On Saturday the 15 of February 2025, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark visited the headquarters of the Coptic Girls’ College in Abbassia to mark the 110th anniversary of the founding of the Coptic Girls’ College Association.

On Saturday the 15th of February 2025, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark received His Beatitude Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille for the Catholic Church, at the Papal Residence in Cairo. He was accompanied by His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Ishak, Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church, and His Grace Metropolitan Tomas Adly, Metropolitan of Giza and Fayoum for the Coptic Catholics.

On Thursday, February 13th, 2025, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, presided over the Eve of the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ to the Temple (Diaruntarach) at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. The service included the Antasdan (Blessing of the Four Corners of the World), a presentation of children for blessing, and a traditional bonfire.

At the invitation of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and with the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, three young clergymen—V. Rev. Antranig Kurumian, Director of the Birds’ Nest Armenian Orphanage; Rev. Fr. Stephan Baljian, Pastor of Saint Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church in North Andover; and Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian, Pastor of Forty Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church in California—represented the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, at the Oriental Orthodox Churches’ study visit to the Vatican from January 31 to February 8, 2025.

Sister Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E., is the new President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

By Vatican News

His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini as the new President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

On Saturday, 2/15 February 2025, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the Despotic feast of the Meeting of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple:

1. In the Central Monastic Church of the Holy Constantine and Helen, with a Divine Liturgy led by the ministering priest of the Church, Archimandrite Kallistos, with His Beatitude presiding, who also chanted during the Matins the most poetic and theological Katavasiae of the Meeting of the Lord by Cosmas the Monk, with the surviving ancient melody of the hymn, namely: “The sun once shone on dry land that was begotten of the abyss; for the water became as hard as a wall on either side for the people that crossed the sea by foot, and sang in God-pleasing manner: Let us sing to the Lord; for gloriously He is glorified.”

2. In the Holy Monastery of Panagia Sayda Naya, located in the centre of the Old City of Jerusalem, near the Patriarchate.

Defending the dignity and presence of the People of Gaza

Jerusalem, the Holy Land

February 14, 2025

As custodians of the Christian faith and conscience in this sacred land, we raise our voices in sorrow and steadfast resolve in the face of the ongoing suffering in Gaza. The devastation that has unfolded before the eyes of the world is a profound moral and humanitarian tragedy. Thousands of innocent lives have been lost, and entire communities stand in ruin, with the most vulnerable— children, the elderly, and the sick—enduring unimaginable hardship.

Amid this anguish, we are compelled to speak against the grave threat of mass displacement, an injustice that strikes at the very heart of human dignity. The people of Gaza, families who have lived for generations in the land of their ancestors, must not be forced into exile, stripped of whatever is left of their homes, their heritage, and their right to remain in the land that forms the essence of their identity. As Christians, we cannot be indifferent to such suffering, for the Gospel commands us to uphold the dignity of every human being. The words of our Lord remind us: “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed” (Isaiah 10:1-2). 

On February 14, 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, participated in the International Prayer Breakfast at the Munich Security Conference, in Munich.

From the General Secretariat of the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Jerusalem – Feb.14.2025

Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, led by His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Palestine and Jordan, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), met on Friday, 14 February, with a delegation of several Consul Generals and Heads of Missions in Jerusalem and to the Palestinian Authority, as well as representatives of the Quartet and UNSCO, at the headquarters of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.

Lk 6:17, 20-26

The Gospel passage for this 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Lk 6:17, 20-26) recounts Jesus' words on the Beatitudes.

The evangelist sets this discourse in a flat place, or rather, in a place where Jesus is descending (Lk 6:17). He was on the mountain where he prayed and where he chose and called his disciples (Lk 6:12). Now he descends and stops in the plain, where he finds a large crowd waiting for him.

They are mainly poor people: sick, hungry, possessed. People who have been wounded by life (Lk 6:18-19).

His Beatitude Cardinal Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, began his pastoral visit to Cana of Galilee on Thursday, February 6, 2025, which lasted until Sunday, February 9, 2025.

Every pastoral visit carries its own unique character. His Beatitude considers these visits an essential part of his pastoral mission. On numerous occasions, he has emphasized the importance of personally meeting and listening to the people he serves, as it allows him to better understand their daily lives—something that cannot be fully grasped from a distance.

Day One – A Warm Welcome Reflecting Fraternal Love

The faithful gathered in front of the Church of the first miracle in Cana to welcome His Beatitude in a grand reception accompanied by the music of the Latin Scout of Reneh and the Orthodox Scout of Cana. Among the dignitaries receiving his beatitude were Msgr. Rafic Nahra, Patriarchal Vicar of Galilee, and Fr. Haitham Heno, the current Franciscan parish priest of Cana, alongside priests from various churches of the city, as well as the town's imam, Sheikh, and mayor. The scene was a true reflection of the spirit of love and fraternity uniting the local community of Cana.

An invitation from the meeting “Byblos, the Capital of Dialogue and Coexistence” on the occasion of the Christian-Islamic National Day of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary.

Balamand, February 9, 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, celebrated the Divine Liturgy (Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican) at Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery, with the participation of Metropolitan Saba (Esber) of New York and all North America, Patriarchal Assistant Bishop Moussa (Al-Khasi), Archimandrite George Yaacoub, Abbot of the Monastery, Archimandrite Yaacoub Khalil, Dean of the Institute of Saint John of Damascus, a group of Priests, Deacons, the Balamand family, and a crowd of faithful.

During the Divine Liturgy, and with the blessing of His Beatitude, Deacon Paul from the Archdiocese of North America was ordained to the priesthood. The latter will establish a monastery in the Archdiocese.

His Holiness Pope Francis releases a message to mark the 11th International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, and praises the work of those combating the scourge of modern slavery.

By Devin Watkins

Ahead of the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, Pope Francis is urging Catholics and all people of goodwill to do their part to combat the exploitation of vulnerable people.

In his message released on Friday, the Pope noted that the Day takes place on February 8, the liturgical memorial of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese woman who fell victim to human trafficking as a child and then later became a nun.

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, calls on President Trump to press for Azerbaijan’s release of Armenian hostages and the right Artsakh Armenians to return to their indigenous homeland.

On February 6, 2025, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I sent a letter to newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump, congratulating him on his return to the White House and urging him to take immediate action on pressing issues affecting the Armenian people, including the illegal detention of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan.

His Holiness Pope Francis meets with young priests and monks of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, and urges Christians to express our common faith in respect and fraternal love.

By Devin Watkins

“The proclamation of our common faith requires before all else that we love one another.”

His Holiness Pope Francis offered that reminder on Thursday as he met with a delegation of Orthodox clergy taking part in a study visit to Rome.

Promoted by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, the fifth Study Visit brought together priests and monks from the Armenian, Coptic, Ehiopian, Eritrean, Malankara, and Syrian Oriental Orthodox Churches.

On February 5, 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, met in Washington D.C. the President and members of the US Committee for International Religious Freedom.

The account of the vocation of the first disciples in the Gospel of Luke is interwoven with the story of the miraculous fishing (Luke 5:1-11). 

In Mark and Matthew, too, we see that Peter and his companions, when Jesus calls them, lay down their nets and boats after a night of fishing. But only Luke tells us that this fishing was unsuccessful and that Jesus asks them to fish again, to try once more. Only Luke tells us that this second fishing, which takes place in the sunlight, fills the nets with fish (Luke 5:5-7). 

He does not just fill the nets with fish. He also fills Peter with awe and all those present with awe (Luke 5:9-10).  

The President of the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon, and and the Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Reverend Joseph Kassab, stated in a statement his congratulations to the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, on his designation to lead the country during this pivotal stage in Syria’s history, after the darkness of oppression has lifted and a new dawn has begun to rise over the nation.