- 21 July, 2025
Vatican City, July 20, 2025: Pope Leo XIV has sent a message of encouragement and spiritual solidarity to participants of the third Metropolitan Assembly of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, describing the event as a “visible sign of communion in the Church.”
Dated 12 July 2025, the Pope’s message coincided with the Assembly’s opening on 16 July at the Byzantine Church of Saint Mary in Whiting, Indiana. The five-day gathering, which runs until 20 July, has been convened by Metropolitan Archbishop William Skurla and the Council of Hierarchs.
The Assembly serves as a “cornerstone for unity, reflection, and spiritual renewal,” bringing together clergy, religious, and lay faithful from across the Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh. Representatives from the Exarchate of Toronto and the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches are also participating.
Reflecting on the Assembly’s theme, Come, let us worship and bow before Christ, Pope Leo said it “offers a precious opportunity to grow in unity and to reaffirm your commitment to the Lord.” He encouraged the faithful to embrace the opportunity for liturgical celebration, prayer, and dialogue as a means of deepening their Christian witness and Gospel mission.
The Pope emphasised the importance of unity and heritage, stating that the gathering of diverse representatives “offers a visible sign of communion in the Church.”
In his message, Pope Leo also paid tribute to the early members of the Byzantine Catholic community in North America. “Their legacy continues in your courageous embrace of pastoral renewal, which is rooted in fidelity to your heritage,” he wrote, recognising the perseverance of those who established Byzantine communities despite the difficulties of a new and unfamiliar land.
The Pope concluded by expressing his spiritual closeness to the Byzantine Catholic faithful in the United States and entrusted the Assembly to the Virgin Mary. He extended his Apostolic Blessing to all participants and members of the Archeparchy, offering it as “a pledge of wisdom, joy, and peace in the Lord.”
Archeparchy of Pittsburgh: A Brief History
The Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh is one of only two Eastern Catholic metropolitan sees in the United States, the other being the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. Established in 1924 as the country’s first Greek Catholic Exarchate, the Pittsburgh Archeparchy has become a central hub for Ruthenian Byzantine Catholics.
Today, according to the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church in the U.S. comprises around 300,000 faithful, continuing its mission of preserving Eastern Catholic tradition while engaging with modern pastoral needs.
Courtesy: Vatican News
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