Don’t leave them alone

Benedict XVI’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land ended on 15 March. The results of his journey can be regarded as positive. The visit was heralded by controversies, but realized in a climate of constructive dialogue with Jews and Muslims and characterized by the Pope’s clear and strong affirmation of the need for peace, for the mutual recognition of Israel and a Palestinian State, and especially for the support of Christians in the Holy Land. Of the significance of the Pope’s words, their implications for Christians in the Holy Land and European support for these populations, we spoke with Otmar Oehring, head of the Office for Human Rights of Missio-Aachen.What repercussions will the presence, words and prayer of Benedict XVI have for Christians in the Holy Land? “Undoubtedly the expectations of Arab Christians in Israel and Christians in the areas controlled by the Palestinians were satisfied by the Holy Father’s speeches, both with regard to Christian-Islamic dialogue and political questions. Apart from that, however, we can only expect that Christians in the Holy Land will continue having to tackle the same problems they have had to cope with hitherto. The positive values of the Holy Father on Christian-Islamic dialogue will of course represent a support for Christians in the Holy Land and for those Muslims interested in peaceful co-existence with Christians and those who even consider this co-existence to be of value. Contrariwise, the radical Islamic forces are not in the least interested in any serious dialogue and will not be inspired by the Pope’s commitment to dialogue and reconciliation with Islam. Any change in the position of Christians in the Holy Land depends, however, on political decisions which cannot be left only to the protagonists of the region, but also depend in a decisive way on the serious involvement of the USA and also the EU”. Will any thing change after this visit?“We cannot fail to agree with the Pope’s appeal. After all we have heard in recent days, the fact that the Holy Father has visited the Holy Land is seen by Christians of the region as an encouragement. Despite that, it needs to be clearly understood that the papal visit will not alter very much the general conditions of Christians in Israel, or those of Christians in Palestinian-controlled areas. Arab Christians will continue to be ‘Arab’ or ‘Palestinian’ Christians and continue to be treated as second-class citizens. Christians in Palestinian-controlled areas will continue to be Palestinian ‘Christians’ and have to tolerate being treated as such. A change to this situation can only be envisaged – but only in the medium, not in the short term – in the event of the general political conditions in the region changing in a radical fashion and of the peaceful co-existence of Christians, Jews and Muslims becoming feasible in a spirit of parity between Israel and Palestinian-controlled areas. That’s why a greater international commitment, and especially that of the EU, is needed”.What can the European Churches do to help Christians in the Holy Land? “It is undoubtedly important that the European Churches demonstrate their solidarity with Christians in the Holy Land. This, as in the past, may be expressed in the form of regular visits of representatives of the Churches and of pilgrimages to the Holy Land. But it may also take the form of material aid, where really needed. It is equally important that the European Churches engage in dialogue with the governments of their respective countries to contribute at the national and European level to a radical change in the general political conditions in the region”. The commitment of the CCEEThe Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences supports the initiative called “The Co-ordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church of the Holy Land”. The co-ordination in question consists of some thirty bishops and representatives of European Bishops’ Conferences and of European and North American ecclesial organizations who regularly visit Christian communities and Churches in the Holy Land each January. The origins of this particular coordination can be traced back to the 1990s. This was when the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was working in close contact with the Church in the Holy Land on issues regarding in particular the future of Jerusalem. In 1997 the US Conference of Catholic Bishops asked the European Bishops’ Conferences to share together their support for the Church in the Holy Land. This led to the formation of a joint Co-ordination, which has annually paid a visit of solidarity to the Holy Land since 1998.