Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – Catholic Bishops from Europe and the Americas are meeting Bethlehem and Jerusalem on 12-15 January 2004 for a conference entitled "The Universal Church in solidarity with the Church of the Holy Land" to discuss the situation and how the local Christian community can be comforted and encouraged to stay in the land of Jesus. The Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Canada, England & Wales, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United States will send bishops to the meeting, which is hosted by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, and the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of the Holy Land. The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and Caritas Latin America will also be represented. With the local representative of the Holy See participants will discuss ways to help Christians living in the present difficult situation in the Holy Land. The Bishops will also meet the Israeli President Kastav and Mr Arafat.
The Bishops will examine the economic and social situation of the people and in particular the situation at Bethlehem Catholic University. They will also discuss pastoral and social support on the part of the other Churches represented at the Meeting. The agenda will include interreligious meetings with representatives of the local Muslim and Jewish communities.
This is the fourth such meeting since the first called in 1998, hosted by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem in search for help for Christians in the Holy Land. Most Christians being Arabs they are therefore affected daily by violence and all manner of restrictions. As a result and fearing for the future of their children, growing numbers of Holy Land Christians decide to emigrate. (MS) (Fides lines, 13/1/2004 – 21 lines 245 words)
