Dear brothers and sisters,

may the Lord give you peace!

Our Church is generally remembered and mentioned as the Church of suffering and Calvary, of difficulties and divisions. This certainly has its share of truth. Indeed, one cannot be in Jerusalem without experiencing Calvary. Preserving the places of the human experience of Christ, also means making this experience our own, and Calvary is certainly close to us and we feel it in our daily difficulties. In this last year of war, we have experienced this aspect with an intensity that we have never seen before. As the Psalm says, it seemed to us to “dwell in darkness and in gloom, prisoners in misery and in irons” (Psa. 107,10)”. But in this year dedicated to hope, let us also reaffirm our faith in the God of life, who in Christ has brought us out of darkness and the shadow of death and breaks our chains (cf. Sl. 107:14).

And on this day dedicated to religious life, I really want to emphasize the other face of our Christian life in the Holy Land. The face of those who, despite everything, by your presence continue to be “lamps shining in the night” and “seeds of goodness in a land rent asunder by conflict”, as the Holy Father told us a few months ago. It is your presence that above all makes the style of Christian life visible in this Holy Land. An open-minded style that places itself at the service of all men and women in this country. And I would like to thank you for that.

Jerusalem, January 29, 2025 – In a profound display of faith and fraternity, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, led a heartfelt prayer for Christian unity at the Pro-Cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate. Clergy and believers from various Christian traditions across the Holy Land gathered in hearts full of faith, reaffirming their shared commitment to the unity of Christ’s followers.

Embracing Unity Amidst Diversity

This prayer is part of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a global initiative inspired by Christ’s prayer: “Let them all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so let them also be one in us” (John 17:21). The prayer witnessed a huge attendance from various Christian Churches of the Holy Land, acting as a testimony to the rich mosaic of the Christian community. Despite traditional distinctions, they stood united in their shared faith in Christ and a common mission of love, peace, and service.

Lk 2:22-40

We dwell immediately on a first anomaly, a first peculiarity of the Gospel (Lk 2:22-40) that the liturgy has us read on this Sunday of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

We are in the holiest place in Jerusalem at that time, where Jesus is presented to fulfill the law.

The evangelist emphasizes Mary and Joseph’s obedience to the prescriptions concerning the birth of the first-born son, who was to be redeemed by the sacrifice of an animal.

So, we would expect a description of the offering, the sacrifice, we would expect the story of how it came about. But the strange thing is that the evangelist completely omits the description of the rite. No priests appear, no sacrifices are offered. There is not even a reading of the law texts, nothing that we would expect. Even the temple somehow disappears.

January 29, 2025

The Coptic Orthodox Church, under the leadership of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, values the statements made today by His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, in which he reaffirmed Egypt’s firm stance—both as a state and as a people—against any calls for the displacement of Palestinians from their land, considering it an act of injustice against them and a violation of the Palestinian cause.

As one of the pillars of the nation, the Egyptian Church fully supports the President’s assertion that accepting the idea of displacement would compromise Egypt’s national security, a matter that Egyptians—whose blood has been shed in defense of Egypt’s security and stability—will never allow.

January 30, 2025

Her Excellency Mrs. Abir Ali, Consul General of the Republic of Lebanon in Alexandria, visited the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa.

During her visit, she met with His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa for the Greek Orthodox Church, at the Patriarchate's headquarters. The meeting was attended by:

Metropolitan Ignatios, Archbishop of Antananarivo and Northern Madagascar,

Metropolitan Panteleimon, Archbishop of Ptolemais and Secretary of the Holy Synod,

Metropolitan Petros, Archbishop of Aksum,

Archimandrite Damaskinos Azraei, Patriarchal Vicar in Alexandria.

His Beatitude expressed his gratitude to the Consul General for her visit, offering heartfelt prayers from the blessed land of peace, Egypt, for peace to prevail in Lebanon and all regions of the Middle East and the world suffering from the devastation of war.

His Holiness Pope Francis addresses the Presidents of Episcopal Commissions for Communications and Directors of National Communications Offices and encourages them to network together to build a different model of communication able to sow hope and mutual understanding instead of division.

By Lisa Zengarini

Pope Francis has encouraged Catholic social communication leaders to join forces so that the Church can build “a different model of communication” able to sow hope and unity both in the Church and in the broader world.

“It's up to us to write the future,” the Pope remarked  as he addressed  on Monday Catholic Institutional communicators gathered in the Vatican for the Jubilee of the World of Communication.

His Holiness Pope Francis pens the preface to the book "The Christian Heritage in Iraq" by German journalist and theologian Matthias Kopp, spokesperson for the German Bishops' Conference (DBK) and consultor for the Dicastery for Communication. The book, published by Herder and currently available in German, traces the history of Christianity in Iraq, with a focus on Pope Francis' journey to the country in 2021 and the Holy See's diplomacy in the region.

By Pope Francis

I recall with gratitude my Apostolic Journey to Iraq, which I undertook in March 2021—despite the pandemic and security concerns—to express my affection and solidarity to Christians and to all people of goodwill in that country. They hold a constant and abiding place in my heart and prayers.

Below you can find published the Patriarchal Circular issued by His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II - January 27, 2025 (in English):

No. EN 54/25

ܒܫܡ ܐܝܬܝܐ ܡܬܘܡܝܐ ܐܠܨܝ ܐܝܬܘܬܐ ܕܟܠ ܐܚܝܕ

ܐܝܓܢܛܝܘܣ ܦܛܪܝܪܟܐ ܕܟܘܪܣܝܐ ܫܠܝܚܝܐ ܕܐܢܛܝܘܟܝܐ ܘܕܟܠܗ̇ ܡܕܢܚܐ

ܘܪܝܫܐ ܓܘܢܝܐ ܕܥܕܬܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܬܐ ܐܪܬܕܘܟܣܝܬܐ ܕܒܟܠܗ̇ ܬܒܝܠ

ܕܗܘ ܐܦܪܝܡ ܬܪܝܢܐ ܡ̄

We extend our apostolic benediction, benevolent prayers and greetings to our brethren, their Eminences the Metropolitans; our spiritual children: Very Reverend Corepiscopoi, Reverend priests, monks, nuns and deacons and the entire blessed Syriac Orthodox people throughout the world. May the divine providence embrace them through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and St. Peter, Chief of the Apostles, St. Thomas the Apostle, and the rest of the Martyrs and Saints. Amen.

On January 29, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, received His Beatitude 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 at the Patriarchate Headquarters in Bab Touma - Damascus.

“to take a decisive step forward towards unity around a common date for Easter”

On the feast of the Conversion of St Paul, which marks the close of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, His Holiness Pope Francis invites Christians to rediscover the common roots of the faith, and repeats his appeal to find a common date for Easter.

By Christopher Wells

Although everyone faces moments of despair or know people who have lost hope, “the Gospel tells us that Jesus always restores hope,” Pope Francis said Saturday evening at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. “He continually raises us up from the ashes of death and gives us the strength to go on, to begin anew.”

In his homily for the feast of the Conversion of St Paul – which also marks the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Pope Francis reflected on the Gospel account of Jesus’ encounter with Martha after the death of her brother, Lazarus. In response to Martha’s profession of faith in the resurrection of the dead at the end of time, Jesus assured her that He Himself is the resurrection and the life, and asks of her, “Do you believe this?”

This Gospel passage provided the theme for this year’s Week of Prayer, and teaches us, the Pope said, “that even in times of deep desolation, we are not alone and we can continue to hope.”

‏On January 25, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches received His Eminence Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery of the Oriental Churches, accompanied by a delegation from the dicastery including His Excellency Bishop Michel Jalkh, Secretary of the Dicastery, and Rev. Fr. Emanuele Sabadakh, Personal Secretary of the Prefect, at the Patriarchal Headquarters in Bab Touma - Damascus. His Eminence Cardinal Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio in Syria, and Rev. Fr. Victor Villatoro, Secretary of the Nunciature, were also present.

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

In the video, you can find the Homily of 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, at the Divine Liturgy (Sunday of Zacchaeus), on Sunday 26 January 2025, in Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery - Lebanon.

"The Institute is the crucible in which the experience of the Antiochian Church is fused, both in teaching and in its Eastern presence"

Balamand - Lebanon, January 24, 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, met with the faculty and students of the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology in the Patriarch Ignatius Hall at the Institute. The meeting had a familial tone, where the Institute's community gathered to receive His Beatitude's guidance and directives. His Beatitude emphasized the role of the Institute as the crucible in which the experience of the Antiochian Church is fused, both in teaching, ministry, and Eastern presence.

On January 22, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches presided over an online meeting of the General Secretariat of the Holy Synod.

Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

‘‘A lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.’ 2 Peter 1:19

We came to the Holy Land, this Jubilee Year, as pilgrims of hope. We came in hope that a fragile ceasefire agreement, announced as we travelled here, would hold.

We came looking forward to those, in both [Israel] and Palestine, who have suffered the atrocities of violence and war, being able to rebuild their shattered lives, to mourn the loss of their loved ones, to come together again as families and to start on the long, uncertain road to recovery.

Joy at the return of [Israeli] hostages and the release of Palestinian prisoners is marred by the knowledge that so many will not return: hostages, prisoners, countless dead. We note widespread concern at the fragility of the ceasefire; that it may bring respite but not the sustained and lasting peace for which the Holy Land cries out. An online meeting with the parish priest of Holy Family Parish in Gaza impressed upon us the devastation being experienced by the whole population…

Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Today’s Gospel passage (Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21) comes from two different chapters of Luke’s Gospel: the first verses are taken from the first chapter and tell of the beginning of the Gospel. The next part is taken from the fourth chapter and tells of Jesus' first public appearance, immediately after the temptations in the desert.

These two passages are both a beginning: the beginning of the Gospel and the beginning of Jesus’ mission.

And in both of these passages, the word fulfillment appears again.

It is the word that frames both pericopes: the evangelist says that many told of the events that were fulfilled in their midst (Lk 1:1), and Jesus says that the scripture he had just proclaimed was fulfilled in the synagogue of Nazareth (Lk 4:21).

The evangelist does not simply speak of events that have taken place, but emphasizes and specifies that they have been fulfilled. He is saying that it is not simply something that has happened, perhaps something new or beautiful, but that everything that has happened is a fulfillment. In other words, something that has reached its fullness, its purpose, its goal.

Minassian to offer his congratulations to the sister Armenian Catholic Church on the occasion of Christmas

On January 21, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, visited his brother in Christ His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Catholic Family, at the Headquarters of the Patriarchate in Beirut, to offer his congratulations to the sister Armenian Catholic Church on the occasion of Christmas.

On January 22, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches visited His Excellency President of Lebanon General Joseph Aoun, at Presidential Palace in Beirut.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

As shepherds of the Christian faithful in the Holy Land, we welcome the news of a ceasefire in Gaza with cautious hope and fervent prayer. After 15 months of unimaginable suffering, this pause in hostilities offers a moment to breathe, to mourn, and to begin the arduous journey of healing. Yet, as Christians, we are summoned not merely to rejoice in the cessation of war but to dedicate ourselves to the sacred pursuit of true and lasting peace.

The toll on human life and dignity on all sides, but especially in Gaza, has been catastrophic, with civilian infrastructure obliterated and communities torn asunder. We are reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul: “If one member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Corinthians 12:26). The suffering of Gaza is a wound not only to our communities there, but to the conscience of humanity. It demands a response grounded in justice, compassion, and the recognition that every human being is a bearer of the divine image.