Pope Leo XIV has reminded the Latin bishops of the Arab countries this Thursday that their mission «does not consist simply in preserving a Christian presence,» but in «making Christ present,» and has asked them to maintain fidelity to the Gospel in territories marked by conflicts, political, social, and religious tensions, and by the emigration of numerous Christian families. «You are not called to solve all the problems of your lands, but to be faithful to the Gospel and to the people entrusted to you,» he affirmed.
During the audience granted to the members of the Latin Episcopal Conference in the Arab Regions (CELRA), the Pontiff also urged these communities not to yield «to fear or resignation» in the face of their fragility and recalled that «the fruitfulness of the Church is not measured by numbers, structures, or resources.» Leo XIV also asked to care for families, young people, and migrants, and to maintain sincere dialogue with Muslims and other religious traditions without renouncing Christian identity.
Below is the full speech of Pope Leo XIV:
Your Beatitude Most Eminent,
venerable brothers in the episcopate,
dearly beloved present:
With great joy I welcome you, shepherds who together form the Conference of Latin Bishops in the Arab Regions. Through you, I wish to extend my greeting to the priests, consecrated persons, and all the faithful of your communities. With the words of the Apostle Paul, I wish to all: «grace and peace from God» (Rom 1:7).
Your Conference encompasses Churches present in a vast and complex reality, which carry out their work in contexts often marked by political, social, and religious tensions.
Your Churches have known the witness of martyrdom: let us think of Sister Leonella Sgorbati, Missionary of the Consolata, of the Missionaries of Charity murdered in Yemen while serving the most vulnerable, and of so many priests, religious, nuns, and faithful who have given their lives in Iraq, Syria, and other lands marked by violence. Their names may not be known to the world, but God knows them well. Their fidelity to the Gospel continues to be a light for your communities and an invitation not to yield to fear or resignation.
When communities become more fragile and many families are forced to emigrate, your ministry becomes even more necessary. Always be shepherds close to your people, capable of sharing their wounds, of listening, supporting, and consoling, so that through your presence the closeness of God may become visible.
Do not be afraid of your smallness. The fruitfulness of the Church is not measured by numbers, structures, or resources, but by fidelity to the Gospel. A small community, if rooted in Christ, can be a valuable 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 charity to force.
In the heart of societies marked by conflicts and divisions, may your communities demonstrate that it is possible to live, serve, and hope together. Through parishes, schools, hospitals, and works of charity, make the Gospel concrete, welcoming, listening to, and supporting those in need. Support, in particular, the religious congregations that continue generously alongside the poor and the most vulnerable.
In the midst of emergencies, do not lose sight of the essential aspects of the Church’s mission: the proclamation of the Gospel, prayer, the sacraments, and Christian formation. A Church capable of serving must be, above all, a Church that prays, listens to the Word, and lives by the sacraments.
Take particular care of families and young people. May families, even burdened with difficulties and uncertainties, be able, with the support of the community, to continue being the first place where faith is received and transmitted. May young people, often torn between great aspirations and an uncertain future, find in the Church a home that welcomes them, listens to them, and helps them recognize the value of their life. May catechesis accompany children, young people, and adults toward a living encounter with Christ, so that faith may be known, lived, and transmitted from generation to generation.
Also care for migrants, numerous especially in the Gulf countries. Many live far from their loved ones and experience loneliness and precariousness. May your communities be homes where no one feels like a stranger. Defend the dignity of every person and recognize in every migrant a brother and sister: thus charity becomes a witness to the Gospel and a school of fraternity.
Guard and strengthen communion among the Churches and the different rites. The variety of Christian traditions is a richness that must be lived in unity. From this communion may a sincere dialogue arise with other Christian communities, with Muslims, and with different religious traditions. To dialogue does not mean renouncing one’s own identity, but living it without fear of encounter. Where war has sown distrust, every gesture of esteem, collaboration, and respect can become a step toward reconciliation and peace.
Your mission does not consist simply in preserving a Christian presence, but in making Christ present: proclaiming Him in the Word, celebrating Him in the sacraments, encountering Him in prayer, and recognizing Him in the poor, in those who suffer, in migrants, and in every person placed under your care.
You are not called to solve all the problems of your lands, but 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, shepherds close to your people, artisans of reconciliation, and witnesses of mercy.
Do not be afraid to sow without immediately seeing the fruits. The sowing is yours; the growth belongs to God. No gesture made in the name of Christ is useless: a prayer, a word of consolation, an accompanied family, a child educated in the faith, a poor person welcomed are seeds of a new future.
Dear brothers, continue your journey with confidence. You are not alone. The universal Church looks with affection upon your communities and recognizes in their perseverance, in faith lived in trial, and in the value of service a valuable witness for the entire 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; sustain those who suffer and enlighten those with political and social responsibilities, so that they may know how to seek the common good and open paths of reconciliation.
Upon you and upon all the faithful entrusted to you, I wholeheartedly invoke the abundance of the Lord’s blessings. May He keep you in faith, make you persevering in hope and generous in charity, and grant to your communities and all the peoples of your lands the precious gift of peace.