Christians Are Hiding Their Crosses in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM — The assault on a French Catholic nun near Jerusalem’s Old City has become more than a criminal case. For many Christians in the Holy Land, it has become a symbol of a growing fear: that openly displaying their faith in Jerusalem now comes with risk.

The 48-year-old nun, a scholar affiliated with the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research, was attacked on April 28 near Mount Zion, a site revered by both Christians and Jews. Surveillance footage showed a man shoving her to the ground before kicking her while she lay defenseless.

Israeli police arrested a 36-year-old suspect shortly afterward. Prosecutors later identified him as Yona Schreiber, a resident of the Israeli settlement of Peduel in the occupied West Bank. According to court documents cited by the Associated Press, investigators believe the victim was targeted because her clothing clearly identified her as a Catholic nun.

The attack has reignited concern among church leaders and rights advocates, who say anti-Christian harassment in Jerusalem has become increasingly visible — and increasingly normalized.

Data collected by the Rossing Center, an interfaith organization based in Jerusalem, documented 155 anti-Christian incidents in 2025, including physical assaults, vandalism against churches, and public harassment. Another monitoring group, the Religious Freedom Data Center, recorded 181 harassment cases in 2025, a sharp rise from the previous year.

Christian clergy in Jerusalem have repeatedly described being spat on while walking through ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods. Others report verbal abuse, threats, and attacks on religious symbols.

While Israeli authorities condemned the assault and pledged “zero tolerance” toward religiously motivated violence, critics argue enforcement remains inconsistent and prosecutions rare.

The incident unfolded during an already tense period for religious relations in the region. Earlier this month, two Israeli soldiers were sentenced by a military court after allegedly desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon, following a separate controversy involving damage to a statue of Jesus.

For some Christians living in Jerusalem, the fear has become deeply personal.

Several residents and clergy interviewed by local and international media said they have begun concealing crucifixes or religious clothing in public spaces to avoid confrontation.

In a city sacred to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam alike, many believers say the symbolism is impossible to ignore: the cross, once worn openly in the Holy City, is now something some Christians feel compelled to hide.

Sources: (France24/AFP, AP, Vatican News, The Guardian, Rossing Center, Religious Freedom Data Center, Euronews)