Jerusalem Patriarch sees continuing 'hemorrhage' of Christians leaving Holy Land
(May 23, 2012) “The exit of Christians from the Holy Land can be described as a real
human hemorrhage,” according to the Latin-rite Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem. In
an interview with the Zenit news agency during a trip to Italy, Archbishop Fouad Twal
said that the continuing flight of Christians from the Holy Land can be attributed
to “the occupation, to the political situation, to the difficult conditions of life,
to the lack of work and of trust.” He said the situation is unlikely to improve until
peace can be established in the region. For the Christians who remain, the Patriarch
said that education is a key factor in providing for a brighter future. “A person
with a degree, well prepared, can guarantee to himself and to others a better future,”
he reasoned. Because young people are more likely to stay in their native lands, if
they have decent economic prospects, Archbishop Twal said that he has taken particular
satisfaction in the opening of the Catholic University of Jordan.