Following is the text if the statement issued by the Embassy of Palestine to the Holy See marking the 10^th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement between Palestine and the Holy See, dated 26 June, 2025:

The tenth anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement between the State of Palestine and the Holy See comes at an extremely difficult time for the Palestinian cause amid ongoing attempts to weaken it—if not eliminate it altogether by the far-right Israeli government.

At its core, the agreement enshrines the deep historic and cultural relationship between the Holy See and the Palestinian people in the Holy Land. It reaffirms the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and their right to freedom, security, and dignity in an independent state based on international legitimacy and resolutions.

The State of Palestine has granted the Catholic Church the freedom—both in word and deed—to fulfill its religious, moral, educational, social, and charitable mission. It has allowed the Church to organize its internal affairs, including granting the Latin ecclesiastical court the freedom to apply Canon Law, based on Palestine's recognition of the legal personality of the Catholic Church.

In line with its goal to strengthen and protect the Christian ecclesiastical presence in the Holy Land, the State of Palestine has exempted Church properties from all kinds of taxes and fees. It has also granted full authority to Church courts over adoption issues among Christians, according to the Church personal status laws, and has affirmed respect for and protection of the legal "status quo' in Christian  holy places. 

In all of this, the Palestinian leadership headed by His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, has remained committed to implementing the agreement. The Presidential Higher Committee for Church Affairs, led by Dr. Ramzi Khoury, has spared no effort in protecting the agreement and coordinating with the relevant Palestinian ministries and institutions. This reflects the Palestinian government's commitment to implementation and strengthening the social fabric of Palestinian society—Muslim and Christian alike—on the basis of equal citizenship.

It is worth noting that one of the major outcomes of this  agreement was the inauguration of the Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Holy See, in the presence of His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas and with the blessing of the late Pope Francis, as a  confirmation of the special relationship between the two states. Since then, the Embassy and its staff have worked to safeguard the agreement's achievements, protect the interests of the state of Palestine, and ensure its active presence in the events and activities of the Holy See.

The Embassy also remains committed to organizing cultural, artistic, and religious events to reflect and introduce the rich heritage and deep-rooted history of Palestine. Its goal is to convene a message of civilization, continuously highlighting and reminding the world that the cradle of Christianity is in the city  of the Nativity—Bethlehem—where the Christ child was born, and that the fulfillment of salvation history and the essence of the Christian faith are embodied in Jerusalem along the Via Dolorosa, and in the heart of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

It is also important to remember that ten years ago, two Palestinian nuns—Mariam Baouardy and Saint Marie Alphonsine—were canonized in an official ceremony in Saint Peter's Square, attended by His Excellency President Abbas, a high-level official delegation, and a  large gathering of believers from the Holy Land of Palestine.

In conclusion, ten years after the signing of the comprehensive agreement, we look forward to further strengthening this distinguished relationship with the Holy See and continuing joint efforts to raise the voice of truth and justice, to lift the oppression endured by our people, who still suffer under the tyranny of Herod, and to realize the independent and awaited State of Palestine— where dignity and freedom shall prevail.

Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Holy See