A Message From The Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa

Message for the Beginning of the New Academic Year

To our sons and daughters, the students of Church schools throughout the Holy Land, To the priests, religious men and women entrusted with the care of our schools, To principals, teachers, and all staff members, To our dear parents, Beloved brothers and sisters,

As the final days of August draw to a close, our schools come alive with preparations for a new academic year. While school administrations and staff prepare classrooms and playgrounds to welcome students, families at home are busy preparing schoolbags, books, and uniforms. In these simple, everyday details, the joy of a new beginning grows and hope takes root. In just a few days, tens of thousands of our sons and daughters will once again walk through the doors of our Christian schools. Together with their teachers and all those dedicated to their care, they will begin a new chapter in the journey of their lives. Yet our joy at this new beginning does not allow us to forget that children in various parts of the Holy Land have been deprived even of their most basic right: the right to return to school. Some no longer have a classroom to return to, while in some communities, death, displacement, and destruction overshadow the joy of the new academic year. They, too, are our children. May this new beginning bring them a sign of hope and proclaim that destruction will not have the final word, and that the day will come when they return safely to their schools and to a dignified and normal life.

The mission of our Church schools is not limited to education alone; they are a fundamental pillar of the Christian presence in the Holy Land. This is not merely a statement, but a living reality that we witness every day. Our Church schools welcome students and families of different faiths and instil in younger generations a culture of coexistence, mutual respect, and acceptance of others. However, our openness does not mean uncertainty about our identity, nor does it mean compromising it. Christian identity is the soul of our schools, the foundation of their mission, and the heartbeat of their daily life. It is reflected in their values, symbols, traditions, calendar, and educational approach.

We welcome with love and respect all those who freely choose our schools, and we expect them, in turn, to respect their Christian character and the regulations that safeguard it. Genuine coexistence protects the dignity of every individual while also preserving the identity of the institution that embraces them. We understand that safeguarding this identity, amid the many challenges and pressures facing our schools, requires patience, steadfastness, and courage. Therefore, we say to our school principals and staff: you will not carry this responsibility alone. We are your partners in this mission and will remain by your side as you fulfil it. We extend our profound gratitude to everyone who carries this mission. What you do is not merely a job; it embodies faith in the future of this land and is an act of hope for its children. We deeply value your dedication and generosity. We place your dignity and rights at the heart of our concerns, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that our teachers, school staff, and students receive the best possible rights, conditions, and opportunities.

At the beginning of this academic year, we call for renewed attention to the religious education and spiritual formation of our children. It is not enough for a Christian student to memorise prayers or know the names of the sacraments without understanding their meaning. The purpose of religious formation is to lead students towards a living and personal faith—one they understand, reflect upon, and embrace as a way of life, rather than as words merely repeated by the tongue.

A Christian’s belonging to the Holy Land is not based on geography alone. It is a calling to develop a profound relationship with the land of the Gospel and to understand the mysteries of faith in light of the places that witnessed the events of salvation. Therefore, religious education should open the door for our Christian students to encounter the Holy Scriptures through the sacred places of this land. Whenever circumstances permit visits to these holy places, schools should prepare students carefully and make such visits an integral part of their formation. When distance, borders, or restrictions prevent direct access, our schools must develop alternative ways to bring these places closer to students and awaken in their hearts an understanding of their significance in the Gospel. Whether students visit the places themselves or encounter them through the Holy Scriptures, in-depth study, visual resources, and engagement with Christian communities throughout the Holy Land, they must understand their meaning and importance. They should discover how each place is connected to the life of Christ, His teachings, His death, and His Resurrection. Geographical boundaries must never cause any student to feel estranged from any part of the spiritual heritage of the Holy Land.

This religious education requires teachers who have received solid formation, are deeply rooted in their faith, and possess a genuine passion for sharing it with their students. Therefore, the Office of Church Schools, in cooperation with every school, must devote particular attention to the preparation and ongoing formation of religious education teachers. Their role should not be limited to conveying information, but should lead students towards a living encounter with the Holy Scriptures and the spiritual heritage of this land.

Dear educators, through your daily work, you preserve a quiet and enduring miracle: keeping the Christian presence alive and active in the Holy Land. Dear parents, you are our first and essential partners in this mission. Our schools cannot fulfil their responsibility without your trust, support, and active participation. To our sons and daughters, the students, we wish you a year that awakens in you a passion for knowledge, strengthens your determination, and helps you achieve genuine and fruitful growth. To everyone who serves this mission, we express our profound appreciation and remember you in our prayers.

We ask the Lord to grant us a safe, fruitful, and successful academic year, and to protect all the children of this land, especially those whom violence has deprived of safety and education. May our schools always remain homes of faith, knowledge, encounter, and hope.

Jerusalem, 26 August 2026 Feast of Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

President of the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land