‘Sad Christmas’ for Christians within the Holy Land

Christians within the Holy Land are praying for peace this Christmas after one other difficult 12 months marked by conflict and suffering. 

Anglican Archbishop of Jerusaelm, Hosam Naoum, said he was praying for “a just and lasting peace” within the Holy Land.

“Let wars and violence come to an end, and should harmony prevail among the many peoples of the region, built on mutual respect and the protection of the rights of the oppressed,” he said.

In his Midnight Mass homily on Christmas Eve, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, said it was a “sad Christmas” for Christians in Bethlehem specifically and that the season was “marked by insecurity, poverty and violence”.

He said it was hard to rejoice this Christmas but that he found comfort within the story of Jesus’ birth and the instance of the shepherds keeping watch within the night. 

“I frankly admit that it is tough for me this 12 months to announce the enjoyment of Christ’s birth to you here and to all those that look to Bethlehem from everywhere in the world,” he said. 

“The Angels’ song of glory, joy and peace appears to be out of tune after a tiring 12 months stuffed with tears, bloodshed, suffering, along with shattered hopes and crushed plans for peace and justice. A tragic cry seems to choke the song, and powerless anger seems to paralyze every path of hope.

“Over the past few weeks, I actually have asked myself several times easy methods to live with this burden and much more so easy methods to leave it behind. I actually have struggled with the unpleasant feeling that words, even faith-based ones, are useless when faced with the harshness of reality and a suffering that plainly seems to haven’t any end in sight.

“The figure of the Shepherds (of the Christmas story) got here to my rescue because the inspiration for me to follow along with the bishops and priests of this land. We are to maintain vigil within the night watching over the flock.”

The Cardinal said he desired to see “a latest starting” for the Holy Land and called on the faithful to “look to the long run with hope, without surrendering to the language of violence and hatred, which as a substitute closes off any possibility of a future”.

“May our communities experience a real spiritual renewal,” he said.

“May there even be this latest starting for us within the Holy Land. May debts be forgiven, prisoners be freed, property be returned, and should serious and credible paths of reconciliation and forgiveness, without which there won’t ever be true peace, sincerely begin with courage and determination.”