I extend heartfelt greetings to all of you gathered for the Third Assembly of the Byzantine Catholic Church of Pittsburgh, convoked by Metropolitan Archbishop William Skurla and the Council of Hierarchs, taking place at the Church of Saint Mary in Whiting, Indiana.

Your Assembly, held under the theme Come, let us worship and bow before Christ, offers a precious opportunity to grow in unity and to reaffirm your commitment to the Lord. Through your liturgical celebrations, prayerful reflection and fraternal dialogue, you will surely renew your faithful witness to Christ and deepen your proclamation of the Gospel in the rich tradition of the Byzantine Catholic Churches.

The participation of clergy, religious, and lay faithful, along with representatives from the Exarchate of Toronto and the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, offers a visible sign of communion in the Church.

I give thanks for the witness of your forebears, who built vibrant Byzantine communities in North America amidst various challenges and uncertainty. Their legacy continues in your courageous embrace of pastoral renewal, which is rooted in fidelity to your heritage.

I assure you of my spiritual closeness and entrust your gathering to the intercession of Mary the Mother of God. To all participating in the Assembly, I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing, which I extend to all in the Archeparchy as a pledge of wisdom, joy and peace in the Lord.

From the Vatican, 12 July 2025

LEO PP. XIV