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Pope Leo’s address to CELRA – Conference of Latin Bishops in the Arab Regions
Thursday, 3 September 2026
“Grace to you and peace from God”
Your Eminent Beatitude,
Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate,
It is with great joy that I welcome you, the pastors who together form the Conference of Latin Bishops in the Arab Regions.
Through you, I extend my greetings to the priests, consecrated persons, and all the faithful in your communities.
Following the words of the Apostle Paul, I extend to you all the greeting, “Grace to you and peace from God” (Romans 1:7).
Your conference encompasses churches operating in a vast and complex reality,
often marked by political, social, and religious tensions.
Many of your churches have experienced martyrdom.
Let us remember Sister Leonella Sgorbati, a Consolata missionary and a Missionary of Charity who was killed in Yemen while serving the most vulnerable.
Let us also remember the many priests, men and women religious, and faithful who gave their lives in Iraq, Syria, and other lands marked by violence.
Their names may not be known to the world, but they are well known to God.
Their fidelity to the Gospel is a light for your communities and an invitation not to give in to fear or resignation.
When communities become fragile and families are forced to emigrate, your ministry becomes even more necessary.
Always be pastors who are close to your people,
Be capable of sharing their burdens, listening to them, supporting them,
and consoling them. Through your presence, make God’s closeness visible..
Do not be afraid of your limitations.
The fruitfulness of the Church is not measured in numbers, structures or resources, but in fidelity to the Gospel.
A small community, if rooted in Christ, can be a precious presence
– not because it seeks power, but because it serves,
– not because it imposes itself, but because it bears witness,
– not because it responds to violence with more violence,
– but because it opposes force with charity..
May your communities show that it is possible to live, serve, and hope
together in societies marked by conflicts and divisions.
Through parishes, schools, hospitals, and charitable works, bring the Gospel to life by welcoming, listening to, and supporting those in need.
Support religious congregations that generously serve the poor and most vulnerable.
During emergencies, do not lose sight of the essence of the Church’s mission: proclaiming the Gospel, praying, administering the sacraments, and providing Christian education.
A church that serves must first be a church that prays, listens to the Word, and lives by the sacraments.
Take special care of families and young people.
Although families are burdened by difficulties and uncertainties, they may, with the support of the community, remain the primary place where faith is received and transmitted.
Young people, often torn between great aspirations and an uncertain future, may find a welcoming home in the Church that listens to them and helps them recognize the value of their lives.
May catechesis guide children, young people, and adults toward an encounter with Christ so that they may know, live, and transmit the faith from generation to generation.
Take care of the many migrants, especially in the Gulf countries.
Many of them live far from their loved ones and experience loneliness and insecurity.
May your communities be places where no one feels like a stranger.
Defend the dignity of every person, recognizing in every migrant a brother or sister. In this way, charity becomes a witness to the Gospel and a school of fraternity.
Strengthen and preserve communion between churches and their various rites.
The variety of Christian traditions is a treasure to be embraced in unity.
May this unity foster sincere dialogue with other Christian communities, Muslims, and different religious traditions.
Engaging in dialogue does not mean renouncing one’s own identity, but rather embracing it in the face of encounter.
In areas affected by war, every gesture of esteem, collaboration, and respect can be a step toward reconciliation and peace.
Your mission is not just to maintain a Christian presence; it is to make Christ present.
– proclaim him in the Word,
– celebrate him in the sacraments;
– encounter him in prayer,
Recognize him in the poor, the suffering, migrants, and every person under your care.
You are not called to solve all the problems in your community,
but rather to be faithful to the Gospel and to the people entrusted to you.
Do not seek success or recognition.
Above all, seek fidelity.
– be a voice of truth, justice and peace;
– men of prayer,
– pastors close to your people,
– artisans of reconciliation and
– witnesses of mercy.
Do not be afraid to plant without seeing immediate results.
You are responsible for sowing, but God is responsible for growth.
No gesture made in the name of Christ is useless. A prayer, a word of consolation, accompanying a family, educating a child in the faith, or welcoming a poor person are all seeds of a new future.
Dear brothers,
Continue your journey with confidence. You are not alone.
The universal Church looks upon your communities with affection. It recognizes your perseverance in the faith, your courage in times of trial, and your dedication to service as a precious witness for the whole Church.
I entrust you, your churches, and all the peoples of your lands to the protection of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of Peace.
May she accompany families, young people, migrants, the sick, and the poor. May she sustain the suffering and enlighten those with political and social responsibilities so they can seek the common good and open paths of reconciliation.
I cordially invoke an abundance of the Lord’s blessings upon you and all the faithful entrusted to you.
May He keep you in faith, grant you perseverance in hope, and make you generous in charity.
May He also grant your communities and all the peoples of your lands the precious gift of peace.
