HOLY LAND: CHRISTMAS MESSAGE OF LATIN PATRIARCH FOUAD TWAL

In his Christmas message, Patriarch Fouad Twal expressed his gratitude to Benedict XVI for the Middle East Synod and his satisfaction with the record numbers of pilgrims to the Holy Land, with the resumption of talks between the Holy See and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), as well as with the basic agreement signed in 2000. He also expressed concern about the fire that destroyed some areas in Haifa and his “suffering” at the failure of direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The Christmas message issued today by the Latin Patriarch Twal also focused on some events that have marked the Middle East in 2010. During the Synod – wrote the Patriarch – “we were able to put our fingers on our wounds and our fears, and at the same time express our expectations and our hopes. The Synod called on Christians in the Middle East to live as true believers and good citizens, not distancing from public life, but involved in the development of our communities, whether in Arab countries or in Israel”. It was significant that the Synodal Fathers condemned “violence, religious fundamentalism, anti-Semitism, anti-Judaism, anti-Christianity and Islamophobia”.
The message explains that the record numbers of pilgrims, which “could still increase to arrive at nearly 3.4 million visitors” by the end of 2010, “reflects the universal dimension of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth, the welcoming reception extended to pilgrims by our people and our Churches, and the good work of the Ministries of Tourism in Israel and Palestine”. As for the relations with the Palestinian and Israeli authorities, Patriarch Twal highlights “the improvement in the process of obtaining visas for religious, seminarians and volunteers” and prays for the success of the negotiations between the Holy See and the PLO, whose primary focus is “on religious freedom and fiscal legislation”, and of those already under way with Israel. Among the reasons for concern in 2010, the Latin Patriarch mentions “the failure of direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority”. “This should not lead us to despair”, reads the Message. “We continue to believe that on both sides, and in the international community, there are men of goodwill who will work and put their energies together in their commitment for peace”.
Concern is also expressed about the fire in Haifa, a “sad event” which “made us experience international solidarity”. “The fact that the Palestinian Authority made available their team of firefighters was a very significant gesture and may be a beginning of a fruitful collaboration in the future, when peace will be established in this troubled land”. The Patriarch’s final thought goes to the Palestinian Diaspora in Latin America, namely to the faithful he visited in November, and to the massacre of Christians in Baghdad in the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help: “These innocent victims are added to the thousands of victims of fundamentalism and violence afflicting our world”.

© SIR - 21 dicembre 2010