Over the course of three days, Cardinal Rainer Woelki, Archbishop of Cologne in Germany, made a solidarity visit to the Holy Land, visiting a number of cities, villages, and institutions of the Latin Patriarchate. During his visit, he met with members of the Church, particularly young people, and listened to their experiences and the challenges they face amid the current circumstances. The visit provided an opportunity to express the solidarity of the Church of Cologne with the Church and its faithful in the Holy Land, to renew its commitment to supporting and standing alongside them, and to strengthen their presence and mission in their homeland.
Day One
Cardinal Woelki arrived in the city of Nablus accompanied by a delegation from the German Representation. He was welcomed by Fr. Miguel Jiménez, parish priest, the assistant priests, members of the parish council, and representatives of the youth.
During the meeting, they discussed the general situation in Nablus, the reality of Christians in the city, and the challenges they face, particularly those affecting the younger generation, as new generations increasingly rely on the internet and social media at the expense of direct interaction and community engagement.
For his part, Fr. Miguel stressed that Christians in Nablus are seeking to strengthen communication with the various sectors of society, to affirm their presence and role, and to highlight that they are an active and integral part of Nablus society and an inseparable part of the city.
Cardinal Woelki also visited St. Justinus Church, where a short prayer for peace was held, before proceeding to the Latin Patriarchate kindergarten and school in Nablus. He was welcomed by the school principal, Ms. Dina Duani. The Cardinal and his accompanying delegation held a meeting with the school administration, during which they discussed the general situation in the city, the challenges facing Nablus, as well as the state of education and the difficulties facing the educational sector amid the current circumstances.
Cardinal Woelki then travelled to the village of Aboud, where he visited Our Lady of Sorrows Church. He was welcomed by the parish priest, Fr. Raymond Haddad. The visit included the kindergarten, school, and parish hall, where he learned about the educational institutions and parish facilities and their role in serving the people of the village.
Cardinal Woelki also met with the youth and scouts in Aboud, listened to their views and aspirations, and gained a closer understanding of the reality facing young people and the challenges they encounter. He also learned more about the situation of Christians in the village and ways of preserving and strengthening their role in society.
At the end of the first day, Cardinal Woelki visited the village of Ain Arik, where he was welcomed by the parish priest, Fr. Firas Abdel Rabbo, together with a number of priests and Carmelite sisters. The meeting addressed the challenges facing the village amid the current circumstances, as well as the reality of education, its development, and the challenges it faces at this stage.
The visit concluded with a meeting at the Youth Centre, where the delegation was welcomed by Fr. George Haddad, Deputy Spiritual Director, Ms. Faten Asaid, Secretary General, and a number of young people. The meeting provided an opportunity to listen to the youth, learn about their reality and aspirations, and discuss their role in preserving the presence of the Church and the Christian community in Ain Arik.
The visit formed part of Cardinal Woelki’s solidarity mission, aimed at standing alongside the Church and its faithful, listening to the challenges they face, and reaffirming the importance of their presence and mission in the various cities and villages of Palestine.
Day Two
The second day began by celebrating Mass, inside the empty Tomp at the Basilica of the Holy Seplucher, offered for peace and the Christians of the Holy Land.
Following Mass, Cardinal Woelki met with Archbishop Hosam Naoum, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem. They discussed the current situation in the Holy Land, the challenges facing the Churches and Christians, and the importance of strengthening cooperation in these difficult circumstances.
The visit also included a tour of several Latin Patriarchate projects in Jerusalem, providing an opportunity to learn more about the various initiatives and services offered by the Patriarchate, as well as its role in serving the community and strengthening the presence of the Church and its institutions.
As part of the visit, Cardinal Woelki met with the new General Vicar of the Latin Patriarchate, Mr. Johnny Zidan. Their discussion focused on the work and projects of the Patriarchate, the challenges it faces, and ways of continuing to serve the Church and its faithful.
Cardinal Woelki also toured the Old City of Jerusalem and visited a number of historic homes, gaining a closer understanding of the situation of the families living there, as well as the reality of Christians in the Holy City and the challenges they face.
At the end of the day, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presented the Gold Medal of the Holy Cross to Cardinal Woelki and Mr. Nadim Aman, in recognition of their continued support for Christians in the Holy Land and their solidarity with the Church and its faithful.
In his remarks, Cardinal Pizzaballa thanked Cardinal Woelki for his solidarity visit, saying: “We thank you for this solidarity visit, and we thank you for the great support that Cologne offers to the Christians of the Holy Land. We are living in difficult circumstances, and therefore your presence and solidarity with us are of great importance.”
For his part, Cardinal Woelki expressed his gratitude and appreciation, stressing that receiving the medal was a great honour for him. He said: “It is a great honour for me to receive this recognition. During this visit, we encountered many people in need who touched my heart. Our mission is to walk with them, to love them, and to work with them in everything. Therefore, we give our heart to the Church of Jerusalem, and we must show compassion and mercy, as the disciples of Jesus did with the people.”
He added: “We will keep the Christians of the Holy Land in our prayers. We promise you that we will pray for you and that we will always stand by your side.”
The day concluded with Cardinal Woelki joining His Beatitude Cardinal Pizzaballa at the solemn Mass celebrated at St. Louis Hospital Church, marking the 150th anniversary of its foundation.
Day Three
On the third and final day of his visit, Cardinal Woelki and his accompanying delegation visited the town of Taybeh, where they were welcomed by Fr. Bashar Fawazleh, parish priest.
During the visit, Cardinal Woelki stressed the need for the people of the Holy Land, particularly young people, to be able to remain in their homeland and build their future there. He called for holding fast to hope and working towards a just solution based on the two-state option.
During his visit, Cardinal Woelki said: “Your call has reached us, and we have heard your cry for help. That is why we are here. We have come to stand by your side, to work with you, and to express our solidarity with you in these difficult circumstances.”
Woelki reaffirmed the Church’s solidarity with the people of Taybeh, stressing that violence is not a solution, and that faith, hope, and working together can open the way towards a better future. He also referred to the difficult reality facing the residents amid attacks, settler violence, and the continued construction of settlements, stressing that only a just solution can guarantee a future for all sides.
During the visit, Cardinal Woelki and his delegation listened to the reality of Taybeh and the challenges facing its people, and learned about the work of the parish and its institutions, as well as the role of the Latin Patriarchate in supporting the local community. The visit also included Christ the Redeemer Church, Nabd Al-Hayat Radio, the Latin Patriarchate School, the House of Ephraim for the elderly, as well as meetings with a number of affected families.
At the conclusion of his solidarity visit, Cardinal Woelki reflected: “I was deeply shaken by the situation of Christians in the Holy Land. In the West Bank, Christian communities are living under constant pressure from extremist settlers, including acts of vandalism, arson, and physical violence. People here are living in fear, and many of them have already left the country. In addition, there are economic difficulties, unemployment, and a lack of prospects in the West Bank and Jerusalem, particularly among young people.”
He added: “The people of this land left a deep impression on me. On the one hand, I was struck by their generous hospitality and their high Christian values; on the other, by their courage not to give up, but to remain in the Holy Land despite the difficult circumstances in which they live.”
One of the most moving moments of his visit was his conversation with the owner of a cement factory in Taybeh. He told the Cardinal that settlers had destroyed the factory’s machinery and technical equipment, as well as damaged vehicles and property, causing him, in a single moment, to lose his livelihood, along with the source of income and economic livelihood of around forty families who depended on the factory.
Reflecting on the suffering of the people, Cardinal Woelki said: “When you meet people, you can feel how close they are to the limits of what they can endure. They need support, and the world must not turn a blind eye to what is happening. As a Church, we have a responsibility to stand alongside those who are being harassed and pushed to the margins.”
He added: “We must name these circumstances clearly. When people are systematically subjected to intimidation, economic destruction, and restrictions on their freedom, we must bring this testimony to politicians in Germany, as well as to our fellow citizens.”
He reaffirmed that the Archdiocese of Cologne would continue to support projects and assist the Churches in their mission and work in the Holy Land.
