Pilgrims urged to return to Holy Land
International
The custodians of Christianity in the Holy Land, the Franciscan Friars, have pleaded for pilgrims to return to the holy places they care for to help maintain the Christian presence in the region.
Ahead of the Holy Places Appeal on Good Friday, the Commissary of the Holy Land (Australia), Friar Mario Debattista OFM wrote to the ‘people of God’ outlining the need for support for the countries that make up the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land: Israel and Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Rhodes and Cyprus.
For 800 years the Franciscan Friars have “shared the difficult lives of Christians” in these countries and offered their pastoral care and practical support he said.
“Over recent years, with the COVID pandemic and wars in Syria and Gaza, the people of the Holy Land have endured tremendous turmoil,” Fr Debattista wrote.
“Even now, the hope for a lasting peace remains very uncertain and the task of rebuilding lives and infrastructure seems overwhelming.”
Fr Debattista heard about the Franciscan Friars support of local people at a meeting of Holy Land Commissaries in Jerusalem in November.
“Pilgrims are vital as they generate income that allows the Friars and local Church to fulfil their mission of caring for the Holy Places, running parishes and schools, and caring for orphans, refugees, the homeless and other social projects,” he said.
Fr Francesco Ielpo OFM, the Franciscan leader of the Holy Land Custody, also urged Catholics to continue supporting the Holy Land.
“The last few years have been particularly difficult for the Christian communities of the Middle East,” he said.
“The war has brought death, destruction and fear, not only to Gaza, but also to the West Bank, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria.
“The suffering caused by the conflict has been compounded by the prolonged absence of pilgrims, which has exacerbated an already profound economic and employment crisis. Many Christian families, who once relied on the Holy Places and pilgrimage-related activities, are now experiencing great difficulty.
“We have just concluded the Jubilee Year of Hope, and hope itself appears to be damaged: in Bethlehem, Jerusalem and northern Israel, as well as in the Christian communities of Lebanon and Syria.”
The Commiseriat says the Good Friday Holy Land Collection remains extremely important.
“Our donation is a direct way to make a difference in the lives of people who are keeping alive the Christian presence in the land of Jesus in the face of great difficulty,” Fr Debattista wrote.
