Vatikan / Hl. Land: Bischöfe geben Hoffnung nicht auf
Bischöfe aus Europa und den USA haben in den letzten Tagen das Heilige Land besucht.
Über die Ergebnisse ihrer Reise reden sie jetzt im Vatikan. Die Oberhirten würden
gerne dazu beitragen, den Friedensprozess im Nahen Osten wieder in Gang zu bringen.
Wir dokumentieren hier ihre Erklärung von diesem Mittwoch im englischen Original-Wortlaut. “Speaking
a word of hope at a critical time for the Holy Land”: Communiqué of the Coordination
of Episcopal Conferences in support of the Church in the Holy Land
January
16, 2008 Jerusalem---Rome In a year when the world has focused renewed attention
on a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians, the Coordination of Episcopal Conferences
in Support of the Church in the Holy Land has just returned form our eighth visit
to the Holy Land to walk in solidarity with the local Curch and its bishops and to
support the search for a just peace. The Coordination represents Catholic bishops’
conferences of Europe and North America and was formed in Jerusalem in 1998 at the
request of the Holy See.
Our first task as bishops and pastors was to offer
our prayerful presence and encouragement to a suffering Church. It was a great joy
to visit and pray with local Catholics in parishes throughout the the Holy Land. We
also listened to their stories of struggle and their hopes for the future of their
land. We admire their faith and courage and encourage Catholics in our own nations
to come on pilgrimage to the Holy Land – visiting both the holy places and the living
Catholic communities that witness to Christ in the land of his birth.
We recognise
that the social, political and humanitarian situation in Israel and Palestine is complex
and that solutions to the conflict are not easily found. Many people we met were pessimistic
about current efforts by the leaders of Israel and Palestine, with the support of
the international community, to reach an agreement on a just peace. But we also heard
from many that they yearn for a future of freedom, peace and security – for both Palestinians
and Israelis.
Coming from various nations in Europe and North America, we need
to examine what in the attiitudes and policies of our countries contributes to division
instead of leading to peace and justice for both peoples. Too often countries have
taken sides in the dispute when in fact the fate of both peoples, Israelis and Palestinians,
is inextricably linked. Our nations can at times be part of the problem; but they
can also be part of the solution.
We found signs of hope in our visit to the
Holy Land. We met young people at Bethlehem University and in various parishes. At
the University, Christians and Muslims study together harmoniously. We were impressed
by their commitment to their studies, their energy and enthusiasm, their wish to stay
in the land of their birth, and their hope for a just peace that will bring them,
and al people of the Holy Land, a better future. We also heard of growing interreligious
cooperation for peace among Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Tragically we also
saw signs of discouragement and division. The separation wall through which we passed
was a vivid reminder of the security concerns of Israel as well as the deepening division
between ordinary Israelis and Palestinians who lack the human contact that can help
foster justice and reconciliation. We heard moving stories of how the wall compounds
suffering and compromises human dignity by separating families, devastating the Palestinian
economy and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. We are particularly concernend for
the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has worsened since we visited there
a year ago. A frequent refrain was a call to respect the basic human rights of all,
including security for Israelis and security and freedom for Palestinians.
Earlier
this month our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, said in an address to the Diplomatic
Corps: “I am glad that the Annapolis Conference pointed towards the abandonment of
partisan or unilateral solutions, in favour of a global approach respectful of the
rights and legitimate interests of all the peoples of the region. I appeal once more
to the Israelis and the Palestinians to concentrate their energies on the implementation
of commitments made on that occasion, and to expedite the process that has happily
been restarted. Moreover, I invite the international community to give strong support
to these two peoples and to understand their respective sufferings and fears.” (January
7, 2008).
Our pastoral visit to the Holy Land convinced us that this is a crucial
moment for Israel, Palestine and the international community. It is a time of both
opportunity and danger. Our sincere hope and prayer is that the leaders and peoples
of Israel and Palestine, with the full support and encouragement of our own nations
and the international community, will find a path to a just peace. The evidence of
our eyes and ears does not always make us optimistic, but God’s grace gives us hope.
The Coordination of Episcopal Conferences looks forward to return visits to the Church
in the Holy Land and to the day when all peoples of this land can live in peace, security
and dignity.
Signatories:
H.E. cardinal Seán Brady Archbishop
of Armagh, Irish Bishops’Conference
Bishop Pierre Bürcher Bishop of Reykjavik,
Iceland
Bishop Michel Dubost Bishop of Evry, French Bishops’Conference
Bishop
Raymond Field Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, Irish Commission for Justice and Social
Affairs, Irish Bishops’Conference
H.E. Cardinal Francis George OMI Archbishop
of Chicago,President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Archbishop
Patrick Kelly Archbishop of Liverpool, Vice-President of Catholic Bishops’Conference
of England and Wales
Bishop William Kenney CP Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham,
Catholic Bishops’Conference of England and Wales Representative of the Commission
of Episcopal Conferences of the European Union
Bishop Joan Enric Vives Bishop
of Urgell and Co-Prince of Andorra, Spanish Bishops’Conference
Archbishop V.
James Weisgerber Archbishop of Winnipeg, President of the Canadian Conference of
Catholic Bishops.