“They can take away my house, they can take away my land, they can take away my freedom, but they cannot take away my education.” These are the words of a 22 -year-old student in Bethlehem. They sum up much of the reality of the situation in the Holy Land today.

I met him on my visit to Israel and Palestine, including Gaza, last week, travelling with a small group of bishops. We visited schools and young people as part of the preparation for the Synod of Bishops in October, which will focus on the concerns of the young.