The 24th International Meeting of the Bishops of the Holy Land Coordination will take place in the Holy Land from 18 to 23 January. Twelve bishops from nine countries in Europe and North America will be meeting in Jerusalem to express their solidarity with the Christians living there, in the current pressing situation in Israel and Palestine. The German Bishops’ Conference will be represented by the Chairman of the Working Group on the Near and Middle East, Archbishop Udo Markus Bentz of Paderborn. “In the face of the ongoing war and its devastating consequences, it is an important sign, especially now, that we, bishops, meet in the Holy Land. The terror attack of 7 October 2023 and the war that ensued have caused countless victims on all sides and have traumatised many people in the region. As there is no prospect of resolving the conflict, resignation and despair are spreading. At the same time, the calls for justice and security amongst Israelis and Palestinians are getting louder. Together with all the people affected, we want to look for signs of hope in this seemingly hopeless situation”, Mgr Bentz said. The bishops will meet with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and will have an exchange of views with him on the role of Christian Churches in concrete relief measures and the search for peace and reconciliation. The bishops will have a long series of talks with representatives of Church institutions and humanitarian organisations, as well as with parishes in the autonomous Palestinian areas of Ramallah, Taybeh and Bethlehem. In addition to Mgr Bentz, the meeting this year will be attended by prelates from Great Britain, including an Anglican bishop, France, Spain, Iceland, and the United States of America.