BREAKING Christian and Academic Leaders Launch - “A Moment of Truth: Faith in the Time of Genocide” Kairos Palestine Conference
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Kairos Palestine, commemorating its 16th Anniversary International held a Conference from November 10–16, 2025, in Bethlehem, Palestine.
Kairos Palestine launched the “Kairos Palestine II” document under the title: “A Moment of Truth: Faith in the Time of Genocide.”
On Nov. 14, in Bethlehem, the Palestinian Christian Ecumenical Initiative gathered a large group with the participation of the leaders of the Palestinian and the world churches, and representatives of civil bodies.
More than two years after the war on Gaza, and more than 15 years since the release of the first document in 2009, which then formed a cry of faith, hope, and love from the heart of the Palestinian suffering, and has resonated widely in churches locally and globally, confirming the continuation of the church voice Calling for inclusive justice for the peoples.
In this new document, the Initiative offers a renewed faith-based and theological reading of the Palestinian and global reality at a time the document describes as one of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced displacement unfolding before the eyes of the world.
The document affirms that this moment requires a new stance unlike all that came before—a stance rooted in faith, truth, and responsibility.
The conference was attended by a large number of local and international religious leaders and participants from various churches and partner institutions, alongside religious and academic figures and advocates for the Palestinian cause from around the world.
The conference began with a prayer that renewed faith in the hearts of those present, offered by the Latin Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem and Palestine, Bishop William Shomali, who described peace as "a gift and a pursuit," and that believers, being a gift, ask God for it. He emphasized that human dignity is inviolable and non-negotiable, affirming that the churches in Palestine work for a world of peace based on truth, justice, freedom, and dignity.
Patriarch Michel Sabbah (Catholic Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah served as the archbishop and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from 1987 to 2008, the first native Palestinian to hold the office)
In his address, Patriarch Michel Sabbah, founder of the Kairos Palestine initiative, thanked attendees from around the world for their solidarity with the Palestinian people, stating that "our hope remains rooted in God and in the brotherhood and goodness that exists in the world." He added, "This annual conference is being held today as we reflect together on the Kairos II document and ask ourselves: What comes after Gaza? What kind of theology will emerge after Gaza and the reality of the genocide there?"
He added: “We have seen in Gaza what we have seen, and the days have revealed to us the intentions of death and annihilation. We were told explicitly: You, the Palestinian people, are not allowed to be here; either leave or be annihilated. And we say: God does not say that. God says peace, life, freedom, justice, and equality. Therefore, we affirm that we will remain here. And since God is the Lord of life and death, we will remain steadfast. As for the decision of man, no matter how tyrannical and arrogant, it will not be supreme.”
He asked, "After Gaza, what should we, the Palestinian people, do? The events in Gaza serve as a lesson for us all, and a new beginning for us and others. We, especially those of us in positions of authority—whether in government or political parties—must show more love and a greater spirit of service." He asserted that love, which unites the forces of resistance and those demanding basic rights, is the path to achieving a vision that prioritizes the homeland and Palestine above any party or affiliation.
He added, holding the churches responsible for their historical duty: “Our land is sacred and it is the land of everyone, and you are responsible for its peace. A crime against humanity has been committed in Gaza, and the intent to commit genocide is still ongoing there and in the West Bank. This reality compels us to alert the peoples of the world to what is happening. We have witnessed large crowds marching, demonstrating, praying and fasting to stop the genocide in Gaza, and many countries have changed their positions out of fear for the future of humanity.”
He stressed that his vision of reality and the future makes him say: “We have begun a new phase in our land… and God Almighty has begun a new phase with us. Life is for those who seek life. We have entered a phase of life for the Palestinian people, who will live on their land and in their cities and villages.”
Patriarch Sabbah addressed the Israeli people: “The fate of the Israeli people is in their own hands. If they continue to kill us, they will find death within themselves. But if they seek life through the means of life, they will find it. The life of Israel lies in its peace with the Palestinian people. Israel’s survival does not depend on its strength and weapons, but on its peace with the Palestinian people. This is the path to life and survival for Israel.”
Bishop Atallah Hanna (Theodosios (Hanna) of Sebastia (born 1965) is the Palestinian Archbishop of Sebastia from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.)
Bishop Atallah Hanna, one of the supporters of the initiative, made his remarks, noting that "the Christian world is preparing to welcome the new year, and the cities will be filled with lights and decorations. Here, we must emphasize and call on Christians everywhere, while they celebrate Christmas, to turn their attention to the land of the Nativity, Bethlehem."
He added, "Without Bethlehem, there is no Christmas. Anyone who thinks they can celebrate Christmas without Bethlehem and Palestine is mistaken and misguided in their faith . " He called on churches and the world to rectify their beliefs, asserting that "any compass that does not point to Palestine is not in the right direction."
He asserted that "whoever stands in solidarity with Palestine stands in solidarity with their own humanity, and whoever calls for an end to the genocidal war in Gaza expresses their faith, humanity, and values . " He also observed that the occupation's attempts to eliminate the Palestinian people have backfired, as awareness and understanding of the Palestinian cause have intensified.
The bishop explained that "there is a historical injustice that the Palestinian people have suffered, and in order for there to be true peace, the injustices must end and the Palestinian must enjoy freedom. The scenes that Palestine is experiencing are seen only there, where the Palestinian is prevented from moving freely, and the city of the Nativity is surrounded by walls and gates, just like Jerusalem and all the cities and towns."
He stressed that the Palestinian “will not surrender to the aggression of the occupation, that right will triumph over wrong, and that Christians in Palestine are proud to belong to the first church whose message started from Bethlehem, and our peace is the peace of justice and truth and the preservation of human dignity and freedom.”
He emphasized that peace "cannot be built on tyranny, occupation, oppression, or injustice, but rather on preserving the freedom and dignity of the Palestinian people," noting that the occupation's concept of peace is "Palestinian surrender." He asserted that the true Christian and humanitarian stance is for "Palestinians to live in the freedom they deserve in their homeland and holy land."
READ the FULL DOCUMENT https://kairospalestine.ps/images/Kairos_Palestine_II_English_Final.pdf
Sources: https://abouna.org/
https://www.kairospalestine.ps/index.php/kairos-news/registration-for-kairos-palestine-16th-anniversary-conference-november-10-16-2025
On Nov. 14, in Bethlehem, the Palestinian Christian Ecumenical Initiative gathered a large group with the participation of the leaders of the Palestinian and the world churches, and representatives of civil bodies.
More than two years after the war on Gaza, and more than 15 years since the release of the first document in 2009, which then formed a cry of faith, hope, and love from the heart of the Palestinian suffering, and has resonated widely in churches locally and globally, confirming the continuation of the church voice Calling for inclusive justice for the peoples.
In this new document, the Initiative offers a renewed faith-based and theological reading of the Palestinian and global reality at a time the document describes as one of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced displacement unfolding before the eyes of the world.
The document affirms that this moment requires a new stance unlike all that came before—a stance rooted in faith, truth, and responsibility.
The conference was attended by a large number of local and international religious leaders and participants from various churches and partner institutions, alongside religious and academic figures and advocates for the Palestinian cause from around the world.
The conference began with a prayer that renewed faith in the hearts of those present, offered by the Latin Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem and Palestine, Bishop William Shomali, who described peace as "a gift and a pursuit," and that believers, being a gift, ask God for it. He emphasized that human dignity is inviolable and non-negotiable, affirming that the churches in Palestine work for a world of peace based on truth, justice, freedom, and dignity.
Patriarch Michel Sabbah (Catholic Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah served as the archbishop and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from 1987 to 2008, the first native Palestinian to hold the office)
In his address, Patriarch Michel Sabbah, founder of the Kairos Palestine initiative, thanked attendees from around the world for their solidarity with the Palestinian people, stating that "our hope remains rooted in God and in the brotherhood and goodness that exists in the world." He added, "This annual conference is being held today as we reflect together on the Kairos II document and ask ourselves: What comes after Gaza? What kind of theology will emerge after Gaza and the reality of the genocide there?"
He added: “We have seen in Gaza what we have seen, and the days have revealed to us the intentions of death and annihilation. We were told explicitly: You, the Palestinian people, are not allowed to be here; either leave or be annihilated. And we say: God does not say that. God says peace, life, freedom, justice, and equality. Therefore, we affirm that we will remain here. And since God is the Lord of life and death, we will remain steadfast. As for the decision of man, no matter how tyrannical and arrogant, it will not be supreme.”
He asked, "After Gaza, what should we, the Palestinian people, do? The events in Gaza serve as a lesson for us all, and a new beginning for us and others. We, especially those of us in positions of authority—whether in government or political parties—must show more love and a greater spirit of service." He asserted that love, which unites the forces of resistance and those demanding basic rights, is the path to achieving a vision that prioritizes the homeland and Palestine above any party or affiliation.
The Patriarch addressed the churches supporting the Palestinian people around the world, saying: “Our cause is your cause, and it is a humanitarian cause above all else. It is the cause of a human being being destroyed by another human being. You must pay attention to us and to yourselves, for holiness calls upon you to continue supporting the Palestinian people with voice and word.”
He stressed that his vision of reality and the future makes him say: “We have begun a new phase in our land… and God Almighty has begun a new phase with us. Life is for those who seek life. We have entered a phase of life for the Palestinian people, who will live on their land and in their cities and villages.”
Patriarch Sabbah addressed the Israeli people: “The fate of the Israeli people is in their own hands. If they continue to kill us, they will find death within themselves. But if they seek life through the means of life, they will find it. The life of Israel lies in its peace with the Palestinian people. Israel’s survival does not depend on its strength and weapons, but on its peace with the Palestinian people. This is the path to life and survival for Israel.”
Bishop Atallah Hanna (Theodosios (Hanna) of Sebastia (born 1965) is the Palestinian Archbishop of Sebastia from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.)
Bishop Atallah Hanna, one of the supporters of the initiative, made his remarks, noting that "the Christian world is preparing to welcome the new year, and the cities will be filled with lights and decorations. Here, we must emphasize and call on Christians everywhere, while they celebrate Christmas, to turn their attention to the land of the Nativity, Bethlehem."
He added, "Without Bethlehem, there is no Christmas. Anyone who thinks they can celebrate Christmas without Bethlehem and Palestine is mistaken and misguided in their faith . " He called on churches and the world to rectify their beliefs, asserting that "any compass that does not point to Palestine is not in the right direction."
He asserted that "whoever stands in solidarity with Palestine stands in solidarity with their own humanity, and whoever calls for an end to the genocidal war in Gaza expresses their faith, humanity, and values . " He also observed that the occupation's attempts to eliminate the Palestinian people have backfired, as awareness and understanding of the Palestinian cause have intensified.
The bishop explained that "there is a historical injustice that the Palestinian people have suffered, and in order for there to be true peace, the injustices must end and the Palestinian must enjoy freedom. The scenes that Palestine is experiencing are seen only there, where the Palestinian is prevented from moving freely, and the city of the Nativity is surrounded by walls and gates, just like Jerusalem and all the cities and towns."
He stressed that the Palestinian “will not surrender to the aggression of the occupation, that right will triumph over wrong, and that Christians in Palestine are proud to belong to the first church whose message started from Bethlehem, and our peace is the peace of justice and truth and the preservation of human dignity and freedom.”
He emphasized that peace "cannot be built on tyranny, occupation, oppression, or injustice, but rather on preserving the freedom and dignity of the Palestinian people," noting that the occupation's concept of peace is "Palestinian surrender." He asserted that the true Christian and humanitarian stance is for "Palestinians to live in the freedom they deserve in their homeland and holy land."
READ the FULL DOCUMENT https://kairospalestine.ps/images/Kairos_Palestine_II_English_Final.pdf
Sources: https://abouna.org/
https://www.kairospalestine.ps/index.php/kairos-news/registration-for-kairos-palestine-16th-anniversary-conference-november-10-16-2025
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