During Jerusalem’s lockdown, my family saw the Holy Land—and each other—with new eyes.

The late-evening statement signaled the Vatican’s wish to let the whole world know that it fundamentally disagrees with any annexation.

Msgr. John E. Kozar, having completed nine years of service as head of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, is retiring from his post and reflects on his time as CNEWA head and on what he plans to do next.

"It is time to act in order to extinguish the destructive fires raging in the Holy Land.... Only a just peace will put end to hatred, to oppression and the suffering of so many."

For the first time in over two months, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem reopens, despite the uncertainty some people still have about the effects of the pandemic on public health and the local economy.

“The Holy See is following the situation closely and expresses concern about any future actions that could further compromise dialogue.”