Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa expressed his solidarity with the people of Taybeh during a visit to the last remaining Christian village in the West Bank on Saturday Source: Vatican News.
“We will continue to do everything in our power to preserve the Church’s presence here, at every level, throughout the Holy Land, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem said during Mass in Taybeh on the Feast of the Assumption.
“I may not have answers on a human or worldly level, but I believe in God. And I am certain that, in Him, we can continue to bring life, even here in Taybeh,” Cardinal Pizzaballa said.
Welcoming the Patriarch at the beginning of Mass, Taybeh parish priest Fr Bashar Fawadleh said that the village had welcomed him “among his people and in his home.”
According to a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the pastor described the Cardinal’s presence as that of a father standing beside his children in difficult times.
Fr Bashar also said that Cardinal Pizzaballa’s presence reminded the community that it is not alone and that the Church stands alongside its children, carrying with it “the cross and the hope of this land.”
Cardinal Pizzaballa described the Feast of the Assumption as “a fruit of the Resurrection” and said that Mary teaches Christians to look at reality “with divine eyes,” rather than according to human calculations.
He then connected this message directly to Taybeh, encouraging its people to remain rooted in faith and hope even when circumstances make the future difficult or seem impossible.
The patriarch also stressed that preserving the Christian presence requires guarding the heart against fear, despair and the effects of difficult circumstances.
“But we want to remain a community that gives birth to life, without giving up our rights, our right to life,” he said. “So be courageous. Do not be afraid.”
Cardinal Pizzaballa also said that he is following developments in Taybeh closely through regular messages and updates from Fr Bashar.
The Patriarch’s visit took place against the backdrop of an Israeli order issued last July declaring “the area of Taybeh and Rimon” a closed military zone, prohibiting Israelis and foreign nationals from entering or remaining there.
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Cardinal Pizzaballa visits Taybeh, appeals for preserving its Christian presence (By Valerio Palombaro, Vatican News)
