The French Consul in Jerusalem visits the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Saint Anne's Church and confirms France's support for Christians in the Holy Land

Jerusalem - Ofoq News - On Monday, October 12, the new French Consul General in Jerusalem, Alexis Le Cour Grandmaison, conducted his official visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, followed by an official entry into the Church of Sainte-Anne, which is a French property in Jerusalem, in a step that confirmed France’s renewed commitment to protecting the Holy Places and supporting Christian groups and institutions in the Holy Land.

According to a statement issued by the French Department of Media and Communication, the visit comes within the framework of a diplomatic and historical tradition, and confirms French protection for Latin Catholic groups of French origin, whose roots go back to the concessions of 1535 between King François I and Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, before they were later enshrined in agreements and correspondence with the Ottoman Empire, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority.

The visit witnessed the reception of the Consul General at the entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher by representatives of the three Christian denominations responsible for caring for the church, which are the Greek Orthodox, the Armenian Orthodox, and the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, in accordance with the “status quo” arrangements that have regulated the rights, duties, and property of the denominations within the church since 1852.

The statement indicated that France, along with Italy, Spain and Belgium, plays a role in protecting the status quo within the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which reflects its interest in preserving the common holy places and respecting the religious traditions existing there.

The official visit to Sainte-Anne Church also included a religious ceremony, which included a procession through the alleys of the old town and a prayer of thanksgiving, “Te Deum,” in honor of France. In a speech on the occasion, the Consul General affirmed his country’s commitment to supporting the Christians of the Levant and working with its historical partners to protect the rights of Christian groups and institutions in the Holy Land, and to promote peaceful coexistence based on mutual respect.

The statement explained that French protection today includes about 30 groups and about 100 institutions, within the framework of the historical role that France plays towards Christian institutions and groups in the region.