Jerusalem’s Catholic patriarch: 2014 was best, worst of times

Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, the top Roman Catholic cleric in Jerusalem, condemned the recent upsurge in violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories in his annual Christmas message.

“We condemn the Gaza war and deplore its dramatic consequences, killing and destruction, but at the same time, we condemn any category of violence and retaliation against innocent people such as the killing of people praying in a synagogue and attacks against mosques,” he said in a statement read by Bishop William Shomali at a press conference Thursday.

Reflecting on the events of the past year, Twal said he was reminded of Charles Dickens, and said that 2014 was “the best of times, [and] the worst of times.”

He called the the much-anticipated visit of Pope Francis in May “the best of times,” and praised his meetings with former president Shimon Peres, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I.

Twal called the recent rise in violence “the worst of times,” and sharply criticized instigators on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “Unfortunately, our beloved holy city of Jerusalem has been flowing with blood and tears. We do not want any religious antagonism in the holy city, whose vocation is to be the city of peace and inter-religious coexistence,” his statement read.

“The celebration of the birth of Jesus promises mercy, love and peace to countless people in their suffering and tribulations; to the people who see their lives shattered and their efforts broken in the tumultuous strife and hatred of our stormy days,” Twal concluded.

Israel last week issued 700 travel permits for Gazan Christians and 25,000 travel permits to West Bank Christians to travel to the West Bank and Jerusalem during the Christmas season.