Pope Pius XII Encyclical - "On The Holy Places In Palestine"
(April 15, 1949)
To the Venerable Brethren the
Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and other Ordinaries m Peace and Communion
with the Apostolic See.
1. The Passion of Our Redeemer, rendered present, as it were to us during these days of
Holy Week, makes the minds of Christians turn with deepest reverence to that land which
Divine Providence willed to be the cherished home-country of the Word Incarnate, and in
which Christ Jesus lived His earthly life, shed His blood and died.
2. Yet at the present time, as We recall the memory of those Holy Places with more
ardent devotion, Our heart is full to overflowing with keenest anxiety because of the
difficulty and uncertainty of the situation which there prevails.
3. During this past year, We have urged you insistently, Venerable Brethren, in
successive letters, that all should join in public prayer to implore the cessation of
hostilities which have brought destruction and death in that land, and settlement of the
dispute on principles of justice, which would fully safeguard the freedom of Catholics and
at the same time provide guarantees for the safety of those most Holy Places.
4. And now that hostilities have ended, or at least have been suspended after the
recent truce, We offer Our most sincere and heartfelt thanks to God and voice Our emphatic
approval of the labor of those whose noble efforts have contributed towards the
re-establishment of peace.
5. But although the actual fighting is over, tranquillity or order in Palestine is
still very far from having been restored. For We are still receiving complaints from those
who have every right to deplore the profanation of sacred buildings, images, charitable
institutions, as well as the destruction of peaceful homes of religious communities.
Piteous appeals still reach Us from numerous refugees, of every age and condition, who
have been forced by the disastrous war to emigrate and even live in exile in concentration
camps, the prey to destitution, contagious disease and perils of every sort.
6. We are not unmindful of the considerable aid contributed by public and private
agencies for relief of these suffering thousands; and We Ourselves, continuing the work of
charity, organized from the beginning of Our Pontificate, have left nothing undone, within
Our means, to meet the more urgent needs of this same unhappy multitude.
7. But the condition of these exiles is so critical and unstable that it cannot longer
be permitted to continue. While, therefore, We encourage all generous and noble souls to
put forth their best effort to aid these homeless people in their sorrow and destitution,
We make an earnest appeal to those responsible that justice may be rendered to all who
have been driven far from their homes by the turmoil of war and whose most ardent desire
now is to lead peaceful lives once more.
8. During these holy days this is Our fondest hope, and likewise that of all Christian
peoples: that peace may finally shed its light over the land where He, Who is called by
the Sacred Prophets, "the Prince of Peace" (Is. 9: 6) and by the Apostle of the
Gentiles Peace Itself (Eph. 2: 14), lived His life and shed His blood.
9. We have never ceased to pray repeatedly for this enduring and genuine peace. And to
the end that it might be brought to fruition and permanence at the earliest possible
moment, We have already insisted in Our Encyclical letter In Multiplicibus, that the time
has come when Jerusalem and its vicinity, where the previous memorials of the Life and
Death of the Divine Redeemer are preserved, should be accorded and legally guaranteed an
"international" status, which in the present circumstances seems to offer the
best and most satisfactory protection for these sacred monuments.
10. We cannot help repeating here the same declaration, encouraged by the thought that
it may also serve as an inspiration to Our children. Let them, wherever they are living,
use every legitimate means to persuade the rulers of nations, and those whose duty it is
to settle this important question, to accord to Jerusalem and its surroundings a juridical
status whose stability under the present circumstances can only be adequately assured by a
united effort of nations that love peace and respect the right of others.
11. Besides, it is of the utmost importance that due immunity and protection be
guaranteed to all the Holy Places of Palestine not only in Jerusalem but also in the other
cities and villages as well.
12. Not a few of these places have suffered serious loss and damage owing to the
upheaval and devastation of the war. Since they are religious memorials of such
moment—objects of veneration to the whole world and an incentive and support to
Christian piety—these places should also be suitably protected by definite statute
guaranteed by an "international" agreement.
13. We are well aware of the intense desire of Our children, following the ancient
tradition, to go on pilgrimage once more to these places from which they were barred by
the general disturbed conditions. The Year of Atonement which is at hand increases all the
more these desires; it is only natural that during this period the faithful should be more
eager than ever to visit that land which was the scene of our Divine Redemption. God grant
that these longings be satisfied as soon as possible.
14. To bring about this happy result, it will be necessary, or course, to make such
arrangements as will allow pilgrims to approach freely those sacred edifices; enabling
each to profess his devotion openly and without hindrance, and to remain there free from
fear and danger. It must also be considered objectionable that pilgrims should see these
places profaned by sinful and worldly entertainments, which are assuredly an offense to
the Divine Redeemer and to the Christian conscience.
15. Moreover, We very much desire that the many Catholic institutions which have been
erected in Palestine to help the poor, to educate youth and give hospitality to visitors,
may be enabled, as is fitting, to carry on unimpeded the work they did so laudably in the
past.
16. Nor can We omit to point out that all rights to the Holy Places, which Catholics
during many centuries have acquired and time and again defended valiantly, and which Our
predecessors have solemnly and effectively vindicated, should be preserved inviolate.
These, Venerable Brethren, are the considerations We wished to put before you.
17. Encourage the faithful committed to your charge to be ever more concerned about the
conditions in Palestine and have them make their lawful requests known, positively and
unequivocally, to the rulers of nations. But let them especially implore unceasingly the
help of Him, Who is the Ruler of Men and Nations. May God look down with mercy on the
whole world, but particularly on that land which was bedewed with the Blood of the
Incarnate Word, so that the charity of Jesus Christ, which alone can bring tranquillity
and peace, may conquer all hatred and strife.
18. Meantime, may the Apostolic Blessing, which We lovingly impart to you, Venerable
Brethren, and to all your flock, be a pledge of heavenly gifts and a token of our
affection.
Given at Rome, St. Peter's the fifteenth day of the month of April, Good Friday, in the
year 1949, the eleventh of Our Pontificate.
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