In one of the first major events of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV warmly welcomed Eastern Catholics to the Vatican on the occasion of the Jubilee of Eastern Churches, calling for the preservation of their spiritual heritage and a renewed commitment to peace through reconciliation and forgiveness.
Greeting representatives of the 23' sui iuris' Eastern Catholic Churches with the traditional Paschal acclamation—“Christ is risen! He is truly risen!”—the Holy Father praised the diversity, history, and suffering of the Eastern faithful, emphasizing their precious role within the universal Church.
“You are precious in God’s eyes,” Pope said, expressing his joy at being able to dedicate an early encounter in his papacy to the Eastern Churches. He acknowledged the deep pain many Eastern Christian communities have endured and continue to face, including exile and threats to their religious identity.
Pope Leo XIV echoed the teachings of his predecessors, especially Pope Francis, who highlighted the spiritual depth and wisdom of the Eastern traditions in areas such as liturgy, synodality, and mystagogy. He affirmed the importance of preserving the Eastern rites and traditions without dilution, and called on the Dicastery for Eastern Churches to aid Latin Bishops in supporting Eastern Catholics living in diaspora.
“The Church needs you,” he said, noting the immense contribution Eastern Christianity can offer the wider Catholic world—especially in reviving a sense of mystery, penance, and divine primacy.
Highlighting the enduring relevance of Eastern spirituality, Pope Leo XIV described its traditions as “medicinal,” providing hope in the midst of human misery and violence. “Who better than you,” he asked, “can sing a song of hope even amid the abyss of violence?”
Reflecting on the ongoing conflicts in regions such as the Holy Land, Ukraine, the Middle East, Tigray, and the Caucasus, Pope Leo echoed Pope Francis’ recognition of Eastern Christians as “martyr Churches,” while urging a global recommitment to peace. “Let us pray for this peace,” he said, “which is reconciliation, forgiveness, and the courage to turn the page and start anew.”
He reaffirmed the Vatican’s readiness to mediate dialogue between opposing sides and appealed directly to world leaders: “Let us meet, let us talk, let us negotiate! War is never inevitable.”
Pope Leo also expressed gratitude for those who continue to sow peace and for the Christians who remain steadfast in their homelands despite hardship. He urged that Eastern Christians be given tangible opportunities to live securely in their native countries.
Concluding his address, Pope called on Eastern Church leaders to foster true community and fraternity, and reminded them that “the splendour of the Christian East demands freedom from all worldly attachments,” for the sake of communion and Gospel witness.
“Be outstanding for your faith, hope, and charity, and nothing else,” he said, thanking the Eastern faithful for being “lights in the world.”