Pope Leo XIV says Always "nurture your spiritual life, especially through constant prayer and participation in the sacraments" to Eastern Churches
Pope Leo XIV met on Thursday with participants in the plenary session of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches (ROACO).
ADDRESS OF POPE LEO XIV
TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE MEETING OF THE REUNION OF AID AGENCIES FOR THE ORIENTAL CHURCHES
(ROACO)
Clementine Hall on Thursday, 18 June 2026
_______________________________
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you!
Your Eminence, Excellencies,
Dear priests, brothers and sisters all,
A warm welcome to all of you! I am pleased to meet with you at the conclusion of your annual plenary assembly. I greet the Prefect, Cardinal Gugerotti, the other Superiors and the Officials of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches and, especially you, the members of the ROACO Agencies.
In addition to your work on projects supporting the Eastern Catholic Churches — which is the main reason for your gathering — I understand that this time you have focused your discussions on a specific topic: the formation of clerics and monks in Eastern seminaries and colleges.
I believe this was a very wise decision. Supporting a Church, in fact, does not mean merely providing it with material means of subsistence, but also helping it to grow in its identity and in its ability to evangelize, which are based on the formation of ministers called to spread its spiritual riches. The Eastern Catholic communities preserve many of these, sharing them with their brothers and sisters in the Orthodox Churches. Yes, the Eastern Catholic Churches have a great gift to offer the entire Catholic community, which is often unaware of the diverse ecclesial traditions within its ranks.
Our Mother, the Church, is therefore united, yet not uniform; her fertile womb has given birth to various spiritual and theological traditions, as well as different rites and disciplines, which enrich one another. It is good for us to delve deeper into these treasures together with millions of our Eastern Catholic brothers and sisters, as we look forward to progress toward full unity with all the Eastern Churches. All the ancient Eastern Churches, in fact, lead us back to the origins of the faith. They make the light of grace shine forth through liturgies rich in sacredness; they manifest in the worship of praise the mystery of God, who is to be adored; they bear witness to the power of intercessory prayer; they offer spiritual riches that fill the heart with wonder and grateful amazement at the beauty they reveal. They also lead the faithful to give voice to their own prayer according to the theological and anthropological characteristics most suited to each, so much so that the Second Vatican Council observed, regarding the Christian East and West: “It is hardly surprising, then, if sometimes one tradition has come nearer to a full appreciation of some aspects of a mystery of revelation than the other, or has expressed them better. In such cases, these various theological formulations are often to be considered complementary rather than conflicting” (Unitatis Redintegratio, 17).
The Christian East can only be preserved if it is understood: to lose that understanding is to impoverish the Church. But to learn about it and love it, we must invest in formation. More than thirty years ago, Saint John Paul II pointed out the need for this, strongly emphasizing, among other things, the need “to know the liturgy of the Eastern Churches; to deepen … knowledge of the spiritual traditions of the Fathers and Doctors of the Christian East; … to offer appropriate teaching on these subjects in seminaries and theological faculties, especially to future priests” (Apostolic Letter, Orientale Lumen, 24).
That is why your decision to help promote the formation of sacred ministers — by listening to experts dedicated to this field, as you have done in recent days — is a fine sign of your concrete concern for these Churches.
This bond between knowledge and charity, between open minds and working hands, also requires, however, a spiritual dimension: a heart that is not only generous, but also filled with grace and set ablaze by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, for the success of your efforts, undertaken with great commitment and dedication, I would like to urge you to always nurture your spiritual life, especially through constant prayer and participation in the sacraments. Good works, in fact, bear no lasting fruit unless they are nourished at the source of goodness, the source who is God. If it is true that “faith without works is also dead”, as we read in the Letter of James (2:26), it is likewise true that works, without a living faith, are fruitless.
My dear friends, as I look at you and reflect on the quiet, benevolent service you carry out — and on the many benefactors who, through you, channel resources to those in need — I cannot help but think of how much money, in this dark period of history, is being wasted on killing, squandered by so many who foment wars. While you generate life, they sow death; while you reach out to your brother, they seek enemies to crush; while you create dialogue, they seek monologues; while you open paths of hope, they lock people into fear; while you build the future, they destroy the present.
How can we fail to think of the painful exodus of Eastern Christians from their own lands, caused above all by war — which, I repeat, does not solve problems but creates tragedies, tragedies that are often consigned to oblivion? There is a plague, a scourge born of war, which I would like to speak about today, one that continues to drain the life blood of the Eastern Churches in particular. I define it with a single word: instability.
When a visitor travels to a country that has experienced conflicts now shrouded in silence, things generally may appear peaceful, even if deeply scarred by the tragedies of the past. Yet those societies are weakened by institutional instability, by the presence of armed gangs that divide up the territory and by a political system influenced and, not infrequently, manipulated by external agents and interests. Such a system does not act freely, but instead navigates a maze of subterfuge, secret agreements and partisan interests. As a result, a perpetual cycle of instability is created, stifling opportunities for development and always falling hardest on the poor.
As a result, fear and insecurity prevail everywhere in many countries: jobs seem precarious, wages are paid irregularly, healthcare — when it functions at all — is sporadic and education remains precarious. This is to the detriment of ordinary people, families, children and young people, the elderly and the sick. It becomes a tragedy that weighs on everyone’s hearts, devours hopes and makes it impossible to build for the future, which drives many to leave, as is the case for so many of our brothers and sisters in faith, especially in the Middle East.
I would like to appeal once again for reflection on the consequences of war and instability and for their prevention through wise and responsible decision making, for this is not the result of an inevitable fate, but of free choices and, therefore, of morally accountable actions. History shows how the schemes of violence and oppression, of power and domination, of gains made without justice and without scruples, backfire not only against those who suffer them, but also against those who pursue them. Let us pray to Jesus, the Lord of peace, and appeal to people’s consciences so that they may be moved by indignation; and may respect for humanity and a proper sense of civility be restored!
To you and to the many donors who, in the name of the Gospel, continue to commit yourselves to remedying such inhumanity, I offer my heartfelt thanks. I bless you, dear brothers and sisters and encourage you to persevere in charity without losing heart, sustained by the hope of Christ. Thank you.
TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE MEETING OF THE REUNION OF AID AGENCIES FOR THE ORIENTAL CHURCHES
(ROACO)
Clementine Hall on Thursday, 18 June 2026
_______________________________
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you!
Your Eminence, Excellencies,
Dear priests, brothers and sisters all,
A warm welcome to all of you! I am pleased to meet with you at the conclusion of your annual plenary assembly. I greet the Prefect, Cardinal Gugerotti, the other Superiors and the Officials of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches and, especially you, the members of the ROACO Agencies.
In addition to your work on projects supporting the Eastern Catholic Churches — which is the main reason for your gathering — I understand that this time you have focused your discussions on a specific topic: the formation of clerics and monks in Eastern seminaries and colleges.
I believe this was a very wise decision. Supporting a Church, in fact, does not mean merely providing it with material means of subsistence, but also helping it to grow in its identity and in its ability to evangelize, which are based on the formation of ministers called to spread its spiritual riches. The Eastern Catholic communities preserve many of these, sharing them with their brothers and sisters in the Orthodox Churches. Yes, the Eastern Catholic Churches have a great gift to offer the entire Catholic community, which is often unaware of the diverse ecclesial traditions within its ranks.
Our Mother, the Church, is therefore united, yet not uniform; her fertile womb has given birth to various spiritual and theological traditions, as well as different rites and disciplines, which enrich one another. It is good for us to delve deeper into these treasures together with millions of our Eastern Catholic brothers and sisters, as we look forward to progress toward full unity with all the Eastern Churches. All the ancient Eastern Churches, in fact, lead us back to the origins of the faith. They make the light of grace shine forth through liturgies rich in sacredness; they manifest in the worship of praise the mystery of God, who is to be adored; they bear witness to the power of intercessory prayer; they offer spiritual riches that fill the heart with wonder and grateful amazement at the beauty they reveal. They also lead the faithful to give voice to their own prayer according to the theological and anthropological characteristics most suited to each, so much so that the Second Vatican Council observed, regarding the Christian East and West: “It is hardly surprising, then, if sometimes one tradition has come nearer to a full appreciation of some aspects of a mystery of revelation than the other, or has expressed them better. In such cases, these various theological formulations are often to be considered complementary rather than conflicting” (Unitatis Redintegratio, 17).
The Christian East can only be preserved if it is understood: to lose that understanding is to impoverish the Church. But to learn about it and love it, we must invest in formation. More than thirty years ago, Saint John Paul II pointed out the need for this, strongly emphasizing, among other things, the need “to know the liturgy of the Eastern Churches; to deepen … knowledge of the spiritual traditions of the Fathers and Doctors of the Christian East; … to offer appropriate teaching on these subjects in seminaries and theological faculties, especially to future priests” (Apostolic Letter, Orientale Lumen, 24).
That is why your decision to help promote the formation of sacred ministers — by listening to experts dedicated to this field, as you have done in recent days — is a fine sign of your concrete concern for these Churches.
This bond between knowledge and charity, between open minds and working hands, also requires, however, a spiritual dimension: a heart that is not only generous, but also filled with grace and set ablaze by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, for the success of your efforts, undertaken with great commitment and dedication, I would like to urge you to always nurture your spiritual life, especially through constant prayer and participation in the sacraments. Good works, in fact, bear no lasting fruit unless they are nourished at the source of goodness, the source who is God. If it is true that “faith without works is also dead”, as we read in the Letter of James (2:26), it is likewise true that works, without a living faith, are fruitless.
My dear friends, as I look at you and reflect on the quiet, benevolent service you carry out — and on the many benefactors who, through you, channel resources to those in need — I cannot help but think of how much money, in this dark period of history, is being wasted on killing, squandered by so many who foment wars. While you generate life, they sow death; while you reach out to your brother, they seek enemies to crush; while you create dialogue, they seek monologues; while you open paths of hope, they lock people into fear; while you build the future, they destroy the present.
How can we fail to think of the painful exodus of Eastern Christians from their own lands, caused above all by war — which, I repeat, does not solve problems but creates tragedies, tragedies that are often consigned to oblivion? There is a plague, a scourge born of war, which I would like to speak about today, one that continues to drain the life blood of the Eastern Churches in particular. I define it with a single word: instability.
When a visitor travels to a country that has experienced conflicts now shrouded in silence, things generally may appear peaceful, even if deeply scarred by the tragedies of the past. Yet those societies are weakened by institutional instability, by the presence of armed gangs that divide up the territory and by a political system influenced and, not infrequently, manipulated by external agents and interests. Such a system does not act freely, but instead navigates a maze of subterfuge, secret agreements and partisan interests. As a result, a perpetual cycle of instability is created, stifling opportunities for development and always falling hardest on the poor.
As a result, fear and insecurity prevail everywhere in many countries: jobs seem precarious, wages are paid irregularly, healthcare — when it functions at all — is sporadic and education remains precarious. This is to the detriment of ordinary people, families, children and young people, the elderly and the sick. It becomes a tragedy that weighs on everyone’s hearts, devours hopes and makes it impossible to build for the future, which drives many to leave, as is the case for so many of our brothers and sisters in faith, especially in the Middle East.
I would like to appeal once again for reflection on the consequences of war and instability and for their prevention through wise and responsible decision making, for this is not the result of an inevitable fate, but of free choices and, therefore, of morally accountable actions. History shows how the schemes of violence and oppression, of power and domination, of gains made without justice and without scruples, backfire not only against those who suffer them, but also against those who pursue them. Let us pray to Jesus, the Lord of peace, and appeal to people’s consciences so that they may be moved by indignation; and may respect for humanity and a proper sense of civility be restored!
To you and to the many donors who, in the name of the Gospel, continue to commit yourselves to remedying such inhumanity, I offer my heartfelt thanks. I bless you, dear brothers and sisters and encourage you to persevere in charity without losing heart, sustained by the hope of Christ. Thank you.
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