The new Israeli Ambassador to the Holy See has promised to do ‘everything possible’ to help Christian communities in the Holy Land that will stem the tide of emigration.Mordechay Lewy said: "We shall do our utmost to help strengthen the Christian communities in Israel as their essential presence in the Holy Land is deeply rooted and historically self-understood."
He made his comments after an audience with Pope Benedict XVI. "Israel would like to reiterate its commitment to maintain the status quo in the Christian holy places and to uphold the respective rights that the Christian communities enjoy under it," he said.
The Ambassador observed that the majority of Christians who leave the Holy Land are motivated more by social and economic reasons than by political ones. In general, he added, they have received a good education in Christian schools and thus, can easily find work in other countries.
There have also been concerns raised among Christian groups in the Gaza strip about the attitude of Hamas towards their presence. Last year a Christian bookshop in Gaza City was bombed and threats were made against other Christian groups and individuals.
The ambassador also said he was interested in responding to Benedict XVI's request to facilitating the visa process for priests and religious from countries who do not have relations with Israel or whose countries are at war. He acknowledged that a solution could be difficult, since he said it is hard to make exceptions based on religious or ecclesial status.
In the discourse he addressed to the Pope, he said: "Our respective spiritual traditions for the Judeo-Christian heritage, which is so central to modern culture and civilization can create a common platform to both of us."
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