Published November 06, 2016
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales is in the Gaza Strip, trying to give a spiritual lift to the territory's tiny Christian minority.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols on Sunday praised Gaza's Christians, whose numbers have dwindled during a decade of Hamas rule and an Israeli-Egyptian blockade.
He says "there've always been Christians here. Their numbers are small, but I believe their faith is strong."
Before the militant Hamas group took over Gaza in 2007, the Christian population in the coastal enclave was over 3,000. Today, just 1,200 Christians remain, most of them Orthodox.
Christian leaders blame the shattered economy, conflict with Israel and the blockade for encouraging Christians to move out. But community members have also complained that they do not feel comfortable under Hamas rule.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/british-cardinal-pays-rare-visit-to-gazas-christians