President Rivlin welcomes heads of Churches for New Year

As is customary each year, on December 30, 2014, President Reuven Rivlin welcomed the heads of the Christian communities to his residence to wish them well in this season of Christmas and the Gregorian New Year and to share his hopes for 2015. All the heads of the Churches were present, the Latin Patriarch and his vicars (Bishop Shomali and Father David), the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and a number of bishops, the Franciscan Custos, the heads of the other Catholic, Eastern and Protestant communities, many superiors and Israeli ministry officials, police personnel and others who deal with the Christian communities.

The reception began with a rendition of Silent Night by a young Christian Arab woman from Nazareth, Lena Menasseh, in English and Arabic.

President Rivlin spoke to those present stressing the concern for the future of the Christian communities in the Middle East. He insisted that the ongoing violence was not a religious war but rather a struggle between those, Jews, Christians and Muslims, who want a society based upon shared values and respect for religious freedom and the extremists who reject these values. He insisted on his admiration of Pope Francis and his sharing the vision of the Pope.

After another Christmas carol in Arabic, “Leilat al-Milad”, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III spoke in the name of the gathered Christian religious leaders. He thanked the President for his cordiality and wished him well in his new job as President. The Patriarch also stressed the importance of free access to the Holy Places for all Christian faithful, local and pilgrim.

The event was marked by great cordiality. All shared the hope that 2015 would see greater moves towards peace in the region.