Dr. Rmazi Khouri, Member of the PLO Executive Committee and Head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Churches Affairs in Palestine attended the first mass given by HB Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Khouri was joined by Issa Qassisseh, Ambassador of Palestine to the Holy See, and Abeer Odeh, ambassador of Palestine to Italy.
Extending his warmest regards to HB Pizzaballa, Khouri said that Pizzaballa’s elevation to the position of cardinal underscores the significance of Jerusalem represents for the Holy See. He recounted Cardinal Pizzaballa’s own words in an interview with the Vatican News that his creation as Cardinal has raised the “voice of Jerusalem” within the Church and on the international stage.
Khouri also expressed profound gratitude to the Holy See for its firm commitment to protect the Palestinian Christian presence, particularly in Jerusalem, who struggle against Israel’s systematic campaign against everything Palestinian in occupied Jerusalem.