Interview with His Beatitude Michael Sabah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

The Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land is launching a new web site, which is meant to offer news and information about the local Catholic Church. Which role will it have?
 The new web site is important to reflect the variety found in the Holy Land. A Land that belongs to its inhabitants, but also the Land where every Christian is born. To have up to date information on the holy Land is important for every Christian.

 The Holy Land Communications Centre will address Christians everywhere, and link them with the events that take place here. It is the duty of the Centre to work so that the life of the local community will be known and understood by those visiting the web site. By this, I mean to say that all aspects of Christian life, from the great celebration and the activities of large parishes, down to the daily life of the small communities scattered around the Holy Land, will have to be explored.

The Catholic Church in the Holy Land is present with a variety of rites. How can the Universal Church be more attentive to this reality?
       I think it will be enough to report about the life of our communities. Here in the Holy Land we see the presence of 13 different Churches. Six of them are Catholic, five Orthodox, and two Protestants. It is a lively and diverse reality, a reality that is open to dialogue and fraternal encounters. When we meet, we always experience real friendship. I hope this aspect of mutual respect and love will become evident to other local Churches.

The Latin Patriarchate covers a vast area. How can you work amongst so many different cultural backgrounds?
       The reality is a little different than what you say. The island of Cyprus is indeed a Greek enclave within the Patriarchate. There the community is small, about one thousand people. However, there are some 15.000 Catholics that come from other countries, mostly people who have decided to live their last years of life there.
       In Israel, Palestine and Jordan we find a homogeneous Arab culture. The Catholic community of Hebrew expression is small and lives within a Jewish background.

You have often stated that the local community has a specific vocation. How can the Church help the local community?
       God helps the growth of the faith within the community. The local Church, the community of the faithful, must become aware of its vocation. The faithful are called to rediscover their vocation, and this means to be ready to give witness of their faith in this Land. The Universal Church can help by showing its support. Indeed, we receive many messages of support. People offer their prayer for the Church in this land. Yet, there is nothing that can substitute the continuous rediscovery of their call by the community that live in this Land.

Do you think the Holy Land Catholic Communications Centre will be able to help the many Churches to work together?
       This Centre is the result of a journey of the Churches and it is the duty of those in charge of it to give a voice to all the expression of the faith in our Land. By sharing our lives, we shall reach a deeper communion amongst ourselves and with others. The Communications Centre can become a virtual meeting place where to grow in communion and mutual respect.