The incident of Friday 3 March in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth has drawn the anger of Christians and persons of good will from all quarters. A small group of Orthodox Jews went inside the lower church, where the house of the Virgin Mary where the Annunciation event (Luke 1:26-38) is venerated, and placed petards which took off while the Franciscans and the local Christians were praying the “Via Crucis” in the upper church. The Basilica is one of the holiest shrines of the Holy Land, and falls under the care of the Franciscan Friars Minor, who are the official Custodians of the Holy Places in Israel and Palestine in the name of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Franciscan Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM, was immediately informed of the events, and hurried over from Palermo, where he was visiting the Franciscan friars working for the Holy Land. He expressed sadness at what happened in Nazareth. Meanwhile, the Israeli government informed Fr. Pizzaballa that the culprits had been arrested after a long and bitter struggle between the police and the local population of Nazareth, made up of both Christians and Muslims. The Prime Minister “ad interim” of Israel, Mr. Olmert, informed the Custos that the culprits would be taken to justice, and that the security of the Christian Holy Places for the thousands of pilgrims who visit them will continue to be guaranteed by the State of Israel.

On Saturday 4 March a march of solidarity was organized in Nazareth. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Mgr. Michel Sabbah, was present, together with Fr. Pizzaballa. On Sunday 5 March the religious leaders celebrated Mass in the Basilica. Nazareth is one of the largest parishes in the Holy Land, with numerous Christians, particularly Roman Catholics, Greek Catholics and Greek Orthodox. The religious leaders appealed for calm so that life would resume normally in Nazareth, and the sanctuary would continue to be a hub for Christians who flock to this Holy Place to venerate the Mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, as well as being a sign of religious dialogue, peace and solidarity between people of good will, regardless of their faith.