Last night the world celebrated the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. We join our Catholic siblings in the Holy Land and around the world in joy and prayer as we look forward to his ministry.

Pope Leo XIV’s first words to the church and the world from his new position were, “Peace be with you.” We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide him to be a voice for peace and justice in our troubled times, and to remember those on the margins whom Christ never forgot.

A Statement from the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem

Today, we received with great joy the news of the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV as the Bishop of Rome. We join the Christian world in general—and our brothers and sisters in the Roman Catholic Church in particular—in celebrating the beginning of a new ministry and a new era in the life of the church.

"The Growth of the Church Abroad Comes Through Faithfulness to Church Life and Preservation of Coptic Traditions"

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark prayed the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, Apostle of the Egyptian lands, at the Basilica of the Royal Premonstratensian Monastery in Strahov, located in the Czech capital, Prague. The Liturgy comes as part of His Holiness's current pastoral visit of the Diocese of Central Europe, during which he has already visited Poland, Romania, and Serbia. The Czech Republic marks the fourth stop on this tour.

The Coptic Orthodox Church and its Holy Synod, headed by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, congratulate the Catholic Church throughout the world, clergy and laity, on the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Pope of the Vatican and Supreme Head of the Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

"Peace be with all of you!" - the first words of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. The Conclave has elected Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost as the 267th Bishop of Rome. The new pope was announced to the waiting crowds by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti.

With great joy and deep faith

His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

on behalf of the bishops, clergy, religious and faithful of the Holy Land, extends heartfelt congratulations to

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV

Jn 10:27-30

Chapter 10 of John’s Gospel, records Jesus' discourse of the “good shepherd", which is divided into two parts. In the first (Jn. 10:1-18), Jesus uses the imagery of the gate, the shepherd, and speaks of himself as the one who passes through death to give freedom and life to his people.

There is then a narrative interlude (Jn 10:22-24), before Jesus resumes and concludes the discourse (Jn 10:25-30).

Christians in the Arab Levant and Ambitions for Unity and Enlightenment, held upon the invitation of Prince Hassan bin Talal, President of the Royal Institute for Religious Studies, in Amman, Jordan

On May 7, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, participated in the inaugural session of the Conference titled: Christians in the Arab Levant and Ambitions for Unity and Enlightenment, held upon the invitation of Prince Hassan bin Talal, President of the Royal Institute for Religious Studies, in Amman, Jordan.

with the Department for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities at the Serbian Presidential Palace on the Occasion of His Visit to Serbia …

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II during the Lecture: "Love Builds a Better Time, a Better Place, and a Better Human Being"

On Tuesday evening, the Presidential Palace in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, hosted His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark as part of an event organized by the Embassy of Egypt in Serbia, in cooperation with the Office for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities in Serbia, on the occasion of His Holiness’s visit to the country. During the event, His Holiness delivered a lecture entitled "Bridges of Love."

On the evening of Tuesday, May 6, 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 (MECC) traveled to Amman, Jordan, to take part in a two-day international Christian-Islamic conference. He will deliver the opening address at the conference, which will be attended by prominent Christian and Islamic religious leaders as well as experts in the field.

The 133 cardinal-electors have entered the Sistine Chapel in solemn procession, beginning the conclave that will elect the next and 267th pope.

By Francesca Merlo

On Wednesday afternoon, under the gaze of Michelangelo’s frescoes, the 133 cardinals taking part in the 2025 conclave entered the Sistine Chapel. The ancient ritual to elect the Pope has officially begun.

On Tuesday, 23rd April / 6th May 2025, the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the feast of Saint George the Great Martyr and Trophy-Bearer. This feast and this Saint are among the most popular in the Holy Land, due to his maternal origin from the city of Lydda, where his tomb is located, the many miracles he performed, and the reverence he inspires—not only among Christians but also among followers of other religions in the region.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark met this evening with His Eminence Sheikh Mustafa Yusuf Spahić, the Grand Mufti of Serbia, and his accompanying delegation at the Pope’s residence in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. The meeting was attended by Egyptian Ambassador to Serbia, Mr. Bassel Salah.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark met today with members of the Coptic Orthodox Church residing in Serbia at the Church of Saint Mark the Apostle in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. The group consisted of around 130 young people and the visit came as part of his ongoing pastoral visit of the Diocese of Central Europe, which began on April 25.

His Holiness Pope Francis requests that his popemobile be turned into a health clinic for the children of Gaza.

By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis' legacy of peace continues to shine in our conflict-ridden world. The closeness he showed to the most vulnerable during his earthly mission is radiating even after his death, and this most recent surprise is no exception: His popemobile, the very vehicle from which he waved and was close to millions of faithful all around the world, is being transformed into a mobile health unit for the children of Gaza.

On Sunday, the 21st of April / 4th of May 2025, the Patriarchate solemnly celebrated the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women. On this day, the Church commemorates Joseph of Arimathaea, the noble counsellor and burial-giver of our Lord, who came from Arimathaea—modern-day Ramla—a respected member of the council, who boldly went unto Pilate and asked for the Body of Jesus (cf. Mark 15:43–46), and who, together with Nicodemus and the Myrrh-bearing Women, buried the immaculate Body of our Lord Jesus.

Today, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark met with His Beatitude Patriarch Porfirije, Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, at the Patriarchate located in the Church of Saint Sava in the Vračar district of Belgrade.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark arrived today at “Nikola Tesla” Airport in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, coming from Romania, marking the third stop in his pastoral tour of the Diocese of Central Europe.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark consecrated the Church of Saint Mina the Martyr in the Romanian capital, Bucharest — the first Coptic Orthodox church in Romania. This event took place as part of His Holiness’s current pastoral visit to the country, which is part of a wider pastoral tour of the Diocese of Central Europe that began on April 25.

On May 3rd, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, received His Beatitude Joseph Absi, Greek-Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Alexandria, and Jerusalem, at the Patriarchate Headquarters in Bab Touma - Damascus.