Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) - On September 15 and 16 Caritas Jerusalem celebrated forty years of activity in the field of schooling, healthcare, support for families in need on the one hand and promotion of reconciliation and peace in the Holy Land on the other.
In the City holy for the three religions of the Book, cultural events were organised to recall the commitment and achievements of Caritas Jerusalem since it was opened at a tense moment in the history of the Middle East in 1967, the year of the Six Day War.
For the occasion Caritas also presented programmes underway in various fields: guaranteeing homes for displaced persons; healthcare with centres of medical care and social assistance in the poorest districts; schooling, support for school education for children and adolescents; social initiatives to promote reconciliation among Israelis and Palestinians.
On the occasion of the anniversary Caritas Jerusalem renewed its call for peace, a basic condition for social services to function and to restore the peoples of this land to a dignified living conditions and wellbeing.
“Peace is possible - it was said - if all men and women of good reject violence and choose to build bridges instead of barriers”. Together with the Christian bishops of the Holy Land Caritas calls for an end to violence; real security for Palestinians and Israelis; the constitution of an internationally recognised state of Palestine; the solution of the refugees problem; equal distribution of resources, especially food; respect for UN Resolutions for the Holy Land”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 17/9/2007 righe 27 parole 279)
