Sorrow and hope, a look at 2015

//Sorrow and hope, a look at 2015

Sorrow and hope, a look at 2015

At the end of 2015, between light and shadow, a message of hope from the Holy Land. However, it was a very difficult year according to the religious authorities …


At the end of 2015, between light and shadow, a message of hope from the Holy Land.
However, it was a very difficult year according to the religious authorities …

“During this long period of time, our hope was sustained by prayer and by the need to provide assistance” says the Custos of the Holy Land.

“Terrible things have occurred worldwide, recently…” recalls the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
“Our hearts go out to the millions of refugees scattered in camps and tents, in the grip of a bitter cold, and to those fleeing from conflict zones, crossing the sea with makeshift equipment, and turning it into a giant cemetery. ”

“These terrible wars are fueled by the arms trade that involves numerous international powers” : Mons. Fouad Twal declares.

On one hand we talk about dialogue, justice, peace and on the other, there is always someone promoting the sale of arms to belligerents!

The Custodian of the Holy Land, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, says that
“the long year that is now ending has seen a crescendo of violence. We suffered for the involvement of so many innocent children, elderly and women, for the poor in many countries; for discrimination, persecution and martyrdom of so many Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East and around the world.”

It would take many hours to remember all the sad facts that occurred this year.
However, right from the Holy Land a message of hope:

…hope in the Child born in Bethlehem, in the Incarnate Word that the world cannot contain; hope in the Year of Mercy, for the Holy Doors opened worldwide, for a new life immersed in the encounter with the Lord.

…hope in the meetings: one with the President of the Palestinian territories, Mahmoud Abbas, in Bethlehem; hope in the meeting of the different churches in Israel for the new year greetings, where President Rivlin recalled the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, key document for Interreligious Dialogue.

….hope in the power of friendship and in the ecumenical dialogue.

 

 

2016-01-04T15:04:45+00:00January 4th, 2016|Categories: News from the Holy Land|0 Comments