As the Palestinian cause endures mounting challenges, the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, chaired by Dr. Ramzi Khoury, member of the PLO Executive, commemorates the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement between the State of Palestine and the Holy See. This milestone stands as a pivotal chapter in the long-standing partnership between the State of Palestine and the Holy See, reaffirming Palestine’s enduring presence in the global spiritual and humanitarian conscience.
The agreement reaffirmed the deep-rooted bond between the Palestinian people and the Holy See, a relationship grounded in shared values of faith, freedom, dignity, justice, and the right to self-determination. It underscored the legitimate and inalienable right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state on their national soil, in accordance with international law and resolutions.
This historic agreement committed the State of Palestine to safeguarding the Catholic Church’s full freedom in carrying out its spiritual, educational, and social mission. It guarantees legal recognition of the Church’s status, institutional independence, and autonomy in managing its internal affairs, including recognition of the jurisdiction of ecclesiastical courts over matters of personal status for members of the Church, in accordance with canon law. It also reaffirmed the protection and respect of the Status Quo governing Christian holy sites.
Over the past decade, under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian government has remained fully committed to implementing the agreement both in spirit and practice. The Higher Presidential Committee has worked closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, the Palestinian Embassy to the Holy See, and relevant institutions to ensure the full realization of the agreement’s provisions. These efforts have played a vital role in preserving the authentic Christian presence in Palestine, promoting religious pluralism, and strengthening national unity based on the principles of equal citizenship.
One of the most significant outcomes of this partnership was the inauguration of the new premises of the Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Holy See, an event attended by President Abbas and blessed by His Holiness the late Pope Francis. This occasion sent a powerful message about the depth of mutual commitment to Palestinian rights and the strengthening of Palestine’s diplomatic presence in the heart of the Vatican. Since then, the embassy has remained an active and vital voice, defending Palestinian interests, participating in Vatican ceremonies, and highlighting Palestine’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage, as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, the Way of the Cross, and home to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The canonization of two Palestinian saints – St. Mariam Baouardy and St. Marie Alphonsine – marked a luminous moment in affirming Palestine’s spiritual identity on the world stage. It serves as a reminder that the Holy Land will forever remain etched in the conscience of humanity, despite all efforts to erase or marginalize it.
As the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, in close coordination with the Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Holy See, reaffirms its steadfast commitment to safeguarding these achievements, it continues its work alongside the Holy See to uphold Palestinian rights and champion the voice of justice, until the Palestinian people attain their freedom and realize their vision of an independent, sovereign state, founded on the values of faith, dignity, and justice.
