(this is a free translation of the original italian text):

The Custody of the Holy Land, and in particular the Franciscan Fraternity entrusted with the custody of the Basilica of the Nativity wish to thank the Holy Father for the audience granted to the General Minister of the Order, Br. Giacomo Bini. This sign of goodness of the Holy Father, the knowledge that he is with us and prays every day for the early return of PEACE in the Holy Land is for all of us of great comfort.

The three religious Communities, the Orthodox Greeks, the Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land, and the Orthodox Armenians, continue their collaboration in serving with dedication and fidelity the Holy Place where Jesus was born and of which they are responsible.

The Orthodox Greek Patriarch, Fr. Custos of the Holy Land and the Orthodox Armenian Patriarch have gathered today in order to prepare a Declaration in which they invited the two parts to enter in dialogue before the difficult situation becomes an unavoidable tragedy.

The difficult situation that we are living in the Holy Land, of the has always found us united and in agreement. The Heads of the many and various religious communities, the Greek Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox(Armenians Copts, Syrians, Ethiopians); Catholics (Latin Patriarchate, Custody of the Holy Land, Greek catholic, Maronites, Syrians, Armenians); Evangelists (Lutherans and Anglicans) have always made declarations of common agreement and signed by all.

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