Detroit: The Archdiocese of Detroit is set to welcome Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, for a pastoral visit from December 4 to 7, aimed at fostering spiritual solidarity and raising awareness about the challenges faced by Christians in the Holy Land. The visit, arranged in consultation with local Arab Christian communities, seeks to give the faithful an intimate understanding of the hardships endured by their brothers and sisters in the region.
“The goals of this visit are deeply spiritual, but also to express our closeness to the suffering Christian communities of the Holy Land,” said Father Adam Nowak, vice chancellor of the Archdiocese. Cardinal Pizzaballa’s itinerary includes a key fundraising dinner on December 5, hosted by Archbishop Edward Weisenburger, designed to support the charitable initiatives of the Latin Patriarchate, which oversees Latin and Melkite Catholics across Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, and Palestine.
Archbishop Weisenburger expressed hope that through the visit, Detroit’s faithful will gain a personal perspective on life in the Holy Land, hearing directly from the patriarch about both the adversities and the enduring hope that defines the region’s Christian communities.
Southeast Michigan hosts vibrant Middle Eastern Catholic populations, including Chaldeans, Maronites, and Melkites. During his visit, Cardinal Pizzaballa will meet with the faithful, participate in prayer services, and support initiatives focused on relief and solidarity. Announcing the upcoming fundraiser, the archbishop praised the heroism of Holy Land Christians, noting their role in preserving and protecting sacred sites, and emphasized that these communities rely on international support to sustain their faith in their ancestral homeland.
The Detroit archdiocese has previously demonstrated strong local support for the Holy Land, responding generously in October to Archbishop Weisenburger’s appeal for Gaza, raising over $462,000 to alleviate critical food shortages. Cardinal Pizzaballa’s visit will commence on December 4 with a fundraising event organized by the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle. Father Marcus Shammami highlighted the significance of the visit for Middle Eastern Catholics in the archdiocese, noting that many Chaldean parishioners have endured years of conflict in Iraq, where roughly 80% of Christians belong to the Chaldean Catholic Church.
Father Shammami stressed the importance of global awareness, stating, “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.” While Iraq guarantees religious freedom in principle, Christians often face restrictions, and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has listed Iraq on its Special Watch List.
The pastoral visit will culminate on Sunday, December 7, with Cardinal Pizzaballa celebrating Mass at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, Michigan, offering Detroit Catholics a direct opportunity to join in prayer, solidarity, and reflection on the enduring mission of the Church in the Holy Land.