Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – On Monday 10 November, a delegation of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem visited the Esplanade of the Mosques, Haram al Sharif. The area of the Holy City is again at the center of tensions after some extremist Jewish groups staged demonstrations to call for the return of the ancient Temple of Solomon (see Fides 07/11/2014). The delegation, as reported by official sources of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was represented by the Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, Bishop William Shomali (who is the Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem and Palestine of the Latin Patriarchate), Greek Melkite Archbishop Joseph-Jules Zerey and Fr. Ibrahim Faltas OFM. Following the visit, the delegation of Heads of Churches issued a joint statement together with the Council of the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, the public Foundation in charge of the management of Muslim holy sites.
In the statement, sent to Agenzia Fides, the need not to unilaterally change the status quo is stressed, ie the series of codified rules and customs that govern the use and access to the Holy Places in the Old City of Jerusalem. Also "the right of Muslims to prayer and freedom of access to the mosque of Al-Aqsa Mosque" and its exclusive property for the benefit of Muslims around the world is reaffirmed. The text emphasizes the role of custody of Christian and Muslim Holy Sites in Jerusalem carried out by the Hashemite Monarchy, and it also refers to the specific modality - open and respectful of the right to prayer and religious practice – with which the Covenant of Omar Ibn Al Khattab, the historic treaty which regulates the coexistence between Christians and Muslims during the early Umayyad Caliphs was applied in Jerusalem. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 11/11/2014)
