Contact: Jessica Rodgers
(301) 951-9400 x219 / JRodgers@hcef.org

The Holy Land Arab Christians: Faith and Culture exhibit opened on Wednesday, Oct. 18 as the fruit of a new partnership between the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center and the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF). The exhibit celebrates Arab Christian heritage and commemorates the Pontifical Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the year 2000.

Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, DC, Coadjutor Archbishop Fouad Twal of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, and Sir Rateb Rabie, HCEF President, made opening remarks. They declared the importance of spiritual solidarity and cultural understanding to build bridges for peace. Several of the speakers also noted the unique role Arab Christians can play in the peace process, and their desire to encourage Christian presence in the Holy Land.


Coadjutor Archbishop Twal is due to succeed His Beatitude Michel Sabbah as the next Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. He represents the church in Jerusalem, and said of the exhibit, “Six years after the Pontifical pilgrimage to the Holy Land, we are responding to his call to action… We have begun to build a living witness of our Christian heritage from its most humble beginnings.”

Archbishop Wuerl is also the Vice President of the Cultural Center. He remarked on the need for American Christians to support and stand in solidarity with the Christians of the Holy Land. Both Archbishop Wuerl and Archbishop Sambi expressed their thanks to HCEF and the Cultural Center for using this exhibit to raise awareness about under-represented members of their spiritual family.

The exhibit is open to the public at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, located at 3900 Harewood Rd. NE in Washington, DC. Hours are Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday from 10-5, and on Sunday from 12-5. Admission to the Cultural Center is by donation.

The opening of the Holy Land Arab Christians: Faith and Culture exhibit coincided with the HCEF 8th International Conference, which took place on the 20th and 21st of October. The exhibit supports the conference theme of ‘Opening Doors of Hope in Faith’ in its mission to raise awareness and build solidarity between Arab and Western Christians.

For more information about HCEF, visit: www.hcef.org .

For more information about the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, visit:
 www.jp2cc.org .