On Tuesday 21st December, the Patriarch Fouad Twal, in the presence of his Patriarchal Vicars, delivered his Christmas message in English and in Arabic. This message was different with respect to the one His Beatitude recorded and broadcast on Youtube through the Franciscan Media Center.
Today’s message, delivered to numerous representatives from local and international media, took on more political accents to note, this year, the progress made.
Progress in relations with the Israeli and Palestinian Ministries of Tourism; improvement in the process “of obtaining visas for religious, seminarians and volunteers”; progress with the resumption of “talks between the Holy See and the Palestinian Authority”.
But at the same time he remarked on some failures, such as direct peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians: “This should not lead us to despair. We continue to believe that on both sides, and in the international community, there are men of goodwill who will work and put their energies together in their commitment for peace. We believe that nothing is impossible with God and we want to carry out the wishes sung by the angels on Christmas night: “Glory to God on the highest and on earth peae to those on whom his favour rests” (Luke 2,14). We also wish Europe to play a more significant role in this process,” the Patriarch immediately went on.
Going back to the major events of the year, the Patriarch mentioned the drama in Iraq and in particular the massacre of Christians in Baghdad on 31st October, which drives many of them to emigrate to Jordan.
Monsignor Fouad Twal also concentrated on the Synod of Bishops in Rome. “We were able to pour our fingers on our wounds and our fears, and at the same time express our expectations and our hopes. The Synod called on Christians in the Middle East to live as true believers and good citizens, not distancing from public life but involved in the development of our communities, whether in Arab countries or in Israel.” The Patriarch recalled that “The Synod condemned violence, religious fundamentalism, anti-Semitism, anti-Judaism, anti-Christianity and Islamophobia.”
Concerning Israel, Monsignor Twal talked about the national drama of the fires on Mount Carmel. In which 44 victims lost their lives in the line of duty.
The Patriarch concluded his message with his good wishes “for a reconciliation between the Israelis and the Palestinians. It is time to commit ourselves together for a genuine, true and long-lasting peace.” He then answered some more detailed questions from the journalists present on the local Church. If the number of local Christians has decreased in proportion to the number of Jewish and Muslim inhabitants in this land, the Patriarch observed that nevertheless the Church remains an active institution in the fields of health and education, mainly thanks to the cooperation and support of Christians around the world. The Patriarch thanks them and encourages them to continue giving their aid, which is for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the country.
Mab
Today’s message, delivered to numerous representatives from local and international media, took on more political accents to note, this year, the progress made.
Progress in relations with the Israeli and Palestinian Ministries of Tourism; improvement in the process “of obtaining visas for religious, seminarians and volunteers”; progress with the resumption of “talks between the Holy See and the Palestinian Authority”.
But at the same time he remarked on some failures, such as direct peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians: “This should not lead us to despair. We continue to believe that on both sides, and in the international community, there are men of goodwill who will work and put their energies together in their commitment for peace. We believe that nothing is impossible with God and we want to carry out the wishes sung by the angels on Christmas night: “Glory to God on the highest and on earth peae to those on whom his favour rests” (Luke 2,14). We also wish Europe to play a more significant role in this process,” the Patriarch immediately went on.
Going back to the major events of the year, the Patriarch mentioned the drama in Iraq and in particular the massacre of Christians in Baghdad on 31st October, which drives many of them to emigrate to Jordan.
Monsignor Fouad Twal also concentrated on the Synod of Bishops in Rome. “We were able to pour our fingers on our wounds and our fears, and at the same time express our expectations and our hopes. The Synod called on Christians in the Middle East to live as true believers and good citizens, not distancing from public life but involved in the development of our communities, whether in Arab countries or in Israel.” The Patriarch recalled that “The Synod condemned violence, religious fundamentalism, anti-Semitism, anti-Judaism, anti-Christianity and Islamophobia.”
Concerning Israel, Monsignor Twal talked about the national drama of the fires on Mount Carmel. In which 44 victims lost their lives in the line of duty.
The Patriarch concluded his message with his good wishes “for a reconciliation between the Israelis and the Palestinians. It is time to commit ourselves together for a genuine, true and long-lasting peace.” He then answered some more detailed questions from the journalists present on the local Church. If the number of local Christians has decreased in proportion to the number of Jewish and Muslim inhabitants in this land, the Patriarch observed that nevertheless the Church remains an active institution in the fields of health and education, mainly thanks to the cooperation and support of Christians around the world. The Patriarch thanks them and encourages them to continue giving their aid, which is for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the country.
Mab