The new CEO of Trócaire Seán Farrell along with Bishop Paul Dempsey of the Dublin Archdiocese and Dr Gary Carville, Social Issues & International Affairs at Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference will visit Israel and Palestine this weekend as the Irish delegation attending the Holy Land Coordination meetings.
The 2026 Holy Land Coordination will take place in Jerusalem from Saturday January 17 to Thursday January 22, 2026. Bishops will represent the Episcopal Conferences of: England and Wales, Italy, Germany, the Nordic countries, Ireland, France, the United States of America, Scotland, Canada, and Spain.
Delegates from the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) and the Anglican Church will also attend, alongside representatives of various Catholic organisations.
During the week, the delegation will meet with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa and the Apostolic Nuncio. Participants will receive briefings from the Latin Patriarchate and will have an online meeting with Fr Gabriel Romanelli, Latin parish priest serving the Catholic community in Gaza.
The itinerary also includes visits to a number of communities across the West Bank to hear of their situation and the challenges they are currently encountering.
