Eastern Catholic Churches

The Latest

A liturgy at St. Mary’s Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church, Arakuzha, India.

Dissenting priests in Syro-Malabar Church protest Pope Francis’ Christmas deadline 

Dec 20, 2023

By Anto Akkara

Tensions have risen in the Eastern Catholic Church in the Indian state of Kerala as the deadline approaches to implement... Read more

Bishop Joy Alappatt, who was appointed Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago July 3, 2022.

New bishop named for U.S. Syro-Malabar eparchy

Jul 5, 2022

By CNA Staff

On Sunday Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Patriarch Bartholomew at Domus Sancta Marta, Sept. 19, 2019.

Pope Francis: 'Canon law is essential for ecumenical dialogue'

Sep 19, 2019

By Courtney Mares

In an audience Thursday with members of the Society for the Law of the Eastern Churches, Pope Francis said that “canon... Read more

Pope Francis addresses participants in the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches' general assembly in the Vatican's Consistory Hall, June 10, 2019.

Francis: Leaders who talk of peace but sell arms will face 'wrath of God'

Jun 10, 2019

Discussing the Syrian civil war Monday, Pope Francis said God hears the cry of orphans and widows, and that his... Read more

Six of the seven martyred bishops who will be beatified in Blaj, Romania, June 2, 2019. Courtesy photos.

Pope Francis will beatify these martyred Greek-Catholic bishops in Romania

May 30, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Sunday in Blaj, Pope Francis will beatify seven Greek-Catholic bishops of Romania who were killed by the communist regime... Read more

Pope Francis addresses participants in the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches in the Vatican's Consistory Hall, June 22, 2018.

Pope Francis: Jerusalem must be protected from political disputes

Jun 22, 2018

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis stressed Friday the important role the Eastern Catholic Churches play in spreading the Gospel given that many of... Read more

Archbishop Stefan Soroka, who resigned as Archbishop of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia April 16, 2018.

Ukrainian Archbishop of Philadelphia retires for health reasons

Apr 16, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation for medical reasons of Archbishop Stefan Soroka of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia.... Read more

Pope Francis meets at the Vatican with members of the Synod of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Oct. 5, 2017.

Bishop appointed for Canada's Chaldean eparchy

Oct 31, 2017

Bishop Bawai Soro was on Tuesday appointed Bishop of the Chaldean Eparchy of Mar Addai of Toronto, which serves Canada's... Read more

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk (L) greets his predecessor, Cardinal Lubomyr Husar (R), who died May 31, 2017. Photo courtesy of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Kyiv-Halych.

Ukraine's Cardinal Lubomyr Husar recalled as a spiritual father

Jun 6, 2017

Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, Major Archbishop Emeritus of Kyiv-Halych and former head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, died May 31... Read more

A Divine Liturgy celebrated at the Shrine of the Holy Face in Manoppello, Italy, Sept. 18, 2016.

Pope to future Romanian priests: seminary is your 'gym' for ministry

May 5, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Friday Pope Francis told seminarians studying in Rome to resist complacency and to think of their studies as strength... Read more

Members of the commission for dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches outside the shrine of the Holy Face in Manoppello, Italy, Sept. 18, 2016.

Catholics, Orthodox sign agreement on synodality and primacy

Sep 23, 2016

At an ecumenical gathering held this week, representatives of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches signed a joint document regarding synodality... Read more

Gregory Peter XX Ghabroyan, Armenian Patriarch of Cilicia. Photo courtesy of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg in the USA and Canada.

New Armenian Catholic patriarch pulled from retirement to take the reins

Aug 1, 2015

By Elise Harris

In a rare move, the Armenian Catholic Church has pulled their new patriarch from out of retirement to take on... Read more

The five patriarchs of Antioch at their June 8 meeting in Damascus.

Christians belong in Middle East, Antioch patriarchs say in call for peace

Jun 9, 2015

The five Christian patriarchs of Antioch met in Syria on Monday, calling for peace in the Syrian civil war while... Read more

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk and other Eastern Catholic bishops gathered at St. Peter's Square, Nov. 27, 2013.

Polish, Eastern Catholic bishops stand firm on pastoral care for families

Jun 9, 2015

By Andrea Gagliarducci

During recent meetings which were held separately, both the Polish bishops and the Eastern Catholic bishops from Europe have discussed... Read more