On Sunday, December 31, 2023, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by His Eminence the Grand Master Cardinal Fernando Filoni; Ambassador Leonardo Visconti di Modrone, Governor General of the EOHSJ; and Dr. François Vayne, Director of Communications, visited Our Lady of Fatima parish in Beit Sahour to celebrate the feast of the Holy Family.
The parish priest, Fr. Issa Hijazin, welcomed them, and thanked the Latin Patriarchate and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem for the work they are doing in the Holy Land.
His Eminence Cardinal Filoni said: “Faith begins here from Bethlehem. The shepherds and the Magi all became pilgrims when they came to the Holy Land. And all the prophets walked in faith, because faith is the key to understanding the Christian life”. He added: “In faith we come out of the cycle of violence and enter into love. We pray that God will grant peace to the world on the feast of the Holy Family and that this land will return to be a place of peace”.
After the Mass, H.B. Card. Pizzaballa, congratulated everyone on the feast of the Holy Family and the New Year, wishing them a blessed year ahead. They also met with the parishioners in the church hall to exchange congratulations.
