Christians in the Holy Land are currently experiencing a fragile and rapidly shrinking presence, as described by Benedictine Abbot Nikodemus Schnabel in a stark address to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). The reality for the faithful contrasts sharply with the vibrant image of Jerusalem, as they remain a “tiny” minority marked by war, uncertainty, and a steady exodus. “All Christians together are less than 2%. For us, dreaming of reaching 5% or 6% would already be a lot,” the abbot noted.
Economic survival and the future of Christians in the Holy Land
The main concern for local communities is economic survival, especially since approximately 60% of Arabic-speaking Christians depend on tourism. Successive crises since 2019, including the pandemic and regional instability, have devastated the sector and left families without income.
“My fear is that the Holy Land could become a kind of ‘Christian Disneyland’. The holy places will remain, with monks and priests. But there may be no Christian families, no young Christians, no ordinary Christian life”.
Vulnerable communities and a «Pro-Human» stance
Abbot Schnabel detailed three main groups within the Latin Church:
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Palestinian Catholics: Including the Gaza community living under a ‘double occupation’ of external war and internal oppression.
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Hebrew-speaking Catholics: A growing phenomenon integrated into Israeli society.
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Migrants and asylum seekers: By far the largest group, exceeding 100,000 Catholics who often face inhumane conditions referred to as “a form of modern slavery”.
The abbot also denounced the growing hostility from extremist Jewish groups, involving incidents of vandalism and desecration. In this polarized context, he insisted that the Church remains «pro-human» rather than taking sides. He concluded that the Holy Land cannot become a museum without believers: “There is no Annunciation without Nazareth, no Christmas without Bethlehem, no Easter without Jerusalem”.
