We, bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches in the United States, gathered in prayer and dialogue at our annual assembly in St. Louis, express solidarity with our longsuffering brothers and sisters representing different confessions in countries where our communities originate.
In light of the dangerous escalation of armed conflicts in Lebanon and the Middle East, accompanied by the fall of innocent victims, the displacement of families, and the worsening of humanitarian suffering, the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon expresses its deep concern over the current situation and over the risk that the region may slide into wider confrontations with grave consequences for its peoples.
Our Patriarch, Bechara Peter Cardinal Rai has issued his Message for your Lenten journey. I pray that each of us will draw closer to Christ Jesus this Lent and always.
As we prepare for the joy of the Resurrection during Holy Lent, I invite you to reflect upon Saint Francis’ prayer, sacrifice and love for the poor as Pope Leo XIV proclaimed 2026 a special Jubilee Year in remembrance of the 800th anniversary of his death. Although most of us will not live out radical poverty like Saint Francis, we can still participate in his profound accompaniment and charity towards others by making a sacrificial gift.
