Holy Land Bishops send Passover greetings

The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries in the Holy Land sent Passover greetings to the Jewish civil and religious authorities as well as to leading Jewish figures involved in dialogue and the promotion of justice and peace.

Passover greetings were sent to the various Jewish civil and religious authorities in Israel in the name of the Catholic ordinaries. The Bishops were assisted in the formulation of the greetings by the new Commission for Relations with the Jews.

The text of the greeting was as follows:

"Thus says the Lord: Let my people go, so that they may worship me" (Exodus 8:1)

The Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, the heads of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, and their Commission for Relations with the Jewish People, wish you, your family, your friends a very blessed feast of Passover.

This feast, the celebration of the passage from slavery to freedom, is at the very root of the tradition we share. We pray that at this time we might all become more deeply aware of God's liberating power among us. May we all strive, together, to free ourselves from all forms of slavery. Let us work together for a society established ever more firmly on the principles of justice and righteousness, peace and equality, social responsibility and development.

Happy Feast of Passover!"

The greeting was signed

+ Fouad TWAL
Patriarch of Jerusalem for Latins
President A.C.O.H.L.

+ Antonio FRANCO
Apostolic Nuncio for Israel and Cyprus
Apost. Deleg. in Jerusalem and Palestine

+ Giorgio LINGUA
Apostolic Nuncio for Jordan

+ Michel SABBAH
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem emeritus

+ Elias CHACOUR
Melkite Catholic Archbishop of Akka
Vice president A.C.O.H.L.

+ Boutros MOUALLEM
Melkite Cath. Archb. of Akka emeritus

+ Yaser Al-AYYASH
Melkite Cath. Archb. of Petra and Philadelphia (Amman)

+ Gregoire Pierre MELKI
Syrian Catholic Exarch of Jerusalem

+ Joseph Jules ZEREY
Melkite Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem

+ Maroun LAHHAM
Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan