When the conflict in the Holy Land began, he was still in Rome, but every two months he has been going to Jerusalem to film and record his programs in the Christian Media Centerthe communication channel of the Custody.
Now, in this interview, he tells us how he has lived through the war in Gaza, and conveys his longing and excitement to welcome pilgrims to Israel.
Father Marwan, always very close to the CARF Foundationhe tells us how a Catholic has experienced the conflict in Israel: "First of all, I would like to clarify that the conflict did not start between the Palestinians and the Israelis, it was between Hamas and the Israelis, which is totally different."
As a Catholic Christian, he lived the whole thing with anxiety, with a lot of fearnot knowing what their future would be because of this war. But what he also has to say is that being Catholic or Christian in Israel is no different than being of any other religion."
Marwan was born in Jerusalem in 1974 into an ecumenical family (his father was Orthodox and his mother Catholic) and was baptized by the Melkites, because his mother's uncle was a Melkite priest. He then studied at a prestigious Anglican school in Jerusalem.
Father Marwan, an Israeli citizen, of Arab-Palestinian ethnicity, Christian faith and raised among various confessions and rites, gives him a unique authority to explain very well the idiosyncrasies of the various confessions in the Holy Land.
"When there is a war we all live the consequences of it, and we all suffer in the same way. The only difference is that we try to Catholic Christians in the Holy Land in times of conflict, is to do what they can to be bridge builders for peace.", he says.
This commitment and mission of all Christians in Jerusalem, even in the minority, is rooted in their hearts. "It doesn't matter how many of us there are, what matters is what we do and how we do it. We are builders of bridges of peace between the different ethnicities, religions and nationalities of the population of the Holy Land. In quality, we make the difference," says the Franciscan priest.
And now, after the ceasefire, what are you looking forward to? what can pilgrims expect? Among the pilgrimages carried out by the CARF FoundationOne of them is to the holy places which, for the time being and due to the situation, has been postponed.
Recently, Father Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Places, and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierre-Batista Pizzaballa, appealed to pilgrims to return with confidence to visit the Land of Jesus.
"Of course they did, because they know that the holy places are still there, and the people of the Holy Land are still waiting for Christian pilgrims from all over the world to visit them," he says. father Marwan.
Father Marwan insists that the danger of the conflict has passed and that, after more than a year of war, the Christians of the Holy Land, the living stones, are excitedly awaiting the arrival of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to welcome them, and to be in union with them as brothers of the same church.
"And I must also say that pilgrims coming to the holy places will encounter the suffering of their people because of the war, but I assure you that his presence will be of great comfort to all, Christians and non-Christians alike".
Friar Marwan is very clear about one thing. At this time, one of the most urgent needs of Christians in Israel is to feel part of the universal Church.
"You know, sometimes people talk about how we need economic funds, sometimes justice and peace, even psychological support. But in this post-war era, I believe that the most important thing for the Holy Land and its people is the international presence of the universal church in the midst of chaos.
I believe that presence and being there is what we really need very urgently in the Holy Land. The more Christian pilgrims are present in the land of salvation, the more the universal Church will be present with them."
Let us hope that this call to make pilgrimages to the holy places, especially this year during the Jubilee of Hope, will be a reality that will bring great consolation to Christians.
Marta Santín, journalist specializing in religion.
