A message of hope

The visit of the bishops of the Co-ordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church of the Holy Land and the Assembly of Catholic Bishops in the Holy Land (HLC 2011) concluded on January 13 in Jerusalem. CCEE European bishops were represented by the archbishop of Tirana-Durazzo, Msgr. Rock Mirdita, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Albania, who spent many years in the United States. The presence of Msgr. Mirdita bears special relevance, also since he is a pastor of an East European Church which suffered the harsh Communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha. Follows Msgr. Mirdita’s reflection on the visit to the Holy Land. For the first time I took part in a meeting of the Co-ordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church of the Holy Land and the Assembly of Catholic Bishops in the Holy Land (HLC 2011). Indeed, it has been a discovery for me. My perception of the problems of this Land has greatly changed. Even though during the many years in the United States I was constantly updated on the events of the Holy Land, being there in person, listening to the heartfelt accounts by the members of the local Church, who shared their personal problems and those experienced by the Church on a daily basis, prompted further reflection, different as compared to the past. In fact, as I listened to these stories my mind returned to Kosovo, a Country whose situation is incomparable to the Holy Land’s, but in fact, over a short period it earned its independence, also thanks to the support of the international community and of important Countries like the United States and Europe. In the U.S. there is a saying: “if there is a will, there is a way”. This is true also for the Holy Land. If there is a true, strong will on the part of the international community, it will be possible to find a solution to the conflict. But it should be clear that the two parties must be ready to sacrifice something, and be willing to find the right compromise that will safeguard the aspirations of both.It is not the Church’s responsibility to propose political solutions. However, the Churches can contribute to creating the conditions for their realization. How? By raising awareness and involving civil society with prayer and appeals to peace, tolerance, coexistence and mutual respect. Also the Governments should be involved in concrete steps aimed at finding a just and long-lasting solution to the crisis. Nobody should remain indifferent to the problems of the Holy Land. I believe that both Israeli and Palestinian claims should be marked by an equitable approach, so as to preserve the chances of dialogue and encounter. The Holy Land is a powerful fountainhead of values shared by all of mankind, regardless of faith and ethnicity. My presence in the Holy Land as representative of CCEE bishops, the Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences, is a reason of pride not only for me but also for my Country as a whole. Who would have ever thought, twenty years ago, that an Albanian bishop would be representing Europe in the Holy Land? It’s a gift of God that we are grateful for, a privilege for which we are beholden. I am convinced that my presence in the Holy Land is a sign to the local Church and to her faithful, which shows that even the most difficult situations can change just as they have changed in Albania. Albania is a Country where the faithful of the three religions coexist in peace. And this is a sign of hope.