Vatican City, Mar 8, 2010 / 10:31 am
The Holy See has launched this year’s Easter appeal for the support of Christians in the Holy Land. The call for support is accompanied by an exhortation to reinforce solidarity and preserve the “Christian origins” of the region.
In a letter to priests released by the Holy See’s Press Office on Monday, the prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, presents the motivations for this year’s initiative, inspired by Pope Benedict’s pilgrimage there last May.
Asking for prayers, participation and practical generosity, Cardinal Sandri calls for the collaboration of pastors from the Church around the world. In this universality, he writes, they will find motivation to be sensitive to the needs of the Church in the Middle East, which can be manifested in the form of help, remembrance and collections for this year’s appeal.
Recalling the inspiration provided by Benedict XVI upon his visit to the Holy Land in May of 2009, Cardinal Sandri reminds the clergy of the Church's commitment to the preservation of holy places.