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Plea to preserve family homes
Patriarch begs an end to Israeli tactics

When Latin-Rite Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem released his annual Lenten letter, he included a dramatic plea to the Israel army: “Destroy our churches if you must, but leave the people their homes.” He added, “If you need at all some sort of collective punishment or ransom, to restore tranquility to innocent children and families we offer you our churches to destroy.”

The Patriarch’s Lenten Letter was an anguished call for peace in the Holy Land, at a time of heightening tensions. Before writing it, the 67-year-old Patriarch visited Palestinian parishes, communities, and civil authorities. Although the letter was addressed to Christians in view of Lent, in many parts it openly spoke to Muslims and Jews. Its main concern was for the political situation: “Roads closed, towns and villages in a state of siege, no work, constant bombing . . . .” Referring to the conflict as a “war imposed on us,” the Patriarch called on Christians to make acts of friendship and charity in view of the spreading poverty in the Palestinian territories: “We invite you all . . . to share your bread with those who have none, either by inviting them to sit at your table or by giving to Caritas or some other similar organization, the same amount you would spend on food for a day.”

The Patriarch asked Palestinian militants to “spare the homes of innocent civilians,” not to turn “tranquil homes into fields of fire.” Again addressing the Israelis, Bishop Sabbah writes: “What you term security measures are only a call for more violence. Restore the land to its rightful owners, restore their freedom.”

Christians urged to make pilgrimages
A force for peace in the Holy Land

Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the apostolic delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, has issued an appeal to Christians to make pilgrimages to the Holy Land.

During a visit to Rome, Archbishop Sambi told the Fides news agency that he would prefer not to talk about the tense political situation in the Middle East. Instead, he told Fides that the conflict there has severely hurt the tourist industry, thereby causing real difficulties for Palestinians and Christians. 

“A pilgrimage to the Holy Land is not a visit to the political situation,” Archbishop Sambi pointed out. “It is a call from God to go out from our land, our doubts and uncertainties, searching for an answer to life through contact with the places of the Savior.” The archbishop argued that today’s uncertainty makes the Holy Land a perfect site for Christian pilgrimages. As he argued: “A pilgrimage always means discomfort, and if they come at the moment pilgrims will have to put up with discomfort.”

Moreover, the Pope’s representative told Fides that Christians who visit the Holy Land “can also be a sign of solidarity for the few Christians left in this region, most of whom rely on pilgrims for their livelihood.” Thus, he said: “Pilgrims can be an army, an army of peace.”

Palestinian priest wins Buddhist peace prize
Educational efforts honored

Father Elias Chacour, a Palestinian Melkite Catholic priest involved in education for Palestinian and Jewish children, has been awarded the Buddhist Niwano Prize for 2001. The prize, $173,000, will be presented during a solemn ceremony in Tokyo, on May 10.

The award is assigned annually to individuals or institutes for outstanding activity in the field of peace, reconciliation, inter-religious dialogue, nonviolence, or human rights. The Niwano Foundation was established in 1978 by Nikkyo Niwano, a Japanese Buddhist who devoted his life to world peace and was a pioneer in inter-religious dialogue. Niwano was also among the founders of the World Conference of Religions for Peace. 

Father Chacour was chosen from about 1,000 candidates nominated by individuals and organizations representing 125 countries and various religions. On receiving the news, the Palestinian priest said: “I am both delighted and honored. I accept this prestigious prize with gratitude and consider it a sign of encouragement.”

Father Chacour is the founder of Mar Elias educational institutions, which today have a combined enrollment of 4,000 pupils. These centers are seen as a kind of oasis where young people—Christians, Jews, and Muslims—can study and work together. “International agreements are only signatures on pieces of paper. Through our education we want to reach agreement in the hearts of the younger generation, the leaders of tomorrow,” Father Chacour explained.