Cautious welcome for renewed relations with Israel Govt , CathNews.com, Jerusalem, June 30, 2004

Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land head Fr Pierbattista Pizzaballa has described the resumption of diplomatic talks between Church leaders and Israeli government officials as a "positive sign", but warned that "serious problems" remain.

Speaking to the Italian daily Avvenire, Fr Pizzaballa said that he had seen clear signs of good will in his first official talks with Israeli officials. He voiced some optimism that those talks would soon produce a resolution to one problem that has worried Church leaders: the government's failiure to renew visas for Catholic missionaries working in the Holy Land.

But Catholic World News says the Custos, as he is known, cited further unresolved problems, such as the construction of a subway system that will block the "New Gate" to Jerusalem, closing off the only direct vehicle access to the Christian quarter of the old city.

Fr Pizzaballa said he hopes the resumption of talks on an economic agreement between the Holy See and the Israeli government would lead to progress in other areas as well. The diplomatic talks are scheduled to resume next week following months of diplomatic stalemate that arose when Israeli negotiators abruptly pulled out of the talks.

SOURCE Hopes, fears for Christians in Holy Land (Catholic World News 29/6/04)

Hopes, fears for Christians in Holy Land , CWNews.com, Jerusalem, Jun. 29, 2004

Jerusalem, Jun. 29 (CWNews.com) - Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who heads the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, sees a "positive sign" in the resumption of diplomatic talks between Church leaders and Israeli government officials. But the Franciscan leader also sees serious problems remaining in relations between the Catholic Church and the Israeli regime.

Speaking to the Italian daily Avvenire , Father Pizzaballa-- who assumed his current post on May 15-- said that he had seen clear signs of good will in his first official talks with Israeli officials. He voiced some optimism that those talks would soon produce a resolution to one problem that has worried Church leaders: the government's failiure to renew visas for Catholic missionaries working in the Holy Land.

However, the Custos cited other problems that remain unresolved, such as the construction of a subway system that will block the "New Gate" to Jerusalem, closing off the only direct vehicle access to the Christian quarter of the old city.

Father Pizzaballa said that he hoped the resumption of talks on an economic agreement between the Holy See and the Israeli government would lead to progress in other areas as well. "I hope that the climate of collaboration will bear fruit," he told Avvenire . The diplomatic talks are scheduled to resume on July 5, after months in a diplomatic stalemate that arose when Israeli negotiators abruptly pulled out of the talks. Speaking to Avvenire on a different topic, Father Pizzaballa denied reports that his selection to head the Franciscan Custody represents a political shift away from the previous leadership, which had been widely regarded as sympathetic toward the Palestinian cause. (Father Pizzaballa, who studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, had previously worked with the Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem, providing pastoral care for the Hebrew-speaking Christians of the Holy Land.) However, he pointed out that the proportion of non-Arab Christians in the region has grown steadily in the past decade. And he argued: "It is extremely important-- not just for Jerusalem but for the universal Church-- to have a Christian community with Hebrew roots in Jerusalem." He explained that this small group helps other Christians to recall their own spiritual origins.

While the Franciscan Custody is heavily involved in charitable work, the new Custos stressed that the primary purpose of the Franciscans in the Holy Land will always be evangelization. Their mission, he said, involves "helping Christians to understand that their presence in the Holy Land is a mission."

The Christian population of the Holy Land is still rapidly decreasing. Today about 2 percent of the population is Christian-- of which roughly half is Catholic. In 1947, that figure was about 20 percent.

Palestinians receive new Custos in Bethlehem, AsiaNews, Bethlehem, 4 June, 2004

Bethlehem (AsiaNews) – By entering this morning into Bethlehem, the new Custos put in end to settlement rites. Fr. Pizzaballa left Old City of Jerusalem with an entourage of about 30 cars. They continued through the checkpoint: there weren’t any problems. Then the entourage stopped at Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem, and there he met the parish priest of the Latin community and the notables of the Latin community. He goes to Major Square and there the Custos met the Governor and the Mayor, and by other political and civil personalities.

Franciscans escorted the Custos into the Basilica of the Nativity and into St. Catherine’s Church. There the Ceremony of Reception takes place, and then there were prayers.

The Custos made a speech in which thanked the civil and religious authorities for participating. Also the Greeks and the Armenians were present. He also told the people that he was aware of all the difficulties that are happening in Bethlehem, for example the economic situation caused by the political events. He said: “The Custos will remain faithful to supporting in solidarity the people of Bethlehem, and especially the Christian community”.

The Custos will stay in Bethlehem today and will return to Jerusalem tomorrow.

The Custody of the Holy Land is against the closure of the New Gate , AsiaNews, Jerusalem, 2 June, 2004

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) – The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, is opposing Israel’s intention of closing the New Gate. “We will accept neither to be buried alive, nor to be restricted in our movements” writes Fr. Giovanni Battistelli, the Custos, in a letter sent to the Israeli Minister of Transport, Mr. Avidgor Liberman. Although Fr. Battistelli will be replaced by Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa today, the Franciscan Fathers of the Custody do not surrender objections to Israel’s plan.

The closure of the New Gate will irremediably affect the traffic. The reason behind this decision is the construction of a metropolitan train that should travel around Jerusalem’s city walls. The railroad should be built so close to the walls that there will be no more space for the road that goes through the New Gate. This road, the main entrance to the Christian quarter of the old city, will become a simple footpath.

The Custody of the Holy Land is strongly against the closure of the New Gate. In the letter sent to the Israeli officials, an signed by all the Council of the Custody, the Fathers say: “We have already discussed this matter with the authorities. We have met twice and we explained them the capital importance of the place where we reside. We have even suggested other solutions to the problem, but we have received no answer”. The Franciscan friars proposed to modify the original plan by moving the railroad towards the center of the existing road. In this way the traffic would not be affected by the new train.

The Franciscan monastery of Saint Saviour, which is situated near the New Gate, has been the headquarters of the Custody of the Holy Land since the 15th century. The Custody is in charge of churches, convents, monasteries, parishes, schools, hospitals, etc., in the whole Middle East. It is the residency of the Custos of the Holy Land. It is easy to understand that the closure of the New Door would have terrible repercussions for the Church in the Holy Land. In particular, it would negatively affect the Christian area in Jerusalem, by limiting the efficiency of parish activities, of the eight Christian schools, of the emergency services and of the facilities for pilgrims. Moreover, all the patriarchs and leaders of the Christian churches live within the Old City. The closure of the door would inevitably restrict their movements.

Fr. Battistelli questions the legitimacy of Israel’s new plan. “We wonder if the closure of the Door, with all the negative consequences that it entails for the Christian area, marks a new political strategy or just a prejudice against Christianity”.

Catholic representatives also complain about the interruption of the dialogue between Holy See representatives and Israeli authorities about ecclesiastical properties. Israeli authorities unilaterally decided to quit the negotiations. Unfortunately, they have still to fulfil their promise of re-starting the dialogue.

The new Custos of the Holy Land enters Jerusalem, AsiaNews, Jerusalem, 2 June, 2004

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) – Today at 3.30 pm (local time), Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa (ofm) is succeding to Fr. Giovanni Battistelli as the new Custos of the Holy Land. The ceremony will be public and will follow the ancient rite established during the Ottoman domination. The Christian community, as well as both the religious and civil authorities, will welcome the new Custos at the Jaffa Gate. The Mayor of Jerusalem will be present. The ceremony will continue at the monastery of Saint Saviour, in the Christian area of the Old City. Here Fr. Battistelli, who leaves his role as the Custos after a 6 years mandate, will hand the Seal of the Custody to Fr. Pizzaballa. The third act of the ceremony, which is centred on the reading of the official Vatican decree of appointment, will take place in the church.

Tomorrow, at 3.30 pm, the new Custos will enter the basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, and on Friday he will be welcomed in Bethlehem. The journey to Bethlehem involves passing through Israeli check points in order to enter Palestinian territories. The new Custos revealed his priorities in an interview for AsiaNews (May 26th), in which he explain that the Custody will work to favour the reconciliation between Jews and Muslims.