Holy Land - in prayer & solidarity

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem," exhorted Bishop William Shomali in Jerusalem Monday 12th November 2012. Bishop Shomali of the Jerusalem Patriarchate was meeting 52 pilgrims of Aid to the Church in Need UK who had just helped carry a wooden cross along the Via Dolorosa during the Way of the Cross, following the path of Christ,in solidarity and prayer with suffering Christians in the Middle East. The group of ACN pilgrims had already met Christian families in Bethlehem, travelled to the Solidarity Housing Project for Christians in Beit Safa and visited the Latin Seminary in Bethlehem. The bishop stressed how much the Christian communities appreciated the prayers, understanding and solidarity of Aid to the Church in Need and other charities at this uncertain and difficult time. "Sometimes it might seem hopeless to pray for peace - but Our Lord calls us to do this - and we trust in him." Reflecting upon the recent outbreaks of violence on the Israel-Syria border, in the Golan Heights, Bishop Shomali expressed his concern and compassion for all refugees and for those who are suffering in the Syrian conflict. He also went on express his concern that the Syrian crisis could spread further and said that Jordan was "the sandwich between Israel and Syria - and if that sandwich is consumed in the spread of conflict then all would be deeply worried." Bishop Shomali ended by stating that "It is so difficult for Palestinian Christians - please continue to tell people of their plight, pray for them and help them to remain here in the Holy Land."