Latest news with #EasternCatholicChurches
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Pope offers to mediate between world leaders to end wars
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday offered to mediate between leaders of countries at war, saying that he himself "will make every effort so that this peace may prevail". The new US pontiff, who became head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics last week, also called on Christians living in the Middle East not to abandon their homes, in a speech to members of the Eastern Catholic Churches. "Who, better than you, can sing a song of hope even amid the abyss of violence?" he told the packed Paul VI hall at the Vatican, noting that "from the Holy Land to Ukraine, from Lebanon to Syria, from the Middle East to Tigray and the Caucasus, how much violence do we see!". He urged them to pray for peace, adding: "For my part, I will make every effort so that this peace may prevail. "The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face to face, to talk to one another, so that peoples everywhere may once more find hope and recover the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace. "The peoples of our world desire peace, and to their leaders I appeal with all my heart: Let us meet, let us talk, let us negotiate!". Leo took over as pontiff from Pope Francis, who died on April 21 aged 88. He was speaking at a pre-arranged event for the 2025 Jubilee holy year dedicated to the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, located across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, India, and parts of Africa. In his appeal to end conflicts — a dominant theme in his addresses so far -- Leo thanked those "sowing seeds of peace". "I thank God for those Christians -- Eastern and Latin alike -- who, above all in the Middle East, persevere and remain in their homelands, resisting the temptation to abandon them," he said. "Christians must be given the opportunity, and not just in words, to remain in their native lands with all the rights needed for a secure existence. Please, let us strive for this!"
Express Tribune
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pope Leo XIV to begin papacy with grand inaugural mass at the Vatican
Pope Leo XIV conducts Mass in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, May 9, 2025. Vatican Media/Handout via PHOTO: REUTERS Listen to article Tens of thousands are expected to gather in St. Peter's Square on Sunday as Pope Leo XIV formally assumes leadership of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church with a grand inaugural Mass, attended by world leaders, royalty, and religious dignitaries. The 69-year-old pontiff, born Robert Prevost in Chicago and also holding Peruvian citizenship, becomes the first American and Peruvian pope in the Church's history. His election on 8 May followed a brief conclave, less than 24 hours long, after the death of Pope Francis on 21 April. Sunday's Mass will begin at 10:00 a.m. local time (0800 GMT) and marks Pope Leo's first public celebration in the white popemobile. His homily is expected to outline key priorities for his papacy, with peace emerging as a central theme. 'Peace be with you all,' were his first public words following his election—a message he has since reinforced in meetings with leaders of the Eastern Catholic Churches, pledging the Vatican's role as a potential mediator in global conflicts. The multilingual liturgy will reflect the Church's global diversity, featuring prayers in Latin, Italian, Greek, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Polish, and Chinese. Prominent international guests include US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and heads of state from Peru, Israel, Nigeria, Italy, Canada, and Australia. Also attending are German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. European royalty such as King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain will occupy VIP seats near the altar. As part of the investiture, Pope Leo will receive the pallium, a woolen vestment symbolising pastoral care, and the fisherman's ring, a gold signet bearing St. Peter's image, traditionally destroyed upon a pope's death. Though he has praised Pope Francis' legacy, Leo has not signalled clear policy continuities. His address today is expected to give the first substantial insights into his vision for the future of the Catholic Church.
Newsweek
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Catholic Church Wrong to Excommunicate Priests Over New Law: Bill's Sponsor
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Washington state Senator Noel Frame has rejected the Catholic Church's claim that it would have to excommunicate priests who comply with her new child abuse reporting law. During an interview with NRP's Dave Miller, she said: "There's nothing to say they cannot change their rules." Newsweek contacted state Senator Frame and the Archdiocese of Seattle for comment via online inquiry form and email respectively on Friday outside of regular office hours. Why It Matters The debate highlights the tension that can exist between what religious groups claim are theological requirements and secular legislation. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon told the New York Post that the new law "demands that Catholic Priests violate their deeply held faith in order to obey the law, a violation of the Constitution and a breach of the free exercise of religion" showing the Trump administration is placing itself firmly on the side of religious authority. What to Know Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson this month signed into law SB 5375, which from July 27 will make it a legal requirement for Catholic priests to report any suspected child abuse or neglect they hear about during confession to the relevant authorities. Catholic clergy were previously exempt as according to church doctrine the content of confession can't be shared without breaking Canon law. The move sparked an angry response from Archbishop Paul Etienne of Seattle who said: "While we remain committed to protecting minors and all vulnerable people from abuse, priests cannot comply with this law if the knowledge of abuse is obtained during the Sacrament of Reconciliation." The Archdiocese of Seattle commented: "All Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred, secure, confidential and protected by the law of the Church." Pope Leo XIV meeting with representatives and pilgrims of the Eastern Catholic Churches at the Nervi Hall, on May 14, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Leo XIV meeting with representatives and pilgrims of the Eastern Catholic Churches at the Nervi Hall, on May 14, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Vatican Media/Vatican Pool/GETTY Frame, one of the legislators who sponsored the bill, discussed this issue with NPR's Miller on Wednesday. Herself a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Frame said she learned clergy were not already mandatory reporters in Washington in response to an investigation into alleged abuse within "the Jehovah's Witness community in Washington state." In response to Archbishop Etienne's comments, Frame said: "We the state of Washington have a secular legislative purpose that is to protect children from abuse and neglect and if faith communities choose through their rules not to protect children from abuse and neglect, we the state are choosing not to be complicit in that choice by their rules." Frame continued: "I am reminded that Canon law has changed many times over the years in the Catholic faith and there's nothing to say they cannot change their rules to allow the reporting of real time abuse and neglect of children. That is within their power to change and I think they should so." Canon law, the legal system governing the Catholic church, has been repeatedly modified over the years. For example, in 2015 Pope Francis streamlined the process for marriage annulments, while in 2021 he amended Canon law to allow women to be formally instituted as lectors and acolytes for the first time. On May 8, senior figures within the Catholic Church elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago as the next pope, the first American to hold the role. He chose the papal title of Pope Leo XIV. What People Are Saying During the interview Frame said: "So under our current mandatory reporting law that clergy will become apart of, they will have 48 hours to report suspected or known abuse or neglect of a child. They can call law enforcement or they can call that into our department of children, youth and families. People often hear of CPS, or Child Protective Services, they have to call that in within 48 hours so that our state agency or law enforcement can go check on that child and ensure that they are safe while they seek to substantiate whether or not abuse or neglect was happening." Addressing Newsweek, Professor Anthea Butler, chair of the department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, commented: "This is about 'the seal of the confessional' That is, the rule that when a priest hears a confession, it cannot be shared. If it is shared, it's breaking Canon Law. A priest can be excommunicated for breaking the seal of the confessional. "The situation, which the Trump administration is looking at, is interesting because there has always been this collision between the law of the local, state and national level and some aspects of canon law. Think about this not only on this level, but in issues of other types of transgressions, like murder. Terrible situation, but the for the priest, they are subject to canon law." What's Next The Trump administration is likely to continue arguing SB 5375 violates legal protections to religious liberty, potentially setting the stage for the issue to be debated in court.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine hands over lists of Ukrainian POWs to Pope Leo XIV
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV has received lists of Ukrainian soldiers held in Russian captivity. Source: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War on Telegram Details: It is noted that the meeting with the Pope took place with the assistance of the Coordination Headquarters and the Embassy of Ukraine to the Holy See and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. A representative of the families of captured soldiers personally handed the lists to the pontiff during his meeting with communities of the Eastern Catholic Churches. The Ukrainian community greeting Pope Leo XIV Photo: Coordination Headquarters The Ukrainian community, led by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, was the largest among the participants of the event. His Beatitude Sviatoslav congratulated the Pope on his election, and the pontiff, in turn, called for every effort to be made to achieve a just peace. Pope Leo XIV said that his heart was with the suffering and beloved people of Ukraine. He called on everyone to do everything possible to achieve a true peace as soon as possible. The pontiff also called for the release of all prisoners of war and for children to be reunited with their families. Background: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he would likely meet with Pope Leo XIV on Sunday 18 May but added that this would depend on the diplomatic developments in relations with Russia. On 8 May, 69-year-old American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the new Pope, taking the papal name Leo XIV. Zelenskyy congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election and expressed hope that he would support the achievement of a just peace. On Sunday 11 May, Pope Leo XIV called for a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine and an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, with the simultaneous release of hostages. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
TimesLIVE
15-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Pope Leo says he will make 'every effort' for world peace
Pope Leo XIV, the first American to head the global Catholic Church, pledged on Wednesday to make "every effort" for peace and offered the Vatican as a mediator in global conflicts, saying war was "never inevitable". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who spoke to the Pope soon after his election, welcomed the Pontiff's offer and repeated that Kyiv backed all efforts to end his country's war with Russia. Leo, elected last week to succeed the late Pope Francis, has already made repeated calls for peace. His first words to crowds in St Peter's Square were "Peace be with all of you". He returned to the issue while addressing members of the Eastern Catholic Churches, some of which are based in conflict-ridden places such as Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq and often face persecution as religious minorities. "The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face-to-face, to talk to one another, so that peoples everywhere may once more find hope and recover the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace," Leo said. "War is never inevitable. Weapons can and must be silenced, for they do not resolve problems but only increase them. Those who make history are the peacemakers, not those who sow seeds of suffering," he added. Pope Leo warned against the rise of simplistic narratives that divide the world into good and evil. "Our neighbours are not first our enemies, but fellow human beings," he said. On Sunday, the pontiff called for an "authentic and lasting peace" in Ukraine; a ceasefire in Gaza and release of all Israeli hostages held by militant group Hamas; and he also welcomed the fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
