Jerusalem, Israel, Church Leaders Brief Diplomats on Challenges Facing Christians in the Holy Land

Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, led by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, met on Friday, 14 February, at the headquarters of the Jerusalem Patriarchate. They were joined by a delegation of Consul Generals and Heads of Missions in Jerusalem and to the Palestinian Authority, along with representatives of the Quartet and UNSCO.

The church representatives included His Paternity Francisco Patton, Custodian of the Holy Land, and Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Episcopal Archdiocese. Representatives of the Armenian, Coptic, and Ethiopian Patriarchates also attended. According to the Patriarchate, the briefing is held annually to bring together faith and prosperity. This year’s meeting focused on the impact of the war in Gaza and the wider region on local Christian communities, as well as rising hostilities and challenges facing them in the Holy Land.

Patriarch Theophilos III opened the meeting by calling for the current ceasefire to be “bolstered, supported, and maintained,” and for the churches to commit together to rebuilding their places of worship and ministries so that an enduring peace can take root, a call to peacemaking (Matthew 5:9). He also spoke of the importance of diplomatic collaboration with the churches in a shared effort to maintain the multi-religious, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural character of the Holy Land.

The meeting included a question-and-answer session, in which both sides were able to share their thoughts, fears, challenges, and hopes for the future. The Heads of Churches described immense pressure on the churches and their institutions. The Patriarchate’s account lists escalating violence, economic hardship, and the enforcement of Arnona (taxation). It also names restrictions on worship and an increase in hate crimes targeting clergymen and holy sites, and in some cases pilgrims.

Toward the end of the meeting, attendees called for the Status Quo to be upheld and for the Armenian Quarter to be protected. They also called for continued support for Christians in the Holy Land and Jerusalem, especially in the Old City. The group called for a lasting peace that would allow pilgrimage and life to return to the Holy Land, noting that Easter is approaching.

Participants also discussed assistance to churches for rebuilding efforts in Gaza and in communities throughout the West Bank and Jerusalem. The Patriarchate’s account states that the churches play a significant role in creating a sustainable peace for all sides affected by the conflict. It said that such peace could move forward with economic support for church institutions, including holy sites, hospitals, schools, and other ministries.

Source: Read the original report