Reflections from the Holy Land on the occasion of Easter

The city of Jerusalem is considered one of the most interesting cities because it embraces the three monotheistic religions that can harmonize with each other to coincide with the holidays between them such as Easter, Pesach and Ramadan. Despite the beauty of the religious and cultural diversity in this city, it witnesses many tensions and conflicts on the religious and social levels. And the political, and anyone who follows the news of this region can know the extreme tension that occurred in the past days, as weekly protests erupted against the extreme right-wing government in Israel that is trying to change the state system, and the number of demonstrators reached nearly half a million people, many look at the legislature which is being introduced to reform the judicial system as an attempt to change the nature of the democratic state of Israel for its Jewish citizens to become a dictatorial state.

Some members of the Israeli government are also promoting a new clause that approves the destruction of a large number of Palestinian villages with the aim of increasing settlement expansion in the West Bank at a pace not witnessed by the whole world for a long time in the history of colonialism.
The Christians of this land witnessed mounting attacks on their churches, in addition to the rising tension in the economic field of the country that seemed about to collapse due to the strike of workers, which led to the closure of the country and its borders within a few hours, with many investors leaving and threatening to leave.

As for the two-state solution, it seems that it is an illusion fading away without a political vision that is far from achieving justice and peace! All these mind-boggling ups and downs took place in just three months!

Despite all the negative developments, we must focus on the positive side and adhere to the hope that revives souls. The devastating earthquake that struck both Turkey and Syria showed the sympathy and generosity of our local parishes, as the appeal made by His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, raised more than two hundred and sixty thousand dollars to support our brothers and sisters who were affected by this terrible earthquake, despite their limited capabilities However, the local parishioners gave with all their heart!

The visit of the Holy Land Projects Committee of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher showed the importance and priority of humanitarian aid in improving the lives of others. They desperately need it.

The various empowerment programs carried out by the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem have achieved tremendous success, as they have provided opportunities for a large number of families and the youth group of society to build their capabilities and transform their hopes and aspirations into commercial projects to earn income in a dignified manner, as the Afaq program in cooperation with Bethlehem University witnessed success It exceeded all expectations, and the employment program in Gaza and the Iraqi refugee support program continues to help hundreds of the most marginalized people who live below the poverty line due to external political factors.

The Immigrant Prosecution Office in Israel also meets the needs of about 100,000 immigrants, not only on the pastoral scale. We are proud and happy with all the assistance we achieve. Nevertheless, our hearts ache with those whom we cannot help due to limited resources, asking God, the fountain of mercies, to strengthen the tired and meet their needs. The Church and its institutions have always been a beacon of hope in the midst of adversity, as they always look at different ways to adapt to difficulties and continue to provide service.

As for the education sector, it is developing rapidly, as it provides education based on Christian values to about nineteen thousand students through the Latin Patriarchate schools located throughout the Holy Land. Many projects have been implemented to modernize educational facilities and equipment, in addition to establishing capacity-building programs for teachers. Extracurricular activities to encourage students' artistic and musical skills, such as singing, drawing, comedy and traditional folklore dance.

We are pleased to see our children enjoying studying in the classroom after the difficult years of the pandemic and online education, and future plans have been made to provide the necessary resources to upgrade the facilities and complete the maintenance operations that have been postponed over the years, as school principals meet to develop strategic plans to develop our schools and improve not only the facilities but also the study experience of the students.

During Holy Week, the streets of the Old City were crowded with pilgrims who walked the Way of the Cross, reminding us of the tremendous grace available to the local population who celebrate the holy days from their place of occurrence and walk in the footsteps of Christ. Everyone respects the festive traditions of "the other" so that everyone can celebrate their faith in peace and dignity, and so Jerusalem, the city of peace, can experience this long-awaited peace.

I wish everyone a Happy Easter, Ramadan Kareem, and a blessed Jewish Passover. I wish all believers, regardless of their religion, to enjoy the magic of these holidays. May this be the beginning of a new era far from conflicts, so that we can pave a path towards a future full of peace, love, coexistence, respect, and tolerance!
General Vicar of the Latin Patriarchate*