“This is God’s salvation: the possibility of always starting over, that everything is transformed.” This is how Mons. Pierbattista Pizzaballa concluded his Christmas greeting message that he delivered during the traditional press conference at the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. With the journalists present, he Apostolic Administrator retraced present the most important events of the past year, for both the church and society. He did not limit himself to highlighting the ongoing process of administrative and pastoral reorganization in the Latin patriarchate; to the closening relations between the Christian churches of the Holy Land; or even to the increase of pilgrims in 2017, despite the cancellations in the last weeks. He used this opportunity to reiterate the need to preserve the unique nature of Jerusalem, the treasure of humanity. He then denounced the absence of policies that show a prospect of and a commitment to the freedom and the common good of the people. The lack of these policies does nothing but foster weariness and discouragement in the Christian community. Tensions and hardships, however, continue not to have the last word. H.E. Mons. PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA, ofm Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem “As Christians, we do not give up our public expression of joy. We will do everything we need for Christmas, in our families, and also in our celebrations… I also want to reiterate our commitment [to this]. Despite everything, we are here; we are staying here and we will do everything we can to overcome our problems. Thank you. Merry Christmas to all of you and God bless you.” The greeting of the Custos of the Holy Land and his Christmas message were in the same vein. “Despite the many appearances of the opposite, which the daily news and personal experience put before us,” said Fr. Francesco Patton, “Christmas unfolds before us as a gift that can change our lives.” Fr. FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land “May each one of us, on this holy Christmas, be able to open our arms to welcome, with generous tenderness, the Child of Bethlehem, but also all the little ones in whom he is present today. May each and every one of us be able to open our hands, in the gesture of the gift, to the needy and to every creature we meet on our journey. Merry Christmas from this place, the place where God’s gift and of our salvation began.”