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.

Israel, Vatican resume talks toward final accord , CWNews.com, Rome, Jun. 18, 2004

Rome, Jun. 18 (CWNews.com) - Negotiations between the Holy See and the government of Israel on a financial accord will be resumed on July 5, after a long diplomatic impasse, representatives of both sides have announced.

The Vatican Secretariat of State and Israeli ambassador Oded Ben Hur joined in the June 18 announcement that efforts to reach agreement on financial issues would be reopened in Jerusalem. The negotiations broke down in August 2003, when Israeli representatives broke off the talks.

The formal announcement of renewed talks-- confirming reports that had circulated in recent weeks-- came just after the 10th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between Israel and the Holy See. Those relations were opened on June 15, 1994.

The financial accord which will be discussed is one of several steps called for in the "fundamental accord" that opened relations between the Vatican and Israel. The terms of that fundamental accord have not yet been fulfilled, and Vatican officials had indicated that they had hoped to finalize the agreement before the 10th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

Ambassador Ben Hur said that there is now "a complete understanding between the two parties," which suggests that the new negotiations could reach a quick agreement.

The resolution of financial issues is critical to the welfare of Christian communities in the Holy Land. This agreement-- which, according to the terms of the "fundamental accord," should have been concluded by 1995-- concerns the tax-exempt status of Christian shrines and charitable institutions.

The lack of progress on negotiations had been one of several sources of diplomatic tension between the Holy See and the Israeli state. Another cause of friction has been the Israeli government's failure to renew visas for Catholic priests and religious working in the Holy Land. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has announced plans to form a committee to resolve that problem; Vatican officials are still awaiting signs of a change in policy. Finally, the Vatican has expressed keen concerns about the Israeli "security wall" through Palestinian territory, which has dispossessed some Catholic communities from their land and restricted access to some churches and shrines, in an apparently violation of the terms of the fundamental accord.

When the talks on a financial agreement open in July, the Holy See's representatives will include Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the apostolic nuncio in Jerusalem, and Father David Jaeger, the spokesman for the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. If talks progress rapidly, they could be joined by the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, or his deputy, Msgr. Pietro Parolin. Israeli negotiators will include representatives of the ministries of finance and foreign affairs, as well as a representative of the prime minister.

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.