In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen.

I congratulate you, my beloved ones for the New Year and for the Glorious Feast of Nativity. I congratulate you from the land of Egypt, from the land of Saint Mark the Apostle, the Evangelist of Egypt. I congratulate you on this feast. I send congratulations on behalf of all Copts in Egypt. To all the Coptic dioceses and churches around the world. I congratulate the fathers; the metropolitans and bishops. And the fathers priests, hegumens, and presbyters. I congratulate church boards and deacons. I congratulate all the Coptic people who celebrate Christmas according to the Eastern calendar which falls on January 7th.

There are many reflections on Christmas. Perhaps the important question that concerns us all is: “Where is Christ?” The world has a lot of turmoil, wars and conflicts. But the question that has been asked since the incarnation of Jesus Christ is: “Where do we find Jesus?” When the angel appeared to the shepherds and told them: “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” (Luke 2:10), they were shepherds doing a very simple job…

On the eve of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ, January 5th, 2024, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, presided over the Christmas Vigil Service (Jrakaluyts - Lighting of the Candles), at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, in Antelias, Lebanon.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the grand sacristan of the Cathedral, His Eminence Arch. Gomidas Ohanian, lit a candle from the altar, symbolizing the Light of Christ, and handed it over to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, who in turn passed the light to the faithful. Following this, the Pontifical Procession proceeded to the Main Hall of the Catholicosate where Blessing of Home service was held.

In place of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East UAECNE's traditional Christmas reception, a special gathering for Prayer for Artsakh, Palestine and Lebanon will take place on Saturday, 6 January, at 12:30 p.m., Beirut time, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church, Beirut.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, received at the Papal Residence in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday 2 January 2024, Reverend Dr. Andrea Zaki, President of the Evangelical Community of Egypt, who led a delegation consisting of: the General Evangelical Council, Heads and Leaders of Evangelical Denominations, the Evangelical College of Theology, and the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services. They congratulated His Holiness on the glorious Feast of Nativity.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II welcomed the evangelical delegation, and spoke about the blessings of the birth of the Lord Christ, who gave us a new beginning, peace, hope for a better life, and announced God’s eternal love for man…

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, received, at the Papal Residence in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday 2 January 2024, His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac, Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, and Head of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, accompanied by a delegation of Heads of the Catholic churches in Egypt.

The delegation that visited His Holiness Pope Tawadros II to congratulate him on the glorious Feast of Nativity included, in addition to His Beatitude the Patriarch: Their Eminences Metropolitan George Shehan (Metropolitan of the Maronite Church), Metropolitan Elie Warda (Metropolitan of the Syriac Catholic Church in Egypt), Metropolitan Krikor Aughosteynos Koussa (Metropolitan of the Armenian Catholic Church), Metropolitan Jean-Marie Shami (Metropolitan of the Roman Catholic Church), Chorbishop Mgr Paulus Sati (head of the Chaldean community), in addition to representatives of nuns and a number of Catholic entities in Egypt…

His Holiness Pope Francis releases his Prayer intention for the month of January, and invites Christians to embrace the diversity of charisms in the Church as a richness.

By Devin Watkins

“Let us pray that the Spirit help us recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian communities, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions within the Catholic Church.”

As the new year got underway, His Holiness Pope Francis released a video to accompany his prayer intention for the month of January 2024, during which Christians celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, on 18-25 January.

Most Reverend Eminence,

Your Excellencies, Most Reverend Fathers,

Dearest Brothers and Sisters,
may the Lord give you peace!

I usually begin my homilies and speeches with this greeting, which now seems more like a formality, something that is said without much thought, and perhaps even without much belief. Yet, that greeting says a great truth, that peace comes from Him, from the Lord Jesus, that it is an expression of His goodness. This is neither the time nor the place to enter into judgments and evaluations of the situation we are experiencing. We have already heard enough of them. They will not change the course of events and leave us as before. Here, today, we must and will turn our gaze to Christ and draw from Him the strength we need to intensify our trust, wounded by so much pain.

JERUSALEM - On Monday, January 1st, 2024, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over a Mass at the Pro-Cathedral, in celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of the Eternal Son of God, which is God himself, and the annual celebration of The World Day of Peace, asking for the peace of God to reign in this new year. Concelebrating was Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, as well as several Bishops, and priests: in the presence of Italian Consul, different religious and consecrated sisters, as well as the faithful of Jerusalem.

In his homily at the New Year's Day Mass celebrating the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, His Holiness Pope Francis calls on us to "entrust this coming year to the Mother of God" and consecrate our lives to her. With her "tender love...she will lead us to Jesus." On this day the Church also marks the World Day of Peace.

By Thaddeus Jones

Presiding over the morning Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica on New Year's Day, His Holiness Pope Francis spoke about this day when we celebrate in a special way the Holy Mother of God, "a simple phrase that confesses the Lord’s eternal covenant with us." January 1st marks the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and also the day the Church marks the World Day of Peace.

On Sunday, December 31, 2023, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by His Eminence the Grand Master Cardinal Fernando Filoni; Ambassador Leonardo Visconti di Modrone, Governor General of the EOHSJ; and Dr. François Vayne, Director of Communications, visited Our Lady of Fatima parish in Beit Sahour to celebrate the feast of the Holy Family. 

The Parish priest, Fr. Issa Hijazin, welcomed them, and thanked the Latin Patriarchate and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem for the work they are doing in the Holy Land.

From the Secretariat-General of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Sunday before the Nativity of Christ, December 18/31, 2023 the annual memorial service of the Holy Sepulchre Fathers, Patriarchs, Bishops, Priests, Hieromonks, monks and nuns was held at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Liturgy was officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Dimitrios of Lydda with co-celebrants the Archimandrites Philoumenos, Dionysios, Claudios, Christodoulos, Amphilochios, Stephen and Hierodeacon Eulogios. Hierodeacon Simeon delivered the chanting as members of the Church of Jerusalem attended the service.

Every year the city of Bethlehem welcomes thousands of pilgrims, who come to witness the most joyful season for this town, but the ongoing conflict has limited the outward celebrations, yet this joy continuous to live in the hearts of the Christians of the Holy Land, as nothing can turn off the flame of joy brought to us by the Birth of the Savior, which is the hope and joy of the Church.

On December 24th, 2023, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and his delegation were welcomed into the City of Bethlehem through a procession, which ended at the Basilica of the Nativity, announcing the beginning of the Prayers, which lead up to Christmas Eve Mass at the Church of Saint Catherine in Bethlehem, adjacent to the Nativity grotto.

On December 25, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, celebrated the Holy Qurobo on the occasion of Christmas, at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma, Damascus, Syria.

During the Holy Qurobo, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Cyril Babi, Patriarchal Vicar for the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, Mor Andrawos Bahhi, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, and Armenian Orthodox Archbishop of Damascus Armash Nalbandian, as well as the clergy of the Patriarchate and seminarians of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II delivered a sermon which you can read it in Arabic by clicking here.

Damascus, Syria, December 24, 2023

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and MECC President for the Orthodox Family, celebrated the Nativity Divine Liturgy at the Mariamiyah Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus, assisted by His Grace Bishop Ioannis (Batach) and the Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Philip Vsevolodovich, Representative of the Russian Church to the Antiochian Church in Damascus, along with many priests and deacons.

In his Homily, His Beatitude wondered at the beginning whether we have truly embraced Nativity. He emphasized the meanings of Nativity, saying, "Nativity is peace, joy, salvation, and light."

In his Christmas message at the midday "Urbi et Orbi" blessing on Christmas Day, His Holiness Pope Francis speaks of how the Child Jesus reveals God's tender love for each one of us, which brings about "the joy that consoles hearts, renews hope and bestows peace." He prays for world peace and calls for every effort to stop violence and help those who are suffering.

By Thaddeus Jones

Greeting the crowds gathered in Saint Peter's Square from the central loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica, His Holiness Pope Francis offered his traditional good wishes on this Christmas Day with a message followed by his solemn "Urbi et Orbi" blessing, to the city and the world.

His Holiness Pope Francis expresses his closeness to victims of war, and urges the faithful to avoid consumerism at Christmas, and to celebrate the birth of Jesus without waste, by sharing what we have with those in need.

By Christopher Wells

“We are close to our brothers and sisters who are suffering from war,” His Holiness Pope Francis said during his recitation of the Angelus on Sunday.

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, issued his Christmas Message 2023, which you can watch it by clicking here, on the Facebook Page of the Armenian Catholic Catholicosate armeniancatholic.org, and Télé Lumière and Noursat TV.

His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, issued his Christmas 2023 Message, which you can listen to and watch it by clicking here, on the Maronite Patriarchate Facebook Page and on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV.

Bkerke, Lebanon, December 2023, 2023.

His Holiness Pope Francis sends the Papal Almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, to the Holy Land as a sign of his solidarity amid the tragedy of war, and invites everyone to pray for peace.

By Devin Watkins

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski has set out on a Papal mission to accompany the people of the Holy Land through the celebration of Christmas.

The Dicastery for the Service of Charity announced the news in a communiqué released on Friday 22 December 2023.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, convey our Christmas greetings to the faithful around the world in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, born here in Bethlehem more than two-thousand years ago.

In extending these greetings, we are well aware that we do so during a time of great calamity in the land of our Lord’s birth. For over the past two-and-a-half months, the violence of warfare has led to unimaginable suffering for literally millions in our beloved Holy Land. Its ongoing horrors have brought misery and inconsolable sorrow to countless families throughout our region, evoking empathetic cries of anguish from all quarters of the earth. For those caught in the midst of such dire circumstances, hope seems distant and beyond reach…