Patriarch of Jerusalem: We hope Pope will support Christians in Holy Land

Patriarch Theophilos. Photo: puterea.ro

The Patriarch of Jerusalem congratulated the newly elected Roman Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, and expressed hope for his involvement in the cause of peace and the protection of Christians in the Holy Land.

The head of the Jerusalem Church emphasized that the Pope’s words following his election deserve special attention. “We affirm the words that His Holiness spoke in his speech after the election that emphasise bridge-building, dialogue, and encounter as the avenues to peace,” the statement reads.

“In a world so torn by division, violence, distrust, and despair, we know that the way of peace can be built only by such means. We look forward to the important engagement of Pope Leo in this urgent work, to which we, as the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, together with our fellow Heads of the Churches in the Holy Land, have long been committed,” Patriarch Theophilos stressed.

“We hope very much to welcome Pope Leo as a pilgrim to the Holy Land, as we welcomed his predecessors, and we are confident in His Holiness continuing their long standing and honoured tradition of supporting and encouraging the Christian presence in the Holy Land and our broader region, in the face of growing pressure and challenge,” the Patriarch added.

Earlier, UOJ reported that the Patriarch of Jerusalem voiced support for persecuted hierarchs of the UOC.

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