Archbishop issues call to prayer for the Holy Land

For the peace of Jerusalem pray' In a letter to priests and people of the Archdiocese of Liverpool, the Most Reverend Patrick Kelly, Archbishop of Liverpool, on Friday issued a call to prayer for the Holy Land. The Archbishop visits the region each year as part of the Co-ordination of Bishops' Conferences in support of the Holy Land and has only recently returned from leading a pilgrimage there. It is the current worsening situation which has prompted the call to prayer. The Archbishop said: "we have been made very aware in recent days of violent death in the Holy Land. It is clear that many people in the area within the Palestinian Authority are experiencing severe financial problems affecting the lives especially of the most vulnerable. Almost daily there are reports of conflict within the Palestinian Territories and we are told of the plans of Israel to go ahead towards a final decision about borders without the full engagement of the Palestinian people whose lives would be affected by such decisions." In his pastoral message to the people of the Archdiocese Archbishop Kelly said: "It seems to me that the situation in the Holy Land is as grave as it has been for many many months. Please encourage in every way you can prayer for the peace of the Lord's own land, a peace based on justice for all its peoples." Source: Archdiocese of Liverpool