In preparation for the annual Collection for the Holy Land, as he usually does, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches sent a letter to the bishops all over the world encouraging them to support the Holy Land.
Lent, the journey with Christ toward the Cross and the Resurrection awakens our fraternity with those who live in the Holy Sites. There, the Apostles first listened to the voice of the Lord Jesus, shared by grace in the Mystery, and then announced it and testified to it. All around them, the first Christian communities flourished, beginning in Jerusalem.
Unity in Christ the Redeemer compels us to promote once again this year, the important initiative of the Collection for the Holy Land, in recognition of the debt owed by the Universal Church to the Mother Church. Pope Francis confirmed it when he received the Patriarchs, the Major Archbishops, the Cardinal Fathers and the Bishops in the Plenary Session of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches: In a special way, I think of the blessed land in which Christ lived, died and rose. In it, I heard today, through the voice of the Patriarchs who were present, that the light of faith has not gone out; indeed it is alive and resilient. It is the light of the East which has illumined the universal Church, from the moment when 'a rising sun' appeared above us (Lk 1:78): Jesus Christ, our Lord (Apostolic Letter, Orientale Lumen, 1). Every Catholic therefore owes a debt of gratitude to the Churches that live in that region. From them, we can among other things, learn the fatigue of the daily exercise of a spirit of Ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue. The geographic, historical and cultural context in which they have lived for centuries has in fact made them natural partners of many other Christian denominations and other religions (November 21, 2013).
Even today, the Collection is the principal source for sustaining their lives and their work, according to the desire and urging of the Supreme Pontiffs, who, especially on the eve of Good Friday, have always called for gestures of authentic fraternal charity.
Every day, Christians in various regions of the Middle East ask themselves whether to stay or to emigrate: they live in the midst of conditions of insecurity or suffer violence, at times for the mere fact of professing their and our faith. Every day, there are brothers and sisters who resist, who choose to stay in that place where God accomplished in Christ his plan for the reconciliation of the world. From that land came those who, following the word of Christ, took the Gospel to the four corners of the world. It is there that the Church always rediscovers her roots, the great hope that bears the name of Jesus, but the current situation is truly delicate: it is enough to consider the conflict between Israel and Palestine, to think of the evolution that Egypt is experiencing, to ponder the tragedy of Syria.
On Good Friday, we would like to raise toward the Cross a cry for peace for Jerusalem, so that the whole world, beginning with the Land of Jesus, may become a City of peace. I ask all disciples of Christ to work for peace, remembering that wars are - among other things - the practical refusal of efforts to attain the great economic and social goals that the international community has established for herself (Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Peace, 2014). These words take on a definite and clear significance regarding the annual Collection for the Holy Land. The situation of grave social uncertainty, and even the possibility of war has become more serious, affecting at every level, the fragile balance of the entire area and pouring into Lebanon and Jordan increasing numbers of refugees and refugee camps find themselves less and less adequate to accommodate the growing numbers. We are appalled by the number of kidnappings and homicides of Christians in Syria and elsewhere, by the destruction of churches, homes and schools. This only feeds the exodus of Christians and the dispersion of families and communities.
Many of our brothers and sisters in the faith are writing a page in history through ecumenism of the blood that unites them, and we want to be united to them, close to them in all solicitude.
The Catholic communities of the Holy Land, the Latin Patriarchal Diocese of Jerusalem, the Franciscan Custody and other circumscriptions, and the Greek-Melkite, Coptic, Maronite, Syrian, Chaldean, Armenian communities, with religious families and organisms of every kind, thanks to the Good Friday Collection, will receive the support they need in order to be close to the poor and the suffering regardless of creed or ethnicity. The parishes will keep their doors open, and respond to every need; because of this, schools where Christians and Muslims can together build a future of respect and collaboration, hospitals and clinics, hospices and community centres will continue to offer their assistance, so that in the midst of the losses being experienced in these times, ecclesial charity may make the words of Christ known: Take courage ... do not be afraid (Mk 6:50).
This is one way that the entire Church can accompany Pope Francis, who is preparing to make a pilgrimage of unity and peace to the Holy Land: a long-awaited visit, very much desired and necessary, for it confirms Christians in their faith, and makes them increasingly capable of mercy, forgiveness and love.
To you, priests, religious and faithful who are working for the success of the Collection, I have the great joy of conveying the sincere gratitude of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, along with the appreciation of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. I invoke abundant divine blessings upon you all, while I extend fraternal greetings to you all in the Lord Jesus.
Yours devotedly,
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect
Archbishop Cyril Vasil, SJ, Secretary
Letter of His Eminence, Leonardo Cardinal Sandri
Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Lent, the journey with Christ toward the Cross and the Resurrection awakens our fraternity with those who live in the Holy Sites. There, the Apostles first listened to the voice of the Lord Jesus, shared by grace in the Mystery, and then announced it and testified to it. All around them, the first Christian communities flourished, beginning in Jerusalem.
Unity in Christ the Redeemer compels us to promote once again this year, the important initiative of the Collection for the Holy Land, in recognition of the debt owed by the Universal Church to the Mother Church. Pope Francis confirmed it when he received the Patriarchs, the Major Archbishops, the Cardinal Fathers and the Bishops in the Plenary Session of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches: In a special way, I think of the blessed land in which Christ lived, died and rose. In it, I heard today, through the voice of the Patriarchs who were present, that the light of faith has not gone out; indeed it is alive and resilient. It is the light of the East which has illumined the universal Church, from the moment when 'a rising sun' appeared above us (Lk 1:78): Jesus Christ, our Lord (Apostolic Letter, Orientale Lumen, 1). Every Catholic therefore owes a debt of gratitude to the Churches that live in that region. From them, we can among other things, learn the fatigue of the daily exercise of a spirit of Ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue. The geographic, historical and cultural context in which they have lived for centuries has in fact made them natural partners of many other Christian denominations and other religions (November 21, 2013).
Even today, the Collection is the principal source for sustaining their lives and their work, according to the desire and urging of the Supreme Pontiffs, who, especially on the eve of Good Friday, have always called for gestures of authentic fraternal charity.
Every day, Christians in various regions of the Middle East ask themselves whether to stay or to emigrate: they live in the midst of conditions of insecurity or suffer violence, at times for the mere fact of professing their and our faith. Every day, there are brothers and sisters who resist, who choose to stay in that place where God accomplished in Christ his plan for the reconciliation of the world. From that land came those who, following the word of Christ, took the Gospel to the four corners of the world. It is there that the Church always rediscovers her roots, the great hope that bears the name of Jesus, but the current situation is truly delicate: it is enough to consider the conflict between Israel and Palestine, to think of the evolution that Egypt is experiencing, to ponder the tragedy of Syria.
On Good Friday, we would like to raise toward the Cross a cry for peace for Jerusalem, so that the whole world, beginning with the Land of Jesus, may become a City of peace. I ask all disciples of Christ to work for peace, remembering that wars are - among other things - the practical refusal of efforts to attain the great economic and social goals that the international community has established for herself (Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Peace, 2014). These words take on a definite and clear significance regarding the annual Collection for the Holy Land. The situation of grave social uncertainty, and even the possibility of war has become more serious, affecting at every level, the fragile balance of the entire area and pouring into Lebanon and Jordan increasing numbers of refugees and refugee camps find themselves less and less adequate to accommodate the growing numbers. We are appalled by the number of kidnappings and homicides of Christians in Syria and elsewhere, by the destruction of churches, homes and schools. This only feeds the exodus of Christians and the dispersion of families and communities.
Many of our brothers and sisters in the faith are writing a page in history through ecumenism of the blood that unites them, and we want to be united to them, close to them in all solicitude.
The Catholic communities of the Holy Land, the Latin Patriarchal Diocese of Jerusalem, the Franciscan Custody and other circumscriptions, and the Greek-Melkite, Coptic, Maronite, Syrian, Chaldean, Armenian communities, with religious families and organisms of every kind, thanks to the Good Friday Collection, will receive the support they need in order to be close to the poor and the suffering regardless of creed or ethnicity. The parishes will keep their doors open, and respond to every need; because of this, schools where Christians and Muslims can together build a future of respect and collaboration, hospitals and clinics, hospices and community centres will continue to offer their assistance, so that in the midst of the losses being experienced in these times, ecclesial charity may make the words of Christ known: Take courage ... do not be afraid (Mk 6:50).
This is one way that the entire Church can accompany Pope Francis, who is preparing to make a pilgrimage of unity and peace to the Holy Land: a long-awaited visit, very much desired and necessary, for it confirms Christians in their faith, and makes them increasingly capable of mercy, forgiveness and love.
To you, priests, religious and faithful who are working for the success of the Collection, I have the great joy of conveying the sincere gratitude of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, along with the appreciation of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. I invoke abundant divine blessings upon you all, while I extend fraternal greetings to you all in the Lord Jesus.
Yours devotedly,
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect
Archbishop Cyril Vasil, SJ, Secretary
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