Congregation for the Eastern Churches

The Latest

Pope Francis meets participants in the plenary assembly of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches at the Vatican’s Clementine Hall, Feb. 18, 2022

Pope Francis says Eastern Catholic Churches have shown heroic faith amid miseries of war

Feb 18, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The pope lamented that John Paul II’s appeal to avoid conflict in Iraq went unheeded Read more

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, in St. Peter’s Square, Oct. 10, 2019.

Vatican cardinal visits Syria in 10th year of civil war

Oct 25, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri will spend eight days in the country. Read more

'Quomodo sedet sola civitas' - a stripped altar on Holy Thursday 2015 at Mater Dei parish in Irving, Texas.

Vatican updates guidelines for Holy Week liturgies during coronavirus

Mar 25, 2020

By Courtney Mares

After dioceses throughout the world suspended public Masses amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Congregation for Divine Worship has updated its... Read more

Indian nun dismissed from religious life for disobedience appeals to Signatura

Oct 28, 2019

Sister Lucy Kalapura, whose dismissal from religious life was upheld by the Congregation for the Oriental Churches last month, has... Read more

The remains of St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox church in Homs, Syria.

Good Friday collection will aid Christians in Middle East

Mar 12, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

As the Vatican’s annual Good Friday Collection approaches, the head of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches has encouraged people... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at St. Mary Major on October 12, 2017.

Pope Francis: Be courageous in prayer – God will answer

Oct 12, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Thursday Pope Francis told members of the Pontifical Oriental Institute and various Eastern Churches that they have a mission... Read more

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, at Ukraine's shrine of Zarvanytsia, July 15, 2017. Photo courtesy of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

Be protagonists of change, Cardinal Sandri tells Ukrainian youth

Jul 19, 2017

By Elise Harris

At the close of his recent trip to Ukraine, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri met with youth from the troubled country, telling... Read more