It is one of the root languages in the history of the Church; alongside Greek and Aramaic, it is the language of the Scriptures.
The multilingual news portal for the Vatican, VaticanNews.va, has taken up another language, and this one with particular significance: Hebrew.
It is the 36th language covered by the Holy See’s multimedia information portal.
Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, reflected that Hebrew is “a language which is symbolically important for us Christians, because it is one of the root languages in the history of the Church; alongside Greek and Aramaic, it is the language of the Scriptures.”
Obviously, he noted, news on the website is written “in modern Hebrew, which was reborn in the modern age but is directly linked to the language of the Biblical patriarchs, prophets, and kings of ancient times, and the Hebrew people at the time of Jesus.”
Invitation to reconciliation
Pope Francis, said Patriarch Pizzaballa, often speaks to the people and leaders of the Middle East, calling for renewed dedication in seeking solutions for regional conflicts, which prevent the establishment of justice, peace, and prosperity.
“That’s why,” he added, “it’s important that the invitation to reconciliation and forgiveness should ring out in Hebrew as well: an invitation that typifies the service of the local Church in the Holy Land, which is based on the life and mission of Jesus.”
Continuing presence
Though new to the Vatican News portal, Hebrew was present on its online predecessor—the website of Vatican Radio—from October 2010 until December 2017.
The Hebrew page is made possible thanks to the work of the Latin Patriarchate and the Saint James Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel.
Read more:
A small group with a huge mission: Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel
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How Hebrew-speaking Catholics make Advent longer
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