Christmas message from church leaders in the Holy Land
Dear Sisters and Brothers, We all shall gather around the manger, in Bethlehem but also in our cities and all other localities and shall sing again the songs of love and hope whilst renewing our belief that our Land will some day enjoy justice and peace. May the eyes and hearts of many open to see that injustice should make place for justice and freedom to all. For this we shall pray as we shall pray for our Authorities and for the two peoples to understand that they can live together in peace and that they are called to build together the new society that God wants for the land He has blessed. May Almighty God hear and answer our prayer so that this Land and its entire people may know his love, joy, justice and peace! May the Lord grant you all a Blessed Christmas and every hope for the New Year, and may God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit bless you! + Ireneus, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem + Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem + Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Fr. Giovanni Battistelli, o.f.m., Custos of the Holy Land + Anba Abraham, Coptic Archbishop of Jerusalem + Swerios Malki Murad, Syrian Orthodox Archbishop of Jerusalem + Aba Cuostos, Ethiopian Archbishop of Jerusalem + Paul Sayyah, Maronite Archbishop in the Holy Land + Riah Abu El Assal, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem + Munib Younan, Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Jerusalem Archim. Mtanios Haddad, Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarchal Vicar in Jerusalem Msgr George Makhzoum, Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Vicar in Jerusalem Fr. Elias Tabban, for the Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Vicariate in Jerusalem