Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem

Press Release

Peace upon all those who wish peace

Peace cannot be obtained by the war nor by the tanks or by the bloodshed, especially in Bethlehem.

There is no need for more bloodshed in Bethlehem. This morning blood was shed. We refuse all bloodshed, Israeli or Palestinian. Bethlehem must not remain any more a place of war.

We ask the Israeli Authorities to withdraw all its instruments of war; to go in peace, and to send back their soldiers to their families.

On this barrier of war we proclaim the Gospel of peace, the Gospel of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace. We invite all the Churches of the world to proclaim it with us.

We invite our faithful to remain strong in their patience, faith and in the tranquility of soul which comes from the peace and the justice of God. We invite them to ring the bells of Christmas today at 2,00p.m. in Bethlehem, Beit-Jala and Beit-Sahour, the town of the Shepherds and the Angels who proclaimed peace to the world and in all the parishes in the Holy Land, as a sign of the peace in their hearts and as moment of prayer and supplications until the end of this war.

Patriarchs and Heads of Christians Churches in Jerusalem,

On the Military Barrier before Bethlehem

Bethlehem, 8 April 2002