Gaza Catholics without Sunday mass: Pope's diplomatic envoy barred from Strip
Ma'an News
24 Novembre 2008
Bethlehem – The Catholic faithful in Gaza had no mass on Sunday when Israel barred a senior church envoy and several priests from entering the Strip.
In a statement the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said Papal Nuncio in Israel Archbishop Antonio Franco and priests Shawki Baterian and Humam Khzouz arrived at the Erez border crossing at 8:15 on Sunday morning expecting to be permitted to enter the Strip.
The Latin Patriarchate said it had been in contact with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and senior Israeli Army command regarding the visit since Tuesday. Red Cross and United Nations teams were allowed to enter Gaza on Sunday while the Catholic delegation waited at the border.
The clerics were en route to Gaza to celebrate mass “at the Holy Family Church in Gaza with local faithful the last Sunday before advent season begins, to highlight that the Holy See is close to the people in Gaza, and its Christian communities in these difficult days.”
The church’s normal priest, Monsignor Manuel Mussallam, was also not present. Mussallam was permitted to leave Gaza for the first time in eight years last week, and was with family in the West Bank on Sunday.
Three churches serve Gaza's 2,000 Christians, who are mainly Catholic and Greek Orthodox.
Source > Ma'an News | nov 23