The Palestinian Foreign Minister, Varsen Aghabekian Shahim, met today in Lisbon with the president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP), Cardinal Virgílio Antunes, reiterating that the Catholic Church has a "word to say" about conflicts around the world, particularly in the Holy Land. The official described the situation as "quite catastrophic" in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, appealing for the need for humanitarian aid and denouncing what she considered to be the "increase and escalation of settler terrorism."
The visit to Lisbon, at the invitation of Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel, marks the first anniversary of Portugal's recognition of the State of Palestine on September 21, 2025. Varsen Shahim highlighted that the recognition "is not symbolic" and that Portugal has supported the Palestinian cause in international forums, at the UN and in human rights organizations, recently confirming the application of sanctions and stating the illegality of the occupation.
The minister warned about the situation of Christian schools in Palestine, which were unable to start the school year because the majority of West Bank teachers were prevented from entering Jerusalem, affecting approximately 10,000 students. She also emphasized that there are nearly 300 Christian organizations operating in Palestinian territory, requesting financial, in-kind and political support to keep these institutions active, and argued that Palestine only asks for what is provided for in international law, namely the right to self-determination.
Cardinal Virgílio Antunes considered that the situation experienced by Palestinians represents "one of the most serious problems facing humanity," stating that the Portuguese Church has been developing efforts through Diocesan Caritas to help Christian communities and populations in situations of weakness, with actions in education, health and food. The president of the CEP also expressed the importance of dialogue with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and recognized the influence of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa in seeking solutions to the conflict.
