A young Palestinian Christian gives us an insight into life in the area, which is characterised by great difficulties but also by hope, particularly among the younger generations.
My name is Rafi Ghattas, and I am a Palestinian Christian originally from Jerusalem, involved in social work and communications. I believe there is no young Palestinian who hasn’t been directly affected by current events. Not only since 2023, but after more than seventy years of territorial crisis that have profoundly shaped our daily lives.
Today, these difficult political and social conditions have penetrated every aspect of our Palestinian lives: where we work, where we study, where we live, who we marry, how many children we have, who we befriend, where we travel, how we entertain ourselves, how we return home, and where we pray.
These are questions that every young person in the Holy Land asks themselves every day, often without even realizing it. The answers are far more complex than one might imagine, because every choice is conditioned by a constantly shifting political and military reality.
Somehow, however, young Palestinians have learned to adapt, not for the sake of circumstances, but for the sake of life itself. This condition gives rise to a particular resilience, linked to the constant search for any possibility of survival and the will to continue living despite everything.
Faith is perhaps the most important weapon in the hands of the Palestinian people in general, and especially for us Palestinian Christians. Christians in the Holy Land know that this land witnessed the suffering of Christ. Here, His blood mingled with the stones of the city of Jerusalem. Here, Jesus walked the path of the Passion carrying the cross; here, he wept over this city and its people.
Yet history did not end with the crucifixion; rather, the resurrection proclaimed his definitive victory over death. Palestinian Christians believe that today they walk with Jesus on the path of suffering, but they also know that this path leads to the resurrection.
We Palestinian Christians feel that today we carry the cross of pain. But together with Christ, we believe that sooner or later, the dawn of resurrection, freedom, and salvation will also arrive. This faith has become a source of spiritual strength and hope that enables us to face daily reality without losing faith in the future.
The challenges Palestinians face today are countless. Pressure has reached such a pitch that even a simple “like” on social media—for example, on a photo of a displaced child in Gaza—can have very serious consequences. In many cases, Israeli police arrest Palestinians without formal charges, applying what is known as “Emergency Law.”
The Israeli municipality closes Palestinian recreational and cultural centres on charges of incitement, while at the same time, the authorities allow Israeli settlers to organise provocative activities under the eyes of the police. Added to this is the demolition of thousands of Palestinian homes, the confiscation of land and property, and the imposition of very heavy taxes.
As a result, thousands of Palestinians have been forced to emigrate or have decided to leave the country. Among them are many Christian families who have chosen to emigrate without return due to the war, difficult economic conditions, and the security situation. This has led to a drastic decline in the number of Christians in the Holy Land, who today represent less than 0.5% of the total population. This is a deeply worrying phenomenon, because for the first time in the history of Christianity, there is fear that this generation of young Christians may be the last. Despite all this, we Palestinians continue to defend with vigour our traditions, our history, and our beliefs.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem carries out numerous projects, offering material, psychological, and logistical support, along with many pastoral and ecclesial activities. It is also one of the largest employers in the Holy Land: thousands of Palestinians, both Christians and Muslims, work in its institutions, such as schools, universities, medical centres, and hospitals, as well as facilities offering financial, health, legal, and psychological assistance.
In addition to these initiatives, the Catholic Church has implemented various projects to serve the local population, welcome foreign pilgrims, and support those in need, regardless of their religious affiliation. As far as we young Christians are concerned, the Patriarchate represents the point of reference for all Christian youth groups in the Holy Land, including scouts and various youth movements.
Among these organisations, the General Secretariat of Christian Youth in Palestine, known as the “Youth of Jesus’ Homeland,” stands out. This institution works to strengthen the ties of Christians to their homeland and to counter emigration through activities, meetings, and initiatives that also promote employment opportunities and social inclusion.
At the same time, the organisation is committed to raising awareness of the plight of young Palestinian Christians regionally and internationally, becoming a key point of reference for young Christians in the Holy Land.
I wish to emphasise that the responsibility of preserving the Christian presence in the Holy Land does not fall solely on us, Palestinian Christians, or on the Church of Jerusalem. It is a responsibility that belongs to the entire Church and must be shared by all Christians worldwide. Emptying the Holy Land of Christians would represent a grave wound to the Church. Therefore, everyone is called to help in any way they can.
First and foremost, through unity in prayer to bring forth justice and truth; otherwise, there can be no authentic peace. At the same time, we ask the bishops and dioceses of the world to continue to be a voice of truth, organising meetings and conferences with Palestinians to share their suffering.
It is also important to promote pilgrimages to the Holy Land, not only to visit churches and historic sites, but also to meet the people who live there: the descendants of the first Christians who brought the Gospel to Rome and the rest of the world. They are the living stones of the Holy Land.
Finally, it would be essential to promote meetings and exchanges among us young people, encouraging dialogue and sharing experiences, thus enabling young Christians to gain a better understanding of the land where Jesus took flesh, lived, and accomplished his mission of salvation. (ed.Emiliano Eusepi/VN)
