The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has started a five-day visit to Egypt, Jordan, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories at a time of intense pressure on Christian minorities in the Middle East.
The visit began Sunday and it is the spiritual leader of the 85-million strong Anglican Communion’s is his first official visit to the region where Christianity began, but where Islam is now the dominant religion in a turbulent region.
“Archbishop Justin will meet with fellow Anglican bishops and other religious leaders, visit holy sites, and meet with a range of communities and leaders,” said the Archbishop’s website.
His visit comes at a time of growing concern by global church leaders at the situation facing Christians in the region, especially in Syria where abductions are commonplace and the death toll in the conflict is nearing 100,000.
