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Ishtartv.com

ASSISI, Italy – More than 200 bishops and Christian ministry partners from around the world have signed a global Christian declaration calling for equality, peace and justice in the Middle East, while warning that the future of Christianity in its historic birthplace is facing a critical threat.

Titled “A Global Christian Declaration: An Urgent Call for Equality, Peace, and Justice, and the Future of Christianity in the Middle East,” the declaration was issued in Assisi, Italy, on October 29, 2026, marking the 40th anniversary of the Global Day of Prayer for Peace.

According to a report published by the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Friars US), Br. Michael Perry, OFM, Minister Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, was among the signatories. A copy of the declaration was also sent to U.S. President Donald Trump. The complete list of signatories is available through Churches for Middle East Peace.

Religious freedom and equal rights for all

The declaration calls on Christians, governments and people of goodwill to reject violence and dehumanization and work towards a just and lasting peace throughout the Middle East.

The signatories reaffirmed every person's right to freedom of worship, the practice of faith without fear, and the freedom to live according to individual conscience. They stressed that religious freedom, human dignity, peace and justice are inseparable.

The statement condemns antisemitism, Islamophobia, the persecution of Christians, Christian Zionism, and all ideologies or theologies that privilege or exclude communities or deny the dignity of any human being.

It emphasizes that Christians, Muslims, Jews, Druze, Yazidis and people of all backgrounds should enjoy equal rights, security and protection under the law.

Warning over the decline of ancient Christian communities

One of the declaration's central concerns is the rapid decline of Christian communities across the Middle East.

The signatories warn that ancient churches, which have maintained a Christian presence in the region for nearly two thousand years, are shrinking as families leave their historic homelands in search of security, stability and a more certain future.

They caution that, unless urgent action is taken, the birthplace of Christianity could become a place where Christians remain only as visitors rather than as living communities rooted in their ancestral lands.

The declaration stresses that the diminishing Christian presence is not merely a concern for Christians, but a warning that justice, equality, security and hope are failing for all communities in the region.

Concerns over Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Armenia

The declaration addresses the continuing conflicts and crises in Israel and Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Iraq and the wider region, highlighting the suffering of civilians, displacement and the destruction of communities.

Regarding Jerusalem, the signatories support a shared city in which Jews, Christians and Muslims can freely worship and exercise their religious rights.

They also express concern over violence and displacement affecting Palestinian communities, including Christians, and draw attention to attacks on homes, farms and places of worship in the West Bank, particularly in the historic Christian town of Taybeh.

In Gaza, the declaration estimates that the Christian community numbers approximately 500 people within a Palestinian population of more than two million. It notes that Christian families have endured immense loss, displacement, hunger and destruction alongside their Muslim neighbours.

The statement also highlights the overlapping political, economic and security crises in Lebanon, which have contributed to Christian emigration and displacement. It raises concerns about the situation of Syria's ancient Christian communities following more than a decade of war and unilateral U.S. economic sanctions.

The signatories further express concern about Armenia's security challenges and the preservation of its ancient Christian heritage.

Call for international action and humanitarian protection

The declaration urges governments and the international community to pursue a just peace through sustained diplomacy, an end to violence, unhindered humanitarian assistance and the protection of places of worship and vulnerable communities.

It also calls for respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, reconstruction and compensation for damaged communities and institutions, and accountability for those responsible for violations.

The signatories urge Christians worldwide to stand in solidarity with churches and people across the Middle East, support humanitarian initiatives serving people regardless of religion, and welcome those displaced by conflict while advocating for their safe and voluntary return to their homes.

“Peace cannot be secured through walls, weapons or war”

Concluding its appeal, the declaration states that the future of Christianity in the Holy Land and the wider Middle East cannot be secured through walls, weapons or war, but through justice, equality, diplomacy and peace for everyone living in the region.

The signatories call for a renewed commitment to peacemaking, expressing hope for a future in which people of every faith can live together in freedom, dignity and security.