In a statement released March 11 from Jerusalem, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land announced that its planned plenary meeting in Nazareth had been suspended due to security concerns. Instead, bishops and Church leaders gathered online to exchange updates from their respective jurisdictions and discuss the growing challenges faced by local Christians.
The Assembly brings together Catholic leaders from several traditions serving the region, including Latin, Melkite, Maronite, Syriac, Armenian, and Chaldean communities, along with representatives of the Custody of the Holy Land, entrusted to the Franciscans.
Despite the difficulties created by the conflict, the bishops emphasized what they described as a powerful sign of Christian witness.
“To a greater or lesser extent, all communities are suffering from the consequences of the war ravaging the region,” the statement said. Yet Church leaders noted that many Christians have resisted responding to violence with further violence.
“This is a sign of hope and a testimony to our Christian identity,” the bishops wrote.
The message comes during the Lenten season, a time when Christians focus on prayer, fasting, and charity. The Assembly said believers are offering prayers and sacrifices for peace, asking God to guide political leaders toward decisions that lead to reconciliation and stability.
“We lift our prayers and sacrifices to God, asking Him to enlighten the hearts of those who lead the nations and guide them onto the path that leads to true peace,” the statement said.
Seed of peace
The bishops also marked an important transition within the Church’s diplomatic presence in the region. They expressed gratitude to Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, the apostolic nuncio who has served as the Holy See’s representative in the Holy Land since 2021.
Church leaders thanked the archbishop for his service and said his presence helped convey the closeness and concern of the pope for the people of the region.
“Our gratitude and our prayers go with him,” the statement said, adding that his ministry brought encouragement to Christians and to all who live in the Holy Land.
The Assembly also offered condolences for a priest killed during violence in neighboring Lebanon. Father Pierre el Rai, a Maronite priest, died in a bombing while serving his parish community.
The bishops described his death as both a tragedy and a witness of pastoral dedication.
“May his sacrifice serve as an example and a seed of peace for the entire Middle East,” the statement said.
