Latest news with #Ecumenical
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Pope Leo XIV prays for peace as US-Russia summit over Ukraine war gets under way
History's first American pope did not mention the meeting on Friday in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But he has constantly called for dialogue and an end to the conflict, including in conversations with Mr Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. On Friday Leo recalled that the August 15 feast day dedicated to the Virgin Mary was declared a dogma by Pope Pius XII at the height of the Second World War. 'He (Pius) hoped that human lives would never again be destroyed by wars,' Leo said. 'How relevant are these words today? Unfortunately, even today, we feel powerless in the face of the spread of increasingly deafening violence, insensitive to any movement of humanity.' The pope prayed for hope for a peaceful future. 'We must not resign ourselves to the prevalence of the logic of armed conflict,' he said. Leo was not the only religious leader offering prayers for peace. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, prayed for a successful outcome of the US-Russia summit during a visit to the Turkish island of Gokceada, home to an ethnic Greek community and his birthplace. 'Enlighten the leaders who will meet tomorrow in Alaska, that they may bring peace to the world, end these murderous wars, stop the shedding of blood, let reason prevail, and let justice and mutual respect reign throughout the world,' he said on Thursday. 'There is room here for everyone. We need not kill one another to make space.' The 85-year-old was visiting the island for the August 15 celebration of the Virgin Mary, which is also an important date in the Orthodox Christian calendar. Leo spoke from the main piazza of Castel Gandolfo, the hill town south of Rome that is home to a papal estate and gardens. He has spent a chunk of the summer at the estate, extending now for the second time his holiday to take advantage of the quiet and relatively cooler calm of the property overlooking Lake Alban. It was here that Leo met with Mr Zelensky for the second time on July 9. Leo had spoken by telephone with Mr Putin on June 4 and, according to the Vatican, 'urged Russia to make a gesture that would promote peace, emphasising the importance of dialogue for establishing positive contacts between the parties and seeking solutions to the conflict'. Upon arrival in Castel Gandolfo earlier this week, Leo told reporters that he hoped the Trump-Putin summit would produce at least a ceasefire, saying the war had gone on for too long with too many dead, and no end in sight. Leo, who marks his 100th day as pope on Saturday, will spend the long weekend here, breaking on Sunday to have lunch with the poor people of the Albano diocese. He is scheduled to return to the Vatican on Tuesday, closing out a six-week holiday period punctuated by spells back at the Vatican, most significantly to preside over the one million-strong Holy Year celebration for young people earlier this month.
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Pope Leo XIV prays for peace as US-Russia summit over Ukraine war gets under way
History's first American pope did not mention the meeting on Friday in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But he has constantly called for dialogue and an end to the conflict, including in conversations with Mr Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. On Friday Leo recalled that the August 15 feast day dedicated to the Virgin Mary was declared a dogma by Pope Pius XII at the height of the Second World War. 'He (Pius) hoped that human lives would never again be destroyed by wars,' Leo said. 'How relevant are these words today? Unfortunately, even today, we feel powerless in the face of the spread of increasingly deafening violence, insensitive to any movement of humanity.' The pope prayed for hope for a peaceful future. 'We must not resign ourselves to the prevalence of the logic of armed conflict,' he said. Leo was not the only religious leader offering prayers for peace. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, prayed for a successful outcome of the US-Russia summit during a visit to the Turkish island of Gokceada, home to an ethnic Greek community and his birthplace. 'Enlighten the leaders who will meet tomorrow in Alaska, that they may bring peace to the world, end these murderous wars, stop the shedding of blood, let reason prevail, and let justice and mutual respect reign throughout the world,' he said on Thursday. 'There is room here for everyone. We need not kill one another to make space.' The 85-year-old was visiting the island for the August 15 celebration of the Virgin Mary, which is also an important date in the Orthodox Christian calendar. Leo spoke from the main piazza of Castel Gandolfo, the hill town south of Rome that is home to a papal estate and gardens. He has spent a chunk of the summer at the estate, extending now for the second time his holiday to take advantage of the quiet and relatively cooler calm of the property overlooking Lake Alban. It was here that Leo met with Mr Zelensky for the second time on July 9. Leo had spoken by telephone with Mr Putin on June 4 and, according to the Vatican, 'urged Russia to make a gesture that would promote peace, emphasising the importance of dialogue for establishing positive contacts between the parties and seeking solutions to the conflict'. Upon arrival in Castel Gandolfo earlier this week, Leo told reporters that he hoped the Trump-Putin summit would produce at least a ceasefire, saying the war had gone on for too long with too many dead, and no end in sight. Leo, who marks his 100th day as pope on Saturday, will spend the long weekend here, breaking on Sunday to have lunch with the poor people of the Albano diocese. He is scheduled to return to the Vatican on Tuesday, closing out a six-week holiday period punctuated by spells back at the Vatican, most significantly to preside over the one million-strong Holy Year celebration for young people earlier this month.
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
Pope Leo XIV prays for peace as US-Russia summit over Ukraine war gets under way
History's first American pope did not mention the meeting on Friday in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But he has constantly called for dialogue and an end to the conflict, including in conversations with Mr Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. On Friday Leo recalled that the August 15 feast day dedicated to the Virgin Mary was declared a dogma by Pope Pius XII at the height of the Second World War. 'He (Pius) hoped that human lives would never again be destroyed by wars,' Leo said. 'How relevant are these words today? Unfortunately, even today, we feel powerless in the face of the spread of increasingly deafening violence, insensitive to any movement of humanity.' The pope prayed for hope for a peaceful future. 'We must not resign ourselves to the prevalence of the logic of armed conflict,' he said. Leo was not the only religious leader offering prayers for peace. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, prayed for a successful outcome of the US-Russia summit during a visit to the Turkish island of Gokceada, home to an ethnic Greek community and his birthplace. 'Enlighten the leaders who will meet tomorrow in Alaska, that they may bring peace to the world, end these murderous wars, stop the shedding of blood, let reason prevail, and let justice and mutual respect reign throughout the world,' he said on Thursday. 'There is room here for everyone. We need not kill one another to make space.' The 85-year-old was visiting the island for the August 15 celebration of the Virgin Mary, which is also an important date in the Orthodox Christian calendar. Leo spoke from the main piazza of Castel Gandolfo, the hill town south of Rome that is home to a papal estate and gardens. He has spent a chunk of the summer at the estate, extending now for the second time his holiday to take advantage of the quiet and relatively cooler calm of the property overlooking Lake Alban. It was here that Leo met with Mr Zelensky for the second time on July 9. Leo had spoken by telephone with Mr Putin on June 4 and, according to the Vatican, 'urged Russia to make a gesture that would promote peace, emphasising the importance of dialogue for establishing positive contacts between the parties and seeking solutions to the conflict'. Upon arrival in Castel Gandolfo earlier this week, Leo told reporters that he hoped the Trump-Putin summit would produce at least a ceasefire, saying the war had gone on for too long with too many dead, and no end in sight. Leo, who marks his 100th day as pope on Saturday, will spend the long weekend here, breaking on Sunday to have lunch with the poor people of the Albano diocese. He is scheduled to return to the Vatican on Tuesday, closing out a six-week holiday period punctuated by spells back at the Vatican, most significantly to preside over the one million-strong Holy Year celebration for young people earlier this month.
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Pope Leo XIV prays for peace as US-Russia summit over Ukraine war gets under way
History's first American pope did not mention the meeting on Friday in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But he has constantly called for dialogue and an end to the conflict, including in conversations with Mr Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. On Friday Leo recalled that the August 15 feast day dedicated to the Virgin Mary was declared a dogma by Pope Pius XII at the height of the Second World War. 'He (Pius) hoped that human lives would never again be destroyed by wars,' Leo said. 'How relevant are these words today? Unfortunately, even today, we feel powerless in the face of the spread of increasingly deafening violence, insensitive to any movement of humanity.' The pope prayed for hope for a peaceful future. 'We must not resign ourselves to the prevalence of the logic of armed conflict,' he said. Leo was not the only religious leader offering prayers for peace. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, prayed for a successful outcome of the US-Russia summit during a visit to the Turkish island of Gokceada, home to an ethnic Greek community and his birthplace. 'Enlighten the leaders who will meet tomorrow in Alaska, that they may bring peace to the world, end these murderous wars, stop the shedding of blood, let reason prevail, and let justice and mutual respect reign throughout the world,' he said on Thursday. 'There is room here for everyone. We need not kill one another to make space.' The 85-year-old was visiting the island for the August 15 celebration of the Virgin Mary, which is also an important date in the Orthodox Christian calendar. Leo spoke from the main piazza of Castel Gandolfo, the hill town south of Rome that is home to a papal estate and gardens. He has spent a chunk of the summer at the estate, extending now for the second time his holiday to take advantage of the quiet and relatively cooler calm of the property overlooking Lake Alban. It was here that Leo met with Mr Zelensky for the second time on July 9. Leo had spoken by telephone with Mr Putin on June 4 and, according to the Vatican, 'urged Russia to make a gesture that would promote peace, emphasising the importance of dialogue for establishing positive contacts between the parties and seeking solutions to the conflict'. Upon arrival in Castel Gandolfo earlier this week, Leo told reporters that he hoped the Trump-Putin summit would produce at least a ceasefire, saying the war had gone on for too long with too many dead, and no end in sight. Leo, who marks his 100th day as pope on Saturday, will spend the long weekend here, breaking on Sunday to have lunch with the poor people of the Albano diocese. He is scheduled to return to the Vatican on Tuesday, closing out a six-week holiday period punctuated by spells back at the Vatican, most significantly to preside over the one million-strong Holy Year celebration for young people earlier this month.
Herald Malaysia
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Ecumenical patriarch looks toward new pope with 'Christian hope'
Patriarch Bartholomew hopes Pope Leo XIV brings unity, peace, and dialogue to the global Church May 13, 2025 Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in The Vatican, on May 8. (Photo: AFP) By Laura Ieraci, OSV News Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople said he hopes Pope Leo XIV will "be a dear brother and collaborator … for the rapprochement of our churches, for the unity of the whole Christian family, and for the benefit of all of humankind." The patriarch was one of several church leaders in the Christian East who welcomed the May 8 election of Pope Leo, noting his first words to the crowd in St. Peter's Square were about peace. Patriarch Bartholomew was at an event in his own honor in Athens, Greece, when he learned of the election, according to a report in The Orthodox Times. He welcomed the new bishop of Rome and spoke of his collaboration with Pope Francis in the areas of dialogue and care for creation. "We have done a lot," he said in comments in an English-language video message published by the ecumenical patriarchate. The ecumenical patriarch, who had hoped to visit Iznik, Turkey, with Pope Francis in May to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, said he hoped Pope Leo would "combine a visit to Nicaea with an official visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, on the occasion of our feast of St. Andrew on 30 November." On May 12, at a special audience with journalists at the Vatican, Pope Leo was asked if he planned to fulfill the late pope's promise of going to Turkey to celebrate the anniversary. "We are preparing for it," the pope responded. But he did not say when the trip would be. Patriarch Bartholomew told those gathered in Athens, "We look toward the new pontiff with Christian hope," and he added that he intends to attend Pope Leo's inauguration in Rome May 18. "May he inspire the church and the world with the universal ideals of freedom, equality, justice and solidarity. May he help end wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, and prevent conflict between India and Pakistan," he said. "I hope we can inaugurate a new era in our bilateral relations and in relations between East and West." In a message posted on the website of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych noted that the first words Pope Leo spoke from the balcony were "Peace be with you." He said that "suffering Ukraine hears these words as words of hope and special God's blessing." "His Holiness Pope Leo XIV expressed the wish these words 'reach all nations, all the earth.' We sincerely believe the new bishop of Rome will become for the long-suffering Ukrainian people a herald of peace that comes from the risen Lord," said Major Archbishop Shevchuk. Metropolitan Archbishop Fülöp Kocsis of Hajdudorog, Hungary, who heads the Hungarian Greek Catholic Church, also commented on the pope's words of peace. "Not only did he literally wish them peace, but he quoted the risen Christ, who also greeted the apostles with these words," he said. "Of course, peace after the resurrection is quite different, since Jesus Christ gives peace in a way that is different from the way the world gives it. It is not about the laying down of arms, but about the power of Christ." The new pontiff had visited Hungary twice in recent years, first as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, for the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest in September 2021, and then as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in April 2023, when he accompanied Pope Francis on his apostolic visit to Hungary, which included a visit to the Greek Catholic Protection of the Mother of God Church in Budapest. The metropolitan archbishop said the choice of the name Leo expresses the pope's intention to "emphasize his social sensitivity, since Pope Leo XIII wrote the first encyclical on the subject in 1891, 'Rerum Novarum,' which was about poverty and the working class." Leo XIII was also the first pontiff to acknowledge the dignity of the Eastern Catholic churches within the Catholic communion with his 1894 encyclical, "Orientalium Dignitatis" ("On the Churches of the East"), he noted. "So, the choice of the name Leo is particularly dear to us," Archbishop Kocsis said, referring to Eastern Catholics. While he thought the new pope would choose the name Francis II, he said he was "glad the pope dared to reach back into tradition." "I am convinced that Leo XIV will take the same line as Pope Francis. Dialogue and the inclusion of the poor are important to him," Archbishop Kocsis said. "The two of them were excellent collaborators, they discussed many things together." In New York, Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elpidophoros of America recognized Pope Leo's election "with fraternal esteem" and renewed the church's "unwavering commitment to strengthening dialogue and fellowship between our churches, guided by humility, openness and mutual respect." "His ministry, deeply inspired by the example of Pope Francis, resonates strongly with the enduring commitment of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew toward ecumenical dialogue, reconciliation and care for the most vulnerable among us," he said. Bishop Joy Alappatt of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of St. Thomas of Chicago, where Pope Leo was born, said Eastern Catholics "anticipate a renewed focus on synodality, honoring liturgical identity, and engaging in genuine dialogue with our ancient practices." In his first message to the crowd in St. Peter's Square after his May 8 election, Pope Leo had underlined the importance of walking as a synodal church. Bishop Alappatt said, as a cardinal, the new pontiff had served as a member of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches since 2023, and "witnessed the beautiful unity of our universal Catholic communion between East and West." The bishop said the pope's previous ministry in Peru "showcases a pastor who truly listens, walks humbly with his community, and amplifies the voices from the margins. "His deep love for the impoverished and his presence among Indigenous populations strongly reflect the many missions led by Eastern churches around the world," Bishop Alappatt said. He noted especially the numerous pastoral and charitable works of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in mission territories across central and north India. The pope's "pastoral spirit, nurtured in Chicago and Peru, now opens pathways in the East through a welcoming and enriching approach," he continued. "His papacy will inspire us to embrace our missionary calling with greater courage and compassion." The Order of St. Augustine, of which the pope entered as a friar, posted on its website an interview he gave when was elevated to cardinal in 2023. In that interview, he said, "Being a synodal church that knows how to listen to everyone is the way not only to live the faith personally, but also to grow in true Christian brotherhood." "The church is fully such only when it truly listens," he said, "when it walks as the new people of God in its wonderful diversity, continually rediscovering its own baptismal call to contribute to the spread of the Gospel and the kingdom of God."--
