Bishops' Holy Land pilgrimage concludes

The 12th Meeting of the Holy Land Coordination Group concluded in Jerusalem Thursday. The group, which includes bishops from the UK, mainland Europe and North America, issued a closing statement summarizing their visit, during which they met with church leaders, local Christian communities, as well as with Israeli and Palestinian political leaders. Philippa Hitchen is in Jerusalem with the bishops and files this report:

Not pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian but pro-justice and peace. That’s the message at the heart of a final communiqué from the bishops of Europe and the United States who’ve spent this past week on pilgrimage in the Holy Land. Reflecting on their meetings with local people, as well as with political and religious leaders, the bishops say they’ve seen how occupation and security, fear and frustration dominate the life of people across the land. Blaming the other side, they say, is an abdication of responsibility and a failure of leadership that people so desperately need.

While recognising the resumption of dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian authority, commended by Pope Benedict in his speech to the diplomats on Monday, the bishops say there is an urgency for a negotiated solution which is currently threatened and undermined by extremism and intolerance of ‘the other’.

On a positive note, they say they’ve also seen signs of hope such as the interfaith cooperation in Galilee, the housing projects and humanitarian work supported by international Catholic organisations and, above all, the continuing witness of local Christians despite the difficulties they face.

The bishops conclude by calling on political leaders – both in the Holy Land and in their own countries – to find greater courage and creativity, to be able to show forgiveness and a humility that must be at the basis of reconciliation in this land holy to Christians, Muslims and Jews.

Below the Holy Land Coordination 2012 Final Communiqué
We, the Bishops of the Holy Land Coordination, have met in the Holy Land since 1998, to be in solidarity with the local Christian community and share in the pastoral life of the local Church. While the faith we see in the Christians of the Holy Land is an inspiration to all, we have heard repeatedly and have seen ourselves that occupation and insecurity, fear and frustration dominate the life of people across this land. Blaming the other is an abdication of responsibility and a failure of leadership, a leadership that the people so desperately need. We have heard and we make this conviction our own: to be pro-Israeli has to mean being pro-Palestinian. This means being pro-justice for all, whose certain fruit is lasting peace.

We recognise the importance of the resumption of dialogue between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. We echo the words of Pope Benedict to the diplomatic corps on 9 January when he expressed his hope that this dialogue "will be maintained, and that it will lead to lasting peace which guarantees the right of the two peoples to dwell in security in sovereign states and within secure and internationally recognised borders." A negotiated agreement is urgently required.

That dialogue is threatened and undermined by extremism and intolerance of the other, the signs of which are only too apparent in the attitudes, judgements and actions of far too many in the world today. This is a concern for both sides and we appeal for tolerance and courageous leadership, able to show forgiveness and humility, to promote peaceful co-existence.

Despite the serious problems we heard and we saw this year, our faith gives us hope and there are signs of hope: the gathering of the Churches for the Synod on the Middle East; the increasing numbers of pilgrims; the inter-religious co-operation and friendship we witnessed in Galilee that offers an example to all; the housing projects of the Latin Patriarchate and the Custody of the Holy Land; the humanitarian efforts of Catholic organisations along with a range of other practical, educational and cultural initiatives to assist the local community - all of which we encourage and support. Above all our hope is nourished by the continuing witness of the Christian communities we met and with whom we celebrated our faith in Gaza, Nablus, Jerusalem and Galilee.

We also recognise the progress being made on negotiations between Israel and the Holy See, with hopes for a resolution soon.

Political leaders of both sides and our own countries need to show courage, resolve and creativity so the simple hopes of the majority for peaceful co-existence are realised. The fidelity to their way of life of Jews, Christians and Muslims should always be such that there is deep-seated openness to all others. May God bless all of the people of the Holy Land.
Signatories to the Holy Land Coordination Communique 2012 are:

Archbishop Patrick Kelly – Archbishop of Liverpool (England and Wales)
Archbishop Riccardo Fontana – Bishop of Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro (Italy)
Archbishop Richard Smith – Archbishop of Edmonton (Canada)
Archbishop Joan-Enric Vives I Sicilia – Bishop of Urgell (Spain)
Bishop Gerald Kicanas – Bishop of Tucson (USA)
Bishop Heinrich Mussinghoff – Bishop of Aachen (Germany)
Bishop Michel Dubost – Bishop of Evry (France)
Bishop Pierre Burcher – Bishop of Reykjavik (Nordic Bishops’ Conference)