His Holiness Pope Francis releases his message for the 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which focuses on the theme, "Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay."

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay," is the title of His Holiness Pope Francis’ Message for the 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which the Church observes on the last Sunday of September, which this year falls on September 24.

In his message, the Holy Father recognizes the migratory flows of our times are produced by a complex and varied phenomenon that, to be properly understood, "require a careful analysis of every aspect of its different stages, from departure to arrival, including the possibility of return."  

Beloved brethren in Christ,

Christ has risen... He has truly risen!

We share these holy days in the joys of the resurrection, which is the most important sign of the love that God gave to man through His crucifixion and resurrection. This love is the same force that makes us communicate with each other and unites us in the spirit of Christ. Love makes us able to see others as God sees them and makes us cooperate with them sincerely and honestly. "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35).

I am delighted to be with you today, along with the Coptic delegation, and to speak to you on behalf of the “Coptic Orthodox Church.” Our church is a renewed church, for in its people, youth, and children, dwells a spirit of originality and modernity.

His Holiness Pope Francis greets His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and recalls the history of relations between Copts and Catholics as they strive to maintain a friendship that never stops growing.

By Francesca Merlo

His Holiness Pope Francis, on Thursday 11 May 2023, addressed Coptic-Orthodox Pope Tawadros II and his delegation, in Rome to celebrate 50 years of Coptic and Catholic relationships, as well as the tenth anniversary of their first meeting in 2013.

In his speech, His Holiness Pope Francis noted that "in the ecumenical journey, it is important to always look ahead". He advised that we always ask ourselves "how far do we still have to go"? However, he continued, it is also necessary to always remember, especially in times of discouragement, "to rejoice in the path already travelled and to draw on the fervour of the pioneers who have gone before us". 

My brother His Holiness Pope Francis… Your Graces… the honorable audience

Christ is risen … Truly He is risen.

Today, my joy is great in being among you, and I shake hands with you with my heart, not just with my hand. I rejoice with you in Christ who is risen from the dead, and I thank you for allowing us the opportunity to make this visit. I am grateful to be on this land, in which the apostles preached, and which was inhabited by St Mark, the Apostle who brought the faith to Egypt. From it, many went out on a long journey to preach the name of our Lord Jesus to the whole world as a Redeemer and Savior

Let us contemplate on what St Paul the Apostle wrote from here in Rome to the Ephesians “That you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height”(Ephesians 3:17+18). It is love, beloved, the permanent foundation and the main path to perfection. And the only way to God, because God is love, and everyone who knows Him walks the steps of love with Him and to Him.

On the first day of his visit to the Vatican, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, participated in the weekly General Audience held by His Holiness Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square.

When they met, the two Popes warmly embraced each other and took their seats, flanked by representatives from His Holiness Pope Tawadros' delegation and a number of Vatican leaders.

Many people gathered in the arena despite the usual rainy weather this time of year. There was a prevailing state of joy as they enjoyed several Coptic melodies before His Holiness Pope Tawadros gave his speech. His Holiness started his talk by saying the sign of the cross in the Coptic language. He also congratulated His Holiness Pope Francis on the 10th anniversary of his enthronement and expressed appreciation for the efforts made in several fields since then.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, on Wednesday 10 May 2023, and the Church delegation accompanying His Holiness visited the Vatican Museum, which is a few meters away from the Santa Marta House, the residence of His Holiness in the Vatican City.

His Holiness and his companions toured the corridors of the museum and listened to a detailed explanation of its contents and the history of the artifacts in it, as the museum contains 70,000 paintings, sculptures, statues and other artifacts, of which 20,000 are on display.

The visit started from the Apollo Belvedere statue, which is a marble statue and is considered one of the most amazing ancient statues ever, as it was the first piece in the Vatican art collection even before the establishment of the Vatican Museums. It was a favorite statue of Napoleon Bonaparte, and he took it with him to the Louvre, but after his defeat, the statue was returned to the Vatican.

His Holiness Pope Francis and His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, release a jointly-written preface for a new book, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the historic “Joint Christological Declaration” that continues to strengthen ties between the Catholic and Coptic Churches.

By Devin Watkins

As the Catholic and Coptic Orthodox Churches mark fifty years since the first modern meeting between their leaders, Pope Francis and Pope Tawadros II have penned a joint preface for a new book.

My beloved brother… His Holiness Pope Francis

Your Graces … Ladies and Gentlemen

Christ is risen … Truly He is risen. 

I would like to extend my congratulations as well as that of all the members of the Holy Synod and all the institutions of the Coptic Orthodox Church for the tenth anniversary of your divine selection as Pope and Bishop of Rome. I value all that you have done during this period in service to the whole world in all fields and I pray that Christ keeps your Holiness in full health and grants you the blessing of a long life.

Maximum injustice... The Issue of the Kidnapped Archbishops of Aleppo, Boulos Yazigi and Youhanna Ibrahim, that Completed a Decade

On the tenth yearly commemoration of the kidnapping of the Archbishops of Aleppo, His Eminence Boulos Yazigi and His Eminence Youhanna Ibrahim, His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Orthodox Family, delivered a message in Arabic, in which he described the issue of the Archbishops of Aleppo, which has completed a decade, as "maximum injustice...". You can listen to and watch the message in the following video, which was published on the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East's Facebook page.

My beloved in Christ,

Christ is risen, Truly He is risen!

On behalf of myself and the accompanying delegation, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for your warm hospitality and my joy in speaking with you today. I am reminded of the words of Saint Paul the Apostle in his epistle to the Colossians: “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” (Colossians 3:14).

We believe that love is the bond that unites people, and it is the power that enables us to achieve unity and peace in the world.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, during the first stop in Vatican City, on Tuesday 9 May 2023, was able to visit the Basilica of Saint Peter. His Holiness was escorted on the tour by Card. Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicaster for the Promotion of Christian Unity, from a Coptic Church delegation and some representatives of the Catholic Church.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II was received by the Vatican officials with utmost cordiality and affection. His Holiness then listened to the detailed explanation of the various parts of the Basilica of Saint Peter and was invited to go up with the entire delegation of the Coptic Church on the dome for a panoramic view from above.

RAMALLAH – From May 5th to May 8th, His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, made a pastoral visit to the parish of Ramallah, after having previously visited the parishes of Til’Al’Ali (Jordan) and Bethlehem.

“Ramallah is a reference point for many parishes in the region. What you are setting up here serves as an example to many. You must always strive to be a leading parish and community.”

Such was the main message of the Patriarch during this pastoral visit, which included, in addition to Eucharistic celebrations, visits to Christian families, schools, places and institutions as well as meetings with various Christian personalities.

On May 9, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, visited the Baptism site on the Jordan River.

‏Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Land, Mor Justinos Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Archbishop of Beirut, Mor Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul, Kirkuk, Kurdistan and Environs, Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeera and Euphrates, Mor Boutros Kassis, Archbishop of Aleppo and Environs, Mor Yacoub Babawi, Patriarchal Vicar for Monks Affairs and the Administration of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary in Maarat Saydnaya, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, Mor Christophoros Markose, Patriarchal Secretary for the Affairs of the Church in India, accompanied His Holiness during this visit.

Jn 14:1-12 

The Gospel passage that we read on this Fifth Sunday of Easter (Jn 14:1-12) opens with a long discourse by Jesus, which is described as a “farewell discourse”. It comes after the account of the Last Supper and Jesus is speaking to His disciples about the meaning of His approaching death, His departure.

To get into the heart of this discourse, I would first like to begin with a general reflection on the experience of mourning: when we face the suffering following the death of a loved one, we need time to process this event. And I think that two moments are necessary: the first is more marked by pain, by emptiness, by a sense of loss, so the question that arises concerns how to live in this suffering without being crushed by it. The second, however, comes after and concerns how to live the time that unfolds from that loss, absence. And it entails a new modification of our identity: what does the absence of the deceased unfold anew for me, what does it entail? What does it generate, what does it promise?

On May 9, 2023, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, headed to the Vatican.

His Holiness was received at Cairo International Airport by Mr. Mohamed Abbas, Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr. Magdy Ishak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the port, and airport leaders.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II is accompanied by a delegation from the Church which are: His Eminence Metropolitan Pephnotious, Metropolitan of Samalout, His Eminence Metropolitan Danial, Metropolitan of Maadi and Holy Synod Secretary, His Grace Bishop Yolios, General Bishop of Old Cairo and Bishop of Public, Ecumenical, Social Services, and Fr Kyrillos St. Bishoy, Director of the Office of His Holiness, and the journalist Michael Victor, the press attache of His Holiness; while joining the delegation from Italy are His Grace Bishop Bernaba, Bishop of Turin and Rome, His Grace Bishop Angaelos, Bishop of London, His Grace Bishop Kyrillos, General Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles, and His Grace Bishop Antonio, Bishop of Milan.

On the occasion of the 50 Years of Brotherly Love Between the Coptic Orthodox and Catholic Churches, the Coptic Orthodox Chrch dedicated on its website a special page including:

Celebrating 50 Years of Relations between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church

Statements of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, on the Vatican visit 2023

Relations between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church

Messages of the Brotherly Friendship Day between His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and His Holiness Pope Francis

As His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, prepares to travel to Rome to meet His Holiness Pope Francis, the Coptic Orthodox Archbishop Angaelos of London speaks to Vatican News about the "great love and respect" between the two leaders.

By Joseph Tulloch

Exactly fifty years ago, the heads of the Coptic Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches signed a historic Christological agreement, putting an end to a 1,500-year old theological controversy and ushering in a new era of Coptic-Catholic relations. 

To mark the occasion, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, will be in Rome this week. 

On May 8, 2023, 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 Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem at the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Land, Mor Justinos Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, Mor Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul, Kirkuk, Kurdistan and Environs, Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeera and Euphrates, lMor Yacoub Babawi, Patriarchal Vicar for Monks Affairs and the Administration of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary in Maarat Saydnaya, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, prayed the Holy Liturgy, On Monday May 8, 2023 morning, at the shrine of St. Mark the Apostle in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbaseya, Egypt, on the occasion of the feast of his Martyrdom .

After the Holy Liturgy, His Holiness perfumed the relics of the Evangelist St. Mark, the founder of our Coptic Orthodox Church, who was martyred on the land of Alexandria on the 30th of Parmoute in the year 68 AD.

Jerusalem – The Media Office – The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, May 7th 2023

His Grace Archbishop Hosam Naoum, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, and the Head of the Church for the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, participated in HM King Charles III Coronation Ceremony as King of the United Kingdom, at Westminster Abbey on Saturday May 6th, 2023. His Grace Archbishop Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, presided over the Eucharist and the Coronation Ceremony. The ceremony was attended by Senior Bishops of the Anglican Church in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, members of the Royal Family, representatives of churches and other religions in England, and a multitude of heads of states and prominent figures.

His Grace Archbishop Naoum processed into the service holding the Holy Bible, and before the Coronation he presented the Holy Oil to Archbishop Welby to anoint the King during the prayers of consecration and blessings. The anointing with the Holy Oil is the most sacred part of the Coronation Ceremony.