Christians finding it ‘very difficult’ to stay in Holy Land

Christian families in the Holy Land are finding it “very, very difficult” to stay there and continue to “stand for peace”, Cardinal Fernando Filoni has warned.

The Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, an ancient chivalric order that supports the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said many of the dwindling Christian community “don’t see a future” for themselves or their children.

Speaking to The Tablet after he invested three new Irish knights into the Order at a ceremony in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, which was concelebrated by a number of Irish bishops, Cardinal Filoni said the Christians he met on his visits to the Middle East would “love to stay”.

“This is the problem You belong to the culture of this land, not only the Holy Land, but also to the Middle East. But some politicians want to send all ‘others’ out. Christian families, don’t see a future because they have no money and no jobs. They are seen by some as belonging to the enemy faction.”

The former deputy Vatican secretary of state said mindsets have to change and a peace agreement must be found to allow all faiths to coexist, “to stand in peace, to understand each other, and to consider all as part of a civilisation of religions of this land. Peace must be built.”

He highlighted that Christians are often recognised as “the moderate party” and said that for “all those who don’t think as extremists, it is difficult”.

Separately, a worldwide network of more than 2,400 priests has urged Ireland to use the EU Presidency to push for an end to the Gaza conflict and accountability.

Priests Against Genocide has members in 62 countries, including two cardinals and 26 bishops.

It has sent an open letter to the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Irish ministers urging Ireland to use its new Presidency of the EU to promote accountability through the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

“Our concern is rooted not in political ideology or any vestige of antisemitism, but in a conviction that every human life possesses inherent dignity,” a spokesperson for Priests Against Genocide Ireland said.

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