Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Issues Christmas Message

JERUSALEM – His Beatitude Fouad Twal gave his Christmas message through his Vicar in Jerusalem and Palestine, Bishop William Shomali, during the press conference which was held this Thursday, December 18 at Terra Santa College. That was also the occasion to inaugurate the new Christian Media Center (CMC).

His Beatitude Fouad Twal
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

December 18, 2014

Dear friends, dear people of the Holy Land,

I wish you and all your loved ones a blessed Christmas!

Dear journalists, in greeting you this morning, I thank you for your work and it is my hope that you will always carry it out with wisdom and in truth.  Once again, I express my admiration and respect for those of you who showed great concern and courage in covering, in particular, the Visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Holy Land, as well as the sad events of Jerusalem and the Holy Land in the last weeks.

At the end of the year 2014, in reflecting on these events, I find myself identifying in some ways, with the words of Charles Dickens: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness   it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

1. A. “The best of times”

(i)    One of “the best of times” for me in the past year was the pilgrimage of the Holy Father to the Holy Land.  It was successful on the pastoral and ecumenical level. His visit was followed by the beautiful prayer meeting in the Vatican gardens with President Abbas, former President Peres and Patriarch Bartolomew. Even though we did not obtain any concrete result from that meeting, however, every prayer is valid and the fruits may come much later, like the olive tree, planted on that occasion and which may produce fruits many years ahead.

(ii)   It is always a great joy and privilege for me to ordain men to the sacred priesthood. This year, nine were ordained. We sent two of them to serve our faithful in the Diaspora: in the Arab Emirates and California.

(iii)   The Synod on the Family, which convened in October in Rome, presented the opportunity to deal with the many challenges families face.  It was one occasion that called for authentic wisdom and hope.  The Synod reaffirmed the unity and indissolubility of the marriage institution.  If there is progress to be made, it will be on the level of pastoral care toward separated couples and couples who entered into a second marriage.  In this Holy Land, our main problem is on another level.  Many families suffer from lack of legal documents for a couple to be able to live together when the marriage is between one Palestinian and a non-Palestinian. It is difficult, then, to obtain a visa or resident’s status for the non-Palestinian. Here we ask the Israeli government to ease the present restrictions on family reunification. We heard last week that more than 593 cases family reunification were accepted. This is a positive step that we thank for but it is far away from being enough for the big needs.

(iv)  We felt a great joy these past days, when the Holy Father signed a decree for the canonization of two Palestinian saints. They will be officially canonized in Rome in the coming summer.  A large number of faithful will go to Rome on that occasion.  Canonization is the supreme honor granted to a faithful who lived according to his or her faith, who is a model for other faithful and has a highly favored  intercession. The first is Blessed Myriam Bawardi, originally from Ibillin in the Upper Galilee and foundress of the Carmel Monastery in Bethlehem. The second is Blessed Marie Alphonsine Ghattas, born in the Old City of Jerusalem and co-foundress of the Sisters of the Rosary congregation.  Both saints are a source of hope for the future. We rely on their intercession for peace in the Holy Land.

1. “The worst of times”

(i)  Some of “the worst of times” over the year were seen in an intensification of violence and subsequent hostile reactions. The devastating war and accompanying bloodshed in Gaza, being the most shattering of all. In the past six years, Gaza has suffered three consecutive wars, thousands of people have been killed, hundreds of thousands are wounded, and an aftermath of destruction and despair… Great are the responsibilities of political leaders – Israeli and Palestinian – to find and facilitate a solution.  Great too is the responsibility of the international community to help these two parties to help themselves…

We condemn the Gaza war and deplore its dramatic consequences: killing and destruction; but at the same time, we condemn any category of violence and retaliation against innocent people such as the killing of people praying in a synagogue and attacks against mosques.  In one week, the Christian leaders of the Holy Land visited Har Nof synagogue to condemn the inhuman act that took place there, and at the same time visited Al Aksa Mosque to ask for the old Statu Quo to be respected. Unfortunately, our beloved Holy City of Jerusalem has been flowing with blood and tears. We do not want any religious antagonism in the Holy City whose vocation is to be the city of peace and interreligious coexistence.

(ii)   During pastoral visits to our parishes, we could feel, touch and experience the tragedy of the many refugees from Syria and Iraq: families who lost homes, work, loved ones and relatives. It is heartbreaking to see the children running in the dust of the camp, without any goal and direction in life.  Alongside the inhuman tragedy that is covering the Middle East with blood, and tearing it apart, we are all surprised that young people from Europe embrace radical ideologies and join the fight in Syria and Iraq.  From another side, we are witnesses of a clearer condemnation, by Arab and Muslim leaders, of that radical religious ideology.

(iii)  Last week, the Catholic Assembly of the Bishops of the Holy Land issued a statement concerning the Cremisan Valley case. We hope that the Israeli High court will keep the 300 hectares of Cremisan Valley, as well as the two Salesian monasteries on the Palestinian side. Today we are anxious because the last developments of the recent hearing are giving a different signal. We are afraid that the Court might decide that the land belonging to 58 Palestinian Christian families, might be separated from Beit Jala.  Such a decision will harm our community and we hope that the judges be inspired by ethical principles and not to submit to political pressure.

Conclusion:

In all our troubles and suffering, we remember with gratitude the solidarity of many people, organizations, institutions and States, who have come to our aid through many ways and means.

The celebration of the Birth of Jesus promises mercy, love, and peace to countless people in their suffering and tribulation; to people who see their lives shattered and their efforts broken in the tumultuous strife and hatred of our stormy days.

For our faithful of the Holy Land, our friends around the world and our beloved pilgrims, I wish you all a blessed Christmas and a new year full of peace and good health .

Christmas Message of His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

Below is the full text of the 2010 Christmas Message from His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem:

"I welcome all of you journalists present here and thank you for your role in providing information and conscience formation, and for your commitment to the truth".

The message of the recent Synod recognized your role: "We appreciate the role of the means of social communication, both printed and audio-visual. We thank you journalists for your collaboration with the Church in broadcasting her teachings and activities." (Nuntius 4.4)

To all of you and all the people of Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Cyprus, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year full of surprises at the global, local, and personal levels, and a year of peace and prosperity.

I greet the Bishops here present: Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, our Patriarchal Vicar in Israel, and our new Auxiliary Bishop and Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories, Bishop William Shomali, who was ordained last May and comes with a new energy to help us in our mission. I also welcome Rev.Fr. David Neuhaus, SJ, our Patriarchal Vicar in Israel for the Hebrew-speaking Catholic community.

Like last year, I would like to present the important events that have happened this year, here in our Patriarchate. I would like to emphasize above all the positive events without, however, excluding the suffering and the concerns that remain.

1 -We thank our Holy Father for having convened the Synod for the Middle East, held in Rome from the 10th to 24th of October 2010. During that time, 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. The Synod also stressed the importance of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. We hope that this dialogue will advance not only within intellectual circles, among scholars and theologians, but be a dialogue of life, for all segments of society. The Synod condemned violence, religious fundamentalism, anti-Semitism, anti-Judaism, anti-Christianity and Islamophobia, and called on religions “to assume their responsibilities in promoting dialogue among cultures and civilizations in our region and in the entire world.” (Nuntius 11)

2 - Religious tourism and pilgrimages in the Holy Land are experiencing record numbers. In November 2010, three million people have visited the Holy Places. This number could still increase to arrive at nearly 3.4 million visitors, a figure never reached before, even in 2000, the Jubilee Year, which recorded very significant results. This 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.

3 - I wish to highlight the improvement in the process of obtaining visas for religious, seminarians and volunteers. I thank all those who worked to achieve this result. We still have a long way to go.

4 - On December 7th, talks resumed between the Holy See and the Palestinian Authority for the application of the basic agreement signed in 2000. The deliberations focus on religious freedom and fiscal legislation. We pray for the success of these negotiations and those already under way with Israel.

5 - Last November, I had the joy of visiting several countries in Latin America: Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and Honduras. I met with the bishops of these countries, top government and civilian authorities, and especially our faithful living in the ‘diaspora.’ In Chile alone, there are over 400,000 who emigrated between 1900 and 1950, because of poverty and security problems. Now they are all well integrated into the local society, and many have expressed their willingness to support our projects in the Holy Land and come on pilgrimage.

Among the major projects that the Latin Patriarchate is trying to accomplish, I would like to mention: the new pediatric hospital in Bethlehem which will be named after Pope Benedict, the University of Madaba, which will open in October next year, and the new Pilgrims’ Center in Jordan, on the site of the Baptism of Christ.

6 - We were very concerned about the fire that destroyed entire forests in the Haifa area. We offer our condolences to the families of victims, and our admiration for the courage of those who died in the line of duty. This sad event 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 stablished in this troubled land.

7 - We suffer from the failure of direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. This should not lead us to despair. 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. We believe that nothing is impossible with God and we want to carry out the wishes sang by the angels on Christmas night : "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”(Lk.2 :14) We also wish Europe to play a more significant role in this process.

8 - We were shocked and troubled by 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. Readily, I echo the words of Pope Benedict: "Given the violence that continue to tear the peoples of the Middle East, I would like to renew my urgent appeal for peace. Peace is a gift of God. It is also the result of efforts by men of good will, of national and international institutions, all working together to put an end to all violence! "

Dear friends, let me conclude this message with my good wishes for a reconciliation between our peoples, the Israelis and the Palestinians. It is time to commit ourselves together for a genuine, true and long-lasting peace.

May the joy of Christmas be in our hearts and peace upon all of you. Merry Christmas!

+Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch

Listen to Chris Altieri's report: 

Christmas Message of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Fouad Twal

"Christmas approaches. Therefore I wish peace and Grace to all the inhabitants of this Holy Land: Palestinians and Israelis, Christians, Muslims, Jews and Druses. I extend these greetings to our faithful in Jordan and Cyprus who are also part of this diocese. The Birth of Christ offers several values to meditate upon: peace, hope, love, sharing, hospitality, compassion and human dignity."

Christmas Message 2009

First of all, I want to welcome you, all the journalists gathered here today, and thank you for the good but difficult work you perform. Through this work you have the opportunity to seek and serve the truth. Many journalists have paid and continue to pay a real cost to their lives due to their dedication to the truth. Information is not neutral. It has a real ethical dimension. Through informing the readers about what happens in the world, you help them to have an objective and ethical evaluation of the events themselves. Thank you and welcome.

Christmas approaches. Therefore I wish peace and Grace to all the inhabitants of this Holy Land: Palestinians and Israelis, Christians, Muslims, Jews and Druses. I extend these greetings to our faithful in Jordan and Cyprus who are also part of this diocese. The Birth of Christ offers several values to meditate upon: peace, hope, love, sharing, hospitality, compassion and human dignity.

1. Our dreams for a reconciled Holy Land seem to be utopia. Despite the praiseworthy efforts of politicians and men of good will to find a solution to the ongoing conflict, all of us, Palestinians and Israelis, have all failed in achieving peace. The reality contradicts our dreams. Here are some examples:

A. Palestinians still do not have their own State where they can live in peace and harmony with their Israeli neighbors; they still suffer from Occupation, difficult economical situation, destruction of houses in East Jerusalem and internal divisions, thousands of persons living in Jerusalem or Gaza or the Palestinian Territories are waiting for family reunion; one year after Gaza war, Gaza still suffers from economical siege, lack of freedom of movement and from the contamination of its sea and water, which endangers the health of 1.500.000 citizens among which 50% are under the age of 14.

B. The final status for Jerusalem is still under discussion. Many changes are taking place in the Holy City which may alter its vocation as a Universal city for three religions and two peoples, making it into an exclusive city. Indeed, Jerusalem is called to be a city of peaceful co-existence between its inhabitants. Unfortunately, the Al Aksa compound recently witnessed confrontations between Fundamentalists Jews who tried to invade Al Haram Al Sharif and the young Palestinians, who wanted to defend their Holy Place. The impact of these regrettable events should not be underestimated.

C. Israelis live under great fear which prohibits them from taking courageous decisions to end the conflict. The Separation Wall is a material manifestation of this fear. On another side, we had strongly hoped that the exchange of prisoners between Israelis and Palestinians would succeed and give hope to the Palestinians and Israelis. We feel frustrated by the delay.

2. Nevertheless, our hope is still alive. Hope is the "capacity to see God in the midst of trouble. It encourages us to change the reality in which we find ourselves. Hope means not giving in to evil, but rather standing up to it” (Kairos Palestine Document, 2009). In the Holy Land, everything is not desperate. There are a few signs of hope which are:

A. The partial freeze on the construction of settlements and the removal of over fifty checkpoints within the West Bank. This decision from the Israeli Military has markedly improved the freedom of movement for Palestinians and the economic situation. It is not enough, but, a step forward. We hope that other steps may soon follow. On the other hand, Palestinians are more and more expressing resistance in a non violent fashion. It is a positive sign pointing in the right direction.

B. The generosity of the international community: the financial support of the international community is a strong sign of hope. After the Gaza war, there came into being a chain of solidarity from governments, churches and individuals. We thank all the donors and promise to pray for them on Christmas.

C. The visit of the Holy Father in May 2009. Pope Benedict was well received in Jordan, Israel and Palestine. A great thanks to the governments of the three countries. He came here as pilgrim of peace and reconciliation. “No more bloodshed! No more fighting! No more terrorism! No more war! Instead let us break the vicious circle of violence.” We can add: “No more anti-Semitism, no more Islamophobia, no more fear and hatred”. With such words, the Holy Father addressed us during His visit. His different speeches, homilies, meetings and gestures aimed at promoting inter-religious and ecumenical dialogue, reconciliation and justice and at encouraging the Christian community to remain in the Holy Land and to take an active role in the life of the Country. We continue to gather fruit from his visit:

a. The massive arrival of pilgrims. Last October, according to the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, 330.000 pilgrims visited the Holy Land. The year 2009 will be equal to the year 2000, which was a record in the history of pilgrimages, with 2,700,000 pilgrims.

b. The construction of a new pediatric Hospital in Bethlehem named after Benedict XVI, mainly financed by the John Paul II Foundation and other church and civil institutions in Italy.

c. Madaba University in Jordan. Pope Benedict XVI blessed the cornerstone during his last visit. Such a project will represent our contribution in offering excellence in education as we try to do in Bethlehem University.

d. Construction of a housing project in Jerusalem for 72 young couples: Eastern Jerusalem suffers from a severe shortage in housing. Permits are given only with difficulty. Construction is expensive. This project should be a pilot for others.

e. The courageous decision of Benedict XVI to summon a Synod for the Middle East to take place in October 2010. This will give us the opportunity to focus again on the big challenges facing the Churches in the Middle East.

f. The beatification of sister Marie Alphonsine, foundress of the Rosary Sisters. This great event means that the faithful, with real pride and joy, find in her a model of heroic virtues and an intercessor. I want to highlight the fact that this sister was born in Jerusalem, some meters away from the Latin Patriarchate. She also served in different parishes of the Holy Land, including Jordan. She is a model to follow. We will celebrate her feast each 19th of November.

Conclusion. The best gift we seek, above money and wealth, is peace. It is the wish of all the inhabitants of this Land: Israelis and Palestinians alike. Peace is a gift of God for men of good will. We have to deserve it. We are sure that there are many men and women of good will among Israelis and Palestinians. We pray that one day, the beautiful vision of Isaiah will become a reality: "In days to come, the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it (…) they shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Is. 2: 2-5).

Happy Christmas and a blessed New Year to all of you.

+ Fouad Twal, Patriarch