Pope Francis calls attention to Eastern ‘martyr churches,’ from wars in Ukraine, the Middle East and Armenia

CV NEWS FEED // During the 97th assembly of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches (ROACO), Pope Francis delivered an address centered on the plight of diaspora communities of Eastern Churches in war-stricken countries.

“Many Eastern Churches are bearing a heavy cross and have become ‘martyr Churches,’” the Holy Father stated at the June 27 plenary. “Just as the Lord’s flesh was pierced by nails and a lance, so many Eastern communities are suffering and bleeding because of the conflicts and violence they endure.”

Specifically, Pope Francis called attention to churches in Tigray, Ukraine, the Middle East (such as Syria and Lebanon), the Holy Land, and the Caucasus (such as Armenia).

“Brothers and sisters,” he continued, “we cannot remain indifferent.”

Pope Francis emphasized the need to gather not just to discuss geopolitical theories, but also “to discern the best ways to draw close to our brothers and sisters in the East and to alleviate their sufferings.”

In light of today’s conflicts, he noted, a large number of Eastern Christians are fleeing from their homeland and living in the diaspora. Pope Francis called the situation faced by these communities a “significant problem.”

“Some Churches, due to the massive migrations of recent decades, now have most of their faithful living outside their traditional territory, in places where pastoral care is often lacking due to the scarcity of priests, structures, and adequate training,” he said:

As a result, those who have already had to leave their native lands behind, now also risk losing their religious identity and, with the passing of generations, the spiritual heritage of the East, an invaluable treasure for the Catholic Church, is weakened.

The Holy Father thanked Latin dioceses that welcomed members of the Eastern Church and respected their traditions. He encouraged them to continue to “show particular concern, so that these, our brothers and sisters, may keep their rites alive and flourishing.”

In conclusion, Pope Francis encouraged the Dicastery to establish norms that will enable Latin bishops to aid Eastern Catholics living in the diaspora.