The Christian Churches in Jerusalem work with one heart to defend the Christian presence and holy places. This was said by Jerusalem's Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III during the traditional exchange of Christmas greetings with Catholics held at the Custody's headquarters in Jerusalem. Fr ISSA MUSLEH Orthodox Church of Jerusalem spokesman "We cooperate with one heart and one spirit on all problems, concerns, and goals. Christ commended us to always cooperate with one another when he said, 'I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and in whom I abide bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.' There is a great responsibility on the patriarchs of Jerusalem to work for their 'children,' to help them stay in their land, under very difficult conditions." Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "There is a joint effort on the part of all the Churches to defend the Christian presence and the Christian character of Jerusalem, to make the Holy Land livable for local Christians and welcoming for pilgrims, to make the Holy Land a place of peaceful coexistence among faithful of different religions." HB PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins "Today we live in difficult times, with perspectives that are not always so enthusiastic. Gathering together and coordinating our voices, to have one voice, one heart, in the face of all the common challenges-especially to preserve the Christian character of the Holy Land and Christian rights in our communities - I think it is very important, and this is an occasion in which to strengthen the bonds between us Christians." Christmas brings with it the spirit of unity of the Christian community, which has been rooted in the Holy Land for over two thousand years.