Concerning the Egyptian Court Ruling on St. Catherine’s Monastery

July 4, 2025

I join my voice to those of Christian leaders around the world in expressing deep concern over the recent court ruling in Egypt declaring that the lands and assets of St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai are property of the state. Though the ruling claims the monks retain usage rights, such a reclassification represents a grave threat to the autonomy, spiritual mission, and ancient custodianship of this holy site.

St. Catherine’s Monastery, founded in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian, is more than a historical treasure—it is a living testimony to centuries of Christian prayer, asceticism, and faithful witness in the heart of the Sinai wilderness. It is one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, a sanctuary where prayer has not ceased for nearly 1,500 years. To weaken its legal protections under the guise of state ownership is to place the flame of this sacred light in peril.

I echo the concern of Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria, and Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens, all of whom have recognized this as a dangerous encroachment upon the freedom of the Church.

I urge the Egyptian authorities to recognize that true peace and coexistence can only flourish where spiritual freedom is honored and where sacred traditions are safeguarded—not absorbed into secular management or reduced to tourist sites. As Catholics, we stand in solidarity with our Orthodox brothers and with all those who treasure the monastic heart of the Church.

The faithful across the world must pray and speak out to ensure that this monastery remains what it has always been: a house of God, a haven for pilgrims, and a voice crying out in the desert.

Let us recall the words of Pope Pius XII, who said:

“Far from being extinct, the religious life is more necessary than ever in the present age, when man, absorbed in material things, risks forgetting heaven. The monastery is a citadel, a lighthouse, a sanctuary, in which man rediscovers the meaning of God and eternal things.” —Pope Pius XII, Speech to Religious Superiors, May 23, 1951

May the monks of Sinai continue undisturbed in their ancient and sacred work. And may the state of Egypt—so often a land of refuge in Scripture—choose once again to protect the things of God.

Bishop Joseph E. Strickland

+Joseph