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Your Eminence, has the situation for Christians in the Holy Land improved since the ceasefire in October?
The living conditions for Christians and for many others have not improved significantly. The main difference concerns the war itself. There is no active fighting as there was in recent months, but living conditions are exactly the same. Perhaps things are different in the Bethlehem area because of Christmas. We decided to celebrate Christmas in a normal and festive way, with lights and music, so that people can breathe again for a moment. People need light in their lives. But particularly in Gaza and in the West Bank, living conditions remain very difficult, socially and economically as well as politically. It is not clear which government will come next.
You recently experienced the Pope’s visit to Lebanon at first hand. What particularly impressed you there?
What impressed me first was the enthusiasm of the Lebanese people, all of them, not only Catholics but also non Christians. For many years people felt forgotten, even after the Lebanon war, especially in the south. There are many wounds there. With the Pope’s visit, a new spirit entered the community, and this was tangible everywhere throughout the visit. The meeting with young people, which I attended, was also a great gift for me. The young people were not only happy, but also full of hope. Pope Leo placed particular emphasis on this. Hope and peace were themes that ran like a thread through his addresses. The overall atmosphere was very positive.
During his apostolic journey, the Holy Father strongly called for Christian unity. What could be the next step for Christians on their common path?
It is important that we continue on this path. We know that a long journey still lies ahead of us. We must not be naive and think this can be achieved quickly. First, we should acknowledge what we already share, especially in the Middle East, where Christians of different denominations already live together. Families are mixed confessionally, and Christians work together in schools and many other places. This needs to be recognised and strengthened pastorally. We also need to find a common voice on international and universal issues such as peace, justice and human dignity. These unite us regardless of our differences and denominations. We must continue working on this and gradually improve our everyday pastoral relationships within our communities. Perhaps one day we will even have a common calendar. We must take our time. What matters to me is that in the meantime we do not neglect the small steps, so that we can achieve greater things.
What are ecumenical relations like between Catholics and Orthodox Christians in the Holy Land?
Our relations at the institutional level are very good, and at grassroots level they also work well. I freely admit that on both sides there are some priests who tend towards excessive strictness, but fundamentally the relationships are good. I would like to emphasise again that ninety per cent of Christian families among us are mixed confessionally. Catholics and Orthodox Christians marry one another. Relations between the Churches are for us a pastoral issue, not a theological one.
How does the Holy Father’s work for peace affect the Holy Land, also with regard to religious leaders?
The Holy Father’s work for peace is very important. Especially in this time of war, with all its human devastation, when we sometimes feel lost, we need points of reference, someone who helps us to look beyond our own horizons and gives us orientation. In this sense, the Pope, as a recognised leader, can help us through his words to shape our Christian narrative in this very complex environment.
You recently said in an interview with the National Catholic Register that the German Synodal Path is irrelevant to the lives of Christians in the Holy Land. Which theological discussions do you personally consider important for the reform of the Church?
The issues of the Synodal Path in Germany, and many other topics in Western countries, do not particularly resonate in the Middle East. We live in a completely different reality. This is not a judgement, it is simply a fact. That is the reality. Theology is not experienced here in such a dramatic way. Our Churches are traditional, and we live in and through the community of the Church. For us, strengthening relations between the Churches is what matters most. For Christians here, harmonious coexistence between the Churches is the priority.
Can you give examples of projects or joint institutions that you see as positive examples of these efforts?
There are many examples. I will begin with the most dramatic context at present, Gaza. The Orthodox and Catholic parishes work together everywhere, not only in humanitarian aid but also in schools and pastoral activities. They also coordinate liturgical activities so that they do not interfere with one another. That was not the case some years ago. In villages where there are Catholic and Orthodox schools, we try to cooperate. Since unfortunately we have fewer Christian pupils, we organise things so that one Church runs the primary school and the other the secondary school, or vice versa. In this way we provide the same education. Orthodox and Catholic schools use the same catechetical books, which we develop together. There are many more examples.
In these schools, how are the classes composed?
That depends on the school, but generally about half of the pupils are Christian. In some schools Muslims make up the majority of pupils, depending on the location. In all our schools, the presence of non Christians is very important, not only in terms of numbers but also in terms of mission.
What do you hope for your flock in the Holy Land?
I hope for better political and social living conditions for us. I hope that the community preserves its unity, its commitment to life and its resilience in this complicated situation. But that requires greater patience. We must not confuse hope with a political solution.
