A caress for the Holy Land. The collection "pro Terra Santa" held every year on Good Friday, can be a gesture of closeness and consolation for the Christians who live in those places. This is the message at the center of the Letter released by the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches. H Em Card LEONARDO SANDRI Prefect of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches "We are experiencing this period of great sorrow over the war in Ukraine, somewhat like a cloud passing over the call for help for the Holy Places. Despite this, we considered that last year the Holy Father's trips were all to the East, first of all Iraq, the land of Abraham. Then the trip to Cyprus and Greece. This year's Letter brings this sensitivity of the Pope's to the attention of all Christians. It invites everyone to participate generously in this Collection, which is a moment - for the life of the Eastern Churches - of great, great importance." In the past two years, due to the pandemic, proceeds from the collection have been reduced by about 50%. This is a sharp decline, which compromises the works entrusted by the Holy See to the Custody of the Holy Land (care of sanctuaries, parishes, schools and study centers, reception of migrants and refugees). And also the possibility for the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches to meet the costs for the training of seminarians and priests of the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite, for their schools and for charitable emergencies. Looking at the near future, it is Lebanon and Syria that require special attention and a gesture of hope. For some time there has been talk of a trip by the Pope to the Land of the Cedars: H Em Card LEONARDO SANDRI Prefect of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches "The Pope himself said it: 'As soon as I can, I will come.' And everyone is waiting for this visit to give an even stronger breath to the beloved country of Lebanon after so many tribulations. Everyone is waiting for him with open arms not only in Lebanon but also in Syria." Recently, Syria hosted the conference "Church, House of Charity - Synodality and Coordination", organized by the local Church, with the presence of a delegation from the Vatican, led by Card. Sandri, and representatives of Caritas Syria and various charitable agencies. H Em Card LEONARDO SANDRI Prefect of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches "The idea of wanting to create a center for the realization of all this cooperation in charity, this synodality of charity in the Church in Syria was born. We promised to give as soon as possible 100 thousand dollars for this initiative and we hope to be able to realize it as soon as possible, to be able to follow up on all this beautiful meeting we had in Syria." As the Letter says, this gesture "enables our brothers and sisters to continue to live and hope, to offer a living witness to the Word made flesh in the Places that saw his presence," but it is also an appeal to all Christians: "If we lose our roots, how can we be wherever we are in the world, a tree that grows and bears fruits of love, charity and sharing?"