Since he is not the God of disorder but of peace" (1 Cor. 14,33)

Dear brothers and sisters,

may the Lord indeed give us His peace!

The pain and dismay at what is happening is great. Once again we find ourselves in the midst of a political and military crisis. We have suddenly been catapulted into a sea of unprecedented violence. The hatred, which we have unfortunately already been experiencing for too long, will increase even more, and the ensuing spiral of violence will create more destruction. Everything seems to speak of death.

Yet, in this time of sorrow and dismay, we do not want to remain helpless. We cannot let death and its sting (1 Cor 15:55) be the only word we hear…

In the Context of the Catholic Church’s Synod in Rome

In the context of the Synod’s 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Catholic Church, which will is being held between 4 and 29 October 2023 in the Vatican, the KTO TV channel made an interview His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Catholic Family, which you can watch it in English in the video.

Under the guidance of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and MECC President for the Orthodox Family, and with his Blessings and presence, “The Antiochian Orthodox Church from the Fifteenth to the Eighteenth Century. Towards an Accurate Understanding of History” Symposium will be held at the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology - Balamand, Lebanon, from 15 to 18 October 2023. In preparation for this Symposium, Télé Lumiere and Noursat presents a special episode in Arabic about its activities and objectives, prepared and presented by the journalist Lea Adel Maamary.

You can find the full video of the episode.

Following the rising religious attacks against Christians in the Holy Land, His Eminence Bishop Doctor Sani Ibrahim Azar, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, issued a statement which you can find its full text.

The Holy Synod was convened on Thursday, October 5th, at the  Patriarchate’s headquarters in Jerusalem. The Assembly was presided over  by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and was attended by esteemed  members of the Holy Synod.

During the Assembly, His Beatitude discussed several administrative  and pastoral matters concerning the service of the Patriarchate, its  monasteries, churches, clergy, and the faithful. 

His Holiness Pope Francis has published an Apostolic Exhortation building on his 2015 encyclical. We’re not reacting enough, he says, we’re close to breaking point. He criticises climate change deniers, saying that the human origin of global warming is now beyond doubt. And he describes how care for our common home flows from the Christian faith.

By Vatican News

“’Praise God’ is the title of this letter.  For when human beings claim to take God’s place, they become their own worst enemies.”

That’s how His Holiness Pope Francis ends his new Apostolic Exhortation, published on the 4th October, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi.

It’s a text in continuity with his 2015 encyclical Laudato si’, which is broader in scope. In six chapters and 73 paragraphs, the Successor of Peter tries to clarify and bring to completion that previous text on integral ecology, while at the same time sounding an alarm, and a call for co-responsibility, in the face of the climate emergency.

His Holiness Pope Francis presides at the Holy Mass in St Peter’s Square for the Opening of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, and invites the faithful to walk with the Holy Spirit, “in trust and with joy”.

By Christopher Wells

The Solemn Mass for the Opening of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops began with a modern version of the traditional Laudes Regiae hymn, invoking God’s protection and blessing on the Church, on His Holiness Pope Francis and the Bishops and the flock entrusted to him, and on civil leaders and all women and men.

In his homily, Pope Francis recalled a “difficult moment” in Jesus’ earthly ministry, recounted in the day’s Gospel. “In the moment of desolation,” the Pope said, “Jesus has a gaze capable of seeing beyond: He praises the wisdom of the Father and is able to discern the good that grows unseen, the seed of the Word welcomed by the simple, the light of the Kingdom of God that shows the way even in the night.”

The Patriarchal Meeting of the Spiritual Cithare in the Patriarchal Monastery Saint George Al-Homayra

Patriarchal Monastery Saint George Al-Homayra, Syria

September 25-October 1rst, 2023

With the blessing and under the auspices of 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, the Spiritual Cithare Choir has completed its annual meeting for teaching Church Music at the Patriarchal Monastery Saint George Al-Homayra from September 25 to October 1rst, 2023.

In mid-September, Azerbaijan launched a military operation against the indigenous population of Artsakh, after imposing a nine-month blockade, resulting in the forced displacement of Artsakh Armenians from their homeland. Today, Armenians worldwide are enduring yet another episode of ethnic cleansing all while justice for the Armenian genocide that occurred in 1915 remains elusive. And as in the past, Armenians draw solace and strength from their faith just like the biblical passage in Romans 5:5 promises: “Hope does not put us to shame.”

By: Miral Atik/lpj.org

VATICAN CITY - September 30TH , 2023, in St. Peter’s Square, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa as a Cardinal for the Holy Roman Church, in addition to 20 New Cardinals during a Public Ordinary Consistory, which witnessed the attendance of thousands of faithful from various nations.  

People from different nationalities, united under one faith rejoiced as His Holiness Pope Francis  presided over the appointment, handing out the Scarlet biretta and placing a ring on the hand of each new cardinal while saying: “Receive this ring from the hand of Peter and know that, with the love of the Prince of the Apostles, your love for the Church is strengthened.”  

His Holiness Pope Francis appeals to the international community to favour mediation between Azerbaijan and Armenia as tens of thousands of Armenians flee the contested enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, and he prays for victims of a massive explosion in the city of Stepanakert.

By Linda Bordoni

His Holiness Pope Francis said he has been following the dramatic situation of displaced Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh in recent days and reiterated his call for a political mediation between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Speaking during the Sunday Angelus he said: “I renew my call for dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia, hoping that the talks between the parties, with the support of the international community, will favour a lasting agreement that will put an end to the humanitarian crisis.”

Damascus, Syria, October 1, 2023

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, held a Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Cross in Al-Qasaa. His Beatitude was assisted by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of São Paulo and all of Brazil, Damaskinos (Mansour), and their Graces, Bishops: Romanos (al-Hannat), Moussa (Al-Khoury), Ioannis (Batach), Arsanios (Dahdal), Moses (al-Khosi), as well as several Priests and Deacons.

On the occasion of the annual Thanksgiving / Harvest Sunday 2023, His Eminence Bishop Hosam Elias Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, and the Primate of the Episcopal Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, sent a pastoral message to the faithful in the Archdiocese of Jerusalem, entitled “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to make this freewill offering? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you” (1 Chronicles 29:14, NRSV).

You can find below the text of this message.

On September 30, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, met His Holiness Pope Francis at the Papal Residence in the Vatican.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Anthimos Jack Yacoub, Patriarchal Vicar in Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Land, and Mor Augeen Al Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

Dear All,  

Today’s Eucharistic Celebration has a special new "color" for all of us.   

I am not referring only to the scarlet red color with which the Holy Father wished to honor me and the Church of Jerusalem; which I have the grace to preside over, and of whom some are present and gathered here today. Nor am I referring only to the fact that it is celebrated in this venerable Papal Basilica. I am referring above all to the "new" call that this red means for me and for those who in some way are united to me by human, Christian and ecclesial bonds. 

In fact, this call is for all of us, for the Lord does not cease to repeat what we have just heard in today's Gospel: ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ (Mt 21:29). This is a continuous invitation that awaits a sincere and faithful response to Him who calls without wavering. And from which the answer of all depends the fulfillment of the Kingdom among us and for eternity.   

On Saturday 30 September 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, congratulated His Beatitude Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa on his appointment as Cardinal of the Catholic Church.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II participated in an Ordinary General Consistory headed by His Holiness Pope Francis, on Saturday, during which he appointed 21 new Cardinals, in the courtyard of the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican.

His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Anthimos Jack Yacoub, Patriarchal Vicar in Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Land, and Mor Augeen Al Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

His Eminence Bishop Hosam Elias Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, and the Primate of the Episcopal Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, and the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, attended on Saturday morning, September 30, 2023, an Ordinary General Consistory headed by His Holiness Pope Francis, during which he appointed 21 new Cardinals, in the courtyard of the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican.

His Eminence Bishop Hossam Naoum dedicated a congratulatory message to His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, which was posted on his Facebook page, as follows:

The Vatican City, Rome

A joyful day for Jerusalem as the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, has been collated by His Holiness Pope Francis as a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Congratulations and well deserved!

On September 30, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, attended the ceremonial consistory of the creation of the new Cardinals at St. Peter Square in the Vatican, upon the invitation of His Holiness Pope Francis.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Anthimos Jack Yacoub, Patriarchal Vicar in Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Land, and Mor Augeen Al Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary. Their Holinesses: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, His Grace Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and their Beatitudes: Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Greek Catholic Melkite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Joseph Absi,and Coptic Catholic Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Ishaak, were also present.

In his homily during the Consistory for the creation of 21 new Cardinals, His Holiness Pope Francis reflects on unity and diversity in the Church, highlighting the importance of synodality under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the “master of walking together.”

By Lisa Zengarini

“The College of Cardinals is called to resemble a symphony orchestra, representing the harmony and synodality of the Church.” His Holiness Pope Francis made this remark as he presided on Saturday 30 September 2023 at the Consistory for the creation of 21 Cardinals in St. Peter's Square.

On September 30, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, participated in the Ecumenical Vigil Prayer at St. Peter Square in the Vatican. His Holiness Pope Francis invited, in cooperation with the Taizé community, Religious Leaders to this Ecumenical Prayer in preparation for the Synod of Catholic Bishops.