Latest news with #ChristianChurch
Watani
11 hours ago
- General
- Watani
Coptic Church hosts global celebration of 17 centuries on Nicaea Council
The Coptic Orthodox Holy Synod issued a statement on hosting a global celebration of 17 centuries on Nicaea Council. The statement said that the Coptic Orthodox Church will be hosting the International Conference on the World Celebration of 17 centuries on the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325AD. The Synod welcomed the event within the framework of the Coptic Church's role and responsibilities in the world ecumenical movement, in honour and veneration of the Church fathers among whom are Pope Alexandros, the 19th Patriarch of Alexandria, who participated in the Nicaea Council; and Pope Athanasius the Apostolic, the 20th Patriarch from 328 to 373, together with other heroes who safeguarded the orthodox faith. The conference will be held in October 2025 under the auspices of the World Council of Church's (WCC) Faith and Order Committee. It is the first time, the statement said, that such a conference is hosted by an Oriental Orthodox Church, and is the sixth to be held during the last 100 years. The first was held in 1927 in Lausanne, Switzerland; the second in 1937 Edinburgh, Scotland; the third in 1952 in Lund, Sweden; the fourth in 1963 in Montreal, Canada; and the fifth in 1993 in Santiago, Spain. 'In this regard,' the statement read, 'the [Coptic Orthodox] Holy Synod would like to stress that the conference is not a theological dialogue on Christian doctrines, but an opportunity to present research theses on the Council of Nicaea as a model in the face of heresies facing the Christian faith, given that the Council of Nicaea was a 'historical moment', when the Christian Church in the world was one. 'This means that the conference represents an academic opportunity in which research papers express the views of their writers, be those priests, professors or scholars. Therefore, the conference will not issue any resolutions, decisions, agreements, signatures, or even recommendations, but it may issue media statements only. 'It is known that our Coptic Orthodox Church has been a member of the World Council of Churches since 1954, and is also a member of regional and local church councils. More than 300 Churches and communities from more than 100 countries are members in the World Council of Churches. Eastern churches account for only 15 per cent of the members, while the proportion of Western churches amounts to 85 per cent. 'Our Church's hosting of this world event comes within the framework of its effective and strong role in spiritual work and strengthening of all Christian Churches inside and outside Egypt, because we are not isolated from the world. Rather, we have Coptic churches and monasteries in more than 60 countries in the world, and we entertain loving relations and communication with the other Churches present in these countries. We participate in theological dialogue to explain and present the orthodox faith on the basis of the glorious history of our Church and upright faith, and we always pray for unity of faith and an end to Church division. 'Over the last few years, we succeeded in hosting important Church events such as the 12th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches in 2022, the meeting of representatives of the Orthodox Churches in the world in 2024, the meeting of the Patriarchy of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East in 2025, and other international conventions.' The statement concluded with prayer for the great upcoming canonical event, to be crowned with success and fruitfulness. Comments comments
Washington Post
16-05-2025
- Washington Post
AI poses new moral questions. Pope Leo says the Catholic Church has answers.
Artificial Intelligence might not seem like an obvious focus for a new pope taking over the world's largest Christian church. AI is developing faster than most people can keep track. The church measures change in centuries. But Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected pontiff, has established AI as an early focus of his papacy, raising the topic repeatedly in public remarks, including those explaining why he took the name Leo. He has signaled that the church is poised to mount a spiritual response to the challenges posed by AI for human justice and dignity.
Washington Post
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Rise and fall of Christianity
Politics Rise and fall of Christianity May 9, 2025 | 6:51 PM GMT Are there more or less Christians? Since 2007, the global Christian population has dropped, but it plateaued around the pandemic.
The Age
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
The speech, the clothes, the name: Three clues about new Pope's leadership
From his first moments on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo XIV, formerly US Cardinal Robert Prevost, gave some important clues about the kind of leader the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church can expect. The first speech from Vatican balcony Pope Leo's choice of languages and words put a clear emphasis on the need for peace, something the late Pope Francis often focused on. His first words in public were 'La pace sia con tutti voi!' (Peace be with you!). Leo thanked his fellow cardinals for choosing him as 'the Successor of Peter', the first leader of the early Christian Church. He also evoked the saint who is one of the church's most influential theologians, describing himself as a 'son of Saint Augustine', who said: 'With you, I am a Christian and for you, a bishop.' The message he was sending combined the intellectual heft of Pope Benedict XVI, while looking to the early days of Christianity and its original mission. 'This identifies him first as a fellow Christian – and in that sense, not just a leader above his flock,' the University of Dayton's Daniel Speed Thompson told The Conversation. Loading The American pope spoke both Italian and the Spanish he used during decades spent ministering in Peru. He did not mention the US nor speak English. His choice of languages reflected his 'pastoral care', Vanderbilt University's Professor Bruce Morrill said. 'In some ways, it seems Leo's symbolic message was, 'I am not Francis', emphasising his continuity with previous popes. Yet in his address, he clearly praised and thanked Francis, and invoked his predecessor's emphasis on 'synodality': a church where all Catholics walk together,' Speed Thompson told The Conversation.
Budapest Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Orbán: Pope Francis was a promoter of the peace initiative
Amid the ongoing wars in several places worldwide, the aspects of Pope Francis's legacy that had focused on peace "surround us", he said. "Today, everything was about peace and the end of war." Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Pope Francis had been 'a personal acquaintance, and an instigator, encourager and promoter of the peace initiative'. 'I have lost a friend, and so has Hungary, because the Holy Father loved us.' Amid the ongoing wars in several places worldwide, the aspects of Pope Francis's legacy that had focused on peace 'surround us', he said. 'Today, everything was about peace and the end of war.' PM Orbán said the day's message was 'be brave and make peace'. Asked whether world leaders would grasp that message, PM Orbán said: 'If I have, then surely others can too. Whether they can obey such a command is a more difficult question.' At the same time, chances are better with the US president at the helm of the peace camp, he said. PM Orbán said the next pope would have to shape stances on very difficult issues 'to reunite the Catholic Church and bring respite to diverging trends within the church'. 'It will be more of an intellectual task than an organisational one.' He said the Christian Church was the most persecuted church in the world today. In the world, Christians are the ones to die in the largest numbers because of their faith, he said. 'This cannot go on like this, we must protect ourselves, we must protect each other,' PM Orbán said, adding that the church needed 'a pope that unites us, one who brings our debates to a halt and strengthens the community'. Asked about the chances of Cardinal Peter Erdo, the head of the Hungarian Catholic Church, at the conclave choosing the next pope, PM Orbán refused to speculate, and said: 'I can say three things for sure. First, Hungary has a lot to thank the Catholic Church for. The second, that Hungary has a lot to thank … Cardinal Peter Erdo for … and that Erdo has an extraordinary intellect.' Asked what his message to Hungarians was on the national day of mourning on the occasion of the pope's funeral, PM Orbán said: 'Quiet, deep thoughts, self-reflection, and we should wake up a better person tomorrow.'
