Joint Declaration 2025
Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew reject violence in the name of God Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I sign a Joint Declaration in Istanbul reaffirming their commitment to the path toward full communion and forcefully rejecting any use of religion to justify violence. By Linda Bordoni 29/11/2025 On the third day of his […]
Church in Turkey
Called to hope in the “Logic of Littleness” During a meeting with bishops, clergy, religious, and pastoral workers in Istanbul, Pope Leo XIV highlights Türkiye’s profound Christian roots and encourages the small Catholic community to look to the future with confidence, service, and renewed mission. By Vatican News Pope Leo XIV kicked off the second […]
Pope in Nicaea 2025
Pope invites Christians to unity in face of violence and conflict By Devin Watkins Pope Leo XIV prays with leaders of various Christian Churches in Nicaea, modern-day Iznik, Türkiye, and invites all Christians to follow the paths of fraternal encounter, dialogue, and cooperation. At the site of ancient Nicaea, Pope Leo XIV joined around 27 […]
Pope Leo to ROACO 2025
Pope to ROACO: May Eastern Churches bear witness amid pain of conflict Pope Leo XIV meets with members of the Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches, and encourages Eastern-rite Catholics to bear witness to Christ’s peace amid the destruction wrought by conflict. By Devin Watkins As the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches […]
Pope Leo to Eastern Catholics: the Church needs you.
Published courtesy of Vatican News 14 May 2025. Pope Leo XIV welcomes Eastern Catholics to the Vatican for the Jubilee of Eastern Churches, and highlights the need to preserve their traditions and pray for true peace, “which is reconciliation, forgiveness, and the courage to turn the page and start anew.” By Christopher Wells Pope Leo […]
Annual ROACO meeting in Rome 2024
Focus on war-afflicted countries On June 24 – 27, the 97th assembly of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches takes place in Rome with contributions and reports from the Holy Land and Ukraine. By Vatican News The 97th plenary assembly of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches (Roaco) will […]
Pope thanks humanitarian arm of ROACO
Published courtesy of Vatican News 23 June 2023 Pope Francis expresses gratitude for the proactive solidarity and generosity of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches, the Holy See’s humanitarian arm for Eastern Churches, for its work to alleviate the suffering in war-torn Ukraine, Turkey and Syria, Holy Land, and across the world. […]
Pope Francis receives Iraqi Church leaders
Published courtesy of Vatican News 28 February 2022 Meeting a delegation of Iraqi Church religious leaders on Monday, Pope Francis encourages the local Christian communities to continue promoting dialogue so as to build fraternity and counteract extremism and fundamentalism. By Lisa Zengarini Pope Francis on Monday received in audience Representatives of the Christian Churches in […]
Impact of Taliban takeover
Iraqi Archbishop ‘concerned’ over local impact of Taliban’s Afghan takeover The Archbishop of Erbil expresses his concern over the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan, saying the upcoming withdrawal of remaining US troops from Iraq could have a negative impact on Christians and other minorities in Iraq. Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil is concerned that […]
New Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia
Armenian Synod elects new Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia The Synod of the Armenian Catholic Church, meeting this week in Rome, has elected Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian as the 21st Catholicos-Patriarch. A ringing of bells in the patriarchal convent of Bzommar, Lebanon, announced the election of the Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenian Catholics: His Beatitude Raphaël François […]