Patriarch Pizzaballa visits Taybeh to support Palestinian Christians

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited Taybeh, a West Bank village known as the last Palestinian community inhabited entirely by Christians, on August 15. The visit, coinciding with the Feast of the Assumption, served as a gesture of support for a community facing increasing instability.

The local population is experiencing heightened pressure due to restrictions on access, intimidation, and violence attributed to Israeli settlers. Furthermore, an Israeli decree in July declared the Taybeh and Rimon area a closed military zone, restricting access to parts of the urban center, agricultural lands, and religious sites. This has raised significant concerns regarding the ability of pilgrims, journalists, and residents to move freely.

During a mass at the Church of the Redeemer, Pizzaballa pledged the Church’s commitment to the region, stating, “We will continue to do everything in our power to preserve the ecclesial presence here, at every level, throughout the Holy Land.” Local parish priest Bashar Fawadleh emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting the risk of the village being emptied of its inhabitants as residents face pressure to abandon their ancestral lands.