The Commissariat of the Holy Land and the Holy Land Center are organizing a series of conferences on Christians in the Middle East and Masses for peace in the land of Jesus throughout Spain.
Father Fadi Azar, pastor of the Sacred Heart parish in Latakia, Syria, will arrive in Spain in a few days. AlfayOmega speaks with him by telephone as he makes a stopover on his way to our country. "Israel bombed the airports of Aleppo and Damascus on Sunday. Many flights were suspended. I had to go through Jordan," he explains.
More Conferences and Masses in the Holy Land
The Franciscan friar will be the principal witness of the initiative "Masses for Peace in the Holy Land," a series of conferences and Masses organized throughout Spain by the Commissariat of the Holy Land and the Holy Land Center. Since June, the Commissariat had been preparing the visit of this Jordanian Franciscan in Syria to launch this initiative and promote pilgrimages to the Holy Places. Initially, there were to be only three conferences in Madrid, Valencia, and Seville. However, as Fray Luis Quintana, Vice-Commissary of the Holy Land in Spain, also explained to AlfayOmega, "what had not been prepared until a few days ago were the Masses for peace." "Taking advantage of the fact that he is going to give these conferences, we have complemented each day with these Eucharistic celebrations in different places."
The Climate of War is Not Conducive to a Possible Peace in Syria
Indeed, the flare-up of violence between Israel and Gaza has disrupted plans and multiplied the needs of everyone in the region, especially Christians. Father Fadi says he is leaving Syria these days not without concern about the risk of the conflict spreading to Lebanon, where Israel and Hezbollah are already exchanging artillery fire, or to Syria itself. "Peace will not come to Syria with the situation that currently exists throughout the region," laments the Franciscan friar on the other side of the demarcation line.
In his parish, he cares for 700 families, most of whom are displaced persons from Idlib. This Syrian region is under the control of the Islamist group Al-Nusra and was previously under the domination of the Islamic State. Before the war, the Christian population was very significant, but most of them have left the country or taken refuge in safer Syrian regions, like Latakia. There, the Sacred Heart parish provides everything these families "and many elderly people" need, explains Father Fadi. "Because the young people have left. Only the elderly remain, who have no pension," he adds.
People Are Angry Because They No Longer Want War
Syria is the sad example of what war is. The country is about to enter its 13th year of conflict. "People are angry because they no longer want war," insists the pastor. It is this reality that will be addressed in this series of conferences and for which prayers will be offered during the Masses. The proceeds from these celebrations will go to the Mother Church of Jerusalem, that is, to the countries where the Custody of the Holy Land operates.
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We Are Not Giving Up on Pilgrimages
Brother Luis Quintana recalls that "the objective of these days is to speak about the reality of Christians in the Middle East." But since events dictate, "we will also talk about the situation of Christians in Palestine and Gaza." "We even had to change the poster. Just a few days ago, the poster announcing the conferences in Madrid, Valencia, and Seville said: 'Pilgrimage to the Holy Land helps its Christians.' Now, we have put: 'The Holy Land needs you more than ever'," explains the Vice-Commissary of the Holy Land in Spain.
And how can we help in these difficult days for the Holy Land? Fray Fadi summarizes the situation:
"We must pray for peace in the Middle East. And we need help, because there is so much poverty. Through prayer, donations, and pilgrimages… when we can. We are not giving up on them," concludes Fray Luis.
This article was originally published by AlfayOmega and then translated by LeCatho | Original Link.