Urbi et Orbi (‘To the City and the World’) message.

Speaking to the tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square, Pope Leo urged "those who have the power to unleash wars" to chose peace. 

This should not be a peace “imposed by force”, he stressed, but one achieved through dialogue – “not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them”.

The Feast of the Holy Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was solemnly celebrated with a Pontifical Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, on Sunday, April 5, 2026.

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), presided over the Divine Liturgy and delivered his Pontifical Message, assisted by His Eminence Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, Director of the “Cilicia” Library, and His Grace Bishop Dajad Ashekian, Chancellor of the Catholicosate. The “Shnorhali” Choir of the Catholicosate, conducted by Very Rev. Fr. Zaven Najarian, performed the hymns.

On Holy Saturday evening, April 4, 2026, the Djrakaluyts Divine Liturgy on the Eve of the Feast of the Holy Resurrection was held, presided over by 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), at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, Lebanon, officiated by Very Rev. Fr. Andranik Kurumian, Principal of the “Birds’ Nest” Orphanage. Following the Liturgy, the Blessing of the Home service was conducted, led by His Holiness Aram I.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Dajad Ashekyan, Chancellor of the Catholicosate, took the symbolic light of Christ from the Holy Altar and presented it to His Holiness, who then distributed it to the congregation…

On Saturday, April 4, 2026, 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), participated with the young members of the Naregatsi Children and Youth Choir in celebrating the Feast of the Holy Resurrection and enjoyed the Easter egg game tradition.

During the event, the children showcased a selection of the songs they had rehearsed. In response,His Holiness Catholicos Aram I offered his paternal blessing and expressed gratitude to the Auxiliary Committee and choir conductor, V. Rev. Fr. Zaven Najarian, for fostering a strong Ecclesiastical and national spirit.

Father Francesco Patton, author of the meditations for the Pope's Good Friday 'Via Crucis' at the Colosseum in Rome, notes that even today, many people are living a Way of the Cross.

“In the reflections and prayers, the inspiration from current reality and from concrete people is evident,” particularly from the sufferings of Christians in the Middle East due to the war.

In this way, Father Francesco Patton of the Order of Friars Minor, summarized the origin of the meditations written for the Way of the Cross that will be presided over by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Colosseum on Good Friday evening.

In the following interview with Vatican News, Fr. Patton, who served as the Custos of the Holy Land from 2016 until June 2025, explained how the Pope’s choice coincided with the eighth centenary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi.

At the Chrism Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV invites Priests, Bishops, and all Christians to embrace their challenges with trust in God and “spread the fragrance of Christ where the stench of death reigns.”

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV presided at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday in St. Peter’s Basilica, joined by hundreds of bishops and priests who renewed the promises they made at their ordination.

In his first Homily for the Chrism Mass as the Bishop of Rome, the Pope reflected on the mission to which God calls every Christian, which he said is the very same mission as that of Jesus.

“Each of us takes part in it according to our own vocation in a deeply personal obedience to the voice of the Spirit, yet never without others, never neglecting or breaking communion!” he said.

Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15 

Dear brothers and sisters, 
may the Lord give you peace. 

We are in the place where a stone once sealed death. And yet today we are here to celebrate life. There is a tension we cannot ignore: outside, the doors of the Holy Sepulchre are closed. War has turned this place into a refuge, an “inside” cut off from an “outside” weighed down by fear and strain. We are here as within a womb of peace, while the world around us is being torn apart, and we wish we could change all of this. 

And yet, here and now, the Word of God places before us a gesture that overturns all our human ways of thinking. 

In the Gospel according to John, we read: “He rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and taking a towel, girded himself” (Jn 13:4). That verb – “to gird oneself” – echoes throughout Scripture. It is the same verb found in the Book of Exodus, when the Lord gives instructions for the Passover: “This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girded, sandals on your feet, and your staff in hand; you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover” (Ex 12:11)… 

During the Mass "in Coena Domini" on Holy Thursday, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will wash the feet of twelve Priests - eleven of whom he ordained last year.

On Holy Thursday, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV is set to wash the feet of twelve Priests during the Mass in Coena Domini. The Liturgy will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

The Diocese of Rome issued a statement announcing the names of the 12 Priests: Fr. Andrea Alessi, Fr. Gabriele Di Menno Di Bucchianico, Fr. Renzo Chiesa, Fr. Francesco Melone, Fr. Clody Merfalen, Fr. Federico Pelosio, Fr. Marco Petrolo, Fr. Pietro Hieu Nguyen Huai, Fr. Matteo Renzi, Fr. Giuseppe Terranova, Fr. Simone Troilo, and Fr. Enrico Maria Trusiani.

On Wednesday morning, April 1, 2026, 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), paid an official visit to the His Excellency President of the Republic of Lebanon, General Joseph Aoun. His Holiness was accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Panossian, Prelate of Lebanon, and His Grace Bishop Dajad Ashekian, Chancellor of the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia.

Following the meeting, His Holiness addressed the press, stating:

We visited His Excellency President General Joseph Aoun both on behalf of our community and personally, to express our full solidarity with him and with the government in their efforts and positions.”

“We firmly believe that safeguarding Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, strengthening the authority of the State, ensuring the presence of the Lebanese army across all Lebanese regions, and preserving national unity—especially under the current critical circumstances—are urgent priorities. We believe this reflects the will of all Lebanese. It is crucial to avoid rhetoric that fuels internal divisions and instead focus on uniting around our nation’s higher, shared interests…

The Holy Shroud of Turin passed through the Middle East, reveals new DNA research in the scientific article authored by Dr. Gianni Barcaccia, Professor of Genetics and Genomics at the University of Padua, along with other researchers. The scientists confirm the presence of a genome predominantly from the Middle East and show that microorganisms thriving in extremely saline environments, such as the Dead Sea, were detected.

New research on DNA traces found on the Shroud of Turin suggests the likelihood that the cloth passed through the Middle East. A scientific article, soon to be published and already available in pre-print, reports the results of new investigations conducted on material from the Shroud provided by Professor Pier Luigi Baima Bollone, a renowned Professor of Forensic Medicine who, in the 1980s, claimed to have identified the presence of human blood of the AB group on the Shroud.

During his weekly General Audience, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV highlights the important role that lay people play in the Church’s mission in bearing witness to the Gospel, as he continues his reflection on the conciliar document "Lumen gentium."

Lay people’s contribution, service and witness is essential to building a Church that reaches out to all and spreads the Gospel, along with justice, charity and peace, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV said during the Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter’s Square on April 1, 2026.

“The vast field of the lay apostolate is not confined to the Church, but extends to the world,” Pope Leo underlined.

“The Church is present wherever her children profess and bear witness to the Gospel: in the workplace, in civil society and in all human relationships, wherever they, through their choices, show the beauty of Christian life, which foretells here and now the justice and peace that will be accomplished in the Kingdom of God.”

Holy Tuesday marks the Parable of the Ten Maidens, a call by Jesus to spiritual preparedness and faithful stewardship. On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, this parable was brought to life through a Special Service at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral.

Students from the Armenian Catholicosate, Holy See of Cilica, Sunday School, participated in the Ceremony, dressed in Church vestments and carrying lanterns, embodying the ten maidens of the Gospel. During the reading, the “wise” virgins held their candles burning brightly, a symbol of readiness and watchfulness, while the “foolish” ones let theirs go dark, a reminder of indifference to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

On March 31, 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), 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 opened the meeting with a prayer and then he discussed with their Eminences different topics related to our churches throughout the world.

In remarks to journalists, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV calls on world leaders to “come back to the table” and solve their problems through dialogue.

“I'm told that President Trump recently stated that he would like to end the war. Hopefully he's looking for an 'off-ramp'. Hopefully he's looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that's being created and that's increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere.”

Just days before Easter, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has renewed his appeal for peace in a world wounded by conflict and violence.

In remarks to journalists this evening, March 31, in Castel Gandolfo, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV addressed all world leaders, urging them: “Come back to the table, to dialogue. Let's look for solutions to problems, let's look for ways to reduce the amount of violence that we're promoting, that peace - especially at Easter - might reign in our hearts."

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will preside over the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on Friday, 3 April, during the traditional Good Friday Liturgy commemorating the journey of Jesus to Golgotha. The meditations have been written by Franciscan Father Francesco Patton.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will preside over all fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross at Rome's Colosseum, carrying the Cross himself throughout the Liturgy in what will be his first Holy Friday celebration as Pope.

The meditations for this year’s ceremony have been entrusted to Franciscan Father Francesco Patton, who served as Custos of the Holy Land from 2016 to 2025. The Holy See Press Office announced that the texts will be published on Friday morning, around midday.