Pope Leo XIV tells bishops in Arab regions to be 'voices of truth, justice and peace'

Pope Leo XIV met members of the Conference of Latin Bishops in the Arab Regions (CELRA) at the Vatican on September 3, 2026. He stressed the importance of making Christ present amid the difficulties facing Christian communities in the Middle East and part of the Horn of Africa. He told the bishops their task is not only to preserve a Christian presence in regions hit by conflict, but to "proclaim him in the Word, celebrate him in the sacraments, encounter him in prayer and recognize him in the poor."

The bishops represent Latin jurisdictions in 16 countries and territories, among them Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and the Gulf states. CELRA is headed by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Leo urged the bishops not to lose sight of what is essential in the Church's mission: preaching 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 from the sacraments," he said.

Migrants and Christian communities leaving the region

In the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, most Catholics are migrant workers from countries such as India and the Philippines. Despite difficult working conditions, possible labor exploitation and long separations from their families, those communities keep up an active parish life and practice their faith in vulnerable circumstances.

Leo asked the bishops to pay particular attention to migrants, who often face extreme loneliness and economic hardship. "May your communities be homes where no one feels a foreigner," he said. He called on them to defend the dignity of every person and to recognize in each migrant a brother or sister in Christ. Welcoming migrants, he said, is not an optional work of charity but a fundamental demand of the Gospel.

He also spoke about the departure of Christian communities from the Holy Land, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, where prolonged political instability and systematic violence have driven many families to emigrate to the West. He asked the bishops to remain close to their people, to share their suffering and offer real comfort, so that their presence reflects God's merciful closeness in the midst of suffering.

Church fruitfulness beyond numbers and structures

Leo encouraged Christian communities not to be discouraged by their small size where they are a religious minority. "The fruitfulness of the Church is not measured by numbers, structures or resources, but by fidelity to the Gospel," he said. A small community deeply rooted in Christ can be a valuable presence, he said, not by seeking power or political influence, but through genuine service and witness of faith under persecution.

He called for stronger communion among the different Eastern Churches and rites, and for sincere and respectful dialogue with other religious traditions. "Where there is war, every gesture of cooperation is a step toward peace," he said. He urged the bishops to seek authentic dialogue not only with other Christian communities but also with Muslims and other religious traditions, recognizing them as brothers in the search for truth and justice.

Interreligious cooperation and peacebuilding

Where continuing war has bred mistrust, Leo said, every act of esteem, cooperation and respect can contribute to reconciliation and social peace. "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 said.

Leo told the bishops to be "voices of truth, justice and peace," men of deep prayer and pastors close to their suffering people. He encouraged them to be "artisans of reconciliation and witnesses of mercy," and not to be afraid to sow Gospel seeds without immediately seeing the fruits of their work. "You are not alone. The universal Church looks on your communities with affection and recognizes in your perseverance, in faith lived in trial and in the courage of service, a valuable witness for the whole Church," he said.

Remembering the martyrs

Leo recalled contemporary martyrs in the region and presented them as examples of fidelity for Christian communities today. He named Sister Leonella Sgorbati, a missionary killed in Somalia, and the Missionaries of Charity who lost their lives in Yemen, along with many unnamed priests and faithful who gave their lives in Iraq and Syria in acts of witness. "Perhaps their names are not known to the world, but they are well known to God," he said. Their sacrifice, Leo said, is a witness that Christ's victory goes beyond earthly calculations of power and numerical survival.