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“I too have been faithful to my word: since I did not see you I have not rung the bells again” Interviewer Let’s start from the beginning. That is: when did you discover that you had the vocation and entered the Order of Francis? Where was your vocation born and how was it born? Msgr. […]

“In Italy you always feel safe; Here, however, there is always the idea that something can happen” From Italy to Lebanon: daily precariousness Silvia Zucconelli works in the Projects Office of Pro Terra Sancta, and four months ago she moved from Milan to Beirut to follow the launch of a new project funded by the […]

Walking along the stone streets of an ancient city, while shadows draw elongated shapes on the ground, pushed by the setting sun. Places speak to those who listen to them, and tell a story: through it, in filigree, the memory of the people who have passed through them or who have lived there, leaving something […]

The horrific events in Sweida and the subsequent Israeli bombings in Damascus have once again laid bare the deep fragility of a Syria still mired in instability. The wounds of war and the lingering fear are etched into the hearts of its people. Two of our colleagues, Andrea Avveduto and Giacomo Pizzi, recently came face […]

The daily reality for Syrians is marked by the “hunt for cash”. Throughout Syria and Aleppo, the food emergency, despite the end of the war, continues to exist. Ayham Khouly, head of projects for Pro Terra Sancta in Damascus, tells of a Syria on its knees from an economic and, therefore, also social point of […]

“Every number speaks of an act of care” Looking back, 2024 appears as a set of numbers that tell dozens of stories: the number of beneficiaries we helped during the past year, how many projects we carried out and how many we started new ones, how many people work with us and help us build […]

Amir hadn’t had time to understand what was happening. A dull roar, the ground shaking violently, then silence—broken only by the crashing of collapsing buildings and screams. In February 2023, he was ten years old when, in an instant, Karm-Dodo—the Aleppo neighborhood that had been his whole world since birth—turned into a nightmare. After the […]

For two years, Raphaelle hasn’t spoken. She lives in Beirut, is seven years old, with big dark eyes and brown hair—and she doesn’t speak. This has started to cause her several problems, especially at school: she’s unable to express herself, and when teachers ask her a question, she freezes, as though she has no control […]

Imagine a place where faith is inextricably intertwined with history, where stones speak of events that have shaped the course of humanity. This place is the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem: not just a building, but the tangible testimony of the most crucial moments in Christian history and Western civilization. According to Christian […]

“The importance of involving the local community is not just about giving people a job or a salary—it’s about giving them dignity, identity, and hope.” Alessia and Alina share their stories: the loss of a loved one, and the hope for a different future—for themselves and for all of Palestine. Alina “My name is Alina, […]

“This commitment has positively changed my life and my mood: not having had the opportunity to continue my studies, this artisanal work is just right for me.” The story of Saida and Maisa, two women from Bethany who are rewriting their futures. Maisa “My biggest dream would be to travel.” “This job has been a […]

Pro Terra Sancta’s campaign in support of the women of Bethany: help them build a future of independence and hope! The context: one city The village of Bethany, recounted in the Gospels as the village of friendship and hospitality, is today the scene of a terrible conflict. Since 2002, the city has been divided from […]

On April 3rd, the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus is remembered; but where is his famous tomb? Where is he commemorated? Where is the Tomb of Lazarus? We are in Palestine, in Bethany: a small Palestinian town on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives, halfway between Bethlehem, Jericho, and the Dead Sea. […]

The Status Quo in Jerusalem is akin to a condominium regulation, where every balance is precarious, the result of ancient agreements and shared rules among Christian denominations. It finds its roots and significance in this place: at the crossroads of cultures, religions, and peoples that form the essence of the millennia-old Holy City. The Holy […]

In a modest neighborhood of Damascus, Syria, we lived together as a small family: my husband Riyad, our four children, and I, Amal. Despite the difficulties, we found joy in our simple existence. However, life often brings unexpected tragedies. “In general, the situation remains complicated after what happened on the coast. Here, people are stressed […]