The Pontifical School of Theology celebrated the inaugural Holy Mass of the Academic Year 2025-2026 on Friday, November 7, 2025, in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit.

Presided over by His Excellency Antoine Nabil Al-Andary, representing the President of the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon (APECL), this inaugural Mass was concelebrated by USEK’s Vice President for Identity and Mission Fr. Edouard Azzi, representing USEK President Fr. Prof. Joseph Moukarzel, our Dean Fr. Elias Hanna; and Associate Dean Fr. Karl Daoud. Also in attendance were superiors of seminaries and the faculty, staff, and students of the school.

In his homily on Marian titles, Bishop Andari emphasized how Pope Leo XIV presents these titles not as isolated honorifics, but as theological expressions intimately connected to Christ and the Church. The title “Mother of God” remains foundational, as it conveys the salvific significance of the Incarnation. He also highlighted the title “Mother of the Church”, which expresses Mary’s spiritual motherhood over the community of believers, within a Church called to reflect mercy and care. Titles, such as “Mother of Mercy” and “Help of Christians” underscore Mary’s closeness to human suffering and her intercessory role in the life of contemporary believers.

The title “Mediatrix”, Bishop Andari stressed, must be understood in a balanced ecclesial perspective, affirming Christ’s unique mediation while presenting Mary’s intercession as a maternal participation in the work of salvation. In this way, Marian titles in Pope Leo XIV’s teaching serve as a spiritual and theological path that fosters hope and strengthens the Church’s maternal dimension.

After Mass, a reception was held in front of the chapel entrance.