Dr.Ramzi Khouri, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Churches Affairs in Palestine, participated in the midnight mass at St. Catherine’s Church in Bethlehem on the occasion of Christmas according to the Western calendar. The mass was presided over by His Beatitude Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, in the presence of Cardinal Conrad Krajevski, representing Pope Francis, and a gathering of bishops, priests, monks, mayors, security officials, ambassadors, and prominent figures.
Cardinal Pizzaballa conveyed a message from Pope Francis, calling for peace in the region and standing by the Palestinian people. He urged immediate international intervention to find a permanent and just solution for the region, emphasizing the need for peace, stability, and security for all.
Dr. Khouri, in his speech, conveyed President Abbas’s greetings to the celebrants of the Western Christmas and the New Year. He highlighted the pain and sorrow experienced by the Palestinian people, particularly in Bethlehem, due to the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. Dr. Khouri called on the international community to intervene to stop the brutal and systematic war, provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, and work towards a political solution, ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine and its capital, East Jerusalem, based on the 1967 borders.
In conclusion, Dr. Khouri asked the worshippers to pray for our righteous martyrs, healing for our wounded, and freedom for our prisoners, the expressing hope for a new year free from israeli Aggression and full of peace.
Dr. Khouri also participated in the Anglican Christmas mass at St. George’s Church in Bethlehem, led by Bishop Hossam Naoum, with the presence of Metropolitan Venedictus, Bishop of the Nativity Church.
Bishop Naoum thanked President Mahmoud Abbas, represented by Dr. Ramzi Khouri, and addressed the suffering of our people, drawing parallels with the time of Christ when Herod killed children and Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt. He also spoke about the destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.
Additionally, Khouri participated in the Lutheran Christmas mass led by Pastor Munther Isaac, with the presence of Bishop Ibrahim Sni Azar, ambassadors, representatives of countries, dignitaries, and worshippers. Pastor Isaac’s speech highlighted the challenging life of Christ and compared it to the lives of Palestinians in Gaza, emphasizing the need for faith, resilience, and service to others.
