US and European bishops visit the Holy Land to show support to local Christians
Jerusalem (AsiaNews) The fourth meeting of the coordinating group of European and US Bishops' Conference in support of the Church in the Holy Land has been underway since Saturday, January 14, when European and US bishops arrived in Jerusalem. On their first day, they celebrated mass for Hebrew-speaking Catholics and over the following two days they made pastoral visits to parishes in Jerusalem, the Galilee and the West Bank.
For Fr Frans Bouwen, a White Father missionary who chairs 'Justice and Peace in Jerusalem', "an increase in the number of pilgrims to the Holy Land has been the most immediate and visible result of this visit".
"Many bishops came with members of their parish congregations," he told AsiaNews. "We can thus see pilgrims from around the world expressing solidarity to those who live here. Their presence sends a signal that they feel close to local residents."
The bishops' meeting is nothing new. "It has been taking place every January to show solidarity to the Christians of the Holy Land," Father Bouwen explained. "Last year, for the first time participants visited Palestine as well as Jerusalem. This year they are going to Jordan," he said. Today the bishops are in fact in the Jordanian capital of Amman.
"Travelling to the three countries gives them an opportunity to better know the three parts of the traditional Jerusalem Patriarchate."
The trip also enables the bishops "to visit Catholic parishes and schools, which are currently experiencing financial problems. They will try to raise money needed to help the schools and students."
This year however they will not meet political leaders. Sharon's health problems and the imminent elections in Palestine make such a visit impossible, except for Jordan's King Abdullah whom they are meeting this afternoon.
.png)
