Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - CHRISTIANITY IN THE HOLY LAND
Besides being a small Church, the Christians of the Holy Land are of many different confessions. Today we are 13 different Churches: each with its own independent jurisdiction over Jerusalem and the Holy Land, that is Palestine, Israel and Jordan. Three Patriarchs reside in Jerusalem: Greek Orthodox, Latin and Armenian. There are more than ten archbishops and bishops: three Orthodox (Syrian, Copt and Ethiopian), five Catholics (Melchite, Maronite, Syrian, Armenian, Chaldean), one Anglican bishop and one Lutheran bishop. First of all we are happy to say that relations between all our Churches are warm and fraternal. The Patriarchs and Bishops meet frequently to discuss common issues, issue joint letters to the faithful and make common decisions.
Figures
In figures Christians in the Holy Land are about 300,000 in a population of about 15 million in Palestine, Israel and Jordan, in other words about 2% of the whole population. The Arab-Israeli conflict and the instable political situation it has created affected our presence. What was a sizeable Christian community at the beginning of the 20th century has been reduced by years of war and unjustified and forced exodus during the wars of 1948 and 1967. Today in Palestine and Israel there are about 150,000 Christians (1.8%). In Palestine, for example in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip we are 45,000, less than 2% of an estimated Palestinian population of 3,700,000. In Israel, we are 110.000 out of 7 million inhabitants. In Jordan we are about 150,000 in a population of 4 million.
Although small, the presence of Christians in the societies of Jordan and Palestine is important and effective. This was recognised by both the late president Arafat and the late King Hussein of Jordan. And in his book The Christians, former Crown Prince Hassan paid homage to the Roman Catholic community, which, despite its small number, is an active and effective presence in Arab society. The phenomenon of emigration reduced to a fraction the number of Christians in the Holy Land: for example before the war of 1948, we were 25,000, (16.7% of the population), whereas today we are about 10,000. However few of us agree with the pessimists who say the Christian community in Palestine is disappearing. The Holy Land still has its vibrant community of Palestinian and Jordanian Christians.
Our deepest desire for the Holy Land is peace and for the Christians to remain. Patriarch Sabbah continues to preach that to live in the Holy Land is not a fatality but rather a vocation: for example to be witnesses to the Risen Lord, here in His own land. What would the Holy Land be without the local presence of Christians? It would be disaster for the Church and also for the Palestinians and the Israelis. We are called to be a bridge of understanding and reconciliation. The Gospel of Our Lord prepares us for this mission. This we must preach insistently to our faithful.
(Father William Somali Rector Seminary of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem). Fides thanks His Beatitude Patriarch Michel Sabbah for sending prayers in Arabic and the above information on Christians in the Holy Land.(J.M.) (Fides, 5 January 2007)
