"The Holy Land is the gem of the missions. Here came Saint Francis in 1219, and since then we have always been here. The Church entrusted us with the Custody of the Holy Places, and in this chapter we mean to tell of our love for this Land. We also want to show our solidarity with the peoples who suffer because of the war and to pray for peace". These are the words of the General Minister of the Order of Friars Minor (over 16 thousand in 120 countries), father José Rodriguez Carballo, as he explains the decision of holding in the Holy Land the chapter of the under-10 friars (who have less than 10 years of solemn profession), which is attended by 200 friars and will end on July 8th. "In the Rule, Saint Francis wrote a chapter for those friars who go ‘fra saraceni e altri infedeli'(amidst the Saracens and other infidels) states the Minister in an interview with SIR, online at old.agensir.it , but listen carefully to the words: Francis says ‘amidst’, not ‘against’ the Saracens. As much back then as today, the Franciscans try to live in the Holy Land the dialogue of life. We feel we are called to act as bridges between Muslims and Jews. Even if Christianity is a minority here, it is very important in the meeting of the peoples. We have schools in the Holy Land, where Muslim students account for up to 75% of the student population. If we educate with a Franciscan spirit, with no proselytism and without renouncing the Gospel, we can build a future of peace".
