His Holiness Pope Francis releases a third message for World Youth Day 2022 - 2023, to be held in Lisbon in 2023, after being postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and urges young people to follow in the footsteps of Our Lady, going in haste to others and dedicating our lives to Jesus.

By Francesca Merlo

His Holiness Pope Francis released his third message for the 37th World Youth Day (WYD) on Monday. In this final message of a trilogy, the Holy Father recalls the theme of the last WYD, held in 2019 in Panama: “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).

“After that event, we resumed our journey towards a new destination – Lisbon 2023 – with hearts afire with God’s urgent summons to arise”, noted the Pope.

On 11 September, 2022, during the Suryoyo Youth General Gathering – Syria 2022, a “Questions and Answers” session was organized with His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church.

The youth were given the opportunity to personally ask their spiritual father questions they have about the church and other topics.

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, is elected president of the World Council of Churches, representing the Oriental Orthodox churches. The election was held by the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches which is taking place in Karlsruhe, Germany.

A well-knowing ecumenical leader, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I has served as moderator of the Executive and Central Committees of the World Council of Churches for two terms 1991-1998 and 1998-2006. He is author of several books on theological and ecumenical topics.

From August 29th to August 31st took place the annual meeting of the Conference of Latin Bishops in the Arab Region (CELRA), in Rome. The three-day meeting was presided over by His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Mgr Cesar Essayan, Latin Apostolic Vicar of Lebanon. The Patriarchal Vicars for Jerusalem and Palestine, Israel, Jordan and Cyprus, as well as the Latin bishops of Iraq, Syria, Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti were also present.

During the meeting, each bishop presented the situation of his region and the work of the Church. In many countries, difficulties encountered by Christians have arisen due to economic and political conditions. The bishops and religious representatives also discussed the process of Synod; actions and initiatives of each region and future plans. They also spoke of the future election of a representative of the Synod of the Bishops, which will take place next October during the meeting of the Synod in Beirut.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, met on Tuesday 6 September 2022, at the papal residence in Cairo, the winners of the Mega competition organized by the Sunday Schools magazine for young people.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II spoke with them about the concept of success, where he pointed out that the ingredients for success through the letters of the words n ​​and h are:

N: system: in everything in life

J: Jihad: Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. (Psalm 126:5)

A: Faith: Confidence in God and oneself

H: Harvest: The harvest is the fruit of fatigue and effort. He also listened to the winners’ questions, which varied between practical spiritual and theological questions, as they revolved around the meanings of contentment, joy, love, condemnation, success, forgiveness, …. etc.

LEBANON – Between August 19th and August 24th, 2022, JEC Jordan, in the presence of the YJHP (Youth of Jesus’ Homeland – Palestine), participated in two meetings held in Jeita (Lebanon), both organized by the Christian Youth Movement (JEC) of the Middle-East.

The first one, entitled “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8: 32), opened with a Mass presided by Fr. Joseph Salloum, spiritual guide of the movement, and concelebrated by Fr. Tony Sassin (JEC Lebanon) and Fr. Wajdi Twal (JEC Jordan). Afterward, the participants, all from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt or Palestine, were able to attend games, lectures given by Mrs. Marina Adly and Fr. Wajdi Twal, times of prayer and adoration, discussions and exchanges, and a visit to the Lebanese city of Sidon and the church of Dar Al-Inaya, as well as an introductory session to the different cultures of the represented countries. There were also elections to choose the new first coordinator of the Christian Youth of the Middle East, elected for a period of three years.

On Monday, August 23/September 5, 2022, the day of the Apodosis of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, the ceremony of the procession of the icon of the Dormition was celebrated in the Church of Jerusalem.

The Procession began after the Divine Liturgy at the Tomb of the Theotokos which was presided over by the Master of Ceremonies Archimandrite Bartholomew.

The Procession was presided over by the Hegoumen of Gethsemane, His Eminence Metropolitan Joachim of Hellenoupolis, holding the icon before his chest, surrounded by Priests and Community Representatives, in which dressed priests, monks and nuns marched in line, and in which believers followed on the right and left, reverently venerating the icon of the Mother of God.

In a message to the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, His Holiness Pope Francis calls on all Christians to work for unity and reconciliation among themselves, in order to bring God’s reconciliation to a world still plagued by division and conflict.

By Christopher Wells

“Our mission as Christians is to bring the fulfilment of this reconciliation to the world, with the Church being the instrument and visible sign of the unity to which God calls all people,” says Pope Francis in his Message to the 11th Assembly of the World Christian of Churches.

The Pope’s message was read by Cardinal Kurt Koch, the Prefect for the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, who is leading the Catholic delegation to the meeting.

The Holy Father notes in his message that the Catholic Church has been sending observers to the Assemblies since 1901, and says the presence of the delegation at this Assembly is a sign of the “strong relationship” between the Church and the WCC.

His Holiness Pope Francis thanks promoters of the “Open Hospitals in Syria” project for their work in the suffering nation, and says domestic and international disputes and the robbing of opportunities are leaving great numbers of marginalized people and nations stranded by the roadside.

By Linda Bordoni

His Holiness Pope Francis reflected on the ongoing suffering of the Syrian people after 12 years of violent conflict, and upheld the commitment and the healthcare offered to all Syrians in need by a Catholic-run initiative called “Open Hospitals in Syria.”

Greeting members of the AVSI Foundation that promotes and runs the initiative, which is supported by various Holy See institutions, as well as the apostolic nuncio to Syria, Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Pope decried the wounds inflicted on the nation.

Opening to the sounds of nature reverberating through the speaker system, World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly delegates took part in the first thematic plenary, “The purpose of God’s love in Christ for the whole of creation – reconciliation and unity," on 1 September, the first day of Season of Creation.

Throughout the session, the image of a cedar tree from the Middle East, embraced and hugged by children from different parts of the world, was present on the main screen. Plenary moderator, Dr Agnes Abuom, moderator of the WCC central committee, explained how cedar trees are known for their strength and resilience. “They remind us of the bonds of our life over generations,” she said.

His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, leader of the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, also offered a keynote presentations. “Together as communities, churches, cities, and nations, we must change route and discover new ways of working together to break down the traditional barriers between peoples to stop competing for resources and start collaborating,” he said.

His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, delegate of the Coptic Orthodox Church, offered a keynote on reconciliation and unity in the Middle East.

His Holiness Pope Francis, sent greetings to the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly as it opened.

His Holiness Pope Francis wished the representatives of the churches at the 31 August to 8 September assembly "a meaningful and fruitful meeting that deepens and strengthens the bonds of communion between the Churches and the ecumenical organizations present."

The pontiff said in advance greetings that he has a "pastoral interest in the work of the Assembly."

Pope Francis also noted that the Catholic Church has sent "delegated observers" to WCC assemblies since the WCC 3rd Assembly took place in New Delhi in 1961.

"I am glad that a delegation is also present this year, a sign of the strong relationship between the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches that has consolidated over time," the Pope said.

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew offered greetings and a pointed message to the delegates and participants at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany.

He began his remarks with the teaching and the belief that “the light of Christ shines more brightly than any darkness in our hearts and in our world,” offering this idea as the underlying premise to the theme of the assembly, that “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.”

Yet, we have fallen short of this ideal, he suggested. Asking each of us the question, “how can we reconcile our magnificent faith with our manifest failure?”

The Ecumenical Patriarch was referring to our “sin of ignoring the divine presence in all things and in all people,” and our failure to look larger than ourselves to “discern and detect the purpose for which God has created everyone and everything.”

His words were delivered on 1 September, which he notes as a “consecrated day of prayer and protection for God’s sacred creation,” and a day that “Orthodox Christians since 1989 have dedicated to praying for the protection of God’s gift of creation.”

On the evening of Tuesday, August 17/30, 2022, there was an inspection of the conservation works of the floor of the Rotunda and the Seven Arches of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, completed by the Sapientia University of Rome.

This inspection took place with the participation of the representatives of the three Major Communities, namely the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Franciscan Brotherhood and the Patriarchate of the Armenians in Jerusalem.

On behalf of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III with the Patriarchal Commissioner and Chairman of the Finance Committee, His Eminence Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Geronda Chief Secretary His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the Elder Sacristan His Eminence Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, the Elder Dragoman Archimandrite Mattheos, the Master of the Ceremonies of the Patriarchate, Archimandrite Bartholomew, the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod Hierodeacon Simeon and other Fathers.

Dear brothers and sisters,
Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Peace and love to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I come to you carrying greetings and peace from the Phoenician shores that heard the proclamation of the Gospel by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and afterward by the Apostles. I come to you from Damascus, the city in which Saint Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, received illumination and the place of his repentance. I come from the Apostolic City of Antioch, which preached to all nations the Gospel of reconciliation and salvation, and where the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). Since the Apostolic period, Antioch has persisted in defending the freedom of the children of God to worship Him in spirit and truth and supporting the Church in the Gentile cities against discrimination and exclusion. This led to the fact that the love of God, which He demonstrated to us through the death and resurrection of the Savior, is now proclaimed in all parts of the world. Thus, there is no doubt that Christ’s prophets and teachers in Antioch: Barnabas, Simeon, who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul (Acts 13:1), have contributed to make this gathering here today a reality for all of us, coming from all the tribes of the earth; from various countries, nationalities, and races, to praise Christ our God, Who granted us reconciliation with the Father and the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18).

His Holiness Pope Francis calls for concrete commitment to care for our common home. His words come ahead of the World Day of Prayer for Creation celebrated on 1 September which kicks off the Season of Creation which lasts till 4 October.

By Benedict Mayaki SJ

During the weekly General Audience on Wednesday, His Holiness Pope Francis recalled the World Day of Prayer for Creation and the beginning of the Season of Creation.

His Holiness Pope Francis had established 1 September as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, encouraging the faithful around the world to pray for our common home.

His Holiness Pope Francis presided over the Ordinary Public Consistory during which he created 21 Cardinals, on Saturday 27 August 2022, at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Louis Raphaël Sako, Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World, participated in this ceremony, which you can watch it through the video.

On August 28, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, visited His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch at the Syriac Catholic Procura in Rome.

His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos and Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac, Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, and Head of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, His Beatitude Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Perfect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches in the Vatican, His Eminence Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, Archbishop of Vienna, were also present.

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, presided over the Sunday August 28th, 2022, Liturgy at the Church of Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery, Lebanon, on the occasion of the opening of the academic year at the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology. Their Eminences, Metropolitan Silouan Moussi (Mount Lebanon), Metropolitan Ghattas Hazim (Baghdad and Kuwait), and His Grace Bishop Moses al-Khosi assisted His Beatitude in the service, with the participation of the Dean of the Institute of Theology, Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Jack Khalil, and many priests, deacons, and students from the institute, and the institute's choir served the liturgy.

Her excellency, the Greek Ambassador, Katerina Fountoulaki, attended, in addition to Deputy Adib Abdel Masih, President of the University of Balamand, Dr. Elias al-Warrak, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, Dr. Michel Abs, the university's vice presidents, deans, university and institute professors, and numerous believers.

On Saturday 14/27 August 2022, on the Forefeast of the Dormition, the service of the Lamentations of the Theotokos – a unique service of the Church of Jerusalem – was held at the Church of the Dormition in Gethsemane, where the Tomb of the Theotokos lies, after an all-night vigil which was officiated by the Master of Ceremonies of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Archimandrite Bartholomew.

For this service, the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood marched down Via Dolorosa from the Patriarchate Headquarters, and after a short rest at the Hegoumeneion of Gethsemane, the welcoming reception began at the courtyard of the shrine with lit candles and incense offering under the chanting of the Apolytikion of the Dormition. The service was held at the centre of the Church, before the Epitaph of the Mother of God, presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, along with Hagiotaphite Hierarchs and Hieromonks, following the Typikon order with the three stasis of the Lamentations, with the incense offering inside the Tomb and around the Church and the chapels in it.

Led by the Sami people in a special processional, 97 Indigenous delegates to the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly were present in Karlsruhe for the pre-assembly. They symbolically ushered in four elements—Earth, Water, Fire and Wind—through biblical texts and prayer.

The theme of their gathering was “Reconciliation: Restoring Wholeness in Creation.”

They began their pre-assembly work on topics ranging from engagement with the Indigenous peoples in Europe, to reflecting and testifying on the learnings from Pilgrim Team Visits.

Lighting candles to remember where they came from, they also received an orientation to the German context of the assembly, as well as interaction with assembly committee members and pre-assembly delegates.