“Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ ” (Mt 25:37-40)

This year marks the 75th anniversary of Pontifical Mission, CNEWA’s operating agency in the Middle East, founded by Pope Pius XII in 1949 to assist the suffering and displaced Palestinian people.

I offer this reflection after the conclusion of the anniversary commemorations in Jerusalem (12-17 April), Amman (15-17 July) and Beirut (18-21 July). Since its founding, Pontifical Mission has faithfully served this region during times of war, COVID-19, natural disasters and a broad scope of sociopolitical and economic convulsions.

The most recent challenge is the ongoing devastation and loss of life that began on 7 October, with the attack of Hamas on Israel.

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, chair of CNEWA’s international board of trustees, led a CNEWA delegation to Israel and Palestine in April to mark the 75th anniversary. Thanks to Joseph Hazboun, regional director of CNEWA-Pontifical Mission in Jerusalem, and his team, we visited projects and programs, listened to Israelis and Palestinians, whose hearts have been broken by the endless cycle of violence, and participated at anniversary liturgies in Jerusalem and in Beit Jala in the West Bank.

On 14 July, I traveled to Jordan, together with Tresool Singh-Conway, CNEWA’s chief financial officer, and Thomas Varghese, CNEWA’s director of programs.

I thank Ra’ed Bahou, regional director of CNEWA-Pontifical Mission for Jordan, and his team for organizing our schedule in Amman. Visits to the Jesuit Center, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the Teresian Community Center and Beit Mariam, an after-school center for girls, demonstrated Pontifical Mission’s commitment to youth, lay leadership, refugees, the poor, victims of abuse and the promotion of greater dialogue and harmony among various cultures.

Our meeting with the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, confirmed Pontifical Mission’s communion with the Holy See. During the anniversary Mass on 17 July, the archbishop spoke about the gratitude of the Holy See for the work of Pontifical Mission in its “pastoral and humanitarian activity for Jordanians and for refugees.”

“Your work is a stone in the construction of a peaceful Middle East,” he said.

This is only possible thanks to the prayers and donations of our generous benefactors, most of whom live in North America.

On 18 July, we began our visit to Lebanon with a press conference at the media center of the Lebanese episcopal conference in Beirut. We spoke to the press about Pontifical Mission’s unique purpose and the partnership we desire with the media in telling our story.

I thank Michel Constantin, regional director of CNEWA-Pontifical Mission for Lebanon and Syria, and his team for organizing our itinerary in Lebanon, as well as my subsequent visit into Syria.

We visited two hospitals in Lebanon, including the Lebanese Hospital Geitawi where our Pontifical Mission team has been on the ground offering assistance before, during and after the explosion at the Beirut port on 4 August 2020.

On 19 July, Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, Maronite patriarch of Antioch and all the East, presided and preached at a Divine Liturgy commemorating the anniversary. About 300 guests attended from across Lebanon and Syria. Afterward, at a reception organized by our Beirut team, CNEWA-Pontifical Mission’s work was acknowledged with song and applause.

We also visited the Dbayeh refugee camp just outside Beirut, where we support health care and humanitarian, educational and awareness programs on behalf of the Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian families in the camp. We attended a daylong workshop organized by Talitha Kum, an international network of Catholic women religious dedicated to the eradication of human trafficking in its multiple forms. “Talitha kum” is the phrase in Aramaic that Jesus spoke in the Gospel of Mark: “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” (5:41).

My visit to Syria on 22 July included time with our partners in Aleppo: the Maronite Archbishopric of Aleppo, the Blue Marists and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. In Homs, my visits were in support of the work of the Syriac Catholic Archbishopric of Homs, Hama and Nebeq, along with the Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishopric of Homs, Hama and Yabroud. CNEWA-Pontifical Mission’s work in Syria includes efforts to assist in rebuilding after the 2023 earthquake.

These visits to mark Pontifical Mission’s 75th anniversary reflect our desire to be faithful to the mandate of Jesus, found in Matthew 25:34-40: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty and welcome the stranger.

Our teams in Jerusalem, Amman and Beirut are fiercely dedicated to the Gospel mandate and our papal ecclesial mission. We are there, “on the ground,” and we offer our assistance with no questions as per religious faith, culture, language, gender, age or politics. We represent you, faithful Catholics, who support those most desperately in need of a glimpse of healing and hope. We seek to bring a smile to the face of every child, for children who smile are children of hope!

As we reflect on the grace of this anniversary, I ask of you three things: your prayers, your growing familiarity with our story and your generous donations according to your means.

The anniversary has taught me the urgency of this hour. Please be generous. Please plan to attend our third annual gala dinner in New York on 9 December. Send your check to our office by mail or donate online. Thank you!

Finally, I congratulate and thank all those involved in the production of ONE magazine for the 58 media awards won at the Catholic Media Conference held in Atlanta in June. This year marks the 50th anniversary of CNEWA’s flagship media jewel! I applaud the level of collaboration among the communications and creative services teams along with all the journalists and photographers, who report from the various regions where we work, and our regional staff on whose expertise the editorial team relies for stories from the field.

With my gratitude and prayers,

Peter I. Vaccari, President

Read this article in our digital print format here.