MIDDLE EAST: Archbishop of Canterbury meets with heads of churches in Jerusalem
Episcopal News Service. February 23, 2010 [022310-03]
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams on Feb. 22 held a series of meetings with the three most senior heads of churches in Jerusalem: His Beatitude Theophilus III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and members of the Holy Synod; His Beatitude Torkom II, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; and His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
"The already-warm relations that exist between the various local churches in Jerusalem were underlined, as was the common responsibility of the church globally to confirm and strengthen the presence of vulnerable Christian communities in the Holy Land, including in Jerusalem," said a press release from Lambeth Palace, Williams' London residence. "Each encounter reiterated that everything possible needed to be done to ensure that the Christian communities in the Holy Land could continue to flourish and contribute to the wider good of all communities in the region."
Accompanied by Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem Suheil Dawani and Church of Ireland Bishop Michael Jackson of Clogher, co-chair of the Anglican Jewish Commission, the archbishop led the Anglican delegation in the fourth meeting of the dialogue with the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
"The meeting was characterized by a deepening sense of trust and openness, and a growing determination to work towards a greater mutual understanding between the faiths, and especially between the Jewish and Christian communities in the Holy Land," the release said. "This growing mutual respect and confidence was symbolized by the delegations together visiting Yad Vashem," the holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.
Following a guided tour, members of the delegations "stood together in a moment of reflection beside the eternal flame at the Hall of Remembrance," the release said. Williams, Dawani and Jackson laid a wreath and prayed silently together.
A copy of the communiqué from the dialogue is available here.
Following the visit to Yad Vashem, Williams was received by Israeli President Shimon Peres. In a 40-minute meeting "they discussed the current state of relations between Israel and Palestine, the contribution of Christian communities and their institutions -- especially schools and hospitals -- to national life, the importance of interfaith dialogue, and a range of environmental issues, including water," the release said.
The meeting with the heads of churches, the dialogue with the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, and the visit to Yad Vashem came on the third day of Williams' four-day visit to the Holy Land, which concludes Feb. 23.
On Feb. 21, Williams and Dawani were received by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan at the culmination of a two-day visit to the Kingdom.