The desecrated face of a statue of the crucified Christ in a Jerusalem church should move Catholics around the world “to recognize the pain of so many of our brothers and sisters” in the Holy Land, who have experienced the tragedy of violence and natural disasters, said a top Vatican official.
A new section of the museum will serve as a point of dialogue and exchange with the local Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities — as well as pilgrims and visitors of all faiths and backgrounds who come to Jerusalem to explore its history and cultures.
In an economy hit hard by the pandemic and the lack of pilgrimages and other tourism for two years, Christians in the Holy Land “are in desperate need of support,” said a news release about the 2022 Good Friday Collection that continues to support the work of the Franciscans of the Holy Land.
Franciscan Father Greg Friedman, who served in the Holy Land for the last six years, explains the challenges, exacerbated due to the pandemic, that Christians face there.
As the Franciscans celebrate the 800th year anniversary of their presence in the Holy Land, a sacred role the 300 friars from 34 countries continue to play, Franciscan Father Wladyslaw Brzezinski reflects on his role as superior at the Church of the Visitation in Jerusalem and the mission of the care of the Franciscan Custody of the 29 shrines in the Holy Land.
