The Vicar of Hebrew-speaking Catholics: "I Felt the Pope’s Closeness"

By Vatican News

“I felt the Holy Father’s authentic closeness,” Fr. Żelazko told Vatican News. In the first days of September, he was in Rome for the assembly of the Conference of Latin Bishops in the Arab Regions (CELRA), which concluded with a Thursday audience with Pope Leo XIV.

Support from the Pope

The meeting with the Pope was the high point of the gathering.

“Leo XIV spoke beautifully about how important our mission is and how each one of us, even though we may belong to churches that are small, weak, and few in number, is nevertheless important. We are called to be a witness precisely in places where Christianity is often a minority,” Fr. Zelazko said.

According to him, the Pope encouraged the participants to sustain and support communities throughout the Middle East that struggle with ongoing conflicts, since this is the common reality uniting the Churches of the region. Catholics in these countries generally form a minority surrounded by Muslim populations.

“In the case of our community, it is different, because the majority of the society are followers of Judaism,” Fr. Żelazko noted.

The Importance of the Conference

Fr. Piotr stressed the importance of the annual plenary gathering held at the Vatican. It allows Latin bishops from the Arab countries to meet and exchange information and experiences.

“We always begin with a kind of round-table session during which each bishop presents the situation in his vicariate or diocese: a little about the political situation, but also about the ecclesial and pastoral reality,” he explained.

“This is very important for us because it helps us understand the context. The knowledge we receive from the media and social media is very limited. Here we have access to people who can explain first-hand what is really happening in their territory and provide insight into the Church and political situation of their country.”

In addition to these discussions, the conference includes working sessions, workshops, and shared prayer.

The Sense That the Pope Carries the Middle East in His Heart

Fr. Żelazko spoke movingly about the encounter with Pope Leo XIV.

“His closeness was not a pose. It was not a diplomatic meeting. I felt the Holy Father’s genuine closeness, his concern for what is happening, his very concrete and detailed questions, and his assurance of prayer and support,” he said.

“I truly have the certainty that the Pope is with us, that he deeply carries in his heart the issue of peace in the Middle East and prays intensely for that peace. He also prays for Christians and for their daily lives, which often unfold amid explosions, armed conflict, shelters, incoming and exploding rockets, or terrorist attacks.”

As a sign of support from Leo XIV, Fr. Piotr also pointed to the strong interest shown by Vatican dicasteries. Their representatives repeatedly asked:

“What can we do for you? How can we help you?”

“This meeting showed me that the Pope follows the situation closely, accompanies us with his prayers, and remains constantly informed,” he added.

Support from the Holy See

Fr. Żelazko also highlighted the important role of Vatican diplomacy in working toward the end of conflicts.

“We met at the Secretariat of State with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who likewise assured us of his efforts for peace. The Holy See will never cease its commitment to promoting peace, especially in places such as the Middle East,” he said.

He concluded that it is a source of encouragement to know that local bishops have the support of the Pope, the Holy See, and the entire Church.