Latest news with #DicasteryfortheEasternChurches
Herald Malaysia
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Jubilee of Eastern Churches: Armenian Patriarch Minassian prays for peace
On the occasion of the Jubilee of Eastern Churches, Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, head of the Armenian Catholic Church, presides over the Divine Liturgy in the Armenian Rite at St. Mary Major, and calls for the elimination of hatred in all its forms. May 14, 2025 Divine Liturgy in the Armenian Rite at St. Mary Major on the occasion of the Jubilee of Eastern Churches (ufficio stampa Patriarcato Armeno) By Robert Attarian'Pilgrims of faith and hope, with hearts filled with joy and emotion, we gather today in this eternal city, a centuries-old witness of prayer and devotion. And it is in this majestic Basilica of Saint Mary Major, under the protective shadow of the Mother of God, that we celebrate together the gift of faith and the spiritual heritage passed on by the late and venerated Pope Francis in the context of the Holy Year dedicated to hope.' With these words, His Beatitude Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian, Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians, introduced the homily at the Divine Liturgy in the Armenian rite, which he presided over yesterday, May 12, in the Pauline Chapel of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Thousands of pilgrims from Eastern Churches in Rome The thirteenth of the major Jubilee events, scheduled to continue until Wednesday, has brought thousands of faithful and representatives of the Eastern Catholic Churches to Rome—Patriarchs, Bishops, priests, and pilgrims from various countries around the world, including Lebanon, Syria, and Armenia. At the Divine Liturgy in Saint Mary Major, just steps away from the tomb of Pope Francis and beneath the gaze of the Salus Populi Romani icon, were also present the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, along with the Dicastery's Secretary, Archbishop Michel Jalakh, and other representatives of the Eastern Churches based in the capital. There were also diplomatic representatives, including the Armenian Ambassador to the Holy See, Boris Sahakian, and the Armenian Ambassador to Italy, Vladimir Karapetian. And finally, among those in the assembly was a group of Armenian pilgrims from various Middle Eastern countries, along with their Bishops and parish priests. Patriarch Minassian: May hope bring peace to the world In his homily, the Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church described the current time as a 'grace-filled time of renewal' and an 'opportunity to let go of all forms of hatred.' He recalled the words of Pope Francis and his call to 'recover the authentic meaning of universal fraternity.' 'We, children of the Eastern Armenian Catholic Church, witnesses to centuries of faith and martyrdom, are called today, in this time of ongoing wars in the Middle East and throughout the world, to bear witness with our lives and our blood to our fidelity to Christ, strengthening our faith rooted in charity and Christian love,' stated Patriarch Minassian. He called upon those present to renew their commitment to courageously and faithfully bear witness to the Gospel, following Christ's example, 'so that hope may shine in every heart and in every family, bringing peace and love to the world.' Unreservedly bearing witness to the Gospel The Patriarch then offered words of gratitude to the Lord for the gift of Pope Leo XIV, to whom he offered filial well-wishes for a fruitful ministry rich in blessings. 'Let us live this time as a Paschal event, and under the guidance of our Pontiff, let us walk together, entrusting ourselves to the mercy of God, who is our consolation,' the Patriarch continued. He concluded his homily by highlighting three key words essential for continuing the Jubilee journey with Christ, namely 'humility, which opens us to God's will; simplicity, which helps us live with purity and authenticity; and charity, which urges us to love unreservedly, bearing witness to the Gospel with coherence and generosity.' Cardinal Gugerotti: the Church in Armenia, 'a unique pearl' At the conclusion of the celebration, Cardinal Gugerotti addressed the assembly, first in Armenian and then in Italian. He welcomed them, he said, 'with the embrace of Pope Leo,' also recalling Pope Francis, who had declared Saint Gregory of Narek a Doctor of the Church. The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches also recalled the date of April 24, calling it a day of painful memory for the Armenian people, urging them to remain united. 'You are so close to the cross of the Lord, with whom you have shared a series of sufferings,' said the Cardinal, as he went on to describe the Armenian Church as 'a unique pearl' within Catholicism, and express hope that the Holy Year pilgrimage would allow this pearl to radiate beauty and light. Finally, Cardinal Gugerotti invited those present to pray for Pope Leo XIV and gave everyone an appointment for the following morning in the Paul VI Audience Hall, where at 10 AM an audience with the Pope is scheduled, together with all the members of the other Eastern Churches.--Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
14-05-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Jubilee of Eastern Churches: Divine Liturgy in the Coptic Rite
His Beatitude Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Catholic Copts and President of the Assembly of Patriarchs and Bishops of Egypt, presides over the Divine Liturgy of the Coptic Rite on the occasion of the Jubilee of Eastern Churches in the Pauline Chapel of St. Mary Major. May 14, 2025 The Divine Liturgy in the Coptic Rite at St. Mary Major on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Eastern Churches By Antonella PalermoA penitential dimension, intercessory prayer, and monastic tradition—these were the hallmarks of the Coptic Divine Liturgy celebrated this afternoon, May 12, in the Pauline Chapel of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, right beside the tomb of Pope Francis. The celebration was presided over by His Beatitude Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Catholic Copts and President of the Assembly of Patriarchs and Bishops of Egypt. Also present were Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches; his personal secretary, Father Emanuel Sabadakh; and Archbishop Filippo Ciampanelli, Undersecretary of the same Dicastery. Important moment for the Jubilee This Divine Liturgy was celebrated on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Eastern Churches, which will culminate with an audience with Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday, May 14. With the arrival of Christianity in Egypt, 'Copt' came to mean 'Egyptian Christian,' referring to those who remained Christian after the Arab conquest of Egypt. It was to these people, who endured great suffering and martyrdom, that the Cardinal turned his attention today, exalting their courage and their profound value. The Cardinal highlighted the martyrdom suffered by the Copts and by other Catholics of Eastern rites. 'You are very experienced in martyrdom,' Cardinal Gugerotti said. 'You've had many martyrs, and even recently, some Copts were killed and became known only because they happened to be recognized. Others remained unknown.' The Cardinal spoke of the 'passionate history' of this Church, which can be seen in its ancient roots and diversity, in its monasticism that spread across the world, in the uniqueness of its liturgy, and also in the many sufferings endured throughout the history of their land. Yet, despite all of this, 'you remained.' Cardinal Gugerotti pointed to certain reasons why these Christians managed to survive and were not uprooted from their homeland. A wisdom born of the blood of martyrdom On behalf of the entire Catholic Church, the Cardinal Prefect thanked them for their steadfast witness: 'My role, from brother to brother,' he stressed, 'is to tell you that this is your home. When you pass through the Holy Door and when you pray—as you did at the start of this celebration—you can be proud of how these prayers resonate in the capital.' He also exhorted them to "pray with intensity, because you too need hope. Everywhere we look, we feel surrounded by the possibility of evil. But we will come to ask you how you managed to survive. These have been terrible years—years of massacres—but you made it. Perhaps it was the blessing of the Holy Family of Egypt, or the great saints and theologians, or a deep identification with the land of Egypt from which your name and your deep faith come—faith that moved mountains. Perhaps it was the tireless work of creating a Coptic Church. The fact is, there is a wisdom in your blood that is precisely the fruit of your blood.' A precious part of the Church Cardinal Gugerotti invoked the Lord's protection 'from new difficulties,' so that the Copts' belonging to the Catholic Church would not only be a source of pride but also reflect a sense of being a precious part of the global Catholic community. He offered reassurance that the Church 'cares' about them. He also encouraged their important mission: 'Be yourselves. Within the Catholic Church, you preserve a unique spiritual experience. God does not count how many people are present—He counts the quality of their presence. This Jubilee,' he emphasized, 'should be an occasion for holiness, so that this holiness, like martyrdom, may be an experience that purifies the Church.' In memory of the late Pope Francis, and praying for our Pope Leo XIV The memory of the late Pope Francis was explicit in both the Cardinal's and the Patriarch's words, as were their hopes for the new Successor of Peter, who will receive members of the Eastern Churches in audience during their Jubilee celebrations from today through Wednesday, May 14. His Beatitude Sedrak, in deep spiritual communion with the faithful in Egypt and those in the diaspora, spoke of Pope Francis as a 'pastor of wisdom who reached wounded hearts in the Church and in humanity, starting from places of fragility. Thanks to his pontificate, many breathed the air of the Gospel.' He then gave thanks for Pope Leo XIV, and offered the prayer that 'the Holy Spirit may guide him as He guided Saint Peter in the early Church.' Hope for a planet freed from the greed of profit The Patriarch strongly emphasized Pope Francis's efforts toward 'reconciliation with our common home'—a direction they intend to continue pursuing with determination. In particular, he echoed the words of the UN Secretary-General in describing the planet as a 'boiling world,' stressing that it does not need illusions but rather authentic hope—hope that does not anesthetize but liberates, 'hope that pushes us to react by overcoming the greed of profit and unchecked globalization.' Hope in world peace 'In the world today, values have become confused. Fear, isolation, and existential anguish dominate—even becoming daily experiences for the faithful,' the Patriarch observed. Yet, he offered reassurance, saying, 'God acts even amid suffering and challenges. Hope drives us to renew our world without surrendering to injustice.' He expressed his hope that we may build societies that are more just and sustainable and embrace 'an economy of life, not of death.' United in the spirit of the Council of Nicaea Finally, he offered a reflection on the upcoming 1700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea—a milestone in the Church's history, where Saint Athanasius made a crucial contribution in defending the divinity of Christ. 'This calls us to remain firm in our faith with courage and wisdom and to be, in turn, witnesses of Christ.' His Beatitude Sedrak concluded by entrusting to God his prayer that the Church, guided by the new Holy Father, may remain on this 'one,' 'holy,' 'catholic,' and 'apostolic' path.--Vatican News
