A delegation from the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, led by the head of the committee, Dr. Ramzi Khouri, member of the PLO Executive Committee, has concluded an official visit to Vatican City. During this visit, the delegation engaged with key political and diplomatic figures from the Holy See, accompanied by Palestine’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Issa Kassissieh, and Ambassador Amira Hanania, the committee’s representative in Europe.
The delegation held meetings with Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, Archbishop Flavio Pace, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, Mr. Marco Impagliazzo, President of Comunità di Sant’Egidio, and the Minister of State for the Sovereign Order of Malta.
As part of the visit, the delegation also toured the Jordanian exhibition, “Jordan: The Dawn of Christianity.”
Dr. Khouri conveyed President Mahmoud Abbas’s warm regards to Pope Francis, expressing deep appreciation for the
Holy See’s steadfast support for Palestinian rights. He also commended the Vatican’s firm stance against U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to forcibly displace the people of Gaza.
During discussions, Dr. Khouri underscored the grave and rapidly deteriorating situation in Palestine, pointing to the escalating Israeli crimes in the West Bank that have intensified despite the ceasefire in Gaza. He warned of Israel’s systematic efforts to uproot the Palestinian people from their homeland, highlighting the severe impact on the existence of Palestinian Christians.
He further revealed alarming findings from a report prepared by the committee, which estimates a 50% decline in the Palestinian Christian population in Gaza since the onset of Israel’s genocidal war. A copy of this report was presented during the Vatican meetings. Dr. Khouri also emphasized the ongoing violations and growing threats to Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, the daily incursions into Palestinian towns and villages, and the widespread instability that directly endangers the Palestinian Christian presence.
He called for greater international efforts to safeguard the Palestinian people, including Christians, urging global institutions and organizations to step up their support in preserving their rights, resilience, and continued presence in their homeland.
