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By Holly Meyer and David Crary |
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By Holly Meyer and David Crary |
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Greetings, World of Faith readers.
We offer an eclectic mix this week. A visit to a medieval monastery perched atop a cliff in northern Greece. A story from Fredericksburg, Virginia, where church groups have been assisting Afghan refugees, only to learn that the Trump administration may undercut their ability to stay in the U.S. And more of AP’s comprehensive coverage of the momentous papal transition unfolding in the Catholic Church. |
The Monastery of Simonos Petra on the peninsula of Mount Athos in northern Greece. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) |
Clinging to a Greek cliff, this monastery welcomes people from around the world — as long as they’re men |
Clinging almost impossibly to a sheer cliff in northern Greece, the Monastery of Simonos Petra — or Simon’s Rock — transcends country-based branches of Orthodox Christianity, embracing monks from across the world. The medieval monastery is one of 20 in the all-male monastic community of Mount Athos. The peninsula is no stranger to foreigners: one of the monasteries is Russian, one is Bulgarian, another is Serbian. But it’s Simonos Petra that has the most diverse group of monks. Read more.
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The monastery welcomes anyone who would like to visit — provided they are male. In a more than 1,000-year-old tradition, women are banned from the entire peninsula, which is deemed the Virgin Mary's domain.
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Most of Simonos Petra’s 65 monks hail from European countries where Orthodoxy is the predominant religion, such as Romania, Serbia, Russia, Cyprus and Greece. But there are others from China, Germany, Hungary, the United States, Australia, France, Lebanon and Syria.
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Founded in the 13th century, the seven-story Simonos Petra is considered a marvel of Byzantine architecture. It has become a symbol of resilience, recovering from three destructive fires — the most recent in the late 1800s.
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In Virginia, a military stronghold becomes a haven for Afghan refugees amid uncertainty |
The Trump administration’s suspension of the federal refugee program has upended the lives of many Afghans who worked with the United States during wartime. The upheaval is particularly poignant near Fredericksburg, Virginia, which has strong ties to the military and to resettled Afghans. The policy changes worry local faith groups that have long supported refugees. Among them are a Catholic Charities branch and a Southern Baptist church that ministers to members of military. Read more
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The Trump administration banned most incoming refugees in January and froze federal funds for the programs. Across the country, local resettlement agencies have been forced to lay off staff or close their doors.
Virginia has also resettled more Afghan refugees per capita than any other state. Around Fredericksburg, there are now halal markets, Afghan restaurants and school outreach programs for families who speak Dari and Pashto.
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Religious groups have long been at the heart of U.S. refugee resettlement. Until the recent policy changes, seven out of the 10 national organizations that partnered with the U.S. government to resettle refugees were faith-based. They were aided by hundreds of local affiliates and religious congregations.
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Those who've worked with Pope Leo XIV are optimistic he'll elevate women's roles — with limits |
Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms of Pope Francis’ pontificate by having women serve on the Vatican board that vets nominations for bishops. But he also has said women can't be ordained as priests. Despite working for years in Peru, where women often lead church communities, he seems noncommittal on whether they could ever serve in any ministerial capacity. Still, the women who've worked closely with Prevost praise his leadership style and his respect for their opinions. Read more.
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At a 2023 gathering of bishops on the future of the Catholic Church, Prevost was asked at a news conference about women in church leadership positions. He said it was “a work in progress.”
Prevost drew some very clear lines. Just because a woman in society can be president doesn't mean there's an “immediate parallel” in the church, he argued.
- Catholic women do much of the church’s work in schools and hospitals and are usually responsible for passing the faith to the next generation. But they have long complained of second-class status in an institution that reserves the priesthood for men.
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