Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, made a pastoral visit to Taybeh—the last remaining entirely Christian village in Palestine—on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Addressing the local community during Mass at the Latin Church of Christ the Redeemer, the Patriarch expressed his strong solidarity with residents facing heightened isolation and uncertainty. He assured them that the Church would do everything within its power to preserve a continuous Christian presence across the Holy Land.
The visit comes in the wake of a recent military order issued in July that declared parts of Taybeh and neighboring Rimon a closed zone. The order restricts access for foreign nationals, journalists, and pilgrims, impacting local agricultural land, historical landmarks, and religious sites. Acknowledging these severe constraints, Patriarch Pizzaballa encouraged villagers to guard their hearts against fear and despair. “We want to remain a community that gives birth to life, without giving up our rights—our right to life,” he stressed, urging the faithful to remain courageous and steadfast.
Welcoming the Patriarch on behalf of the parish, Father Bashar Fawadleh described Cardinal Pizzaballa’s presence as that of a father standing beside his children during times of hardship. He noted that the visit served as a crucial reminder that the community is not isolated, carrying both “the cross and the hope of this land.” Highlighting that the village’s struggles are gaining broader attention globally, Cardinal Pizzaballa emphasized the wider significance of their perseverance, telling residents that their example is vital for maintaining a Christian voice amid the region’s complex dynamics.