“Support to the mother Church of Jerusalem, to the work of the Custody, and to the protection and safeguard of the Christian sanctuaries is something that closely concerns all of us”. This was said by the Custodian of the Holy Land, father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, in an interview with SIR, to explain the importance of the Good Friday Collection, falling on April 22nd this year, which has always been traditionally spent for the Holy Places. “A lot has been done, but a lot is still to be done”, states the Custodian, who thinks that “some Churches should promote the Collection better, as it is also a way to get to learn more about the Church that is in the Holy Land, its communities, the difficult economic, social and religious conditions in which they have to live and work” and which drives the local Christians to migrate. Despite the global economic crisis, father Pizzaballa says he is confident that, “even in this adverse economic climate, Christians will not fail the Holy Land and the local Christian communities. We have to provide our devotees with reasons to be hopeful, and the Collection is an effective way to do just that. It is important for the mother Church of Jerusalem to feel the support of the universal Church”.

© www.agensir.it - april, 15th 2011