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ha inserito l'Iraq nella sua lista di paesi sotto osservazione speciale.
Sempre nel suo itinerario, Pizzaballa celebrerà la Messa domenica 7 dicembre presso la Basilica del Santuario Nazionale del Piccolo Fiore a Royal Oak, Michigan.
La visita del patriarca latino di Gerusalemme negli Stati Uniti metterà in luce la difficile situazione dei cristiani in Terra Santa | Christian Pure Cardinale Pierbattista Pizzaballa, patriarca latino di Gerusalemme. / Crediti: Foto per gentile concessione della Custodia di Terra Santa Detroit, Michigan, 3 dic 2025 / 06:00 am… Cardinale Pierbattista Pizzaballa, patriarca latino di Gerusalemme. / Crediti: Foto per gentile concessione della Custodia di Terra Santa Detroit, Michigan, 3 dic 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA). L'Arcidiocesi di Detroit… Father Adam Nowak, vice chancellor of the archdiocese, said the patriarch was invited after consultations with local Arab Christians.
“The goals for this event are spiritual and to express our closeness to our suffering Christian brothers and sisters of the Holy Land,” Nowak said. On Dec. 5, Pizzaballa will speak at a dinner hosted by Detroit Archbishop Edward Weisenburger that aims to raise funds for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and its charitable works. The patriarchate has jurisdiction over Latin and Melkite Catholics in Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, and Palestine.
Nowak said Weisenburger hopes that as a result of the pastoral visit, people will “understand on a more personal level, by hearing stories and listening to the patriarch and his experiences, what it is like there now, the difficulties they face, but also the enduring hope they have.”
Southeast Michigan is home to vibrant Middle Eastern Catholic communities, including Chaldeans, Maronites, and Melkites. Pizzaballa will meet with the faithful and participate in events focused on prayer, solidarity, and relief efforts.
Announcing the fundraiser, the archbishop praised Holy Land Christians, who “heroically maintain and protect the holy sites sacred to us all. They are counting on our solidarity to keep their ancient faith alive in its homeland.”
Strong local support for the Holy Land
In October, Catholics in the archdiocese responded generously to Weisenburger’s request for aid to Gaza, contributing over $462,000 to alleviate severe food shortages.
Pizzaballa’s visit will commence on Dec. 4 with another fundraising event hosted by the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle. Father Marcus Shammami told CNA that Bishop Francis Y. Kalabat wants to “highlight the Christian presence in the Middle East because a lot of the world forgets that Christians are still in there.”
In the Archdiocese of Detroit, there are eight Chaldean parishes. Shammami said the visit is also significant for Catholics in these parishes, many of whom suffered years of war and conflict in Iraq. Some 80% of Iraqi Christians are Chaldean Catholics.
“The world mostly remained silent during our years of struggle in Iraq and glossed over it. We want to make certain it doesn’t happen again,” Shammami said. Iraq’s officially Muslim government offers a guarantee of religious freedom and practice but places restrictions on Christians. The Commissione degli Stati Uniti per la libertà religiosa internazionale has placed Iraq on its list of Special Watch countries.
Also on his itinerary, Pizzaballa will celebrate Mass on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, Michigan.