Around 5,000 people are killed every year because of their Christian faith.Continue reading
People of different religions are suffering together in the conflict in Gaza, and Hungary is helping through the Church, but not exclusively Christians, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade stressed on M1 news channel.
Azbej Tristan, who is responsible for programs to help persecuted Christians, said that Christians are now a minority in large parts of the Middle East. In some countries, such as Syria and Iraq, they suffer physical persecution by violent Islamist movements. In Israel and Palestine, by contrast, there is no religious persecution, but people of different faiths suffer together in conflicts such as the one in Gaza that broke out in October.
He added that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had recently received Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, at the Carmelite Monastery, where he stressed that the Church was trying to help not only Christians but also people of other faiths – Jewish and Muslim – who were suffering in the conflict in the Holy Land. The Cardinal set an example of solidarity when he offered himself in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas.
“When Hungary helps, it starts from what the suffering people need. This means food and medicine that directly saves lives in the Gaza conflict, on the one hand, and financial aid on the other.
The Hungarian government is donating USD 400,000 to the Patriarchate through the Hungary Helps Program to help the civilian victims of the crisis in Gaza and other parts of the Holy Land,
and is also providing additional support for the preservation of Christianity in the Holy Land, the preservation of holy places, churches, and the life of faith,” said Azbej. He stressed that they are also helping people of other faiths.
Via MTI, Featured image: Pixabay