Experimenting at the chemistry lab of Bethlehem University. The Department of Chemistry offers a course that leads to a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Chemistry. (photo: Steve Sabella)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPope Pius XII\u2019s relief initiatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pius XII, \u201cwithout abandoning the attitude of impartiality,\u201d did his utmost to attain justice and peace in Palestine. He sought to come to the aid of the victims of the war by sending the resources at his disposal to his representatives in Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt, and by encouraging the formation among Catholics in various countries of undertakings organized for the same purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In February of 1949, when an armistice came into effect, Pope Pius continued to demonstrate his concern for the plight of the Palestinian people and the status of the Holy Places. In his encyclical letter Redemptoris nostri cruciatus of 15 April 1949, he said, \u201cpiteous appeals still reach us from numerous refugees, of every age and condition, who have been forced by the disastrous war to emigrate and even live in exile in concentration camps, the prey to destitution, contagious disease and perils of every sort.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Establishment of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
During the preceding months, the Holy Father had been studying the efforts of the church among the refugees with a view to unifying all the work of humanitarian and charitable assistance of the Holy See into one overall pontifical agency. In April 1949, Pope Pius summoned to Rome Monsignor Thomas J. McMahon, National Secretary of Catholic Near East Welfare Association. The pope informed him of his intention to organize a special mission for Palestine and named him its president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On 18 June 1949, Eugene Cardinal Tisserant, Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church, published an Instruction announcing that the Holy Father had erected a Pontifical Mission for Palestine and outlined its competence: \u201c…it has been decided to bring together under the Pontifical Mission, operating in the Holy Land, all those organizations and associations which are engaged in activities concerning the East, and which are scattered throughout many countries of Europe and other continents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later, Pope Pius named Canon Jules Creten, rector of the archdiocesan seminary of Malines, as secretary of the mission, and he approved the nomination of Father Raphael Kratzer, O.F.M., as assistant to the president. The field headquarters of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine was established in Beirut. Later, offices were established in Jerusalem and in Amman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early organization and operations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Seven local Pontifical Mission for Palestine committees involving the papal representative, hierarchy, clergy, laity and charitable agencies were organized for Arab Palestine (West Jordan), Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, East Jordan, Israel and Gaza. Additionally, further central administrative and field staff was recruited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mission began to function as the liaison of the Holy See with the agencies of the United Nations and expanded the services of Catholic personnel to the same. It also served as liaison with the other voluntary agencies working in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the years that followed, the Pontifical Mission not only distributed many tons of food, clothing, medical supplies, temporary shelters and cooking equipment to the newly dispossessed, but also constructed homes for those who had lost their own. An outstanding achievement of the Pontifical Mission was its encouragement and endowment of training and educational programs to enable the refugees to help themselves through newly acquired skills and trades and to accede to literacy and higher schooling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope Paul VI\u2019s concern<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In October 1963, a few months after his election to the papacy, Paul VI, expressing his personal appreciation of and identification with the work of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine, wrote to its president that \u201cWe esteem highly the efforts and admirable achievements of that Mission, which we helped establish….\u201d He exhorted relief agencies everywhere to collaborate with the mission, addressing in particular Catholic Relief Services, the Custody of the Holy Land and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope Paul VI went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land in January 1964. His vivid and personal experiences there prompted him to call for new, important and creative initiatives on behalf of Palestinians and the church in Palestine. On 25 March 1974 in the encyclical letter on the increased needs of the church in the Holy Land, Nobis in animo, the pope spoke of \u201cthe grave religious, political and social problems existing in the Holy Land: the complex and delicate problems of the coexistence of the peoples of the region, of their living in peace, and questions of a religious, civil and human nature which involve the life of the different communities that live in the Holy Land.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope Paul warned that \u201cthe continuation of the state of tension in the Middle East, without conclusive steps towards peace having been taken, constitutes a serious and constant danger. This danger imperils not only the peace and security of the people there \u2014 and the peace of the whole world \u2014 but also threatens certain values which for various reasons are supremely dear to such a great part of mankind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New directions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In a letter to Msgr. John G. Nolan, national secretary of CNEWA and president of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the mission, Paul VI cited its work as \u201cone of the clearest signs of the Holy See\u2019s concern for the welfare of the Palestinians, who are particularly dear to us because they are the people of the Holy Land, because they include followers of Christ and because they have been and still are being so tragically tried.\u201d He expressed again \u201cour heartfelt sharing in their sufferings and our support for their legitimate aspirations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope Paul gave new impetus and new dimensions to the work of the mission. \u201cOur Mission for Palestine is thus about to be faced with a compelling task. In addition to continuing its assistance, without distinction of nationality or religion, to those who have suffered or are suffering in any way as a result of repeated conflicts which have devastated that region, the Mission will now have to expect, in the situation which is now evolving, to contribute to projects of aid, of rehabilitation and of development for the population of Palestine.\u201d He again called for promotion in the Catholic world of \u201can effective collaboration between all the relief organizations concerned with Palestine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope John Paul II acknowledged the continuing efforts of the mission in an address on the occasion of its 50th anniversary in 1999. \u201cIn the past 50 years,\u201d the pope said, \u201cthe Middle East has not ceased to experience moments of great tension and conflict, often exploding in acts of violence and outright war. In these circumstances, the Pontifical Mission has increased its efforts aimed at helping the local populations to rebuild their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn this way,\u201d the Holy Father continued, \u201cthe Pontifical Mission is an eloquent expression of that \u2018new culture of international solidarity and cooperation\u2019 (Incarnationis mysterium, n. 12) which is so necessary in the modern world, and which must be a hallmark of the new millennium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI pray that you and all those associated with the work of the Mission will be renewed in faith and love as you seek ever better ways of helping those in need not only of material support but especially of opportunities for personal and social development,\u201d the Pope concluded. \u201cThis is the surest path for establishing a true and lasting peace in the lives of the peoples of the Middle East.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contemporary challenges and structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As violence, conflict and warfare spread to Jordan (1970-71), Lebanon (1975-90), Palestine (1987-93, 2000-2005), Iraq (1991, 2003-2010, 2014 to present) and Syria (2011 to present), the Pontifical Mission became increasingly involved in assistance to all those uprooted, displaced and affected by the violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With its administration entrusted to CNEWA since its foundation, the Pontifical Mission for Palestine functions as CNEWA\u2019s operating agency in the Middle East. Always, CNEWA-PMP works through the local church to meet the pressing needs of those served by the church, from the provision of emergency aid to health care, educational support and post-traumatic counseling and catechesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because of its modest administrative structure, its non-governmental nature, and the confidence it enjoys among the local churches, the CNEWA-PMP acts quickly, expeditiously and effectively to alleviate human suffering and aid human development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I. Overview Immediately after the adoption on 29 November 1947 by the General Assembly of the United Nations of a plan for the partition of Palestine, renewed hostilities began between Arabs and Jews. This situation brought affliction and keen anxiety to the heart of the Holy Father, Pope Pius XII. 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