The Archdiocese of Detroit will receive from December 4 to 7 Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, on a pastoral visit aimed at highlighting the dramatic situation of Christians in the Holy Land. According to the archdiocese's vice-chancellor, Fr. Adam Nowak, the invitation arose after consulting the local Arab Catholic communities, who expressed their desire to hear the patriarch's voice directly.
The organizers emphasize that the purpose of the visit is deeply pastoral: “to show spiritual closeness and solidarity with our Christian brothers who suffer in the Holy Land”, Nowak stated in comments to CNA. In a context marked by violence, instability, and the continued exodus of Christians in the Middle East, Pizzaballa's presence aims to bear witness and remind that the Church in the Holy Land remains alive, though sorely tested.
Meetings, prayer, and fundraising to support Christians in the region
The central point of the visit will be the charity dinner on December 5, organized by the Archbishop of Detroit, Msgr. Edward Weisenburger, to support the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and its pastoral and humanitarian aid projects. The patriarchate has jurisdiction over Latin and Melkite Catholics in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Cyprus, territories where Christian communities face great difficulties.
Weisenburger noted that the Christians of the Holy Land “heroically maintain and protect the holy places that are sacred to all of us”, and recalled that they need the material and spiritual support of the universal Church to sustain their faith amid adversity.
Detroit: a community with deep roots in the Middle East
Southeastern Michigan hosts one of the most vibrant Middle Eastern Catholic communities in the United States, with a notable presence of Chaldean, Maronite, and Melkite faithful. Many of them have experienced war, religious persecution, and precariousness firsthand. Therefore, the patriarch's visit holds special importance for those who maintain strong ties to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, or Palestine.
Cardinal Pizzaballa will begin his visit on December 4 at a fundraising event organized by the Chaldean Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle. Father Marcus Shammami indicated that the Chaldean bishop, Msgr. Francis Y. Kalabat, wants to use this occasion to make visible the Christian presence in the Middle East: “Many in the world forget that there are still Christians there”, he affirmed.
For the Chaldean community, mostly composed of families who fled the Iraqi conflict, the patriarch's message is especially significant. Shammami recalled that “the world remained silent during our years of suffering in Iraq”. And he warned: “We want to make sure it doesn't happen again”. Although the Iraqi government formally recognizes religious freedom, it imposes practical limitations on Christian communities. For this reason, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom keeps Iraq on its special watch list.
A visit to strengthen hope and keep the Christian presence alive
During his stay in Detroit, Cardinal Pizzaballa will participate in prayer gatherings, meetings with the faithful, and awareness activities about the situation in the Holy Land. On Sunday, December 7, he will celebrate Mass at the National Shrine Basilica of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, one of the region's most emblematic temples.
The patriarch's visit seeks not only to raise funds but also to raise awareness about the risk of disappearance of Christian communities in the places where Jesus was born and lived. A reality that, though often silenced, demands a firm response and continued support from the Catholic world.
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