Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tai Pei (Agenzia Fides) -The Holy Land Office in Taiwan has appealed to Catholics to give generously to Good Friday collections which will help Christians in the Holy Land. Tai Pei diocesan bulletin Christian Life Weekly recalled that this collection which is an old tradition has always been supported by the Popes: “In 1342 Pope Clement VI asked the Franciscans to be custodians of the Holy Places. Christians in that region faced and continue to face all kinds of difficulties. In 1887 Pope Leo XIII issued an apostolic Letter dated 26 December 26 asking the Catholics of the universal Church to make special collections on Good Friday in aid of Christians in the Holy Land”. The Popes have always upheld the importance of the Christian community in the Holy Land and the need to support and help it to remain in the land where Jesus was born, lived, died and on the third day rose from the dead. John Paul II’s special Jubilee pilgrimage to those holy places in the year 2000 was a concrete witness of the importance of the Holy Land for every Christian. “These offerings go to the Franciscan Custodians to distribute as necessary, but it is the Pope who calls all Christians to give generously as a sign of love and unity ”. (NZ)(Agenzia Fides 3/4/2007 Righe: 23 Parole: 256)
