The new acting Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem has voiced his fears for the fate of Christians in the Middle East saying their presence in the region is under threat. <br /><br /> Pierbattista Pizzaballa, a Franciscan priest, took office during a ceremony on Wednesday and will be chief religious figure for Catholics in the Holy Land. <br /><br /> Highlighting the region’s refugee crisis, he described the situation for Christians in Iraq and Syria as “catastrophic”.<br /><br /> “We are welcoming and receiving thousands of refugees, from Iraq first and now also from Syria, not just Christians, also from all different communities. This is just a drop, maybe, because millions came, but we cannot alone, once again, solve all the problem.”<br /><br /> Traditionally held by native Arabic speaker, Italian-born Pizzaballa will hold the post until a new Latin Patriarch is appointed.<br />
