“A few days ago, at a checkpoint, a soldier said to me, ‘Answer this question correctly and I’ll let you through.’” Iyad, the colleague who accompanies us to Sebastia, stops for a moment, and his proud Bedouin gaze is lost in the dunes of the Judah desert. His eyes watch as the dunes slowly turn […]

“The architecture of a temple, especially of a sanctuary, can be said to be successful when it responds to the inspiration that arises from the particular feeling of the mystery that is to be commemorated, and which is suggested by the spirit” With these words, the Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi describes his work in the […]

The bright blue of Lake Tiberias lazily laps the rocks on which the church of the Primacy of St. Peter stands; All around are patches of dark green leaves, dotted with small pink flowers. The place is immersed in a quiet silence. Near the church stands a statue, dark against the wall of light in […]

“Hope and despair“: this is the dichotomy that encompasses all the sense of powerlessness that one feels in the face of a reality that shows itself as it is, without offering any support to the desire to find a simplifying synthesis of the disturbing elements. Those who return home feel both despair and hope, Syria […]

“I believe that it is also time to invite pilgrims to return to travel to the Holy Land. I understand very well that there is a lot of fear. I understand that the images that come from the media are frightening images, but I think it’s possible today.” “It is safe to make the pilgrimage […]

“In this country, you can’t think of separating the child from political events, because they are constantly exposed to them, especially at home on TV. They need help and immediate help.” With these words, Shahd Souri, director of the Spafford Children’s Center in Jerusalem, recounts the consequences that the war, which began on October 7, […]

“Before the war , our parish offered help to about seventy people a week; Now the number of people who come to us for support has more than tripled, reaching almost two hundred and fifty people every week.” In Bethlehem since the beginning of October, there has been an air of uncertainty and tension. The […]

“I thought I would find an afraid country, disheartened by another difficulty looming on the horizon – the imminent war – but instead I found a resilient Lebanon. The city was chaotic, speaking with the youth of Beirut doesn’t leave the impression of facing people devoid of a future. There is optimism, despite the average […]

“Telling the story of Musky Convent is important to tell the story of Cairo, the changing landscape and its inhabitants. The Centre’s documents tell us about the city and the people who have passed through it, and it is essential to make the most of them: if we cannot read them, we are left with […]

Jerusalem is preparing for a different Easter than usual, full of the great pain that has struck the entire Holy Land this year. The situation caused by the clashes that began on 7 October last year has generated a gigantic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, due to the bombing and the blockade of aid imposed by […]

What is life like in the Orontes Villages in Idlib province, after 13 years of war? What are the differences with the rest of Syria? We asked Father Louai and Father Khoukaz. According to a tradition handed down for centuries, two men between 40 and 50 years of age set out from Jerusalem to Antioch […]

“In addition to hitting the airports in Damascus and Aleppo, many Civilians Die because of these attacks, which in the past were limited only to military areas.” With these words, Ayham from Damascus recounts the difficulties and fears of those in Syria today suffering the indirect consequences of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Syria context […]

“The situation is difficult. We don’t solve Syria’s problems, but we stand by the people. And this is an important sign of hope for everyone.” Jean François Thiry has been living in Aleppo for a few months to coordinate the projects of Pro Terra Sancta. On the occasion of the anniversary of the war that […]

“My whole family is in Canada, they would like me close, but my life is here and I don’t know what to do.” So says Issa, a man in his forties whom he met by chance in a restaurant in Bethlehem. “Life here is difficult, I have two children, they are only teenagers, but they […]

Like Sobhia, thousands of people in Aleppo have found themselves homeless and with their lives turned upside down. In a context already marked by years of war, the earthquake has further aggravated the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Indeed, in some cities of this tormented country, such as Idlib, the earthquake and the war are added […]

“I personally believe that we, as scholars, are called to do well what is the mission for which we have been in the Holy Land for many centuries. Definitely to protect the places but also and above all the hearts.” The feast of the presentation of Jesus in the temple is a very important feast […]

“We have always worked to support our family and – believe me – to be forced to ask for help today is painful. We find it hard to live.” Linda’s husband worked in tourism. Today he’s at home, and out of shame he doesn’t even want to be seen talking to his wife. Linda and […]

What is your relationship with Pro Terra Sancta? I met you a few years ago, because you helped us collect basic necessities for needy families. The relationship has intensified during this winter season, because we have collected and brought so much aid to Gaza. How do parcels get to the Strip? Not all food and […]

It was a Christmas without pilgrims in Bethlehem. The context of crisis due to the war has alienated everyone and the absence of tourists has had a significant impact on the city, which largely depends on religious tourism and the sale of souvenirs. The situation has prompted the Pro Terra Sancta Association to take a […]