The Church of the Nativity and other places of worship in Bethlehem are shut, all tourism and religious sites across the West Bank are closed and all tourists banned from the West Bank for an unspecified period.
The bishops are determined to go to Gaza to help remind the small Christian community that they are not forgotten as Christians.
This was the moment God changed the course of human history – Bishop Fintan Gavin and Bishop Paul Colton.
“Christians are called to make the connection between faith and earth, between theology and ecology, constructing common cause with those who challenge confinement and usher in freedom. This is where we will find Jesus Christ today” – Archbishop Michael Jackson.
"A Middle East without Christians would not be the Middle East."
“Our first purpose is to give support and encouragement to the increasingly small Catholic community in the Holy Land,” says Bishop Donal McKeown.
We call upon world Christians to listen to the true voices of the indigenous Christians from the Holy Land. The same voices that strongly rejected the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital through their Heads of Churches. - President Abbas
The birthplace of Jesus is a city in crisis, mainly because of severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government.
President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales praises “witness and strength” of small Catholic community of 170 people out of a total population of 1.8 million.
"We intensify our plea for mutual understanding and a just and lasting peace for this land which has known too much conflict, too much pain and division," Archbishop Eamon Martin tells Bethlehem's mayor.
“Many of the Christians in the Holy Land feel isolated, alone and discouraged. They are fearful of being neglected or even forgotten."
Holy Land Coordination group will celebrate Mass in Bethlehem and visit the Christian community of Beit Jala which has suffered the loss of land and livelihood.
As the country prepares to welcome refugees, we are "challenged to engage with the poverty, homelessness sub-standard accommodation that many are living in".
Light which originated in the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem is being brought to homes, churches, nursing homes and hospitals as sign of peace and unity.
Church leaders issue messages for Christmas 2015 and urge people to become envoys of hope in the name of Christ, who was born in a stable in Bethlehem.
An Post and Royal Mail feature scenes from the biblical story depicted by a contemporary artist and an Old Master.
Widespread dismay at continuing construction of Cremisan Valley wall which will separate 58 Christian families from their lands and livelihood.
Presidents of Bishops' Conferences of Europe visit Holy Land to “express solidarity” with Christians and others suffering there.
Court overruled plan that would have divided the Cremisan monastery, near Bethlehem, stating that it “violated the rights” of the people of Beit Jala.
Good Friday collection supports the Holy Land shrines connected with the life of Jesus as well as for providing pastoral care to the region's Catholics.
Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly of Cashel & Emly and Bishop Raymond Browne of Kerry will join the bishops of the Holy Land Co-ordination in solidarity visit.
"It is good to see ‘Heads of Agreement’ rather than ‘Headlines of Disagreement’ emerging from the talks."
Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Fouad Twal, appeals on behalf of the people of Gaza.
In their Christmas messages, Catholic and Church of Ireland bishops express concern for those living in the "grip of fear".
The only Catholic university in the Holy Land is "somewhere Muslims feel comfortable to come to".
Pontiff calls for "urgent" solution to Syrian conflict.
"We pray that the visit of Pope Francis to the Holy Land will reinforce hope in the region."
Recovery of economic sovereignty may appease markets but austerity has been "most unjust".
Papal trip will include Mass in Bethlehem.
Twenty-five metre Christmas tree gifted by Bavarian town to Vatican City.
