I am writing to express my dismay, shared by other “evangelical Catholic” leaders, at the recent statement issued by the Patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem, denigrating Christian Zionism as “a damaging ideology” favourable to “those who push a political agenda which may harm the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the wider Middle East.”
By “evangelical Catholic,” I mean a Roman Catholic with evangelical convictions, namely a personal relationship with Jesus, confidence in the Gospel, and a desire to live out the fruit of the holy spirit.
Since the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) there has been a major move of the ruach hakodesh (“holy spirit”) in the Catholic Church, and millions of Roman Catholics throughout the world have come into a personal relationship with Jesus through renewal movements within the Church.
They are evangelical in that they have received the gospel, accepted Jesus as personal lord and Savior, and manifested the fruit of the holy spirit in their lives. A recent independent survey in Northern Ireland found that 38% of practicing Catholics also consider themselves evangelical.
With many other evangelical Catholic leaders, I fully agree with the statement by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, published recently in The Jerusalem Post, declaring, “We adhere to a Zionism that is purely biblical in origin, belief, scope and practice – reflecting our sincere faith convictions, and not shifting political objectives.”
Lasting covenant with Israel
In the “What is an Evangelical Catholic?” document (signed by 60 evangelical Catholic leaders and with official Catholic Church endorsement, we affirm our commitment to the Jewish people and, in the words of Pope John Paul II, “to the common roots linking Christianity and the Jewish people, who are called by God to a covenant which remains irrevocable.”
Many senior Catholic leaders have affirmed a Christian Zionism that is biblical.
For example, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, formerly the pope’s personal preacher, wrote in his book The Mystery of Christmas (St Paul’s Publications):
“As a Christian, I could not remain prisoner of the political judgements the world was passing on Israel… We share with the Jews the biblical certainty that God gave them the country of Canaan forever (Genesis 17:8; Isaiah 43:5; Jeremiah 32:22; Ezekiel 36:24; Amos 9:14)… We know that the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29)… In other words, we know that God gave Israel the land, but there is no mention of His taking it back again, forever.”
Other senior Catholic leaders have publicly affirmed the eternal covenant with the Jewish people.
For example, in 2005, at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Cardinal Schonborn from Austria stated that Christians should rejoice in the Jews’ return to Israel as a fulfilment of biblical prophecy, while warning Christians not to “usurp” Jewish uniqueness.
This is also the view of the evangelical Catholic leaders involved with Towards Jerusalem Council 2, an international ministry working for healing between the churches and Israel. One of TJC2’s key leaders is Johannes Fichtenbauer from Vienna, a Catholic archdeacon. In his book The Mystery of the Olive Tree (New Life Publishing, 2019), Johannes highlights the following:
• The Jewish people will possess the land of Israel again as their own independent state (Amos 9:11-15).
• The Jewish people will return to the land, coming from the four corners of the earth – north, south, east, and west (Isaiah 43:5-6).
• Before the end times, Jerusalem will be freed from the dominion of the Gentiles and will be the capital of Israel (Zechariah 1:17; 2:4; 12:1-9).
All Christian churches affirm the scriptures as the word of God. There are 120 different passages in the Tanach (Old Testament) and the New Testament declaring that God would one day bring the Jewish people home from the countries where He had scattered them. This is happening in our day.
True Christian Zionism does not “mislead the public,” but restates the promises of God regarding His ongoing faithful relationship with His Jewish people, destined by Him to be a blessing to the world.
In light of the above, would Cardinal Pizzaballa consider requesting his colleagues, the Patriarchs, to affirm biblical Zionism and withdraw their joint statement that Christian Zionism is “a damaging ideology”?
With regard to the assertion that “The Patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem … alone represent the churches … in the Holy Land,” I would like to highlight that they do not represent the 300 communities of Israeli followers of Jesus around Israel today.
These keep the Sabbath, they do not keep Christian festivals but celebrate Jewish feasts, they practice circumcision and abstain from pork, and they are proud to serve in the Israeli army.
Over 1,000 served in the IDF during the Israel-Hamas War, and at least six were killed in service. They are loyal citizens of Israel. There are over 30,000 such Israeli followers of Jesus in communities from Sderot to the Golan.
From research on the Internet, I learn that the total number of Christians in the Armenian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, and Episcopal churches in Israel is estimated at a maximum of 14,000, so the Israeli communities of Jesus followers is far larger and more significant.
A summary of Israel’s Christian communities notes that Christians in Israel numbered about 184,200 (around two percent of the population) as of December 2025.
I suggest that the Jerusalem Patriarchs and church leaders consider correcting their claim that they speak for all Christian communities in Israel, and rethink their assessment of Christian Zionism.
The writer is a Catholic lay leader in Ireland and works as Secretary of the Evangelical Catholic Initiative and of Towards Jerusalem Council 2 Ireland. www.evancat.org.