The Pope is planning to help Christians in Gaza find work after the end of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

According to the Dicastery for Eastern Churches the Pope intends to launch a project to “help the population” of Gaza or the West Bank “resume a more dignified life and create job opportunities once the war is over”.

The outbreak of the Hamas-Israel War last 7 October had “paralysed the Holy Land” said the dicastery, while the subsequent lack of pilgrims and tourists had “put thousands of people in difficulty”.

Money for the papal initiative will come partly through offerings made to the Vatican on Good Friday.

Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery, said the funds would mean “the Holy Father can support the local Churches in finding new ways, new opportunities for housing, work and educational and professional training so that they may remain and not get lost in the West”.

The “Pro Terra Sancta” collection is sent annually to Christians in the Holy Land. Sixty-five per cent of the donations to preserve the sites of the Holy Land and support local Christians go to the Franciscan custody of the Holy Land.

The remaining 35 per cent is sent to the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, which uses this for educational purposes and to help churches in countries ranging from Turkey to Eritrea and Iran.

Last week, the Pope told the Holy Land’s Catholics that Easter “the heart of our faith” was “all the more significant for you who celebrate this feast in the very places where our Lord lived, died and rose again”.

In a letter last week, the Pope wrote: “The history of salvation, and indeed its geography, would not exist apart from the land in which you have dwelt for centuries.”

He gave thanks to Christians who seek to remain in the Holy Land for their “testimony of faith” and “ability to hope against all hope”.

Pope Francis said that he prayed that the Holy Land’s Catholics would be able to “sense the love of Catholics throughout the world”.

“You are not alone,” wrote the Pope. “We will never leave you alone but will demonstrate our solidarity with you by prayer and practical charity.”

By Bess Twiston Davies | thetablet.co.uk