by Daoud Kuttab

In recent weeks, the unprecedented pastoral and popular activity of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has been observed. Since his inauguration as a cardinal, he has been active with extended pastoral visits to the villages of Aboud and Ein Arik, and before that to Beit Sahour, Zababdeh, and Gaza (and other locations) in Palestine, the Jubaiha neighborhood in Amman, and the city of Fuheis in Jordan, and additional visits are expected to include Madaba in May and other sites where a good number of Christians are located.

What distinguishes these visits is their broad social character, which goes beyond only the traditional pastoral visit. His Beatitude visited, for example, the University of Jordan, and met with mayors, directors of schools, and social, cultural, and sports centers, in addition to meeting with representatives of local security authorities and tribes. He visited the sick families accompanied by pastors of the Latin Church and the sacrament was offered to the sick. He met with children in schools and held conferences with several heads of Catholic churches. He also visited the Greek Orthodox Archbishop, in addition to strengthening the relationship with his parish and pastors of Latin churches.

Father Imad al-Twal, pastor of the Latin Church in Fuheis, described the visit as a “national pride” and this description is correct and accurate. The hope is that the local Church leaders will continue in the coming meetings, as Father Imad did, by arranging expanded meetings that include all components of the local mosaic.

Some may say that the purpose of the visit by the Italian ecclesiastical official, who is a son of the diocese, is aimed at further familiarizing himself with the nature of Palestinian and Jordanian societies. No doubt this is happening to address the special personnel needs coming near ecclesiastical entitlements to fill the functional vacuum in the highest positions of the church. Regardless, whatever the reason is, the spiritual head of the Latin community has drawn the road map for everyone who wishes to be in a position of spiritual leadership.

As one of them said, the necessary character of the next bishop in Amman and Jerusalem should be those who have real connections and contact with the people, not just those who have higher degrees.

But with great appreciation for what His Beatitude the Cardinal is doing, we would like to whisper in his ear a few comments. For example, meetings with other churches should be expanded. Why did he not meet, as Pope Francis does, with representatives of other churches that are members of the Middle East Council of Churches? There are representatives of the other denominations of the Orthodox family such as Copts, Syriacs, and Armenians, and there are representatives of the Evangelical family such as Anglicans, Lutherans, Baptists, and others. We also reiterate our request as an Arab Christian media institution that His Beatitude should open up to the Arab Christian media and provide opportunities for interviews to explain to the Christian public in particular and the Arab public, in general, his vision of the role of the Church in particular in these difficult days.

Despite these simple observations, it is necessary to recognize the importance and effectiveness of the work of His Beatitude, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the need to extend sincere greetings and thanks to Cardinal Pizzaballa, in the hope that in-depth visits to all regions in our beloved East will continue.