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President Shimon Peres at the Annual New Year's Reception for the Church Leaders in Israel: 29 December 2010
President Shimon Peres hosted Church leaders in Israel for the annual New Year's reception in honor of Christmas and New Years. The President stressed Israel's steadfast commitment to freedom of worship in all Holy places. President Peres said: "I think that today all religions have a real duty to help people to come together and make Peace in spite of their differences. It is also the duty of the political leaders to do likewise. I know there are many difficulties in the Peace process but let me also mention what keeps me optimistic all the time. None of us has any real alternative which is serious or responsible without Peace, neither the Arabs, nor the Jews, nor the Christians. When I speak to my own people, to our neighbors, to religious and political leaders, I feel I have to warn all of us that we don't have much time, and that the alternatives are bleak. You have a role to play in heightening the trust and hope bringing us forward towards Peace."
His Beatitude Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem said: "Events and gatherings such as this are of great significance both for celebrating the common bonds of our humanity, and for reminding ourselves of those fundamental moral values that are essential to our common life. Humanity today is confronted and confused on every side with dark forces of disrespect and even humiliation. And unfortunately much of this is being done in the pretence of religious allegiance and in the name of Almighty God." About 250 religious leaders from various Churches attended the reception including the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, the representative of the Armenian Patriarchy of Jerusalem Archbishop, Nourthan Manougian, the trustee of the Vatican's Holy Sites, His Paternity Custus Pier Battista Pizzaballa, and Archbishop Elias Shakur.
President of israel Shimon Peres,Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal, the representative of the Armenian Patriarchy of Jerusalem Archbishop, Nourthan Manougian
Photo credit: Mark Naiman / IGPO
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