In a letter to all the world’s bishops, the Congregation for Eastern Churches said that the Good Friday collections could “promote among the Christian faithful a love for the land of the Lord.”

Vatican has asked Catholic churches throughout the world to collect funds for Christians in the Holy Land during their Good Friday services.

In a letter to all the world’s bishops, the Congregation for Eastern Churches said that the Good Friday collections could “promote among the Christian faithful a love for the land of the Lord.” The letter from the Vatican was signed by Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud and Archbishop Antonio Maria Vegli the prefect and secretary, respectively, of the Congregation.

Since the time of Pope Paul V, in 1618, the Church has made a special call for prayers and contributions on behalf of the Christians in the Holy Land. The annual collection for this purpose was reaffirmed by Pope Paul VI in his apostolic exhortation Nobis in Animo in 1974.